Paralegal Studies: Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Certificate of Achievement
Career/Technical (Major Code: A2519)
The paralegal (legal assistant) works under the supervision of an attorney. Responsibilities are broad and varied including preparing and interpreting legal documents, interviewing clients, performing legal research, preparing for trial, and organizing and managing documentation. Paralegals often work with attorneys in specialized areas of law such as immigration, family law, personal injury, contracts, wills, trusts, and probate.
Program Student Learning Outcome
- Students read case law and prepare a written analysis in English analyzing the law to the facts of the case.
Gainful Employment
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.”
Students who complete this program will have acquired the necessary analytical tools to successfully secure gainful employment in the field of study.
For more information regarding the data provided for this program and what it means to you as a student, please feel free to visit our SWC Gainful Employment website at: www.swccd.edu/gainfulemployment.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Program Requirements | ||
| BUS 226 | INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION: LEGAL | 3 |
| BUS 229 | LEGAL TERMINOLOGY---BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) | 3 |
| LEGL 255 | INTRODUCTION TO LAW AND LEGAL TERMINOLOGY | 3 |
| LEGL 256 | INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR BUSINESS | 3 |
| LEGL 258 | LEGAL COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| LEGL 259 | LEGAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY | 1 |
| LEGL 260 | LEGAL RESEARCH | 3 |
| LEGL 261 | CIVIL LITIGATION I | 3 |
| LEGL 262 | IMMIGRATION LAW AND PROCEDURE | 3 |
| LEGL 270 | COMPUTER SKILLS FOR LEGAL PROFESSIONALS | 2.5 |
| SPAN 216 | SPANISH FOR BILINGUALS II ** | 5 |
| Select 1-3 units of the following: * | 1-3 | |
| LEGAL COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE I | ||
| LEGAL COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE II | ||
| LEGAL COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE III | ||
| LEGAL COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE IV | ||
| Select 5 units of the following: | 5 | |
| LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT | ||
| FAMILY LAW | ||
| WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES | ||
| MEDIATION, NEGOTIATION, AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | ||
| INTERVIEWING AND INVESTIGATION FOR PARALEGALS | ||
| COMPUTER ASSISTED LEGAL RESEARCH (CALR) | ||
| CIVIL LITIGATION PROCEDURES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | ||
| BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| Total Units | 38.5-40.5 | |
- *
60 or more hours of on-the-job work experience internship, paid or volunteer, are required in the LEGL 290–LEGL 293 series. Program faculty and Student Employment assist students with placements, which can consist of as few as four hours per week for students working full-time. Students who are presently employed in a law office may use their employment to fulfill their requirement. These hours can include summer work. The instructor must approve the work experience for application to the program.
- **
Native speakers from a Spanish-speaking country who have finished high school or the equivalent in that country will have satisfied the Spanish language requirement. Students who have completed high school in the United States and have completed the fourth-year level of Spanish will have satisfied the Spanish language requirement.
Note: The certificate of achievement is awarded only to students who possess an associate or higher degree in any major prior to completing the paralegal program.
Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law. The Paralegal Studies Program prepares students to work under the supervision of an attorney in accordance with California law. A paralegal may not engage in the unauthorized practice of law by giving legal advice or appearing in court. To do so would be a crime in the state of California.