Paralegal
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) 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 provides students with legal skill sets, preparing students for industry certification and employment in a multitude of legal settings. Students may also pursue an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal.
Details
Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Paralegal (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5685
Total credits required
36-39
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Admission criteria
None.
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.
Career statistics
Successful completion of this certificate 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 certificate. 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 Show expanded career information for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
* 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.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
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 | |
| PAR101 | Introduction to the Paralegal Profession | Gateway course To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR102 | Foundations of the Paralegal Profession | Critical course To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term | 3 |
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 | |
| 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
| 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 | 3 | |||
| PAR208 | Introduction to Tort Law | 3 | |||
| PAR224 | Law Office Technology for the Paralegal | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
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 | |
| BPC110 or CIS105 |
Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems | CS or CS | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR102 | Foundations of the Paralegal Profession | Critical course To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR103 | Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing II | To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment. If exempt, consider taking PAR208 in this term |
L | 0–3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR104 | Ethics for the Paralegal | To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR112 | Civil Litigation I | To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR106 | Legal Foundations for Paralegals | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR114 | Civil Litigation II | To be taken in the first 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR224 | Law Office Technology for the Paralegal | To be taken in the second 8 weeks of term | 3 | ||
| PAR206 | Paralegal Business Law | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR208 | Introduction to Tort Law | Complete PAR208 in term 5 if not already completed in Term 2 | 3 |
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
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
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/freeForm11?id=184294).
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 Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal