Law-Paralegal (AA)
Program Overview:
Help Lawyers Bring Cases to Court
Investigate a case by interviewing clients and witnesses to help your lawyer. Keep things running smoothly behind-the-scenes of the courtroom assisting with trial preparation, hearings, and closings. Research case information and compile data to help your lawyers win their cases. Paralegals perform delegated legal work and support lawyers by gathering and analyzing information to help them determine how cases should be handled.
Paralegals are in high demand in a variety of fields including healthcare, litigation, corporate law, and others, and demand is expected to continue to rise at a faster than average rate in today’s job market. As a paralegal, you’ll assist lawyers with drafting correspondence and pleadings like complaints, subpoenas, interrogations, pretrial orders, and legal briefs. Use your strong organization and communication skills to take the next step toward a career in the legal field.
Careers in Law / Paralegal
As a paralegal, you may work for law firms, corporations, the government, or in other practice environments under the supervision of a lawyer. You’ll provide support in the courtroom at hearings, trials, or in arbitration, mediation, and closings.
Here are some careers and their salaries you could have in Law or as a Paralegal.
Go to bls.gov for the most recent career information.
Draft correspondence and legal documents, get affidavits and other formal statements, and help lawyers during trials by handling exhibits, taking notes and reviewing trial transcripts.
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | $60,700/year | $26.73/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 8% increase (much faster than average) |
15,960 |
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | $55,590/year | $26.73/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 5% increase (faster than average) |
490 |
Create word-for-word transcriptions at trials, depositions, and other legal proceedings.
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary non-degree award | $85,090/year | $40.91/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 2% decrease (decline) |
490 |
Perform clerical duties, manage and distribute information, send and receive correspondence and keep the office running smoothly.
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Some college | $43,570/year | $20.95/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 7% increase (faster than average) |
92,170 |
What You’ll Learn at LASC in Law / Paralegal
You can get Associate in Arts (AA) in Law / Paralegal degree at LASC where you will learn how to prepare legal documents, billing, litigation, and contracts, and develop an understanding of the role of a paralegal in the practice of law to get you career-ready:
- Learn the roles of a lawyer, law office personnel, and other parties involved in law practice, as well as legal terminology and research problems to give you a broad overview and understanding of work in the legal field.
- Gain a working knowledge of legal research methods, both in traditional print and electronic formats, to give you a solid background in various types of resources so you can tackle any case that comes your way.
- Improve your skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook to design, create, and edit word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations to prepare you for the administrative side of a law firm.
- You’ll learn the essentials of the law of contracts, including agency, employment, personal property, bailment, sales, and real property in their application for everyday problems pertaining to business and to the individual to be able to assist lawyers in your office effectively.
- Want to transfer? With your Associate in Arts in Law / Paralegal (AA) degree, you will save money on your first two years of college learning from dedicated, supportive faculty before you transfer to a four-year college or university. Visit your academic counselor for more information.
Degrees & Courses You Will Take
Review the LASC Associate in Arts in Law-Paralegal (AA) degree below along with our suggested course of study for this program. Go to LASC’s current Course Catalog for specific course information:
Major Code: 1402.00
Total Units Required: 60
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze a legal problem, and determine a strategy to correct the problem.
- Write a legal brief addressing the broader scope of a legal problem.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| BUS5 Business Law I | 3 |
| LAW 3 Civil Rights and the Law | 3 |
| LAW 10 Introduction to Legal Assistant I | 3 |
| LAW 11 Introduction to Legal Assistant II | 3 |
| LAW 12 Tort Law and Claims Investigation | 3 |
| LAW 13 Wills, Trusts, and Probate Administration | 3 |
| LAW 14 Law Office Management | 3 |
| LAW 15 Property, Bankruptcy, and Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 16 Civil and Criminal Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 17 Legal Writing | 3 |
| LAW 51 Legal Research | 3 |
| CAOT 82 Microcomputer Software Survey in the Office | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 39 |
| Recommended Electives: | Units |
|---|---|
| ACCTG 1 Introductory Accounting I | 5 |
| ACCTG 15 Tax Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCTG 941 Cooperative Education: Accounting | 4 |
| BUS 38 Business Computations | 3 |
| BUS 38 Business Computations | 3 |
| CAOT 31 Business English | 3 |
| CAOT 34 Business Terminology | 2 |
| ENGLISH 101 College Reading and Composition | 3 |
| SPANISH 14 Spanish for Public Service Personnel | 3 |
Get Ready Before You Start
Before your first class starts at LASC, you can start preparing for your career as a paralegal:
Make an appointment with your LASC academic counselor to review LASC’s program, develop your Student Education Plan (SEP), and discuss what additional support services, opportunities you can be a part of to meet your educational and career goals.
Still in high school? Check with local law firms to see if they are hiring a part-time receptionist to get experience in a law office. Take courses in sociology, political science, and psychology to learn human behavior to prepare you to study and understand legal cases.
Program Learning Outcomes
Once you successfully complete this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze a legal problem, and determine a strategy to correct the problem.
- Write a legal brief addressing the broader scope of a legal problem