Paralegal careers in Oregon can be extremely compelling, as these professionals work to research case files and perform other duties to help attorneys with their day-to-day case loads.
For people to have the best chance of obtaining employment in the field, they must first obtain either an associate degree or certificate from a qualified paralegal school.
The following schools in Oregon are all fantastic institutions where students can train for their new careers.
Portland Community College
Located in Portland, Portland Community College has a magnificent associate in applied science/paralegal degree program, accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and approved by the American Bar Association. Those people in the Portland area, who would like to attend the college, can phone their main office at – 503-614-7213, or they can write to the office at the following address – 17705 Northwest Springville Road, Portland, Oregon, 97229. They can also find the enrollment procedures within the college’s website at – http://www.pcc.edu/.
Paralegal students at Portland Community College must complete a variety of basic skills and professional courses to earn their degrees. The following courses are the basic skills classes that they must complete – two Humanities or Fine Arts electives, two Social Science electives, Science course, Mathematics, Computer elective, and a Writing elective.
The professional courses they must take are as follows – Introduction to Law/Fundamentals, Introduction to Law/Substantive Areas, Introduction to Law/Ethics, Techniques of Interview, Legal Software, Legal Research and Library Use, Computer Research in Law, Applied Legal Research and Drafting, and 13 of the following courses – Investigation Techniques for Paralegals, Litigation, Estate Planning, Probate Practice, Income Tax Law, Real Property Law I, Law Office Management, Immigration Law for Paralegals, Intellectual Property Law, Family Law, Elder Law, Employment Law, Contract and Consumer Law, Worker’s Compensation, Bankruptcy Law, Corporate Law Practice, Torts and Personal Injury, and Criminal Law for Paralegals.
Sumner College
Located in Portland, Sumner College offers a quality associate of applied science degree program in paralegal studies, accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Those people, who would like to learn the admissions requirements of Sumner, can call the school at – 877-682-5601, or they can request information online at – http://www.sumnercollege.edu. They can also write to Sumner’s main office at the following address – 8909 Southwest Barbur Blvd., Suite 100, Portland, Oregon, 97219.
For paralegal students to earn their degrees from Sumner, they will need to complete several general education requirements within the following areas – English, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Humanities and Fine Arts, Science, Social Science, and Government.
They will also need to complete a variety of career-specific requirements in the following areas -Real Estate, Personal Injury, Corporate Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Immigration, Employee Benefits, Intellectual Property, Bankruptcy, Labor Laws, and Litigation.
Umpqua Community College
Located in Roseburg, Umpqua Community College has an unbelievable associate of applied science/paralegal degree program, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Prospective students can phone the general office of Umpqua at – 541-440-4600 or write to the office at – 1140 Umpqua College Road, Roseburg, Oregon, 97470. They may also view the program’s requirements online at – http://www.umpqua.edu.
The paralegal program at Umpqua consists of various basic education and law-related courses. Students will need to complete several basic education courses in the following key areas – Composition, Communication, Mathematics, History, Government, Social Science, Science, and Humanities.
They will also need to complete a variety of law-related courses within the following main areas -Wills/Probates and Estates, Civil Procedures, Legal Research and Writing, Contract Law, Real Estate Law, Business Law, Concepts of Criminal Law, Elder Law, Family Law, Torts/Pleading and Practice, Introduction to Paralegal Studies, and Ethics and the Law.
ITT Technical Institute
ITT Technical Institute has several campuses across the country including one in Portland, Oregon. The Portland campus, accredited with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers a spectacular associate of applied science degree program in paralegal studies. People in the Portland area, who would like to find out how to enroll in ITT’s paralegal program, can call them at – 503-255-6500 or write to the Portland office at – 9500 Northeast Cascades Parkway, Portland, Oregon, 97220. They may also view the curriculum online within the institute’s website at – http://www.itt-tech.edu.
The paralegal program at ITT Tech consists of a variety of common studies and law-oriented classes. The common studies classes are as follows – Composition I and II, College Mathematics, Survey of the Sciences, State and Local Government, Psychology, and Problem Solving.
The law-oriented classes in the program are as follows – Business Law and Regulations, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Family Law, Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Wills/Trusts and Estates, Contract Law, Tort Law, Ethics for Paralegals, Legal Research and Writing I and II, Technology in the Law Office, and Paralegal Capstone.
Additional Paralegal Schools in Oregon
- College of Legal Arts in Portland
- Everest College in Portland
- Heald College in Portland
- Lewis and Clark College in Portland
- Pioneer Pacific College in Wilsonville
- Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario
- University of Oregon in Eugene
- Williamette University in Salem
Obtaining Paralegal Certification in Oregon
While the state of Oregon does not require paralegals to be certified, when they obtain certification, it significantly broadens their job prospects. It is a fact that most law firms prefer to hire those paralegals who possess this distinction. There are several associations that offer paralegal certifications, and they are listed below.
- The American Alliance of Paralegals (requires applicants to have five years paralegal experience)
- The National Association of Legal Secretaries (requires applicants to pass a written exam)
- The National Association of Legal Assistants (also requires applicants to pass a written test and offers valuable study guides)
- The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (also requires a written exam and offers a study manual and a practice test)