Paralegal
Fall 2018
Spokane Community College
- 1810 North Greene Street
- Spokane, WA 99217-5399
- https://scc.spokane.edu/
Start
Fall, Winter SpringDegrees and Certificates
Program Website
View the program websiteTuition and Fees
Additional Costs
Books | $600-1200 |
Supplies and Equipment | $100 |
Program Description
This regionally respected American Bar Association (ABA) approved program consists of basic and specialty legal courses designed to prepare students for employment in the legal services field. The program offers an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) in Paralegal Studies, Paralegal Certificate, and Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) core curriculum courses.The AAS in Paralegal Studies is awarded after completion of 90-98 credits of required coursework. If full class loads are taken each quarter, the program requires 6-7 quarters to complete. The supervised legal work experience required for graduation or the internship must be approved by the program director. A grade of 2.0 or higher in each class (including prerequisites) is required for both the AAS degree and the certificate.
Students may enroll in the certificate program instead of the AAS program if the student is in the process of or has completed an Associate of Arts degree (AA), AAS in Legal Administrative Assistant, Bachelor of Arts degree, or a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college and/or university.
Additionally, the LLLT core curriculum courses are offered to students. To become a LLLT students need to have earned an associates level degree or higher. Student pursuing the LLLT core curriculum may choose to pursue only the LLLT core curriculum courses or may enroll in an AA, AAS in Paralegal Students, or the Paralegal certificate program and integrate the LLLT courses into their course of study. Please see the Washington State Bar Associations LLLT webpage for more information.
Note: A paralegal graduate does not receive a license to practice law; thus performing legal work directly for the public or giving legal advice directly to the public constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.
Course of Study
A paralegal/legal assistant is qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work. This definition includes those individuals who, with administrative, statutory or court authority, perform substantive legal work directly to the public [National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)].Program Learning Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of law and legal procedures through legal research, writing, document drafting, analysis of facts, interviewing and investigation.
- Develop skills in civil and criminal pretrial and trial practice, real estate, business, family law, commercial transactions and litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, intellectual property, estate planning, probate and other specialty areas.
- Develop technological and organizational skills, including categorizing and organizing documents, calendaring, assessing and prioritizing work; managing time; creating and maintaining databases; and using standard forms and checklists.
- Develop understanding of rules of professional and ethical conduct, competence, professionalism and client service.
Career Opportunities
Law offices, courts, government agencies, insurance companies, legal investigators and forensics, publishing and broadcasting, legal departments of banks, mortgage and title companies, corporations and administrative agencies.Salaries range from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on education, experience and level of responsibility.
AAS - SCC
Offered at Locations: Spokane Community College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Disclaimer: The college cannot guarantee courses will be offered in the quarters indicated. During the period this guide is in circulation, there may be curriculum revisions and program changes. Students are responsible for consulting the appropriate academic unit or adviser for more current and specific information. the information in this guide is subject to change and does not constitute an agreement between the college and the student.