Paralegal (PLGL) Courses
PLGL 299 Experimental Offering in Paralegal
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
PLGL 300 Introduction to Law and the American Legal System
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:ENGL C1000, ENGL C1000H, or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course introduces the American legal system, covering its historical roots, court structures, lawmaking processes, and key legal fields. Students learn the role of paralegals and ethics in legal practice, the basics of legal research and writing, and the essentials of civil and criminal law. This course was formerly known as LA 300 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 310 Civil Procedures and Litigation
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is an introduction to the California court system with emphasis on understanding the practical aspects of litigation and the proper procedures required by statutes and rules of court. It covers the phases of California court procedure, including state and federal constitutional limitations, jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, and motions. It also includes the forms by which matters are submitted to the court system from pre-litigation through appeals. This course was formerly known as LA 310 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 312 Torts and Personal Injury
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is an overview of substantive tort law as it pertains to personal injury (PI) cases. Students explore key concepts, including negligence, intentional torts, and strict liability, as well as the essential elements required to establish liability and the defenses available to defendants. The course also covers pretrial procedures, focusing on discovery, settlement negotiations, and preparation of witnesses and trial materials. This course was formerly known as LA 312 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 314 Contract Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course introduces essential contract principles, including formation, enforceability, third-party rights, performance, breach, and remedies. Students analyze contract disputes, draft enforceable agreements, and identify common defenses, gaining practical skills for work in the legal field. This course was formerly known as LA 314 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 320 Legal Research
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course equips paralegals with foundational skills in legal research. Students learn to locate, interpret, and apply primary and secondary legal sources effectively. Topics include analyzing court decisions, briefing cases, and navigating essential research tools to support legal analysis and case preparation. This course was formerly known as LA 320 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 321 Legal Writing
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 320 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is a continuation of PLGL 320: Legal Research. Students learn to synthesize information effectively and apply it to produce key written documents used in a law office, including interoffice memoranda, court briefs, and client correspondence. Through practical exercises and feedback, students enhance their writing skills, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in their legal communications. This course was formerly known as LA 321 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 322 Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 321 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This elective course builds on the foundational skills from PLGL 320 and PLGL 321, emphasizing advanced legal research and analytical writing. It focuses on current codes, rules, and practices related to e-discovery and metadata mining. Students learn to draft motions regarding electronically stored information. The course also covers informal legal research and writing skills like those related to interviewing and investigating. Extensive use of computers and resources like Westlaw is included. This course was formerly known as LA 322 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 324 Law and Motion Practice
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 320 and 321 with grades of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU (effective Fall 2026)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course builds on what students learned in PLGL 320 and PLGL 321 to provide practical training in California law and motion practice. Students will develop advanced legal research and writing skills while drafting and preparing common motions, oppositions, and supporting documents used in California courts. The course deepens legal research and writing practice while also exposing students to real-world paralegal responsibilities related to motion drafting, review, and preparation.
PLGL 330 Family Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:PLGL 320
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers California Family Law, focusing on dissolution procedures, property division, and non-marital relationships. Emphasis is placed on legal procedures, the preparation of necessary forms, and the role of the paralegal in assisting family law attorneys throughout the litigation process. This course was formerly known as LA 330 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 332 Administrative Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: ADMJ 320, LA 332 and LA 334 combined: maximum credit, 1 course)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers administrative law and procedure. Topics include administrative due process and comparison of administrative law to civil and criminal law. This course was formerly known as LA 332 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 334 Criminal Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: ADMJ 320, LA 332 and LA 334 combined: maximum credit, 1 course)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course offers a comprehensive overview of substantive criminal law and the procedural rules governing the criminal justice system. Students examine key concepts, including the classification of crimes, elements of offenses and defenses, as well as the criminal procedure from arrest and filing of charges to trial, conviction, and appeal. Emphasis is placed on understanding the rights of the accused, the roles of various participants in the criminal justice process, and the impact of legal precedents on criminal law. This course was formerly known as LA 334 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 336 Immigration Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course introduces students to U.S. immigration and naturalization law, including the roles of key federal agencies. Students learn to prepare immigration documents, identify immigrant and nonimmigrant statuses, and understand procedures for deportation, exclusion, and asylum, with an emphasis on client interviewing skills. This course was formerly known as LA 336 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 342 Evidence
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:PLGL 310
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers federal and state evidence rules for trial preparation and litigation support. Topics include testimony, hearsay, documentary and demonstrative evidence, deposition transcripts, discovery objections, and the paralegal’s role in trial preparation and evidence management, with ethical considerations. This course was formerly known as LA 342 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 344 Interviewing and Investigating
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU (effective Fall 2026)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course introduces students to the principles and practices of effective legal interviewing and investigation within the paralegal profession. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical, interpersonal, and ethical skills required to gather, evaluate, and document information from clients, witnesses, and other sources. Students learn to conduct interviews and investigations under attorney supervision, while adhering to professional responsibility standards and rules governing legal proceedings.
PLGL 350 Law Office Management
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers aspects of the paralegal's role in a law office. Law office technology, accounting, time and records management, and communication skills are examined. This course was formerly known as LA 350 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 352 Legal Technology
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:PLGL 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course provides an introduction to the various technological tools and services used in the legal field. It covers, but is not limited to, technology for conducting electronic discovery, filing documents with the court, conducting legal research, and general case management. This course was formerly known as LA 352 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 360 Corporations Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course examines essential legal principles governing corporations, from formation to dissolution. Topics include business structures, corporate advantages, financing, statutory compliance, shareholder agreements, mergers, and dissolution. The course also introduces securities regulations and ethical considerations in corporate governance. This course was formerly known as LA 360 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 361 Trial Preparation
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 and 310 with grades of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU (effective Fall 2026)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course builds on the civil litigation foundations introduced in PLGL 310 and provides practical training in preparing a case for trial from a paralegal’s perspective. Students learn to organize and analyze discovery, manage evidence and exhibits, prepare witnesses, assemble trial notebooks, support attorneys in pretrial and courtroom procedures, and apply ethical and professional standards throughout the trial process.
PLGL 362 Estate Planning and Probate Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course covers estate planning, including property transfer methods, and probate procedures for testate and intestate estates. Students learn to prepare and file necessary documents, identify ethical issues, and recognize when to seek additional professional assistance. This course was formerly known as LA 362 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 364 Landlord Tenant Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course focuses on the most common types of landlord-tenant disputes. It covers litigation and non-litigation matters. Topics also include the different types of tenancy, what constitutes habitability, and tenant's rights and obligations. This course was formerly known as LA 364 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 366 Basic Bankruptcy Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course provides an introduction to the essential procedures and practical aspects of representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy cases. Topics include voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy filings, the preparation and filing of necessary statements and schedules, and the roles and responsibilities of paralegals in managing documentation and supporting litigation. This course was formerly known as LA 366 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 368 Workers' Compensation Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:PLGL 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course provides an overview of the Workers' Compensation Law in California. Students learn to prepare and file necessary documents, identify ethical issues, and understand legal arguments relevant to this field of law. This course was formerly known as LA 368 and is not open to students who have successfully completed that course.
PLGL 498 Work Experience in Legal Assisting
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Before students can participate in the Work Experience program, Los Rios Community College District must have a signed Employer Agreement on file with the student’s employer. If the employer already has an active agreement with the district (viewable at losrios.edu/wexpemployeragreement), no further action is required. In addition, students must have a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job that aligns with their career goals and a cooperating worksite supervisor who will sign all required course documents. Dual enrollment students are not permitted to enroll in Work Experience courses. Students are advised to consult with the Legal Assisting Department faculty to review specific certificate and degree work experience requirements.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:Local GE L7B
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course provides students with opportunities to reflect on their current skills, knowledge and abilities and explore how these are work assets and how these can be enhanced and/or developed to increase employability within the field of legal assisting. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in transfer-level degree occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce, completion of Title 5 required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at an approved work site, and developing workplace skills and competencies.
During the semester, the student is required to complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units.
Students new to Work Experience will be required to engage weekly while returning participants may meet individually with the instructor as needed. All students are required to attend the first course meeting.
Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times. Students are encouraged to develop new or expanded learning objectives in consultation with their employer when the course is repeated. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.
PLGL 499 Experimental Offering in Paralegal
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
