Overview
Director, Paralegal Studies: Marlene Amera Alhandy (310) 662-2115 malhandy@nu.edu
This degree is housed within the College of Letters and Sciences in the Department of Professional Studies (in partnership with Extended Learning). The department chair, program director, and lead faculty provide the academic oversight for this program with the academic reporting relationship to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Degree and transcript to be conferred by the College of Letters and Sciences.
The academic unit certificates are housed and offered through the National University System Extended Learning Division, reporting to the Vice President of Extended Learning.
The Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program is intended to provide students with the legal skills required to serve the community ethically and efficiently. The program provides an academic and practical education of uncompromising quality, and is designed through its curriculum to enable students to understand and articulate legal theory and apply it ethically to legal professional practice.
Program Outcomes
By the end of this program, the student will be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas:
· Learning legal terminology;
· Understanding paralegalism as a profession;
· Understanding legal theory and practice;
· Developing legal research skills through online computer programs;
· Developing manual legal research skills through library usage;
· Developing oral communication skills;
· Developing written communication skills;
· Developing the ability to recognize legal issues;
· Developing the ability to analyze legal issues;
· Developing the ability to apply the proper legal remedies;
· Developing analytical tools within an ethical framework;
· The ability to integrate theory and practice.
Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, students must complete 180 quarter units. Students must meet the general education requirements described in this catalog. For the major in paralegal studies, students must complete 76.5 quarter units of upper-division coursework and 45 quarter units must be completed in residence at National University. In the absence of transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the total units for the degree.
Note: No person shall practice law in California unless the person is an active member of the State Bar.
Requirements for the Major
(10 courses; 45 quarter units)
PLA 301 Legal Theory and Ethics
PLA 303 Law Office Administration
PLA 305 Property
PLA 306 Torts
PLA 308 Contracts
PLA 309 Directed Research and Writing A
PLA 310 Directed Research and Writing B
PLA 425 Litigation I
PLA 318 Remedies and Judgments
PLA 324 English for Professionals
Specialty Concentrations
(4 courses; 18 quarter units)
(3 courses; 13.5 quarter units, for students choosing Litigation)
All students must take two of the two-course concentrations listed below. Students must take the level I and level II courses for each area. Because Litigation I is required in the major, students who select Litigation II will be required to take an additional elective.
PLA 407 Family Law I
PLA 421 Family Law II
PLA 426 Litigation II
(Prerequisite: PLA 425)
PLA 427 Probate and Estate Planning I
PLA 428 Probate and Estate Planning II
(Prerequisite: PLA 427)
PLA 429 Corporations I
PLA 430 Corporations II
(Prerequisite: PLA 429)
PLA 431 Real Estate I
PLA 432 Real Estate II
(Prerequisite: PLA 431)
PLA 433 Criminal Law I
PLA 434 Criminal Law II
Elective Courses
(3 courses; 13.5 quarter units)
(4 courses; 18 quarter units, for students who choose the Litigation concentration)
PLA 302 Computers and the Law
PLA 404 Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning
PLA 407 Family Law I
PLA 421 Family Law II
PLA 311 Internship
PLA 413 Juvenile Law and Procedure
PLA 314 Workers' Compensation
PLA 315 Bankruptcy Law and Procedure
PLA 316 Entertainment Law
PLA 317 Immigration Practice
PLA 433 Criminal Law I
PLA 434 Criminal Law II
PLA 335 Employment Law
| Degree Program Locations | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Campus | |
| Sherman Oaks Campus | |