Paralegal

Fall 2018

Enrollment:

Fall, Winter Spring

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Tuition and Fees

http://www.ccs.spokane.edu/TuitionFees

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

  1. Apply knowledge of law and legal procedures through legal research, writing, document drafting, analysis of facts, interviewing and investigation.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
Communication (5 credits required) 10-5
ENGL& 101  15
General Education Electives (7-10 credits required) 7-10
Humanities (5 credits required) 5
Legal Courses (All courses required) 31
Legal Specialty Courses (27 credits required) 27
Math (5 credits required) 5
Social Sciences (5 credits required) 5
Supervised Legal Work Experience 5
90-98
90-98 credits are required for the AAS

Communication (5 credits required) 

CMST&101Introduction to Communication 5
CMST 103Effective Listening 3
CMST&210Interpersonal Communication 5
CMST&220Public Speaking 5
CMST&230Small Group Communication 5
ENGL&102Composition II 5
ENGL&113Intro to Poetry 5
ENGL 238Advanced Expository Writing 5

Humanities (5 credits required) 

CMST 227Intercultural Communication 5
ENGL&111Intro to Literature 5
ENGL 209British Literature since 1800 5
ENGL 241The Bible as Literature 5
ENGL 248American Literature to 1865 5
ENGL 249American Literature since 1865 5
ENGL 261Studies in the Novel 5
ENGL 271World Literature to 1650 5
ENGL 272World Literature since 1650 5
HUM& 101Intro to Humanities 5
HUM  201Humanities, Past, Present, and Future 5
PHIL&101Intro to Philosophy 5
PHIL 110Intro to Ethics 5
PHIL 220Philosophy of Religion 5
PHIL 231Modern Philosophical Problems 5

Legal Courses (All courses required) 

BUS  204Introduction to Law 5
LA   100Legal Careers Orientation 1
LA   101Introduction to Paralegalism 2
LA   105Washington and Idaho Court Rules 3
LA   110Legal Research and Writing 5
LA   118Instrument Drafting 3
LA   120Law Office Computing 5
LA   125Law Office Procedures and Technology 3
LA   130Legal Ethics 3
LA   135Professional Effectiveness 1

Legal Specialty Courses (27 credits required) 

ACCT 151College Accounting I 5
ACCT&201Principles of Accounting I 5
HED  104Medical Terminology and Anatomy 5
HED  105Medical Terminology and Anatomy 5
LA   201Introduction to Probate 3
LA   205Contracts 3
LA   207Domestic Relations and Estate Law 3
LA   211Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy 3
LA   215Commercial Transaction 3
LA   217Business Organizations 3
LA   218Employment Law 3
LA   219Criminal Law and Procedure 3
LA   220Torts 3
LA   221Property and Real Estate Transactions I 3
LA   223Interview and Investigation Techniques 3
LA   225Trial Preparation and Procedures 3
LA   230Insurance Law 3
LA   240Special Issues Seminar 1-10
LA   241Evidence 3
LA   285Legal Office Internship 1-3

Math (5 credits required) 

BUS  104Business Mathematics 5
MATH&107Math in Society 5

Social Sciences (5 credits required) 

HIST&116Western Civilization I 5
HIST&117Western Civilization II 5
HIST&118Western Civilization III 5
HIST&136US History 1 5
HIST&137US History 2 5
HIST&214Pacific NW History 5
HIST 230Latin American History 5
POLS&101Intro to Political Science 5
POLS 125Introduction to Global Issues 5
POLS&202American Government 5
POLS&203International Relations 5
PSYC&100General Psychology 5
PSYC 210Conception through Adolescent Developmental Psychology 5
SOC& 101Intro to Sociology 5
SOC  211Marriage and the Family 5
SOC  221Race and Ethnic Relations 5

Supervised Legal Work Experience 

LA   245Supervised Legal Work Experience 5
1Students must be enrolled in ENGL& 101 or BT 272 during the first quarter unless the student has taken previously. ENGL& 101 satisfies 5 credits of communication; BT 272 does not.
2Because each course is different, LA 240 may be repeated as frequently as desired and all credits received may be applied toward the specialty credit requirements for this degree.
3Maximum of 3 credits of internship may be applied toward this degree.
4Any generally transferable math course may be substituted. If BUS 104 is taken, BUS 103 is required prior to enrollment in BUS 104 and the student must complete an additional 5 credits from the approved list of courses in either communications, social sciences, or humanities.
5ENGL& 101 or BT 272, LSEC 239, and LA 105 required prior to enrollment.
6ENGL& 101 or BT 272, LSEC 239, and LA 105 (or concurrent enrollment in LA 105) required prior to enrollment.
7LSEC 239 and BT 165 required prior to enrollment; or permission of instructor.
8Any transferable college level general elective course from communications, humanities, social science, math, science, or foreign language.
9Only on ACCT course may be counted towards Legal Specialty Courses requirements.

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.