Prospective paralegals in California will not have a difficult time finding a qualified school to obtain their training.
There are more than 1,000 paralegal schools within the US, and many of these schools are in the state of California.
While the program curricula at these various schools may differ, paralegal students will typically study within such key areas as computers, legal research and law.
Following is a sample of the many extraordinary institutions in the state that will prepare students for an exciting career in this lucrative field.
Canada College
Canada College in Redwood City has a first-class associate in science/paralegal program, accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Those people in the Redwood City area, who would like the full details pertaining to Canada’s paralegal program, can contact the school at – 650-306-3100 or write to them at – 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City, California, 94061. They can also view the program’s curriculum online at – http://canadacollege.edu.
Paralegal students will need to fulfill several general education requirements to earn their degrees. These requirements are as follows – English Composition, Communication and Analytical Thinking, Physical Science or Life Science, Humanities elective, Social and Behavioral Science, and Ethnic Studies.
They must also fulfill several law-related requirements as follows – Beginning Word Processing, Intermediate Word Processing, Introduction to the Legal System, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Litigation and Trial Preparation, Paralegalism and Study of Legal Ethics, and at least twelve credits from the following courses – Business Law, Computer Applications I and II, Spreadsheets, Torts, Family Law, Corporations and Business Entities, Bankruptcy, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, Contracts, Administrative Law, Advanced Family Law Projects, Electronic Litigation, and Cooperative Education/Work Experience or Cooperative Education/Internship.
DeAnza College
Located in Cupertino, DeAnza College offers an unbelievable associate of science/paralegal degree program, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and approved by the American Bar Association. Those people, who would like to learn the admissions process of the college, can call the main office at – 650-949-7313, or they can write to the campus at the following address – 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, California, 95014. There is also valuable information online at – http://www.deanza.edu/.
For students to earn their paralegal degrees, they will need to complete the following liberal arts courses – English Composition, Oral Communication, Critical Thinking, Natural Science and lab, three Fine Arts or Humanities electives, one Behavioral Science elective, History and Society elective, and Physical Education.
Students will also need to complete the following career-related courses to earn their degrees – Advanced Civil Litigation Procedures, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, Legal Analysis, Civil Litigation Procedures, The Paralegal and Professional Responsibility, Partnerships and Corporations, Overview of American Law, Introductin to California Law, and at least five additional Law-Related electives.
Evergreen Valley College
Located in San Jose and accredited with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Evergreen Valley College offers an exceptional associate of science/paralegal degree program for those people interested in the field. Prospective students can call Evergreen at – 408-274-7900 or write to them at – 3095 Yerba Buena Road, 95135. They can also find out how to apply to Evergreen by visiting their website – http://www.evc.edu.
The associate of science/paralegal degree program is a two-year curriculum comprised of various general education and career-specific courses. Following are the general education courses included in the curriculum – Oral Communication, Written Communication, one Science course with lab, two Arts or Humanities electives, two Social Science electives, Cultural Pluralism/Ethnic Studies, two History courses, Physical Education, English I, and Life-Long Learning/Self-Development.
The career-specific courses included in the curriculum are as follows – Introduction to Computing and Information Technology, Introduction to Law/Legal Research/the Constitution and Ethics, Legal Environment of Business, Legal Research and Writing-A, Legal Analysis and Writing, and at least four of the following – Legal Terminology, Legal Ethics, Civil Litigation, Introduction to California Courts, Legal Technology and Software, Bankruptcy, Tort and Personal Injury Law, Real Estate and Property Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Law of Corporations/Partnership and Sole Proprietorship, Intellectual Property Law, Basic Immigration Law, Mediation Principles and Practices, and Constitutional Law.
Fullerton College
Located in Fullerton and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Fullerton College offers remarkable certificate and associate degree programs in paralegal studies for people who want to work in the field. If people would like to learn additional information regarding the paralegal programs at Fullerton, they can phone the school at – 714-992-7000 or write to the following address – 321 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, California, 92832. They can also read about the requirements of the program at – http://www.fullcoll.edu/.
For students to earn an associate in science/paralegal degree from Fullerton, they must take the following liberal education classes – Written Communication, Analytical Thinking, Physical or Life Science and lab, Mathematics, two Arts or Humanities electives, two Social and Behavioral Science electives, Physical Education, Multicultural elective, Critical Thinking elective, and Beginning Computer or Typing course.
They must also take the following career-preparation classes to earn their associate degree – Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Research and Terminology, Introduction to Legal Writing, Computers in the Law Office, Civil Litigation I and II, at least four additional Law-Related electives, and an Internship.
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College has a fantastic associate of arts degree program in paralegal studies, approved by the American Bar Association and accredited with the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges. Those people in the Los Angeles area, who would like to attend the college, can phone them at – 323-953-4000 or write to them at – 855 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90029. They can also find the program’s requirements online at – http://www.lacitycollege.edu/.
The paralegal program at Los Angeles City College is a two-year curriculum comprised of a variety of basic education and program-oriented course work. Following is the basic education course work including in the curriculum – Oral Communication I, one Natural Science course, one Social and Behavioral Science elective, one Humanities elective, English or Journalism, Communication and Analytical Thinking, Health, and Physical Education.
The program-oriented course work in the curriculum is as follows – Word Processing/Keyboarding and Operations, Introduction to Legal Assistant I and II, Library Research Methods, Business Law I and II, Tort Law and Claims Investigations, Real Property, Legal Writing, Legal Document Production, Directed Fieldwork in Legal Assisting, Legal Research for Paralegals, and at least two additional Paralegal course electives.
Other Terrific Paralegal Schools in California
- Cerritos College in Norwalk
- College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita
- El Camino College in Torrance
- Foothill College in Los Altos Hills
- Harvey Mudd College in Claremont
- Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar
- Merritt College in Oakland
- Napa Valley College in Napa
- Oxnard College in Oxnard