Paralegal Studies Certificate Business Total Units: 34.0

Term Effective: Fall 2024

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Description:

The Santa Rosa Junior College Paralegal Studies Certificate is a program for students seeking employment in the legal field and in business. The curriculum blends an understanding of legal theory and practical skills, based on actual paralegal job responsibilities. Classes are taught by practicing attorneys and paralegals primarily online in either synchronous or asynchronous formats.

The guiding principles of the program are two-fold: to offer a curriculum that teaches the practical applications of legal theory and to advance the paralegal profession by offering a rigorous course of study that develops resourceful legal problem solvers. By completing this program, students will have met the educational requirements for paralegals as stated in the California Business and Professions Code, commencing with section 6450.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  1. Locate statutes and case law by researching legal issues;
  2. Compose legal documents and complete mandated legal court forms;
  3. Apply learned critical thinking and analytical skills to client matters;
  4. Compile and organize materials efficiently for trials;
  5. Interview witnesses and conduct investigations on the behalf of clients; and
  6. Complete specific, substantive tasks as delegated by the supervising attorney.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Paralegal Studies program are:

  • Complete 34.0 units from
    • Paralegal Studies Core Requirement
    • Paralegal Studies Elective

Paralegal Studies Core Requirement - complete 27.00 units
PLS 50Introduction to Paralegal Studies3.00
PLS 51Legal Research3.00
PLS 52Legal Writing3.00
PLS 53Civil Procedure: Pleadings3.00
PLS 54Civil Procedure: Discovery3.00
PLS 55Legal Ethics2.00
BGN 71Business English Grammar3.00
PLS 56Civil Litigation and Discovery Practices and Procedures3.00
PLS 57Legal Professions1.00
CS 60.11AMicrosoft Word, Part 11.50
CS 61.11AMicrosoft Excel, Part 11.50
 
Paralegal Studies Elective - complete 7.00 units
Complete any combination totaling at least 7.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BAD 18The Legal Environment of Business3.00
BAD 62Intellectual Property Law3.00
HR 61Human Resource Employment Law1.50
PLS 60Legal Calendaring1.00
PLS 62Torts3.00
PLS 63Contracts3.00
PLS 64The American Jury System1.00
PLS 65Technology in the Law Office: Practice, Procedures & Ethics3.00
PLS 66Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning3.00
PLS 67Family Law3.00
RE 55Legal Aspects of Real Estate3.00
WEE 99IInternship Work Experience Education0.50-8.00

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4435
rpowell@santarosa.edu