PARALEGAL SCHOOL FEATURE
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
The Certificate Program for Paralegal Studies at California State University, Los Angeles [By Devon Pryor] The campus of California State University, Los Angeles, is located in an ideal California setting. Cal State L.A. is close to the metropolis of downtown Los Angeles, with a view of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. Students have access to the surrounding areas via two major freeways, a bus system, and the only Metrolink commuter rail station on a Southern California campus. The school’s convenient central location is only a short distance from attractions such as Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Sports Arena and Coliseum, the MOCA Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles’ refurbished Chinatown and Little Tokyo, the recently reopened Griffith Park Observatory, and the famous Rose Bowl.
Cal State L.A. is a four-year institution
acquisitions, maintenance of corporate
Cal State L.A. The paralegal program is so
offering a number of post-baccalaureate
files, and other related matters. The
dedicated to career services that it requires
certificates through its Extended Education
course list for this track includes classes
students to attend information meetings,
department. The Certificate Program in
in income tax law and civil procedure, a
job fairs, and placement workshops as
Paralegal Studies is one of the school’s
three-course sequence in corporate law for
part of the formal program requirements.
best certificate programs; it was founded
paralegals, and one elective course in legal
Career services advocates for the paralegal
in 1972 and has had long-standing approval
writing, law office administration, or real
program use the contacts that the program
by the American Bar Association. The
estate for paralegals.
maintains within the legal community to help graduates find employment in law
program can be completed in a minimum of nine months, and the school operates on
The third track offered by Cal State L.A.’s
offices, banks, financial associations,
a quarter system. Applicants must prove
paralegal program is the general track.
insurance companies, corporations, and
that they have earned associate of arts
This track allows students to acquire
government agencies at all levels. In order
degrees or baccalaureate degrees from
the general background necessary for
to provide extra help in finding employment,
accredited institutions; each applicant also
effective functioning in the legal profession
the program offers seminars on job seeking
must have a minimum of 58 quarter or 39
and to elect courses that meet individual
and resume writing.
semester units of post-secondary credit.
career objectives. Required courses
Night classes are available.
include a course on legal research, a
Paralegal internships, which are both
course on law office administration, a
highly recommended by the paralegal
The courses in Cal State L.A.’s paralegal
course on civil procedure, and three
program’s coordinating staff and an
studies program are divided into three
elective courses chosen from the lists
important component of any resume,
tracks. The first of these is the litigation
of electives offered to students on the
can be handled in one of two ways.
track, which trains students to help
litigation and corporate tracks. Although
Students can enroll in a course called
attorneys gather factual materials for
the program has designed its course tracks
“Paralegal Internship” through the Cal
discovery, pleadings, and investigatory
to offer educational variety, students are
State L.A. paralegal studies program and
work. Classes required to complete
still required to take two core courses
earn academic credits for their work.
this track include a family law course,
regardless of the tracks they choose.
Because “Paralegal Internship” is a
a probate procedure course, a three-
These are “The Role of the Paralegal” and
course, students who elect to complete
course sequence in civil procedure, and an
“Introduction to the Law.” Students are
internships in this way must pay tuition
elective course in legal writing, law office
urged to get these courses out of the way
and complete coursework. Alternatively,
administration, real estate for paralegals,
as soon as possible.
students may elect to intern unofficially by contacting sponsors directly and
or corporate law for paralegals. The second track is the corporate track, which
According to the school’s website, the
arranging the terms of the internships
trains students to become either in-house
Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies
themselves. Although this does not
employees who handle corporations’ legal
at Cal State L.A. offers lifetime placement
earn students academic credits, it is
housekeeping or law firm paralegals who
assistance, and free student information
an acceptable method by which they
are involved in organization and liquidation
sessions are held quarterly to ensure that
can gain intern experience, and the Cal
of corporations, corporate mergers and
students get the most out of their time at
State L.A. paralegal studies program
PAGE
continued on back
PARALEGAL SCHOOL FEATURE
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
assists students who choose this route
Angeles Paralegal Association; assistance
Directory of ABA-approved Paralegal
by listing potential sponsors and their
through TERI, The Education Resource
Education Programs in California
requirements on the program website. In
Institute; and private scholarships from
www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/
addition to local internship opportunities,
sponsoring law offices.
directory/ca.html
postings.
ON THE NET
Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA)
Opportunities for tuition assistance within
Cal State L.A.’s Certificate Program in
the Cal State L.A. Certificate Program in
Paralegal Studies
Paralegal Studies include a 10% discount
www.calstatela.edu/exed/certificate/
on tuition for members of LAPA, the Los
paralegal.htm
the program website lists numerous job www.lapa.org/Aboutus.htm
PAGE