Paralegal Studies
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal Studies Program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in law offices. The curriculum is designed to provide students with practical legal skills enabling them to draft legal documents with minimum supervision, and to familiarize them with fundamental concepts of substantive areas such as torts and business law. In addition, emphasis is placed on the development of effective written and oral communication skills, team work, critical thinking skills, computer proficiency, and legal research techniques. Legal theory and related practical applications are integrated throughout the program, as are how to manage practical ethical dilemmas commonly encountered as working paralegals, and how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers. A paralegal is qualified by education, training, or work experience to work for a law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, performing specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals are also referred to as Legal Assistants in some legal settings. Except as specifically authorized by the Supreme Court of Arizona, persons not admitted to the State Bar of Arizona are prohibited from practicing law. An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) is also available.
The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), Standing Committee on Paralegals, (321 N. Clark Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654-7598).
Details
Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Paralegal Studies (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5384
Total credits required
40-43
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admission criteria
Formal application and admission to the program is required.
In addition, students wishing to enroll in the Paralegal Studies Program must complete a Verification of Eligibility form to be officially accepted in the program. Contact a Paralegal Studies advisor.
Admission to the Certificate option requires that students possess an Associate's Degree or higher from an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency acceptable to the .
Notes
Students who already possess an Associate's degree, or higher, from an accredited institution, must pursue the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal Studies. Students who do not yet have a college degree, cannot pursue the Certificate option, and instead, must pursue the Associate's degree option. The Certificate of Completion (CCL) will not be awarded until an official college transcript verifying attainment of an Associate's degree or higher from an accredited institution is on file with the 王中王六合彩特码 Admissions Office.
Students who have not yet earned their first college degree are not eligible for the Certificate option, and must pursue the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) will not be awarded until a record of the high school diploma or GED is on file with the 王中王六合彩特码 Admissions Office.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Equivalent paralegal courses, as determined by the Paralegal Studies Program Director, taken at other institutions, will be considered for transfer credit if taken at a regionally accredited institution, within a Paralegal Program that was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time the courses were completed, and that were completed with a grade of B or higher within six (6) years of the date of admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program. A maximum of six (6) semester hours of qualifying coursework can be transferred and applied to LAS101 and/or a paralegal (LAS) Restricted Elective course at 王中王六合彩特码.
Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in legal specialty courses as defined by the ABA. Paralegal Studies Courses required by this program are not applicable if taken more than six (6) years prior to admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program. Students must take at least nine semester credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction (i.e., either in-person or "Live Online"). Consult with the Paralegal Studies Program Advisor for complete information.
What You'll Learn
- Analyze ethical challenges confronting paralegals and orally present a recommended course of action.
- Acquire and apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
- Draft a civil complaint, an answer, and a motion for summary judgment pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure for filing with the court having jurisdiction over the matter.
- As part of a team, draft discovery documents pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure for service on the opposing party; organize discovery items for use at trial.
- Draft memorandums of law and legal correspondence that are consistent with the adopted English style manual and usage guide.
- Review and draft contracts suitable for client review that incorporate the legally-required clauses necessary to execute the contract.
- Conduct legal research and summarize results in memoranda and legal correspondence that is free of error; cite authority pursuant to the adopted legal citation manual.
- Analyze causes of actions, defenses, and potential damages in tort cases under Arizona law and present the findings in writing free of error following the adopted analytical format.
- Evaluate the utility, form, and function of legally-recognized forms of business organizations and draft documents suitable for filing with the appropriate government entity to create the business organization.
- Use industry-standard technology to perform pre-trial and in-trial litigation support tasks within the time frame and at an accuracy level commonly encountered in a law office.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 0-3 | |
| Computer Usage and Applications (3) OR | ||
| Survey of Computer Information Systems (3) OR | ||
| Permission of Program Director. | 0-3 | |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 37 | |
| Introduction to Law | 3 | |
| The Paralegal Profession | 3 | |
| Civil Procedures I | 3 | |
| Civil Procedures II | 3 | |
| Legal Writing | 3 | |
| Ethics and Professional Practice | 3 | |
| Contract Law | 3 | |
| Legal Research | 3 | |
| Tort Law | 3 | |
| Business Organizations | 3 | |
| Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing | 3 | |
| Litigation Technologies | 3 | |
| Paralegal Studies Portfolio Capstone | 1 | |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 3 | |
| LAS+++ Any LAS Paralegal Studies course(s) not used in the Required Courses area | 3 | |
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.