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Legal Studies

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Overview

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The Legal Studies program at American River College is approved by the American Bar Association. ARC’s Legal Studies program has been preparing students for entry-level positions in this profession for over 30 years.

California Business & Professions Code (B & P Code) section 6450 defines a “paralegal” as a person qualified by education, training, or work experience, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts.

Tasks performed by a paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation.

Paralegals may not provide legal advice, nor may they may provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

NOTE: Nine (9) semester credits of legal speciality coursework must be completed through synchronous instruction.

We Offer Two Program Paths

Our Program offers both an AA in Paralegal Studies and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. The path you take will depend upon your prior college experience. 

Students who have not yet obtained an AA degree must follow the AA path. Students who have already obtained an AA degree or higher can follow the Certificate path.

Both the American Bar Association and California law require paralegals to have general education experience in addition to legal specialty coursework. These dual paths reflect that requirement. Legal specialty coursework is the same in both paths. The only difference is that the AA path requires completion of additional general education requirements as well.

You may see an additional certificate, the "Law Office Clerical Assistant Certificate" cross-listed in our materials. Please note that the Law Office Clerical Certificate is operated by the Business Department. It is not approved by the American Bar Association and it does not prepare students to work as paralegals.

Goals and Student Learning Outcomes for the Legal Studies Program

The Program prepares students for an entry-level position as a legal assistant or paralegal, with basic substantive and procedural knowledge necessary to assist the supervising attorney in providing legal services to clients, and in full compliance with California Business and Professions Code section 6450 regarding preparation for work in this field.

  • Incorporate basic legal theories in various substantive areas of law as required by supervising attorney.
  • Define and use legal terminology accurately and appropriately.
  • Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information and evidence.
  • Research relevant legal authority.
  • Verify the currency of relevant legal authority.
  • Draft correspondence to be sent to clients or opposing counsel and others.
  • Prepare basic legal documents for signature and submission to court by the supervising attorney.
  • Organize professional assignments efficiently.
  • Support the supervising attorney in all phases of legal practice.
  • Demonstrate ethical behavior in the legal setting.
  • Recognize acts that may constitute the unlicensed practice of law.
  • Express their thoughts effectively, both orally and in writing, with attorneys and clients.

Transfer Credit Policy

1. Introduction. Courses transferred to American River College may fulfill requirements of general education, legal specialty courses, or non-legal specialty courses. Legal specialty courses are designed for legal assisting students and emphasize the development of practical paralegal skills. At American River College, legal specialty course are designated with a “LA” prefix.

2. Legal Specialty Courses Defined. “Legal specialty” is a term of art unique to ABA approval. In order for a paralegal course to qualify as legal specialty, it must meet all of the following elements: (1) cover substantive law or legal procedure or process; (2) be developed for paralegals; (3) emphasize practical paralegal skills; and (4) meet the instructional requirements of the ABA.

3. Transfer of Legal Specialty Coursework. A maximum of 9 credit hours of legal specialty (assigned the prefix LA) coursework may be transferred into the program from a nationally accredited, ABA-approved, paralegal studies or legal assisting program.

4. Transfer of Non-Legal Specialty Coursework from Other Institutions. Transfer credit evaluation of general education courses and non-legal specialty courses is handled in accordance with college policies.

5. Time Limit on Transfer of Coursework. Transfer units from other institutions will not be accepted for transfer credit if they are older than three years. The Legal Assisting program requires that a transfer student successfully complete a minimum of 10 hours of face-to-face instruction in the Legal Assisting program at ARC.

Roadmaps

Road maps lay out all of the courses you need to take for a given degree or certificate.

A.A./A.S. Degrees

Certificates