State Control Number: 37411
Program Code: PAST.VVCGE.AA
Program Length: 24 months
Approved for Federal Financial Aid: Yes
The Paralegal Studies Associate of Arts degree program prepares students to work in the legal industry and other related fields requiring professional skills learned through the designed required and elective curriculum.
To earn this degree, complete the major coursework with “C” grades or better and all of the following graduation requirements:
- 60 minimum degree-applicable units (including a maximum 4 units of activity) and 12 degree-applicable units through VVC;
- the VVC General Education pattern;
- Information Competency; Global Citizenship; Kinesiology; and
- 2.0 minimum overall degree-applicable GPA.
Courses may be double-counted in the major and in a general education category. Courses counted in one AA/AS major may not be used in another AA/AS major.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BADM 117 | Legal Environment of Business | 3.0 |
| or BADM 118 | Business Law | |
| PAL 100 | Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies | 3.0 |
| or LAW 100 | ||
| PAL 101 | Law Office Technology for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 102 | Beginning Legal Research for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 103 | Beginning Legal Writing | 3.0 |
| PAL 104 | Legal Ethics for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 200 | Law Office Management for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 201 | Fundamentals of Litigation For Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 202 | Family Law | 3.0 |
| PAL 203 | Tort Law for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| Complete at least 12.0 units from the following electives with at least 1.0 unit of Cooperative Education: | 12.0 | |
| Spreadsheet: Excel for Windows A/B/C | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Legal Aspects of Evidence | ||
LAW 205 | ||
PAL 138 | ||
| Wills and Trusts for Paralegals | ||
| Basic Bankruptcy Law for Paralegals | ||
| California Employment and Labor Law | ||
| Conflict Resolutions and Negotiations | ||
| Immigration Law for Paralegals | ||
| Total Units | 42 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
Career, salary, and labor market data information.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| PAL 100 | Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies | 3.0 |
| PAL 102 | Beginning Legal Research for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 103 | Beginning Legal Writing | 3.0 |
| ENGL 101.0 | English Composition and Reading 2 | 4.0 |
| HLTH 102 | Contemporary Problems in Personal and Community Health 2 | 3.0 |
| Units | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BADM 117 or BADM 118 |
Legal Environment of Business or Business Law |
3.0 |
| PAL 104 | Legal Ethics for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 200 | Law Office Management for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| VVC GE Category IVB – Communication & Analytical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| VVC GE Category V – Mathematics | 3.0 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PAL 101 | Law Office Technology for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 201 | Fundamentals of Litigation For Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 202 | Family Law | 3.0 |
| Select one course from Major electives | 3.0 | |
| VVC GE Category IIA – Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3.0 | |
| VVC GE Category III – Humanities 4 | 3.0 | |
| Units | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| PAL 203 | Tort Law for Paralegals | 3.0 |
| PAL 138 | 1.0 | |
| Select courses from Major elective list | 8.0 | |
| VVC GE Category IIB – American Institutions | ||
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 61 | |
- 2
Double counts for General Education and Competency.
- 4
Select a course that also fulfills Global Citizenship competency.