2014-2015 Academic Catalog 
    
    Oct 11, 2024  
2014-2015 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paralegal - Advanced Paralegal Certificate


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PGM Code – 586C 

Program Description The Paralegal Program is an American Bar Association approved program designed to train students for careers as paralegals (legal assistants) in law firms, governmental agencies, public service organizations, and corporate legal departments. Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys to provide non-clerical professional support in the delivery of legal services to clients and the community. Paralegals are not licensed to practice law.

The Advanced Paralegal Certificate is designed to provide quality paralegal education to students who already have, or who will earn a bachelor’s degree while enrolled in this certificate program. These students will graduate with a certificate that recognizes that they also have achieved a bachelor’s degree. The course work for this certificate is equivalent to course work required for the Paralegal - Associate of Technical Arts Degree  and is not advanced training. This certificate offers a reduced legal elective credit requirement and is considered equivalent to the Paralegal - Associate of Technical Arts Degree . This program expressly meets the needs of that portion of the legal community that requires both a bachelor’s degree and a paralegal certificate.

Computer Skills and Traditional/On-Campus Course Requirement To graduate from the program, all students are required to obtain and demonstrate certain minimum computer skills and take 15 paralegal credits in traditional, on campus (face-to-face) courses. Students must have the Paralegal Program Computer Skills and Traditional/On-Campus Course(s) Verification Form signed by their adviser and submitted to the Enrollment Services prior to or at the time of applying for graduation. This form may also be submitted online via GATE.

Transfer of Credits A bachelor’s degree is required for graduation. Up to 10 paralegal credits can be transferred into this certificate program with faculty approval. Transfer of legal credits will be allowed only from other ABA-approved paralegal programs. Any paralegal course transfer approval must be in writing and signed by your Paralegal Program faculty adviser.

Common Course Numbering Please refer to www.edcc.edu/ccn for more information.

Credit/Grade Requirements This certificate requires successful completion of a minimum of 35 credits and evidence of the completion of a bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 15 legal credits must be taken in traditional, on campus classroom instruction. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all college level courses and must have a minimum 2.0 grade in LEGAL 200, LEGAL 205, LEGAL 210, and LEGAL 240.

Students Are Advised To

  • Plan their schedule several quarters in advance in order to accommodate courses that are offered only once or twice a year,
  • Review the college catalog for required course prerequisites and include these in schedule planning,
  • Communicate with an academic adviser, and
  • Submit an Evaluation Request - Transfer Credits Form (available in Enrollment Services) to activate the process of transferring credits to Edmonds CC.

Graduation Application A completed Graduation Application form must be submitted online by the 10th day of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Note: Applications for summer quarter are due by the 8th day of the quarter.

College Resources
College Website | www.edcc.edu
How to Enroll | www.edcc.edu/es
Transfer Center | www.edcc.edu/transfer
College Bookstore | www.edcc.edu/bookstore
Advising Appointments | 425.640.1458

Advisers
The advisers for this program are
Anne Kastle | akastle@edcc.edu | 425.640.1688
Scott Haddock | scott.haddock@edcc.edu | 425.640.1185

Department website
Paralegal | www.edcc.edu/legal

Gainful Employment
Gainful Employment Information is available for this program.

Advising Note This program requirement sheet is not a substitute for meeting with an academic adviser. Meeting the requirements to graduate with an Edmonds CC certificate or degree is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Program Requirements (20 credits)


OUTCOMES:

  • Demonstrate and apply legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to perform substantive legal work under the direction of an attorney.
  • Identify and apply the procedural rules and practical skills necessary to perform tasks, under the direction of an attorney, in preparation of judicial, administrative, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of print and electronic resources to research and update primary and secondary legal authority.
  • Apply effective writing, speaking, and listening skills to work collaboratively with others involved in the delivery of legal services to the public.
  • Prepare legal correspondence, legal memoranda, transactional and operative documents, and litigation-related documents in appropriate format and tone to effectively communicate the necessary information.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use computers and technology necessary to perform paralegal tasks.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of legal ethics, the Rules of Professional Conduct, the role of paralegals in the delivery of legal services to the public, and how social, economic, cultural, and ethnic factors affect equal access to the justice system.

Program Electives (15 credits minimum)


*A maximum of five (5) credits may be earned in each of these classes: LEGAL 291, 296, 297, and 299 with a total combined limit of 10 credits that can be earned in all of these courses cumulatively.

Degree Requirement


Bachelor’s Degree


Name of College | University:


Date Earned | Major:


Signatures


 


Dean’s Signature and Date Adviser’s Signature and Date
Eff: summer 2014  |  Rev: 05/14  

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