Paralegal Preferred Pro-Certificate
Tacoma, USA
Certificate
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 10,573 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* $22,408 including fees and on-campus housing
Key Summary
About: The Paralegal Preferred Pro-Certificate prepares students with an Associate or Bachelor's degree to enter or advance in the legal field. Faculty represent multiple law areas and emphasize academic and professional integrity. The program lasts approximately one year and runs at Tacoma Community College near Tacoma and Seattle.
Career Outcomes: Paralegals learn to prepare legal documents, research and investigate, interview clients and witnesses, prepare probate inventories, organize files, and assist attorneys in litigation; they can't provide legal services directly to the public except as law allows. Potential roles include paralegal, legal assistant, litigation support specialist, and probate or corporate paralegal.
The Paralegal Preferred Pro-Certificate is designed for those who already possess an Associate or Bachelor’s degree and wish to enter the profession, or if already employed in the legal field, to enhance their career potential.
The Paralegal Preferred Pro-Certificate program is approximately a one-year program. Legal courses are taught by faculty in the paralegal program who represent various aspects of the field of law and hold high regard for academic and professional integrity.
- Fall 2023 - Application Deadline (Aug 15) and Classes Start (Sep 25)
- Winter 2024 - Application Deadline (Nov 15) and Classes Start (Jan 3)
- Spring 2024 - Application Deadline (Feb 15) and Classes Start (April 1)
Requirements
Students must complete all 53 credits.
- CU 105 Word I, Excel I 5
- PLST 106 Legal Document Production 3
- PLST 150 Paralegal Fundamentals and Ethics 5
- PLST 151 Legal Research & Writing I 5
- PLST 152 Intro to Civil Law 5
- PLST 153 Civil Procedure I 5
- PLST 154 Computer Applications in the Law 3
- PLST 156 Criminal Procedure for Paralegals 5
- PLST 232 Interviewing & Investigations 5
- PLST 233 Internship I (*Prereq: See Student Internship Manual) 5
- PLST 239 Transition Planning 1
- PLST 251 Legal Research & Writing II 3
- PLST 253 Civil Procedure II 3
- PLST 149, CU 108 Recommended but not required
Legal Specialty Elective Courses
Students must complete 3 credits.
PLST courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
- PLST 221 Family Law 3
- PLST 222 Probate/Estate Planning 3
- PLST 223 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) 3
- PLST 224 Real Estate Law 3
- PLST 225 Bankruptcy Law 3
- PLST 226 Administrative Law 3
- PLST 228 Employment Law 3
- PLST 231 Contracts/Commercial Transactions 3
- PLST 234 Internship II 5
- PLST 235 eDiscovery 3
Upon successful completion of the AAS degree in Paralegal and the Paralegal Preferred Pro Certificate, students will:
- Recognize ethical issues that arise in a legal work environment and apply rules of professional conduct to resolve them.
- Demonstrate oral and written skills that paralegals use on the job.
- Apply basic principles of legal analysis.
- Use computers and other technology for document production, law office management, and trial preparation.
- Demonstrate sensitivity through adaptability and flexibility in working with a diverse group of people.
- Manage multi-tasks while prioritizing them to meet deadlines.
What do paralegals do? Paralegals are trained to:
- Prepare legal documents
- Prepare clients for court hearings and mediation
- Conduct research and investigations
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Prepare probate inventories
- Help attorneys in litigation
- Organize and index documents
Paralegals cannot provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.