Courses

Study of the code of ethics in the legal profession; the steps to file a lawsuit; the California and federal court systems; the areas of torts, contracts, property law, and criminal law and procedure; the role of a paralegal; and the operations of a law office.

This course covers techniques to research and write using online and print legal resources, Shepard's Citations, and accepted legal citation guidelines. Students will practice written, verbal, electronic communication, and legal research techniques and styles used in today's law offices.

This course teaches students how to research effectively using both online and print sources, how to cite check and Shepardize, and how to argue persuasively via a legal research memorandum and a memorandum of points and authorities.

Instruction in how to gather information and draft pleadings. These skills are important to begin a lawsuit in court or to respond to a lawsuit.

Focus on the discovery, trial, and post-trial phases of a lawsuit and the role of a paralegal in each phase.

This course covers law office management systems, personnel management, accounting, and operations.

This course covers legal aspects of various business entities, including corporations, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and joint ventures and emphasizes the duties of a paralegal in forming, maintaining, and terminating the above entities.

Focus on the law of wills and trusts, the organization and jurisdiction of a California probate court, and the administration of estates in California probate courts including gift inheritance and estate taxes.

This course covers the tasks associated with family formation and dissolution as well as the laws affecting diverse family structures in today's society.

This course focuses on the principles of intellectual property law in trademarks, copyrights, and patents including international conventions and the difference between ideas and expression of ideas, fair-use doctrine, trade secrets, and the notion of public domain.

A practice-oriented overview of immigration law and covers family and employment visas, political asylum, naturalization, non-immigrant visas, and removal.

Students will work with practicing attorneys and paralegals, apply the skills learned in the paralegal classes, and gain experience working in a legal environment. One unit of credit is earned for 54 hours of unpaid or paid work.