Paralegal Studies
The Paralegal Studies Program offers a 24 academic-unit certificate, intended to prepare students for employment as a paralegal in various legal sectors. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of the paralegal profession to enhance the ability to reason, understand and apply correct principles of law by teaching analytical and critical thinking skills.
The program is taught by attorneys and paralegals who have practical experience in the field and satisfies all educational requirements required by California law. As such, you will gain the legal knowledge and skills to land a paralegal job in any state.
How many courses are required to complete the certificate?
The program requires 8 course to complete the certificate, listed below.
How long does it take to complete the certifcate?
Students are able to complete the certificate in one year.
Is the Paralegal Studies program ABA-approved?
The program is not ABA-approved (American Bar Association); after considerable research, it was determined that the benefits in offering an ABA-approved certificate did not outweigh the extra cost/time to our students. The ABA requires 60 units (versus the state approved 24 units) and most firms do not require an ABA-approved certificate. Moreover, California requirements are more rigorous than any other state, allowing students from our program to work anywhere.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Officer Jujhar Singh, a field training officer with the Union City Police Department, will share his experiences and insights into the highly rewarding career opportunities available in law enforcement. He’ll discuss the important role of community policing, the hiring process, and what the police
academy is really like.
Dr. Anne Bisek, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience supporting various types of first responders, including communications personnel, firefighters, hospital care staff, law enforcement officers, and military veterans. A specialist in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dr. Bisek will
discuss the on-the-ground experiences of psychologists working with first responders, covering aspects such as fieldwork and pathways to pursue this
profession.
Memberships
Member, San Francisco Paralegal Association
WHAT COURSES SHOULD YOU TAKE AND WHEN?
| Course | Course Title & When Offered |
|---|---|
| PLGL 30 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies Offered Fall, Spring & Summer |
| PLGL 31 | Legal Writing & Research Offered Fall & Spring |
| PLGL 32 | Litigation & Civil Procedure Offered Spring & Summer |
| PLGL 33 | Computer Application & E-Discovery for Paralegal Studies Offered Fall |
| PLGL 34 | Professional Responsibility & Ethics Offered Spring & Summer |
| PLGL 35 | Advanced Legal Writing & Research Offered Spring & Summer Pre-requisite: PLGL 31 |
| PLGL 36 | Contract Law Offered Spring & Summer |
|
PLGL 37 OR ADMJ 60 |
PLGL 37 - Tort Law ADMJ 60 - Criminal Law |
* Please see Chabot College ClassWeb for information regarding class schedule.
** Choice of PLGL 37 OR ADMJ 60 to satisfy Paralegal Certificate Requirements; Please see the Administration of Justice webpage for information on ADMJ courses.
Cheryl L. Mackey, Esq.
Department Chair/Faculty
510.723.6973
cmackey@chabotcollege.edu
Building 400, office 454M - 2nd fl
Vahishta Pakpour Falahati, Esq.
Adjunct Facultyvfalahati@chabotcollege.eduBuilding 400, 1st fl
Jessica Graham, Esq.
Adjunct Faculty jkgraham@chabotcollege.edu Building 400, 1st fl
Sunny Lerner, Esq.
Adjunct Faculty slerner@chabotcollege.edu Building 400, 1st fl
Dr. Nidaa Pervaiz, Ph.D.
Adjunct Faculty npervaiz@chabotcollege.edu Building 400, 1st fl
Career Paths
- Corporate Paralegal
- Litigation Paralegal
- Discovery Paralegal
- Legal Analyst
- Legal Support Specialist
- Legal Assistant
- Law/Court Clerks
- Litigation Clerk
- Non-profit sector