Instructional Council: Administration of Justice Studies (01)
GPA: 2.0
SOC Code: 23-2011.00
Description: The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal Studies Program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in law offices. The curriculum is designed to provide students with practical legal skills enabling them to draft legal documents with minimum supervision, and to familiarize them with fundamental concepts of substantive areas such as torts and business law. In addition, emphasis is placed on the development of effective written and oral communication skills, team work, critical thinking skills, computer proficiency, and legal research techniques. Legal theory and related practical applications are integrated throughout the program, as are how to manage practical ethical dilemmas commonly encountered as working paralegals, and how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers. A paralegal is qualified by education, training, or work experience to work for a law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, performing specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals are also referred to as Legal Assistants in some legal settings. Except as specifically authorized by the Supreme Court of Arizona, persons not admitted to the State Bar of Arizona are prohibited from practicing law. An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) is also available.
The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), Standing Committee on Paralegals, (321 N. Clark Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654-7598).
Program Notes: Students who already possess an Associate degree, or higher, from an accredited institution, must pursue the Certificate of Completion in Paralegal Studies. Students who do not yet have a college degree, cannot pursue the Certificate option, and instead, must pursue the Associates degree option. The Certificate of Completion will not be awarded until an official college transcript verifying attainment of an Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution is on file with the Phoenix College Admissions Office.
Students who have not yet earned their first college degree are not eligible for the Certificate option, and must pursue the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies. The Associate of Applied Science will not be awarded until a record of the high school diploma or GED is on file with the Phoenix College Admissions Office.
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses within the program.
+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
Equivalent paralegal courses, as determined by the Paralegal Studies Program Director, taken at other institutions, will be considered for transfer credit if taken at a regionally accredited institution, within a Paralegal Program that was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time the courses were completed, and that were completed with a grade of B or higher within six (6) years of the date of admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program; a maximum of six (6) semester hours of qualifying coursework can be transferred and applied to LAS101 and/or a paralegal (LAS) Restricted Elective course at Phoenix College.
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in legal specialty courses as defined by the ABA. Paralegal Studies Courses required by this program are not applicable if taken more than six (6) years prior to admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program.
Consult with the Paralegal Studies Program Advisor for complete information.
Admission Criteria: Formal application and admission to the program is required.
In addition, students wishing to enroll in the Paralegal Studies Program must complete a Verification of Eligibility form to be officially accepted in the program. Contact a Paralegal Studies advisor.
Admission to the Certificate option requires that students possess an Associate`s Degree or higher from an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency acceptable to the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals.
Program Prerequisites: None
Program Prerequisites
BPC110 Computer Usage and Applications (3) OR
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems (3) OR
Permission of Program Director. 0-3
Credits: 0-3
Required Courses
LAS101 Introduction to Law 3
+ LAS109 Civil Procedures I 3
+ LAS110 Civil Procedures II 3
+ LAS131 Legal Writing 3
+ LAS203 Ethics and Professional Practice 3
+ LAS204 Contract Law 3
+ LAS211 Legal Research 3
+ LAS212 Tort Law 3
+ LAS214 Business Organizations 3
+ LAS225 Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing 3
+ LAS229 Litigation Technologies 3
+ LAS237 Civil Interviewing and Investigation 3
+ LAS280 Paralegal Studies Portfolio Capstone 1
Credits: 37
Restricted Electives
LAS100 The Paralegal Profession 3
+ LAS115 Criminal Trial Procedure 3
+ LAS208 Probate 3
+ LAS217 Family Law 3
1. Compare and contrast the responsibilities of paralegals to those of lawyers, court personnel, law enforcement officers, and agency staff. (LAS101, LAS203, LAS280)
2. Analyze ethical issues confronting paralegals and orally present a recommended course of action. (LAS101, LAS203, LAS280)
3. Draft a civil complaint, civil cover sheet, answer, and notice of default judgment pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure. (LAS109, LAS280)
4. Draft discovery documents pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure; organize discovery items for use at trial. (LAS110, LAS280)
5. Prepare and present evidence at trial as part of the litigation team. (LAS110, LAS280)
6. Draft memorandums of law and legal correspondence that are consistent with the adopted English style manual, usage guide, and citation manual. (LAS131, LAS225, LAS280)
7. Conduct legal research and summarize results in memoranda and legal correspondence consistent with the adopted English style manual, usage guide, and citation manual. (LAS211, LAS225, LAS280)
8. Review and draft contracts that incorporate the legally-required clauses necessary to achieve the client`s goal. (LAS204, LAS280)
9. Identify and evaluate causes of actions, defenses, and potential damages in tort cases under Arizona law. (LAS212)
10. Analyze the findings in writing following the prescribed analytical format consistent with the adopted English style manual, usage guide, and citation manual. (LAS212)
11. Compare and contrast the utility, form, and function of legally-recognized forms of business organizations. (LAS214, LAS280)
12. Draft documents suitable for filing with the appropriate government entity to create the business organization. (LAS214, LAS280)
13. Use industry-standard technology to perform pre-trial and in-trial litigation support tasks within the time frame and at an accuracy level commonly encountered in a law office. (LAS229, LAS280)
14. Conduct, document, and summarize interviews of persons involved in a civil case at a level of accuracy suitable for inclusion in a case file. (LAS237, LAS280)
15. Use factual investigation sources and techniques to acquire information needed for a civil case. (LAS237, LAS280)
16. Identify and explain the significance of ethical and legal issues related to conducting interviews and factual research. (LAS237, LAS280)
+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 9, 2014
All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the
curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.
