ABA-Approved Paralegal Program

The ABA-Approved Paralegal Program is offered for students who are interested in a career as an employee in a law office or courthouse to assist in the performance of legal services in civil and criminal matters.

The Paralegal Studies program at Los Angeles City College is approved by the American Bar Association. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

The goal of the Paralegal Program at Los Angeles City College is to teach paralegal students substantive and procedural law with the objective of preparing them to complete any paralegal assignment in a competent, professional, and ethical manner.

If you are interested in the program, please start by contacting the Program Director, Professor Wilhelm Vargas, at (323) 953-4000, Extension 2754, or @email. Please also be sure to review the Paralegal Program A.A. Degree Requirements and the Paralegal Program Certificate of Achievement Requirements.

1. To provide the student with an overview of the paralegal profession that include typical paralegal tasks, places of legal employment, areas of law, and ethical responsibility.
2. To provide the student with an understanding of the court system and the rules of civil procedure.
3. To develop the student’s legal writing skills by exercising the student’s critical thinking skills and analytical skills.
4. To give the student an understanding of legal research and to develop the student’s ability to locate answers to legal questions.
5. To develop the student’s ability to prepare legal documents that are adequate, accurate, and professional.
6. To ensure that students have current skills in technology, including the use of computers for data and word processing, and legal research.
7. Through practical application, to improve the student’s ability to work cooperatively with others; develop the student’s leadership skills and the ability to assume responsibility; and to improve the student’s ability to follow directions.
8. To maintain good communications with private and public legal services providers to ensure that the paralegal program stays abreast of changes in the legal field in order to provide meaningful and current paralegal training to our students.
9. To maintain good relations with national, state, and local bars and paralegal associations and to work collaboratively with these groups to improve and increase the utilization of paralegal services.

The program is also valuable to students seeking employment in fields such as real estate, insurance, banking, or brokerage