Paralegal Studies Certificate Program

Susan M. Sullivan, M.A., Director

The Paralegal Studies Certificate Program is offered for students who are interested in law-related careers. The program can provide useful insights for students interested in law school, as well as give a basis for future decisions about their legal career.

Paralegals are trained members of a legal team who work under the supervision of attorneys. They are involved in most phases of legal services, including interviewing of clients, legal research, and the drafting of documents. Graduates of the program are employed by law firms, banks, corporations, and government agencies.

Students who successfully complete the program receive a certificate upon their graduation from USD. Employment assistance is available to graduates. Pre-employment workshops aid the student in preparing for the job search. This program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Students must formally apply for admission to the program and be accepted before they register for any Paralegal Studies courses. To be considered for the program, students must have achieved second-semester junior standing at USD and a grade point average of at least 3.0. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Courses are taught by practicing attorneys, each of whom has experience in his or her respective field of law.

The undergraduate certificate program in Paralegal Studies includes 18 units of coursework. All students in the program must complete PLST 400, 405, and 498. ENGL 304W or an upper-division English literature course is a prerequisite or may be taken concurrently with PLST 400 and 405. In addition, each student selects one specialty course from PLST 420 or 450. Students must also take a non-credit computer class. Contact the program office or go to http://www.sandiego.edu/paralegal for more information.

Courses (PLST)

400 Introduction to Law / 2 UNITS
This course will familiarize students with the nature, meaning, and source of law; the organization of the legal system and the legal profession; law office procedures; professional ethics; and areas not covered in the specialty.

405 Legal Research / 2 UNITS
Students will develop the skills necessary to do legal research by studying the structure of state and federal courts, as well as learning how to use primary and secondary sources of law; judicial reports; case findings; and annotated law reports.

420 Business Litigation / 9 UNITS
This course will provide students with an understanding of the laws, procedures, and skills that are part of the legal business practice. Students will become familiar with contracts, understand the different types of business entities, and the basics of the litigation process. An intellectual property component provides an overview of trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.

450 General Litigation / 9 UNITS
This specialty will include theory and practical skills in the areas of civil and criminal litigation, family law, and real estate. Civil and criminal litigation will include both federal and state court rules, and will emphasize procedures for processing cases through the court system. State court practice will be based on California law, but with sufficient understanding to be adapted to other states.

498 Internship / 2 UNITS
Students are placed in law offices, legal clinics, government agencies, and corporations to gain legal experience by working in the business environment.