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Paralegal Studies (ABA Approved)

Professional Certificate

"With the Accelerated Program, I could be ready for a new job in just a few months and start working in my new career."
Andrea Finizio
Andrea Finizio

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About the Paralegal Studies (ABA Approved) Program

Courses

Delivery Method
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  • Live Online
  • In-Person
  • Online
  • Hybrid

Per ABA Paralegal Education Guidelines: All students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

All 10 courses are required

Introduction to the Legal SystemLAW-40000

Units: 1.00

$325

Be introduced to sources of American law and the systems by which the law is administered and enforced. Review the origins of law through the study of the U.S. Constitution and its development and ada...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Legal CommunicationsLAW-40015

Units: 2.00

$425

Understand the written and oral communication skills utilized in the law office environment. Also learn the practical skills necessary to begin solving a legal problem. Legal writing skills, client in...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Business LawLAW-40001

Units: 3.00

$525

Review the basic legal practice as it applies to business dealings. Topics include formation and interpretation of business organizations including corporations, exposure to commercial law, general an...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Computer Essentials for the Legal ProfessionalLAW-40070

Units: 3.00

$525

Computer Essentials for the Legal Professional is designed to familiarize students with computer software applications used in the law firm setting. Students will learn fundamental concepts of word pr...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Ethics for the Legal ProfessionalLAW-40028

Units: 1.00

$325

Legal professionals are required to know and follow the ethical standards and rules of professional conduct in order to stay current with their profession. You will learn day-to-day application of the...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Civil Litigation ILAW-40018

Units: 3.00

$525

Receive a thorough overview of the civil litigation process. The first of a two course series, instruction will cover the procedures for preparing a case for trial, from prelawsuit investigation throu...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Civil Litigation IILAW-40021

Units: 3.00

$525

Learn the specific tools a litigation paralegal is required to master. As a follow-up to Civil Litigation I , in this course you will take a case study and plan it, from filing a complaint to prepari...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Legal Research and AnalysisLAW-40003

Units: 3.00

$525

Learn the fundamental tools and skills involved in legal research and analysis. This course outlines the steps necessary to solve problems in California and Federal law through research. These steps i...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Evidence LawLAW-40035

Units: 2.00

$425

Be introduced to the study of the law of evidence. The material covered in the class presents practical applications of the rules of evidence, primarily referring to the California Evidence Code and t...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Paralegal Career SuccessLAW-40071

Units: 1.00

$325

Learn the practical skills and experiences that are critical to be an excellent paralegal. The course will center on launching a successful job search campaign. Best practices in career development an...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

6 units required

Administrative Law and ProcedureLAW-40047

Units: 3.00

TBD

This course presents basic concepts of administrative law and procedure for federal and state agencies, with emphasis on the paralegal's role in the administrative process. Students will learn both f...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Alternative Dispute ResolutionLAW-40384

Units: 3.00

$525

Disputes ranging from interpersonal conflicts to serious legal issues can be quickly and amicably resolved, without the expense and delay of a lawsuit, using the latest techniques of negotiation and d...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Winter, Summer

Civil Rights LeadershipLAW-40075

Units: 2.00

$425

An introduction to the law of federal civil rights litigation, specifically looking at how federal civil rights cases are litigated and pled in court before administrative bodies, how the Fourth Amend...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Spring

Comprehensive Overview of Homeland SecurityLAW-40073

Units: 3.00

$525

This interesting and timely course will introduce students to the vocabulary and important components of Homeland Security. You will learn the importance of the agencies associated with Homeland Secur...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Winter, Summer

Contract LawLAW-40019

Units: 2.00

$425

Contract law permeates the entire field of civil practice. This course provides the student with both the theory of contracts and the practical skills needed in contract law. Instruction presents int...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Corporate LawLAW-40044

Units: 3.00

$525

Business entities are formed, operated and dissolved. This course identifies the fundamental differences and characteristics of major business organizations such as sole proprietorships, partnerships...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Summer

Criminal Law and ProcedureLAW-40049

Units: 3.00

$525

Criminal Law and Procedure is a survey course covering the elements of many typical offenses in California and in other states. Some of these offenses include drug offenses, robbery, rape (and other s...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Discovery PrinciplesLAW-40061

Units: 2.00

$425

This course is designed to provide the paralegal with mastery of the fundamental tools and skills involved in discovery practice in both California and federal courts. You will explore the role of di...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Domestic Relations LawLAW-40006

Units: 3.00

$495

The Family Law Act of 1970 and the Family Code of 1994 have produced major changes in California domestic relations law and practice. This course covers theoretical and practical issues in family law,...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Employee and Labor RelationsBUSA-40017

Units: 3.00

$565

Review the practical application of state and federal employment law. Topics include at-will employment and wrongful discharge; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; ADA; employee rights and in...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Estate Planning and AdministrationLAW-40017

Units: 3.00

$525

Do you want to contribute productively to an attorney's practice in estate planning, estate administration, and conservatorships? This course presents the substantive background and problem-spotting ...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Spring

Immigration LawLAW-40038

Units: 2.00

$425

Students will be introduced to the basic legal principles relating to immigration into the U.S., learning how to analyze immigration options for intending immigrants, and acquiring a working knowledge...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Real Property LawLAW-40022

Units: 3.00

$525

Discover the most commonly encountered problems when preparing and drafting documents for real estate transactions and learn how to solve them. Fundamental principles of real estate law, including own...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Summer

Tort LawLAW-40037

Units: 2.00

$425

A tort is a civil wrong which is remedied by compensation to the injured party. You will learn what constitutes a tort in this course, including intentional acts and negligent acts such as personal in...

Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
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Accelerated Online Format

Become an ABA Approved Paralegal in only 12 weeks! 

The Accelerated program is held once a year during the Fall quarter. Fall 2024's cohort will be held in a Live Online Format. Course meetings are typically held Monday–Thursday, 9am – 4pm (PST) and attendance is required for all meetings.

Learn more about the program here >>

Have any questions?
Submit an info request on this page, or reach out to us at unexlaw@ucsd.edu

Andrea Finizio

With the Accelerated Program, I could be ready for a new job in just a few months and start working in my new career.

Andrea Finizio

Advisory Board

Lisa Ashkins, MA, CNE

Realtor

Ascent Real Estate

Luciana Case, CLA

Certified Paralegal

Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick, LLP

Angelo Corpora, Professor

Coordinator, Legal Studies Programs

Palomar College

Julia Dunlap, Esq.

Attorney, Law Offices of Julia Dunlap

Dir. of Bus., Law, & OSHA Programs, UC San Diego Extension

Clifton Emison, J.D.

Paralegal Supervisor

San Diego County Office of the Primary Public Defender

Patti Groff, CLM

Office Administrator

Dentons US LLP

Kim Houston

Founder

Colere Staffing Group

Suzie Johnson

Paralegal, Office of General Counsel

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Abigail Parente, MA

Legal Recruiting Manager

Eastridge Workforce Solutions

Stephanie Pfaff, Esq.

Partner

Higgs Fletcher & Mack

Katherine Scheele

Paralegal Manager

Cooley LLP

Shay Trias

Litigation Paralegal

CaseyGerry

Robert Wickman, JD, MMLIS

Reference and Outreach Librarian

San Diego Law Library

Katherine Wilkins, ACP, CCP

Executive Director

Dysimmune Diseases Foundation

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This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0 fee to apply to this program. Students will also be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance. View the complete Certificate Registration and Candidacy Guidelines.