Per the American Bar Association,
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.
(ABA House of Delegates, 2020)
California has also codified the definition of a paralegal in its Business and Professions Code:
'Paralegal' means a person who holds himself or herself out to be a paralegal, who is qualified by education, training, or work experience, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060, or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of this state, that has been specifically delegated by the attorney to him or her. Tasks performed by a paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, development, and management; legal research; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or administrative rule or regulation.
(Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6450 et seq.)
Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Although paralegals are most commonly employed in law firms, they may be employed in a variety of organizations in the public and private sectors, working under the supervision of attorneys. Effective utilization of paralegals can provide an economic advantage to organizations, improves efficiency and access to legal services.
The fundamental skills developed in paralegal education and employment also add value in other career paths, including compliance, contract management, advocacy, human resources, risk management, nonprofit work, banking, real estate, and project management.
USD’s Paralegal Employment Assistance program can help you plan and navigate your career path.
California’s Business and Professions Code 6450(c) provides that a paralegal must possess at least one of the following qualifications:
- Completion of a paralegal certificate program approved by the American Bar Association.
- Completion of a paralegal program from an institution with national or regional accreditation.
- A baccalaureate degree and a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney meeting the requirements of the code.
- A high school diploma and a minimum of three years of law-related experience completed prior to 2004 under the supervision of an attorney meeting the requirements of the code.
USD’s Paralegal Program is approved by the American Bar Association, meeting the criteria in the first listed qualification. Many hiring managers prefer to hire paralegals holding an ABA-approved certificate because the guidelines of the ABA focus on standards of quality in paralegal education.
There is no mandatory paralegal certification examination for paralegals. Students who successfully complete the USD Paralegal Program curriculum with a grade point average of 2.0 or better qualify to work as paralegals.
The USD Paralegal Program began in 1975 and in 1977 became the first ABA-approved Paralegal Program in San Diego. Beginning in 2019, the program became known as USD School of Law Paralegal Program, becoming one of only a few ABA-approved paralegal programs affiliated with an ABA-accredited law school.
- Recognized quality and highly regarded in the legal community.
- Program is delivered fully online through mostly synchronous delivery, complying with ABA requirements for synchronous instruction.
- Active Advisory Committee assists with program evaluation and effectiveness.
- Employment assistance offered to all qualified students.
- Full service USD School of Law library with convenient hours.
- Internships to gain real world experience and hit the ground running (for students located in San Diego County).
- Faculty comprised of experienced practitioners, committed to the training and utilization of paralegals.
- Superior student support and personalized attention from dedicated program staff.
USD's Day Certificate Program requires students to complete 24 units over one or two terms. Students in the Intensive Day Program will complete 24 units in one term (4 months) — an ideal option for the student who wishes to enter the legal profession quickly. Students in the Extended Day Program complete the coursework at a slower pace, splitting the 24 units over two terms (8 months). Applicants for the day certificate program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution to be considered for admission (no exceptions).
USD's Evening Certificate Program is available to candidates who possess a baccalaureate degree or associate of arts or science degree from an accredited postsecondary institution and is ideal for candidates who are working full time and seeking a career change or advancement. Students in the Evening Program will complete 24 units in just under one year (three terms).
Applications are processed on a rolling basis. Contact us or visit sandiego.edu/paralegal for the exact application deadline for your preferred program. As a guideline, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all application items 4-6 weeks prior to the program start date. Click here for application requirements.
While we focus on California law, our programs are ABA-approved. The ABA is a national approving body, and ABA-approval is nationally recognized. Therefore, we understand some applicants from outside of California may be interested in earning a certificate at USD, remotely.
USD is currently authorized to enroll students from every U.S. state except those listed on this web page, and enrolled students must remain located in an authorized state for the duration of their program. Please note that the job board we manage for our graduates is focused on jobs in San Diego County, but we are able to offer advice on job seeking in your area.
Internship, which is an elective course, is only available to students able to complete an on-site internship in San Diego County.
Applicants should review the sample schedules (Day and Evening) to ensure they can participate in synchronous courses (Pacific Time Zone).
Learn more about paralegal student experiences by connecting with us on social media.