Paralegal
(408) 741-4635
Applied Arts & Sciences Division
Faculty
Related Links
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West Valley College Paralegal ProgramAn ABA-Approved Paralegal Program |
Program Requirements
Required Courses for both the Certificate and the A.S. Degree |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 18 |
Legal Analysis |
3 |
|
Para 19 |
Intro to Paralegal Studies |
3 |
|
Para 21 |
Intro to American Law |
3 |
|
Para 22 |
Civil Litigation |
3 |
|
Para 23 |
Research and Writing |
3 |
|
Para 24 |
Advanced Research and Writing |
3 |
|
Para 25 |
Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility |
1.5 |
|
Para 29 |
Internship (120 hours by arrangement) |
3 |
|
Para 40 |
Advanced Civil Litigation |
3 |
|
Para 65B |
Word Processing for the Law Office |
3 |
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PLUS CORE ELECTIVES:Select a total of 12 units from Program electives.Note: These are the current program electives. Not all electives are offered every semester and new electives, not on this list, may be created in the future. Check the current semester schedule to see what electives are being offered. |
Business Oriented Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 27 |
Corporate Law |
3 |
|
Para 30 |
Business Contract Laws |
3 |
|
Para 33 |
Real Estate Law |
3 |
|
Para 34 |
Bankruptcy Law |
3 |
|
Para 49 |
Securities Regulation |
3 |
|
Para 70 |
Employment Law |
3 |
Intellectual Property Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 37 |
Intellectual Property |
3 |
|
Para 47 |
Trademark Law |
3 |
|
Para 48 |
Copyright Law |
3 |
|
Para 83C |
Patent Administration |
3 |
Litigation Skills Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 39 |
Interviewing and Investigation |
3 |
|
Para 43 |
Law Office Management |
3 |
|
Para 81C |
Legal Correspondence |
1 |
|
Para 83A |
Evidence and Trial Preparation |
3 |
Technology Skills Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 26 |
Technology in the Law Office |
3 |
|
Para 83B |
Electronic Discovery |
1 |
|
CA 46B |
Presentation, Power Point |
1 |
|
CA 62B |
Beg. Spreadsheets, MS Excel |
1 |
|
CA 81B |
Beg. Database, MS Access |
1 |
Probate Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 35A |
Practical Proc. for Probate |
3 |
|
Para 36 |
Wills and Estate Planning |
3 |
Research Skills Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 66 |
Legal Research on the Internet |
.5 |
|
Para 67 |
Introduction to Legal Database Services |
1 |
Miscellaneous Legal Specialty Courses |
Course Number |
Course Name |
Units |
|---|---|---|
|
Para 32 |
Family Law |
3 |
|
Para 38 |
Constitutional Law |
3 |
|
Para 41 |
Torts |
3 |
|
Para 42 |
Criminal Trial Techniques |
3 |
|
Para 76 |
Immigration Law |
3 |
To be awarded a certificate in Paralegal, a student must:
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Have an AA/AS degree or higher in Paralegal or any other subject that meets College standards.
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Complete 40.5 or more units in Paralegal courses - 28.5 in required courses and 12 units in paralegal electives.
To be awarded an A.S. degree in Paralegal, a student must:
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Complete 40.5 units in Paralegal courses - 28.5 in required courses and 12 units in paralegal electives.
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Take Additional units to meet both the College and ABA general education graduation requirements. (Check with Counseling.)
NOTE: Students are strongly encouraged to plan for eventually earning a bachelor's degree. A student should choose general education requirements which apply both toward college graduation requirements and toward the bachelor's degree requirements at the four-year institution in which he/she plans to transfer.
Students must see a counselor or the Program Chair about the general education courses that are approved by the American Bar Association for the Paralegal Degree. Eighteen of the 25 units needed to complete the general education requirement for an A.S. degree must be from the A.B.A. approved list.
Students seeking the Paralegal A.S. Degree are strongly urged to begin the general education requirements at the onset of their paralegal degree plan. In particular, students should complete English 1A (College Composition) at the beginning of their program.
SUGGESTED SEQUENCE - varies depending on whether your first semester is Fall or Spring:
1st Semester-Fall |
2nd Semester-Spring |
3rd Semester-Fall |
4th Semester-Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Para 19 Para 21 0 - 1 Para Elective |
Para 18 Para 22 Para 65B 1 - 2 Para Electives |
Para 23 Para 40 1-2 Para Electives |
Para 24 Para 25 Para 29 1-2 Para Electives |
1st Semester-Spring |
2nd Semester-Fall |
3rd Semester-Spring |
4th Semester-Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Para 18 Para 19 Para 21 0 - 1 Para Elective |
Para 23 Para 25 Para 65B 1 - 2 Para Electives |
Para 22 Para 24 1-2 Para Electives |
Para 29 Para 40 1-2 Para Electives |
