Legal Education Requirements (44 credits)
PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
Legal Analysis & Critical Thinking: Apply analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills to perform substantive paralegal work under the direction of a licensed attorney.
Court Systems & Civil Litigation Processes: Understand state and federal court systems, the civil litigation process, and the paralegal’s role in applying Washington Court Rules, drafting pleadings and motions, and assisting with discovery.
Legal Research Proficiency: Conduct effective legal research by locating and analyzing primary and secondary sources, using online databases, and implementing strategies to organize, update, and apply research results.
Legal Writing & Document Preparation: Draft client correspondence, legal memoranda, and litigation documents, using critical thinking, structured legal reasoning, proper citations, and professional format, style, and tone.
Professional Communication & Client Interaction: Demonstrate practical oral and written communication skills necessary for collaborative work with attorneys, clients, and legal professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Legal Technology Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in legal technology tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, billing, calendaring, electronic discovery, and trial preparation to manage cases, draft documents, and support litigation.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility: Identify ethical and professional responsibility concerns relevant to paralegals and attorneys, including the unauthorized practice of law and confidentiality obligations.
Career Management: Demonstrate the ability to research employment opportunities, prepare an effective employment package, and present oneself positively in a job interview.
*See Program Notes
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 cannot practice law independently. Washington General Rule (GR) 24 defines the “practice of law” as providing legal advice, representing clients in legal proceedings, negotiating legal matters, and applying legal principles to specific situations. Additionally, Washington’s Rule of Professional Conduct (RPC) 5.3 outlines attorneys’ ethical responsibilities in supervising paralegals. Within these guidelines, paralegals play a crucial role in supporting attorneys and clients. Their responsibilities 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 offers a remote pathway for completing this program. While traditional on-campus courses are recommended when possible, students may complete the program remotely with careful planning and guidance from a faculty or academic advisor to ensure proper course selection and compliance with the face-to-face instruction requirement set by the American Bar Association (ABA). At least 14 credits must include real-time interaction, such as live-streaming classes where students are required to attend and actively participate.
Face-to-Face Instruction Requirement: Per ABA Guidelines, students must complete at least 14 legal credits through live instruction. This requirement can be met through traditional on-campus courses, online courses with real-time interaction (live-streaming classes where students are required to attend and actively participate), or hybrid courses, with only the live instruction hours counting toward the requirement. A 5-credit hybrid course counts as 4 face-to-face credits, a 3-credit hybrid course counts as 2 face-to-face credits, and a 2-credit hybrid course counts as 1 face-to-face credit. Online courses without published meeting times, LEGAL 291, LEGAL 299, and 1-credit hybrid courses do not count toward this requirement. The college will verify that students meet the face-to-face instruction requirement before graduation, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure compliance.
Bachelor’s Degree Requirement: To earn this certificate, students must have a Bachelor’s Degree either before enrolling or while completing the program. Students must request official transcripts from their previous college or university’s registrar and submit them to Edmonds College Credentials. This should be done as soon as possible, as the transcript approval process can take several weeks and must be completed before graduation. If the previous institution requires specific submission methods, students should use the digital and physical mailing addresses listed under “Transfer of Credits” below.
Grade Requirements: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all required legal courses to graduate. For LEGAL 200, LEGAL 205, LEGAL 210, LEGAL 228, and LEGAL 240, students must earn a minimum grade of 2.0. Those who do not meet this requirement must retake the course until they achieve at least a 2.0. If a course is repeated, any higher grade earned will replace the lower grade in the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA.
Technology Skills Requirement: Per ABA Guidelines, students must demonstrate appropriate technology skills before graduating from this program. This requirement is fulfilled by completing LEGAL 228 with a minimum grade of 2.0 within five years of graduating. Alternatively, students with extensive and current legal technology experience may request a waiver and substitution by submitting a “Technology Requirement Waiver and Course Substitution” form to their Paralegal faculty advisor for approval. The form requires students to demonstrate that their legal technology experience aligns with the objectives of LEGAL 228. If approved, students may substitute five additional Legal Elective credits in place of 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 meet this requirement. Students should communicate with a paralegal faculty advisor 4 to 6 weeks before the start of the quarter to receive an internship packet, support on locating an internship, and other course information. Students must 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.
Additionally, previously offered Legal Electives that no longer appear on this Program Requirement Sheet but were listed on past Program Requirement Sheets for the Edmonds College Paralegal Program may be used toward current program requirements, provided they are no older than 10 years at the time the student’s graduation application is submitted. However, LEGAL 282 must be no older than three years at the time the graduation application is submitted.
Legal Program Requirements Note: LEGAL 200 and LEGAL 240 may be no older than 10 years at the time the student’s graduation application is submitted, while LEGAL 205, LEGAL 210, and LEGAL 228 must be no older than five years at that time to count toward program requirements.
Transfer of Legal Credits
- Legal Credits: Up to 20 legal credits may be transferred into this program with written approval from a Paralegal faculty advisor, including approval via email. To qualify for transfer, legal credits must: (1) be from an ABA-approved paralegal program accredited at the time the credits were earned, (2) have a minimum grade of 2.0, and (3) be no older than 10 years from the date of completion. However, LEGAL 282 must be no older than three years, while LEGAL 205, LEGAL 210, and LEGAL 228 must be no older than five years. Additionally, because LEGAL 205 and LEGAL 210 are state-specific courses, they may only be transferred from an ABA-approved paralegal program located in Washington State.
- Transcript Evaluation: The process to evaluate the 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:
Rhian Lindhjem | rhian.lindhjem@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1957
The faculty advisors for this program are:
Professor Ted Chen, JD | edward.chen@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1552
Professor Scott Haddock, JD | scott.haddock@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1185
Professor Theresa Pouley, JD | theresa.pouley@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1688
Program Website: Paralegal Program | edmonds.edu/legal
