Paralegal Certificate

This program, approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), combines an understanding of legal principles, legal analysis, and ethical considerations with practical applications.

Courses lead to an ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate. To be awarded the Paralegal Certificate, the student must complete the certificate requirements and complete or submit evidence of having completed a degree (Associate or higher) from a regionally accredited institution, including ENG 1021, or the equivalent. Students who have not completed the degree requirement must complete the Associates of Applied Science - Paralegal Degree to receive the Paralegal Certificate.

In order to meet ABA requirements, only certain online Paralegal courses are applicable to this certificate. If the class is offered at CCA under the PAR prefix, it will apply to the certificate requirements. If you are transferring in paralegal credits, you are responsible for proving the method of delivery.

Students must take at least 10 semester credits of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction. Students must take at least 15 credit hours of paralegal courses at CCA in order to receive the paralegal certificate.

You must apply for graduation on the website prior to your final semester to receive your certificate.

*A paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Any act performed by a paralegal that requires a legal license to perform, unless otherwise authorized by applicable court rules, constitutes unauthorized practice of law.

Certificate Requirements: 30 credits

Certificate Emphasis Requirements: 21 credits

PAR 1115	Introduction to Law	3
PAR 1116	Torts	3
	OR
PAR 2205	Criminal Law	3
PAR 1118	Contracts	3
PAR 2201	Civil Litigation	3
PAR 2213	Legal Research and Writing I	3
PAR 2214	Legal Research and Writing II	3
PAR 2080	Internship	3
	OR
PAR 2085	Independent Study	3

PAR 1116, PAR 2205 Students may take either Torts or Criminal Law to meet the emphasis requirements, or they may take both courses, one as an elective.

Electives: 9 credits

Select three courses from the following:

PAR 1116	Torts	3
PAR 1117	Family Law	3
PAR 1125	Property Law	3
PAR 2205	Criminal Law	3
PAR 2206	Business Organizations	3
PAR 2207	Current Issues in Law	3
PAR 2208	Probate and Estates	3
PAR 2216	Employment Law	3
PAR 2227	Immigration Law	3
PAR 2075	Special Topics	3
	Any other PAR courses approved by the department

PAR 1116, PAR 2205: Students may take either Torts or Criminal Law to meet the emphasis requirements, or they may take both courses, one as an elective.