The Paralegal Certificate program is approved by the American Bar Association and is offered at both the Pleasant Hill campus. It can be completed as a stand alone certificate or as part of a Bachelor of Arts completion degree in Legal Studies. Students who attend full-time can complete the certificate requirements in less than one year.
Paralegals are highly respected and valued in the legal profession. They enjoy a high rate of job satisfaction while working in an environment that is fast-paced and professional. Paralegals play a vital role in providing legal services under the supervision and direction of an attorney. Paralegals cannot provide legal advice except as directed by an attorney nor can they establish a client/business relationship or represent a client in court.
This Paralegal Certificate program provides students with upper-division coursework that is current and focuses on the practical application of substantive law while encouraging critical thinking, ethical conduct and social responsibility. Students enrolled in the certificate program may apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies at any time.
Curriculum
Our curriculum complies with California Business and Professions code sections 6450 through 6456 requiring paralegals to be educated at an accredited institution offering a minimum of 37 quarter units of legal specialty coursework.
Students completing the Paralegal Certificate or the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies will be able to do the following:
All certificate courses must be taken in residence – no transfers are accepted.
Students will earn their Paralegal certificate upon successful completion of 40 quarter units of legal specialty courses with a GPA of 2.0 or better. The 43-quarter unit curriculum includes 12 legal specialty courses, of which 9 are required courses and 3 are elective.
CORE Courses (31 units)
PLS 3001 - Introduction to Law (4 units)
PLS 3002 - Legal Research (4 units)
PLS 3003 - Legal Writing (4 units)
PLS 3004 - Legal Ethics (2 units)
PLS 3005 - Tort Law (4 units)
PLS 3008 - Litigation I (4 units)
PLS 3009 - Litigation II (4 units)
PLS 3010 - Legal Technology Applications and Management (4 units)
PLS 3011 - Paralegal Capstone (1 units)
Electives (select 12 units from the following courses)
PLS 3006 - Contract Law (4 units)
PLS 3007 - Property (4 units)
PLS 3015 - Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning (4 units)
PLS 3019 - Bankruptcy Law (4 units)
PLS 3021 - Real Estate Law (4 units)
PLS 3023 - Criminal Law (4 units)
PLS 3025 - Business Organizations/Corporations (4 units)
PLS 3027 - Family Law (4 units)
PLS 3029 - Evidence (4 units)
PLS 3031 - Intellectual Property (4 units)
PLS 3035 - Immigration Law (4 units)
PLS 3037 - Environmental Law (4 units)
PLS 3040 - Internship (3 units)
PLS 3042 - Skills Workshop (1 unit)
John F. Kennedy University is an affiliate of the National University System.