Paralegal Studies

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Paralegal Studies Program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in law offices. The curriculum is designed to provide students with practical legal skills enabling them to draft legal documents with minimum supervision, and to familiarize them with fundamental concepts of substantive areas such as torts and business law. In addition, emphasis is placed on the development of effective written and oral communication skills, team work, critical thinking skills, computer proficiency, and legal research techniques. Legal theory and related practical applications are integrated throughout the program, as are how to manage practical ethical dilemmas commonly encountered as working paralegals, and how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers. A paralegal is qualified by education, training, or work experience to work for a law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, performing specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals are also referred to as Legal Assistants in some legal settings. Except as specifically authorized by the Supreme Court of Arizona, persons not admitted to the State Bar of Arizona are prohibited from practicing law. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) is also available.

The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), Standing Committee on Paralegals, (321 N. Clark Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654-7598).

Details

Field of Interest

Behavioral Science and Human Services

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Paralegal Studies (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3384

Total credits required

63-74

Catalog Year

2023-2024

Effective Term

Fall 2023

Admissions criteria

Formal application and admission to the program is required.
In addition, students wishing to enroll in the Paralegal Studies Program must complete a Verification of Eligibility form to be officially accepted in the program. Contact a Paralegal Studies advisor.

High school diploma or GED equivalency.

Completion of First-Year Composition

Eligibility for enrollment in:
+ CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR
Equivalent as indicated by assessment.

Notes

Students who already possess an Associate's degree, or higher, from an accredited institution, must pursue the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Paralegal Studies. Students who do not yet have a college degree, cannot pursue the Certificate option, and instead, must pursue the Associate's degree option. The Certificate of Completion (CCL) will not be awarded until an official college transcript verifying attainment of an Associate's degree or higher from an accredited institution is on file with the Phoenix College Admissions Office.

Students who have not yet earned their first college degree are not eligible for the Certificate option, and must pursue the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) will not be awarded until a record of the high school diploma or GED is on file with the Phoenix College Admissions Office.

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses within the program.

Equivalent paralegal courses, as determined by the Paralegal Studies Program Director, taken at other institutions, will be considered for transfer credit if taken at a regionally accredited institution, within a Paralegal Program that was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time the courses were completed, and that were completed with a grade of B or higher within six (6) years of the date of admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program; a maximum of six (6) semester hours of qualifying coursework can be transferred and applied to LAS101 and/or a paralegal (LAS) Restricted Elective course at Phoenix College.
Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in legal specialty courses as defined by the ABA. Paralegal Studies Courses required by this program are not applicable if taken more than six (6) years prior to admission or readmission to the Paralegal Studies Program. Students must take at least nine semester credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction (i.e., either in-person or "Live Online"). Consult with the Paralegal Studies Program Advisor for complete information.

Students interested in transferring to an Arizona public university can satisfy the relevant Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC-A) and transfer requirements by completing the following:
1. An additional course with the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] general studies designation 3
2. An additional course with the Natural Sciences ([SQ] or [SG]) designation as needed 4
3. Additional courses that meet the [C] and [G] or [H] designations (may be shared with other core requirements)
4. If exempt from CRE101, an additional course in Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (may be shared with other core requirements)

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Acquire and apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Analyze ethical challenges confronting paralegals and orally present a recommended course of action.
Draft a civil complaint, an answer, and a motion for summary judgment pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure for filing with the court having jurisdiction over the matter.
As part of a team, draft discovery documents pursuant to the controlling Rules of Civil Procedure for service on the opposing party; organize discovery items for use at trial.
Draft memorandums of law and legal correspondence that are consistent with the adopted English style manual and usage guide.
Review and draft contracts suitable for client review that incorporate the legally-required clauses necessary to execute the contract.
Conduct legal research and summarize results in memoranda and legal correspondence that is free of error; cite authority pursuant to the adopted legal citation manual.
Analyze causes of actions, defenses, and potential damages in tort cases under Arizona law and present the findings in writing free of error following the adopted analytical format.
Evaluate the utility, form, and function of legally-recognized forms of business organizations and draft documents suitable for filing with the appropriate government entity to create the business organization.
Use industry-standard technology to perform pre-trial and in-trial litigation support tasks within the time frame and at an accuracy level commonly encountered in a law office.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

$49,390 Show expanded career information for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2021.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time
Part-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BPC110 or CIS105	Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems		Or Permission of Program Director	CS	0–3
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC	3
LAS101	Introduction to Law				3
ECN211 or ECN212 or HIS104 or POS110 or POS120 or PSY101 or SOC101	Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or United States History 1865 to Present or American National Government or World Politics or Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology			SB or H, SB or G, SB	3
AJS123 or HIS103 or HIS108 or PHI101 or PHI103	Ethics and the Administration of Justice or United States History to 1865 or United States History 1945 to the Present or Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to Logic	No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent.		HU or H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or HU, L	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146	College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review	Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103 or MAT114 or MAT115. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate mathematics placement or a grade of C or better in (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT090, or MAT091, or MAT092, or MAT095, or MAT096, or permission of Department or Division Chair. or No requisites	OR higher level Mathematics course	MA	3–6
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment.	L	0–3
LAS107	The Paralegal Profession	Prerequisites: None.			3
LAS109	Civil Procedures I	Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Paralegal Studies program. Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS101 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course Gateway course		3
LAS131	Legal Writing	Prerequisites or Corequisites: A grade of "C" or better required in all Prerequisites. LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course		3
LAS211	Legal Research	Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).			3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or L	3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC	3
LAS110	Civil Procedures II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course		3
LAS225	Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS131 and LAS211 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).			3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
BIO100 or BIO105 or BIO160 or (CHM107 and CHM107LL) or (FON241 and FON241LL)	Biology Concepts or Environmental Biology or Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or (Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Laboratory) or (Principles of Human Nutrition and Principles of Human Nutrition Laboratory)	No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or No requisites and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM107. or No requisites and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in FON241 or Corequisites: FON241.	SQ or SQ in combo w/ CHM107LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM107 or SG	4
LAS203	Ethics and Professional Practice	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS131 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS212	Tort Law	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS229	Litigation Technologies	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS110 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
Restricted Elective	LAS+++		Any LAS Paralegal Studies course(s) not used in the Required Courses area	3
LAS204	Contract Law	Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS214	Business Organizations	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS280	Paralegal Studies Portfolio Capstone	Prerequisites: LAS110, LAS203, LAS204, LAS214 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director). Prerequisites or Corequisites: (LAS225, LAS229, and LAS237) or permission of Program Director.		1

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BPC110 or CIS105	Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems		Or Permission of Program Director	CS	0–3
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
LAS101	Introduction to Law				3
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146	College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review	Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103 or MAT114 or MAT115. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate mathematics placement or a grade of C or better in (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT090, or MAT091, or MAT092, or MAT095, or MAT096, or permission of Department or Division Chair. or No requisites	OR higher level Mathematics course	MA	3–6
LAS107	The Paralegal Profession	Prerequisites: None.			3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment.	L	0–3
LAS109	Civil Procedures I	Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Paralegal Studies program. Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS101 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course Gateway course		3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC	3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
LAS110	Civil Procedures II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course	3
LAS131	Legal Writing	Prerequisites or Corequisites: A grade of "C" or better required in all Prerequisites. LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).	Critical course	3
LAS211	Legal Research	Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
ECN211 or ECN212 or HIS104 or POS110 or POS120 or SOC101 or PSY101	Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or United States History 1865 to Present or American National Government or World Politics or Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Psychology		SB or H, SB or G, SB	3
AJS123 or HIS103 or HIS108 or PHI101 or PHI103	Ethics and the Administration of Justice or United States History to 1865 or United States History 1945 to the Present or Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to Logic	No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent.	HU or H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or HU, L	3
LAS225	Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS131 and LAS211 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	SB or L	3
LAS203	Ethics and Professional Practice	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS131 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS229	Litigation Technologies	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS110 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO100 or BIO105 or BIO160 or (CHM107 and CHM107LL) or (FON241 and FON241LL)	Biology Concepts or Environmental Biology or Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or (Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Laboratory) or (Principles of Human Nutrition and Principles of Human Nutrition Laboratory)	No requisites or No requisites or No requisites or No requisites and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM107. or No requisites and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in FON241 or Corequisites: FON241.		SQ or SQ in combo w/ CHM107LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM107 or SG	4
LAS212	Tort Law	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).			3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
Restricted Elective	LAS+++		Any LAS Paralegal Studies course(s) not used in the Required Courses area
LAS204	Contract Law	Prerequisites or Corequisites: LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3
LAS214	Business Organizations	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in LAS109 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director).		3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
LAS280	Paralegal Studies Portfolio Capstone	Prerequisites: LAS110, LAS203, LAS204, LAS214 and (BPC110 or CIS105 or permission of Program Director). Prerequisites or Corequisites: (LAS225, LAS229, and LAS237) or permission of Program Director.			1

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
FYC = First Year Composition
G = Global Awareness
H = Historical Awareness
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design

L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
MA = Mathematics
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=181993).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies