COLLEGE OFFERS PARALEGAL CAREER.Byline: Daily News SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. is now offering a paralegal paralegal n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiring some knowledge of the law and procedures, employed by a law office or who works free-lance as an independent for various lawyers. certificate. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the U.S Department of Labor, paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials and corporate meetings. Paralegals investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. Paralegals may also prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases should be handled. Should attorneys decide to file lawsuits on behalf of clients, paralegals may help prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. The certificate program begins with an Introduction to Paralegal Studies, which addresses what paralegals do and the necessary skills required of them, meant to aid students in deciding whether being a paralegal is the right career for them. Students in the certificate program can take an internship internship /in·tern·ship/ (in´tern-ship) the position or term of service of an intern in a hospital. internship, n the course work or practicum conducted in a professional dental clinic. class and work in the industry, but still have a connection to the classroom to help with any questions they might have about the field. The certificate program has 30 units of paralegal studies classes and requires 30 units of general education. Upon completing the program, students receive an associate degree and can work as paralegals. ``Paralegal studies is a program where you can take a two-year course of study and become a professional,'' instructor Debora Orlik said. ``We don't talk about 'jobs.' We talk about a profession. ``As the need for legal services legal services n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. remains largely unmet un·met adj. Not satisfied or fulfilled: unmet demands. , we are always seeking paralegals to meet the need and keep the cost of legal services down.'' Students interested in going to law school can also benefit from the new paralegal certificate. ``There is no doubt that people with paralegal education and experience do better in law school,'' said Orlik. ``Paralegal studies are about the hands-on part of law, whereas law school concentrates on the theory of law.'' For more information regarding the paralegal certificate and classes, visit the College of the Canyons Web site at www.canyons.edu. |
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