Associate of Science - Paralegal

The Paralegal Program at Cañada College was developed in cooperation with the San Mateo County Bar Association and the San Mateo County Legal Secretaries Association to train personnel to assist attorneys in both civil and criminal matters. Instruction centers on assisting the attorneys in interviewing clients and preparing legal documents. Courses must be evaluated by a letter grade, not by the Pass grade.

Students who earn the Paralegal Studies Associate of Science degree are entitled to be called paralegals under California law. This degree prepares them to be paralegals, prepares students who want to pursue a higher education degree related to law and the legal system, prepares graduates for law school, and prepares foreign attorneys for a Master of Laws (LLM) program, which must be completed before taking California Bar Exam.