|
|
|
|
|
SFSU College of Extended Learning
Can Contribute to Your Future!
|
|
The new San Francisco State Downtown Campus is the result of a dream to bring more education and training to individuals and businesses in the downtown community. The Paralegal Studies program, along with other important academic programs, enhances SF State’s role as a key partner in the city’s growth.
Conveniently located in the heart of the downtown shopping district, our new campus is easily accessible by public transportation. Students can access the Westfield Centre from the Powell Street Bart/Muni station and proceed directly to the SFSU campus. There are also various public parking garages in the area.
Our new home in the Westfield Centre at 835 Market Street is truly an exciting new world in the midst of one of the most vibrant neighborhoods of San Francisco. In our new location, SFSU Extended Learning offers 23 new classrooms with the latest instructional technology, and eight MAC and PC computer labs equipped with the newest industry software. It’s a great learning environment!
San Francisco State has many neighbors at 835 Market Street including Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales, and other well known shops retail shops, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Enrolling in a program at the College of Extended Learning is now a real city experience, and we hope you’ll take advantage of all it has to offer.
I invite you to join us at our new location, and see what SFSU Extended Learning can contribute to your future!
|
|
The Paralegal Profession
Paralegals or legal assistants are highly skilled paraprofessionals who work with attorneys in all areas of civil and criminal law. The American Bar Association defines this occupation as follows: A legal assistant or 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 perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
Paralegal functions are diverse and wide-ranging, including drafting legal documents, interviewing clients, conducting legal research, and investigating and preparing case files.
San Francisco State University is pleased to announce that the American Bar Association has granted approval to the Paralegal Studies Program offered by the SFSU College of Extended Learning. This is the only ABA approved paralegal studies program in San Francisco.
Recent California Legislation defines who may call himself or herself a paralegal and sets forth educational criteria for paralegals. One of the criteria is graduation from a program approved to the American Bar Association. Please refer to the section on New California Legislation on Paralegals cited below.
|
The SFSU Paralegal Program
The College of Extended Learning offers a 30 academic unit certificate program in paralegal studies, providing instruction in practical legal skills and substantive law. Courses are conducted at the upper division level and are taught by attorneys and paralegals, all of whom have practical experience in the field.
Paralegal graduates may audit an elective course of their choice at a 50% registration fee discount. Registration forms must be submitted for verification. Payment must be made in person at the 6th floor front desk.
Program Objectives
The primary goal of the Paralegal Studies certificate program is to educate students for positions as paralegals as a means of improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of legal services.
The program’s key objectives are:
to provide students with an overview of the legal system and law practice
to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills to work in civil litigation
to prepare students to perform legal research and to draft a variety of legal documents
to teach students the rules and laws governing the conduct of paralegals and to help them internalize high ethical values and behavior
to help students develop strong oral and written communication skills
to provide students with the opportunity to learn the skills needed to function in one or more areas of practice other than litigation
Length of Program
The primary goal of the Paralegal Studies certificate program is to educate students for positions as paralegals as a means of improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of legal services.
Credit Towards a BA Degree
Units earned in this program carry full upper-division academic credit. All units may be applied as general elective units toward a Bachelor of Arts degree at SFSU or other CSU institutions.
|
California Legislation on Paralegals
The State of California has adopted legislation that defines the titles "paralegal" and "legal assistant" and sets educational criteria and continuing education requirements for paralegals. The San Francisco State University Paralegal Studies certificate program meets the educational requirements of the law by virtue of being offered by an accredited institution with an ABA-approved program, and consisting of more than 24 semester units of paralegal coursework.
For more information on the ABA approval, please contact our program coordinator at 415.817.4223.
* For a complete description of the California legislation, see Business and Professional Code section 6450.
|
Course Curriculum
Students are required to take five three-unit courses. Introduction to Law/Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing, which may be taken concurrently, must be completed with a grade of C or better before a student may take any other class in the Paralegal Certificate program.
Required Courses
Introduction to Law/Civil Procedure
Legal Research and Writing
Communication Skills & Legal Ethics
Pleadings & Motions
Investigation, Discovery & Trial Preparation
Computer Applications in Law Practice*
(* required for students not working in a legal setting)
Students may choose any electives to complete the 30 unit program. Elective courses offer in-depth instruction in a variety of practice areas and advanced skills in litigation and research. The range of elective options allows students to gain exposure to several different areas of law practice or to concentrate their studies in a cluster of courses that prepare them for a particular kind of employment.
Below is a listing of electives offered for our Paralegal Certificate program. New courses are often added as circumstances permit.
| Administrative Law |
Employment Law |
| Advanced Legal Research |
Evidence |
| Bankruptcy |
Family Law |
| Computer Applications |
Field Experience/Internship |
| Computer Applications II |
Immigration Law |
| Contemporary Legal Issues |
Intellectual Property |
| Contracts |
Probate Procedures |
| Coporations Law |
Real Estate Practice |
| Criminal Law |
Torts |
| Elder Law |
Wills, Trusts and Estates |
All electives are offered on a rotating basis. Some electives are offered once a year and some are offered less frequently. Elective courses are three units, and a portion can be completed on a credit/no credit basis.
For additional information about the SFSU Paralegal Studies program, please contact the program coordinator at 415-817-4223 or e-mail Brahman@sfsu.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright 2006 San Francisco Paralegal Assn.
