This degree prepares students for entry-level employment as a paralegal/legal assistant and for the furtherance of study in the field of law through course study in legal terminology, legal research and writing, document drafting, ethics, and case preparation along with specialty paralegal courses. 

Program Outcomes

• Enter the legal profession as a paralegal/legal assistant
• Perform legal research and prepare legal documents
• Apply principles of legal ethics, and recognize legal limits pertaining to the duties a paralegal can and cannot perform

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be prepared for careers or employment in the following fields: paralegal AKA legal assistant, legal secretary, and legal document preparer.

Notes

A paralegal is not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice or represent another in court, except under very limited circumstances provided by law. Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) is violation under California Business and Professions Code 6450-6456. This degree is not designed for transfer; however, the courses included in this degree may be transferable and apply to other degrees designed for transfer.

Program Requirements 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
GENERAL EDUCATION AND SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS		25
College of the Sequoias Associate Degree General Education (COS-GE)
+
REQUIRED MAJOR COURSES		30
BUS 018	Business Law	4
BUS 184	Business Communications	3
BUS 271	College Keyboarding Level 2	3
BUS 293	Business English	4
PARA 101	Introduction to Paralegalism	3
PARA 102	Legal Terminology	2
PARA 203	Civil Procedures 1	4
PARA 205	Legal Research and Writing	4
PARA 210	Legal Ethics, Management, and Interviewing	3
+
RESTRICTED ELECTIVES		7
Select seven units from the following courses. Limited to only one AJ course:
AJ 014	Criminal Law 1	3
AJ 025	Constitutional Law *	3
AJ 112	Legal Aspects of Evidence	3
PARA 142	Real Estate Law	3
PARA 237	Family Law	3
SSCI 050	Law and Democracy	3
WEXP 193P	Paralegal Work Experience - 1st Semester	1-4
WEXP 194P	Paralegal Work Experience - 2nd Semester	1-4
+
ELECTIVES		0-1
Select additional degree applicable courses numbered 1-299 to achieve 60 units
=
TOTAL		60-62

*

Course(s) meet General Education requirement and 0-3 units may double count above in COS-GE.

The Associate Degree requirements include completion of the:

1. Required Major and Restricted Elective courses with a minimum grade of "C" or better for each course (Required Major and Restricted Elective courses may be substituted with the approval of the Division Chair),
2. General Education requirements, and
3. A minimum of 60 units of degree-applicable courses numbered 001-299. At least 12 units must be taken in residence at College of the Sequoias, with a "C" (2.0) average (see Associate Degree Requirements for additional details).