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Paralegal

If helping attorneys with legal cases sounds exciting, a career as a paralegal could be for you.

 
This program—approved by the American Bar Association—prepares you to work under the direct supervision of an attorney as a vital part of a legal services team. You’ll learn to conduct legal research, support trial work, prepare legal documents, perform interviews and investigative work, and more. You’ll also gain on-the-job training in a real law office.

Whether you want to work in a private law firm or for government, a degree or certificate in paralegal studies can help make your goal a reality.

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.

Students must complete 13.5 quarter credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Paralegal Transfer Policy

  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.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Placement

Math placement is not required for this program.
English placement is not required for this program.

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 in Applied Sciences (AAS) in Paralegal Studies, and Paralegal Certificate.
 
 The AAS in Paralegal Studies is awarded after completion of 90 credits of required coursework. If full class loads are taken each quarter, the program requires 6 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 in 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.

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.

 

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 60 - 71


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&101
English Composition I   1
5
LA 107
Introduction to Legal Careers  
3
LA 125
Law Office Procedures and Technology  
3
LA 130
Legal Ethics  
3
 
Legal Specialty Courses   8
5
Total Credits
 
19
ACCT 151
College Accounting I   4
5
ACCT&201
Principles of Accounting I   4
5
BUS 204
Introduction to Law  
5
HED 104
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
HED 105
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
LA 201
Introduction to Probate  
3
LA 205
Contracts  
3
LA 207
Family Law  
3
LA 217
Business Organizations  
3
LA 218
Employment Law  
3
LA 219
Criminal Law and Procedure  
3
LA 220
Torts  
3
LA 221
Property and Real Estate Transactions I  
3
LA 223
Interview and Investigation Techniques  
3
LA 225
Trial Preparation and Procedures  
3
LA 230
Insurance Law  
3
LA 240
Special Issues Seminar   5
1 - 10
LA 241
Evidence  
3
LA 285
Legal Office Internship  
1 - 3

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
LA 105
Washington and Idaho Court Rules  
3
LA 108
Legal Citations  
3
 
Legal Specialty Courses   9
9
 
Math Electives   6
5
Total Credits
 
20
ACCT 151
College Accounting I   4
5
ACCT&201
Principles of Accounting I   4
5
BUS 204
Introduction to Law  
5
HED 104
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
HED 105
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
LA 201
Introduction to Probate  
3
LA 205
Contracts  
3
LA 207
Family Law  
3
LA 217
Business Organizations  
3
LA 218
Employment Law  
3
LA 219
Criminal Law and Procedure  
3
LA 220
Torts  
3
LA 221
Property and Real Estate Transactions I  
3
LA 223
Interview and Investigation Techniques  
3
LA 225
Trial Preparation and Procedures  
3
LA 230
Insurance Law  
3
LA 240
Special Issues Seminar   5
1 - 10
LA 241
Evidence  
3
LA 285
Legal Office Internship  
1 - 3
Math Electives: Choose 5 credits Math Electives: Choose 5 credits  
BUS 104
Business Mathematics   7
5
MATH&107
Math in Society  
5

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
LA 110
Legal Research and Writing   2
3
LA 118
Instrument Drafting   3
3
LA 120
Law Office Computing  
3
 
Legal Specialty Courses   10
6
Total Credits
 
15
ACCT 151
College Accounting I   4
5
ACCT&201
Principles of Accounting I   4
5
BUS 204
Introduction to Law  
5
HED 104
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
HED 105
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
LA 201
Introduction to Probate  
3
LA 205
Contracts  
3
LA 207
Family Law  
3
LA 217
Business Organizations  
3
LA 218
Employment Law  
3
LA 219
Criminal Law and Procedure  
3
LA 220
Torts  
3
LA 221
Property and Real Estate Transactions I  
3
LA 223
Interview and Investigation Techniques  
3
LA 225
Trial Preparation and Procedures  
3
LA 230
Insurance Law  
3
LA 240
Special Issues Seminar   5
1 - 10
LA 241
Evidence  
3
LA 285
Legal Office Internship  
1 - 3

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
LA 245
Supervised Legal Work Experience  
4
 
Legal Specialty Courses   11
2 - 13
Total Credits
 
6-17
ACCT 151
College Accounting I   4
5
ACCT&201
Principles of Accounting I   4
5
BUS 204
Introduction to Law  
5
HED 104
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
HED 105
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
LA 201
Introduction to Probate  
3
LA 205
Contracts  
3
LA 207
Family Law  
3
LA 217
Business Organizations  
3
LA 218
Employment Law  
3
LA 219
Criminal Law and Procedure  
3
LA 220
Torts  
3
LA 221
Property and Real Estate Transactions I  
3
LA 223
Interview and Investigation Techniques  
3
LA 225
Trial Preparation and Procedures  
3
LA 230
Insurance Law  
3
LA 240
Special Issues Seminar   5
1 - 10
LA 241
Evidence  
3
LA 285
Legal Office Internship  
1 - 3

Legal Specialty Courses  

 

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ACCT 151
College Accounting I   4
5
ACCT&201
Principles of Accounting I   4
5
BUS 204
Introduction to Law  
5
HED 104
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
HED 105
Medical Terminology and Anatomy  
5
LA 201
Introduction to Probate  
3
LA 205
Contracts  
3
LA 207
Family Law  
3
LA 217
Business Organizations  
3
LA 218
Employment Law  
3
LA 219
Criminal Law and Procedure  
3
LA 220
Torts  
3
LA 221
Property and Real Estate Transactions I  
3
LA 223
Interview and Investigation Techniques  
3
LA 225
Trial Preparation and Procedures  
3
LA 230
Insurance Law  
3
LA 240
Special Issues Seminar   5
1 - 10
LA 241
Evidence  
3
LA 285
Legal Office Internship  
1 - 3

Math Electives   6

 

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BUS 104
Business Mathematics   7
5
MATH&107
Math in Society  
5
1 Students must be enrolled in ENGL& 101 or BT 272 during the first quarter unless they have already completed it.
2 ENGL& 101 or BT 272 required prior to enrollment. LA 108 Legal Citations is a pre-requisite.
3 ENGL& 101 or BT 272 and LA 105 (or concurrent enrollment in LA 105) required prior to enrollment.
4 Only one ACCT course may be counted towards Legal Specialty Courses requirements.
5 Because 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 certificate.
6 Any generally transferable math course may be substituted.
7 BUS 104 has a prerequisite of BUS 103. Also, BUS 104 does not count toward your required general education courses. Students must take an additional college level general elective course communications, humanities, social science, math, science, or foreign language.
8 BUS 204 recommended
9 LA 201, LA 220, and LA 220 recommended
10 LA 219 and LA 223 recommended
11 LA 240 (3 credits) and LA 285 (1 credit) recommended

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 5,973
$ 7,148
$ 13,460
Books
$ 1,323
$ 1,323
$ 1,323
Course Fees
$ 87
$ 87
$ 87
Institutional Fees
$ 432
$ 432
$ 2,114
Total Costs
$ 7,815
$ 8,990
$ 16,984

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

Program Goals and Objectives

Objective 1: Students who complete the SCC Paralegal Program will be employable.
Objective 2: Eighty-five percent of students will pass each paralegal program course with a 2.0 or higher.
Objective 3: Students will complete the SCC Paralegal Program within three (3) years if enrolled in the AAS program and within two (2) years if enrolled in the certificate program.
Objective 4: The SCC Paralegal Program will serve diverse and underserved populations, including students in remote locations.
Objective 5: The SCC Paralegal Program instructors will ensure that the paralegal program is offering an educational program that is relevant to community standards in the legal community.

Have a question? Let's hear it.

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Neesa Guel

Pathway Specialist
Neesa.Guel@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7005

 

Anne Mayer

Workforce Transitions Specialist
Anne.Mayer@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8191

 

John Yoon

Academic Counseling Liaison
John.Yoon@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7356

 

Landon Johnston

Academic Counseling Liaison
Landon.Johnston@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7190

 

David Shotwell

Program Director
David.Shotwell@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7394

 

Jeff Brown

Division Dean
Jeff.Brown@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8882