Faculty: Doug Jensen (FS)
Degree: Associate in Paralegal Studies
Associate in Human Resource Management/Paralegal Studies
The Paralegal Studies program is a professional/technical program that prepares students for employment as (1) assistants to attorneys engaged in the practice of a wide range of specialized areas of law and (2) as human resource managers with a thorough understanding of their specialized legal environment. The Legal Studies department also provides advising for students planning to attend law school (Pre-Law). Students planning to transfer to four-year institutions should contact the appropriate transfer institution regarding transferability of credits and specific institutional, including departmental, requirements.
Pre-LawThere is no formal pre-law program or curriculum at Pierce College or at most other undergraduate institutions; thus, the pre-law designation normally is used only until the pre-law student selects a suitable major field of study. In most instances, the later study of a specialized area of law in law school is not related directly to the law student's undergraduate major field of study. However, students contemplating a career in law should emphasize the development of strong communication (especially writing) and critical thinking abilities while studying at the undergraduate level.
With few exceptions, individuals becoming lawyers earn the Juris Doctor (JD) degree by attending law school for the equivalent of three academic years of full-time study. Prior to entering law school students must have been awarded the bachelor's degree and taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Inasmuch as admission to law school is highly competitive, pre-law students should earn the best grades possible. The LSAT, a one-day national examination offered several times each year at numerous testing sites, usually is taken early during the senior year of undergraduate study.
The pre-law advisor can share information about law schools and provide direction, from a pre-law perspective, concerning baccalaureate institutions as well as Pierce College courses and programs of study.
Paralegal StudiesThe Paralegal Studies program prepares students to work as assistants to attorneys in law firms, corporations, and the public sector. Paralegals, working under the supervision of attorneys, typically prepare legal forms, perform legal research, and assist in trial preparation by conducting interviews and organizing materials; however, paralegals cannot accept legal cases or give legal advice. The Paralegal Studies program also helps prepare students to work as human resource managers where a thorough understanding of the law, and legal procedures, relating to that field are needed.
The Paralegal Studies curriculum is carefully designed to impart the specialized knowledge and develop the rigorous communication, computer, and critical thinking skills necessary to success in this demanding profession. The program's Legal Specialty courses cover the broad range of law practice specializations most in demand and feature hands-on instruction by attorneys practicing full-time in those areas. Inasmuch as most paralegal positions require work experience relevant to the legal field, where necessary students should plan to obtain such experience by successfully preparing for, and completing, an internship as part of the program.
The Paralegal Studies program together with the Human Resources program, also offers the joint Associate in Human Resource Management/Paralegal Studies degree. That degree provides human resource managers with the strong legal background often required in that field. Detailed information about that degree can be found in the Human Resources section of this catalog.
The Paralegal Studies program's compliance with American Bar Association guidelines for paralegal education programs enables its continuing participation as an Institutional Member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. Students must have the permission of the program coordinator in order to enroll in Paralegal Studies classes.
| Associate in Paralegal Studies | ||
| Dept | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Requirements (10 credits) | ||
| *LEGAL 160 | Career Orientation and Ethics | 3 |
| POLS& 200 | Introduction to Law | 5 |
| Select one: | ||
| LEGAL 161 | Paralegal Workplace | 2 |
| LEGAL 280-282 | Paralegal Internship | 2 |
| Communication Requirements (20 credits) | ||
| *BUS 250 | Business Communications | 5 |
| *CMST& 101 | Introduction to Communication | 5 |
| *ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 |
| *LEGAL 267 | Research & Writing | 5 |
| Computer Requirements (15 credits) | ||
| Students must complete the following courses or show documentation of completion of an approved Legal Office Assistant degree. | ||
| CIS 121 | Intro to Computer Information Systems | 5 |
| BTECH 201 | Professional Office Applications I | 5 |
| BTECH 260 | Computer Applications for the Law Office | 3 |
| General Electives (12 credits) | ||
| At least 12 credits total, selected from courses numbered 100 and above and transferable wherever possible, designed to give the student a broadly based liberal arts education; must be approved by program director. This general education requirement is satisfied if the student has earned a baccalaureate or an Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree from an accredited post-secondary institution. | ||
| Computational Requirement* | ||
|
Do one of the following:
| ||
| Legal Specialty Electives (35 credits) | ||
| Prerequisite: Typing at a minimum of 40 wpm. Prior to taking any of the following courses, the students must have completed POLS& 200, LEGAL 160, and ENGL& 101 . College-level reading skills, as indicated by placement test or by completing READ 101, are strongly advised. Each student shall take seven of the following courses: | ||
| LEGAL 260 | Administrative Law | 5 |
| LEGAL 262 | Criminal Procedure | 5 |
| LEGAL 263 | Environmental Law | 5 |
| LEGAL 264 | Torts | 5 |
| LEGAL 265 | Civil Litigation | 5 |
| LEGAL 266 | Estate Planning and Probate | 5 |
| LEGAL 268 | Real Estate Transactions | 5 |
| LEGAL 269 | Domestic Relations | 5 |
| LEGAL 270 | Business Organizations | 5 |
| LEGAL 271 | Bankruptcy and Collections | 5 |
| LEGAL 273 | Legal Interviewing and Investigation | 5 |
| LEGAL 275 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 5 |
| LEGAL 276 | Employment Law | 5 |
*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.
