Program Notes
The program code for this certificate is LAPAPC20. For financial aid, academic advising, and other reasons, students should work with their advisor to ensure that this code is properly recorded on their academic record.
Career Note: Paralegals must work under the supervision of a licensed attorney and are restricted from practicing law. Washington General Rule (GR) 24 defines the “practice of law” to include providing legal advice, representing clients in legal proceedings, negotiating legal matters, and performing other tasks involving the application of legal principles to specific situations. Washington’s Rule of Professional Conduct (RPC) 5.3 delineates the ethical responsibilities of attorneys in supervising paralegals they employ. Within these guidelines, paralegals maintain the ability to undertake a diverse array of essential and engaging responsibilities that assist both attorneys and clients. Paralegals’ duties may include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents for attorney review, interviewing clients and witnesses, organizing and managing legal files, and communicating with clients and other legal professionals.
Remote Pathway Option: Edmonds College provides a remote pathway option for completing this program. While it is still advisable for students to enroll in traditional on-campus courses whenever possible, opting for remote program completion is also an option. However, this requires careful advanced planning with an academic or paralegal faculty advisor. According to the ABA Guidelines, students must complete at least 14 legal credits through face-to-face instruction. This includes traditional on-campus courses and live-streaming online instruction where students interact with the instructor and their peers in real-time.
Baccalaureate Degree (BA): To obtain this certificate, students must hold a Baccalaureate Degree (BA) before enrollment or while in the program. Students are required to request their official transcripts from their previous college or university’s registrar and submit them to Edmonds College Credentials. This step should be completed as soon as possible since the transcript approval process may take several weeks and must be finalized before graduation. If requested by the previous college or university’s registrar, utilize the digital and physical mailing addresses provided under Transfer of Credits below.
Grade Requirements: Students must uphold a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 across all college-level courses to graduate. For required legal courses (LEGAL 200, LEGAL 205, LEGAL 210, LEGAL 228, and LEGAL 240), students must achieve a minimum grade of 2.0. Otherwise, they must retake the course until they attain a minimum grade of 2.0. Any higher grade earned in a repeated course replaces a lower one for calculating a student’s cumulative grade point average.
Face-to-Face Instruction Requirement: The ABA Guidelines require students to complete at least 14 legal credits through live instruction. Face-to-face instruction includes (1) courses taught through traditional on-campus instruction, (2) online instruction where there is real-time interaction, or (3) hybrid instruction with only the live instruction hours counting towards the 14-credit face-to-face instruction requirement. A five-credit hybrid course counts as four face-to-face instruction credits; a three-credit hybrid course counts as two face-to-face instruction credits; and a two-credit hybrid course counts as one face-to-face instruction credit. Online courses with no published meeting times do not count toward this requirement, nor do LEGAL 291, LEGAL 299, or one-credit hybrid courses. The college will verify the face-to-face instruction requirement before graduation. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to meet this requirement.
Technology Skills Requirement: The ABA Guidelines require that students demonstrate appropriate technology skills before graduating from this program, which is met by completing LEGAL 228 with a minimum grade of 2.0. Alternatively, if a student believes they already have extensive and current legal technology experience, they may submit a “Technology Requirement Waiver and Course Substitution” form to their Paralegal faculty advisor for approval. This form requires the student to demonstrate that their legal technology experience adequately aligns with the course objectives for LEGAL 228. If approved, the student may substitute five additional legal elective credits for LEGAL 228.
Legal Internships: Students are encouraged to take LEGAL 291 (Legal Internship) as a legal elective. Students will earn one credit for every 30 hours of paralegal work completed during the quarter. Paralegal work performed before or after the quarter does not count towards this requirement. Students should communicate with a paralegal faculty advisor 4-6 weeks before the start of the quarter to receive an internship packet, support on locating an internship, and other course information. It is important that students register for the correct number of credits they intend to complete (1.0-5.0 credits). Students may take LEGAL 291 in multiple quarters so long as the total number of LEGAL 291 credits does not exceed five. This class meets two times only; students are expected to attend both classes to receive credit.
Legal Electives Note: A maximum of five legal credits may be earned in each of the following classes: LEGAL 291, LEGAL 296, and LEGAL 299. The sum for all of these courses may not exceed 10 credits.
Transfer of Legal Credits
- Legal Credits: Up to 20 legal credits may be transferred into this program with the written approval of a Paralegal faculty advisor, including by email. The transfer of legal credits must be from an ABA-approved paralegal program established at the time the credits were earned, have a minimum grade of 2.0, and be no older than 10 years from the date of completion, except for LEGAL 228 and LEGAL 282, which must be no older than five years from the date of completion. In addition, because LEGAL 205 and LEGAL 210 are state-specific courses, they may only be transferred from an ABA-approved paralegal program in Washington State.
- Transcript Evaluation: The process to evaluate transfer of credits is found on the Credentials & Evaluation webpage and should be initiated during the student’s first quarter. Please meet with an advisor if you have any questions about the transfer of credits. Use the following digital and physical mailing addresses if prompted by the previous college or university’s registrar:
credentials@edmonds.edu
Edmonds College
ATTN: Credentials
20000 68th Ave West
Lynnwood, WA 98036
The academic advisor for this program is:
Cathy Dominguez | cathy.dominguez@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1242
The faculty advisors for this program are:
Scott Haddock, JD | scott.haddock@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1185
Theresa Pouley, JD | theresa.pouley@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1688
Ted Chen, JD | edward.chen@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1552
Program Website: Paralegal Program | edmonds.edu/legal
Certificate General Information
Credit/Grade Requirements A minimum of 30 credits or one-third of the required college-level (100-level or above) credits, whichever is less, must be earned at Edmonds College. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all college-level courses.
Program of Study Outcomes Student achievement is assessed in the general and program specific outcomes via the courses and course objectives that align with those outcomes. More information about program outcomes and course objectives can be found on the Using Program Requirement Sheets page.
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; and
- Communicate with an academic advisor and/or a faculty advisor.
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.
Common Course Numbering Please refer to www.edmonds.edu/ccn for more information.
College Resources
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