Paralegal

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal program is designed to provide students with the education for a paralegal career. The program covers substantive and procedural areas of law, including legal ethics, civil procedure, criminal procedure, legal research, and legal writing. The program trains students in legal skills sets, preparing students for industry certification and employment in a multitude of legal settings. The program includes both a Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal and an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal. While this program was not designed to transfer to a 4-year university or stand alone as a pre-law major, it may apply toward Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) or other programs.

Details

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Paralegal (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3126
Total credits required
65-70
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Define the boundaries of the paralegal career field.
  • Explain the duties assigned and the responsibilities delegated to paralegals, including the knowledge of legal ethics.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a culturally responsive manner with lawyers, clients, witnesses, court personnel, co-workers and other legal/business professionals.
  • Analyze factual and legal information for use in preparing legal documents.
  • Research print and electronic sources.
  • Analyze legal sources including statutes, rules of court, rules of evidence, case law and regulations, and apply them to a given set of facts.
  • Describe the sources of law, hierarchy and powers of various state and federal courts.
  • Demonstrate the paralegal's role during a legal matter, including preparing pleadings, motions, discovery and other documents.
  • Analyze substantive and procedural areas of law, including legal ethics, civil procedure, criminal procedure, legal writing, and legal research.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

$55,560

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
PAR101 Introduction to the Paralegal Profession Gateway course 3
PAR102 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I Critical course 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
ENG102 or
ENG108 or
ENG111		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing Critical course FYC or FYC or L 3
PAR103 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing II To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term 3
PAR104 Ethics for the Paralegal To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term 3
PAR106 Legal Foundations for Paralegals To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term 3
PAR112 Civil Litigation I To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR114 Civil Litigation II To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term 3
PAR206 Paralegal Business Law To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term 3
PAR208 Introduction to Tort Law To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term 3
PAR224 Law Office Technology for the Paralegal To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term 3
MAT112 Mathematical Concepts and Applications OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course

MAT14+ or any higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area recommended for transfer

 		3–6

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 3
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 3
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 0–3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences AJS101, AJS200, AJS225, or AJS258 recommended SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design AJS123 recommended HU 3

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR230 Family Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR232 Bankruptcy Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR233 Real Estate Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR234 Administrative Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR236 Estate and Elder Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR237 Paralegals and Environmental Law 3
PAR238 Immigration Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR239 Legal Investigation for the Paralegal 3
PAR240 Introduction to eDiscovery for the Paralegal 3
PAR260 Legal Career Preparation 1
PAR290AA Internship for the Paralegal 1
PAR290AB Internship for the Paralegal 2
POS110 American National Government SB 3
POS221 Arizona Constitution 1
POS222 U.S. Constitution 2

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR101 Introduction to the Paralegal Profession Gateway course 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR102 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I Critical course 3
ENG102 or
ENG108 or
ENG111		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing Critical course FYC or FYC or L 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
PAR104 Ethics for the Paralegal 3
PAR106 Legal Foundations for Paralegals 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
PAR103 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing II 3
PAR112 Civil Litigation I 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR114 Civil Litigation II 3
PAR206 Paralegal Business Law 3
MAT112 Mathematical Concepts and Applications OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course

MAT14+ or any higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area recommended for transfer

 		3–6

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR208 Introduction to Tort Law 3
PAR224 Law Office Technology for the Paralegal 3
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences AJS101, AJS200, AJS225, or AJS258 recommended SB 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 3
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design AJS123 recommended HU 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Electives Recommended restrictive electives include PAR230, PAR233, PAR236, PAR260 0–3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAR230 Family Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR232 Bankruptcy Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR233 Real Estate Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR234 Administrative Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR236 Estate and Elder Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR237 Paralegals and Environmental Law 3
PAR238 Immigration Law for the Paralegal 3
PAR239 Legal Investigation for the Paralegal 3
PAR240 Introduction to eDiscovery for the Paralegal 3
PAR260 Legal Career Preparation 1
PAR290AA Internship for the Paralegal 1
PAR290AB Internship for the Paralegal 2
POS110 American National Government SB 3
POS221 Arizona Constitution 1
POS222 U.S. Constitution 2
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=184293).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal