Paralegal
Paralegals, or legal assistants, have come to occupy a recognized place of importance in the legal profession. Responsibilities are broad and may include interviewing clients and witnesses; conducting investigations; developing evidence, legal research, legal document preparation, legal case management; and providing general litigation assistance in various agencies and in the courts.

A legal assistant/paralegal cannot give legal advice, represent a client in court, set a fee, or accept a case; these functions are generally considered the practice of law.

Students must complete all specifically listed courses and Major Area Requirements with a minimum grade of "C" or better in order to successfully complete the program and earn the award.

Refer to the Degree & Certificate Requirements Section of the Clark College Catalog to identify the courses needed to satisfy the General Education Requirements.
Paralegal (CP)
Designed for students with prior college and law office experience.
General Education Requirements
Communication Skills (3 credits required)
 
Human Relations (3 credits required)
CMST&210
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
5 cr.
or CMST&230
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
5 cr.
Computational Skills (3 credits required)
 
Major Area Requirements
BTEC 122
WORD FOR BUSINESS
5 cr.
or BTEC 125
INTRODUCTION TO WORD
3 cr.
PRLE 101
INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL THEORY
3 cr.
PRLE 102
LEGAL ETHICS
3 cr.
PRLE 103
LEGAL RESEARCH
3 cr.
PRLE 106
LEGAL WRITING
3 cr.
PRLE 109
CIVIL LITIGATION AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
or PRLE 110
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 151
LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION
3 cr.
PRLE 203
COMPUTER RESEARCH IN LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 209
INSURANCE CLAIMS CASE PREPARATION
3 cr.
PRLE 299
PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP
1-3 cr.
Additional Major Area Requirements
Select a minimum of 15 credits:
PRLE 109
CIVIL LITIGATION AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
or PRLE 110
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 115
LAW OFFICE PROCEDURES AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
3 cr.
PRLE 204
FAMILY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 205
ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 206
REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 207
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
3 cr.
PRLE 208
BANKRUPTCY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 210
LEGAL WRITING II
3 cr.
PRLE 211
TORT LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 212
LAW AND ECONOMICS
3 cr.
PRLE 290
SPECIAL PROJECTS
1-5 cr.
PRLE 295
CASA SPECIAL PROJECT
1-5 cr.
Recommended Electives (Not Required)
Typing skills with at least 40 wpm.
BTEC 147
PROFESSIONAL SELF-DEVELOPMENT
2 cr.
BTEC 150
COMPUTER BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
5 cr.
Total Required Credits: 54-58


To learn more about this program's employment outlook, approximate cost and potential careers, please visit the Gainful Employment Program Information page.
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are overarching skills that are emphasized and reinforced throughout several courses in a specific program; they are measurable statements that define what students should be able to do by the end of a certificate or degree at Clark College.
  • Assist attorneys by investigating cases and other legal matters, interviewing clients and witnesses.
  • Perform independent and attorney-supervised legal research; prepare correspondence.
  • Use accurate language, including written and oral legal terminology.
  • Format and prepare various legal documents and pleadings for use in court, with multiple parties, and relating to the various business entities.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of computers, specialized legal-office software, and other technological applications; establish and maintain manual and electronic filing systems.
  • Demonstrate the interpersonal skills required to engage with the legal community, clients and the public; corporate and other business executives; and government officials at all levels.
  • Present and defend legal viewpoints through written and oral assignments.
  • Identify and evaluate ethical issues and standards of practice pertaining to legal professionals; select an appropriate framework for appropriately responding to situations requiring legal, moral and ethical judgments.
General Education Outcomes
  • Communications: Communicate with various audiences using a variety of methods as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Human Relations: Demonstrate interpersonal/human relations skills as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Computational Skills: Solve quantitative problems and interpret the solutions as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
Paralegal (AAS)
Designed for students with no prior college and law office experience.
General Education Requirements
Communication Skills (6 credits required)
ENGL&101
ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
5 cr.
ENGL 212
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
3 cr.
Health & Physical Education (3 credits required)
3 cr.
Computational Skills (3 credits required)
MATH 065
FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS MATHEMATICS
5 cr.
Human Relations (3 credits required)
CMST&210
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
5 cr.
or CMST&230
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
5 cr.
Humanities (3 credits required)
 
Social Sciences (3 credits required)
PSYC&100
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
5 cr.
Natural Sciences (3 credits required)
 
Major Area Requirements
BTEC 122
WORD FOR BUSINESS
5 cr.
or BTEC 125
INTRODUCTION TO WORD
3 cr.
BTEC 150
COMPUTER BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
5 cr.
BTEC 165
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
3 cr.
or BTEC 169
INTRODUCTION TO EXCEL
3 cr.
or BTEC 170
EXCEL FOR BUSINESS
3 cr.
or BTEC 175
ACCESS FOR BUSINESS
3 cr.
BUS 028
BASIC ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES
3 cr.
BUS& 201
BUSINESS LAW
5 cr.
ENGL 212
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
3 cr.
POLS 111
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
5 cr.
or POLS 131
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
5 cr.
or POLS 141
SURVEY OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
3 cr.
or POLS 171
SURVEY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
3 cr.
PRLE 101
INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL THEORY
3 cr.
PRLE 102
LEGAL ETHICS
3 cr.
PRLE 103
LEGAL RESEARCH
3 cr.
PRLE 106
LEGAL WRITING
3 cr.
PRLE 109
CIVIL LITIGATION AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
or PRLE 110
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 150
INTERVIEWING, INVESTIGATION AND EVIDENCE
3 cr.
PRLE 151
LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION
3 cr.
PRLE 203
COMPUTER RESEARCH IN LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 209
INSURANCE CLAIMS CASE PREPARATION
3 cr.
PRLE 299
PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP
1-3 cr.
Additional Major Area Requirements
Select a minimum of 15 credits:
PRLE 109
CIVIL LITIGATION AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
or PRLE 110
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 115
LAW OFFICE PROCEDURES AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
3 cr.
PRLE 204
FAMILY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 205
ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 206
REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 207
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
3 cr.
PRLE 208
BANKRUPTCY LAW
3 cr.
PRLE 210
LEGAL WRITING II
3 cr.
PRLE 211
TORT LAW AND PROCEDURES
3 cr.
PRLE 212
LAW AND ECONOMICS
3 cr.
PRLE 290
SPECIAL PROJECTS
1-5 cr.
PRLE 295
CASA SPECIAL PROJECT
1-5 cr.
Recommended Elective (Not required)
Typing skills with at least 40 wpm.
BTEC 147
PROFESSIONAL SELF-DEVELOPMENT
2 cr.
Total Required Credits: 94-98
* CMST courses may not count for more than two distribution areas of general education requirements.
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are overarching skills that are emphasized and reinforced throughout several courses in a specific program; they are measurable statements that define what students should be able to do by the end of a certificate or degree at Clark College.
  • Assist attorneys by investigating cases and other legal matters, interviewing clients and witnesses, making decisions and solving legal problems.
  • Perform independent and attorney-supervised legal research, applying and presenting legal principles in an industry-accepted manner for use in various legal contexts and environments.
  • Comprehend and prepare legal documents and correspondence and assist attorneys with the drafting of such documents through editing and proofreading.
  • Demonstrate the interpersonal skills required to engage with the legal community, clients and the public, corporate and other business executives and government officials at all levels.
  • Identify, analyze and evaluate ethical issues and standards of practice pertaining to legal professionals; select an appropriate framework for resolving ethical dilemmas around sound professionalism; and respond appropriately to situations requiring legal, moral and ethical judgments.
  • Demonstrate effective organizational, time-management and interpersonal skills in the workplace.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of computers, specialized legal-office software, and other technological applications; establish and maintain manual and electronic filing systems.
  • Present and defend legal viewpoints through written and oral assignments.
General Education Outcomes
  • Communications: Communicate with various audiences using a variety of methods as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Human Relations: Demonstrate interpersonal/human relations skills as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Computational Skills: Solve quantitative problems and interpret the solutions as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Health and PE: Demonstrate progress toward healthier behaviors as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Humanities: Analyze, interpret, and evaluate works and ideas in the Humanities within appropriate global and historical contexts as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Social Science: Evaluate, analyze, and explain events, behaviors, and institutions using perspectives and methods in the Social Sciences as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Science: Apply fundamental principles and relationships from the Natural Sciences to solve problems as appropriate for a career and technical education program.