Paralegal Studies

The Paralegal Studies Program offers a 24 academic-unit certificate, intended to prepare students for employment as a paralegal in various legal sectors. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of the paralegal profession to enhance the ability to reason, understand and apply correct principles of law by teaching analytical and critical thinking skills.

The program is taught by attorneys and paralegals who have practical experience in the field and satisfies all educational requirements required by California law. As such, you will gain the legal knowledge and skills to land a paralegal job in any state.

How many courses are required to complete the certificate?

The program requires 8 courses to complete the certificate, listed below. 

How long does it take to complete the certifcate?

Students are able to complete the certificate in one year.

Is the Paralegal Studies program ABA-approved?

The program is not ABA-approved (American Bar Association); after considerable research, it was determined that the benefits in offering an ABA-approved certificate did not outweigh the extra cost/time to our students. The ABA requires 60 units (versus the state approved 24 units) and most firms do not require an ABA-approved certificate. Moreover, California requirements are more rigorous than any other state, allowing students from our program to work anywhere. 

join our zoom meeting to get insiders' perspective as a paralegal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We will be offering guest speakers throughout the semester - stay tuned!!
 

Memberships

Member, San Francisco Paralegal Association

SFPA JPEG   SFPA Sustaining Member

Cheryl Mackey Membership

WHAT COURSES SHOULD YOU TAKE AND WHEN?

See the Paralegal Program Map

Course Course Title & When Offered
PLGL 30 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Offered Fall, Spring & Summer
PLGL 31 Legal Writing & Research
Offered Fall 
PLGL 32 Litigation & Civil Procedure
Offered Spring & Summer
PLGL 33 Computer Application & E-Discovery for Paralegal Studies
Offered Fall
PLGL 34 Professional Responsibility & Ethics
Offered Spring & Summer
PLGL 35 Advanced Legal Writing & Research
Offered Spring 
Pre-requisite: PLGL 31 
PLGL 36 Contract Law
Offered Spring & Summer

PLGL 37

OR

ADMJ 60

PLGL 37 - Tort Law 
**Offered Spring

OR

ADMJ 60 - Criminal Law
**Offered Fall, Spring & Summer

* Please see Chabot College ClassWeb for information regarding class schedule.

** Choice of PLGL 37 OR ADMJ 60 to satisfy Paralegal Certificate Requirements; Please see the Administration of Justice webpage for information on ADMJ courses.

Program Curriculum

 
Contact Us

Cheryl L. Mackey, Esq.
Department Chair/Faculty
Phone 510.723.6973
Email cmackey@chabotcollege.edu
Building & room Building 400, office 454M - 2nd fl

Vahishta Pakpour Falahati, Esq.
Adjunct Faculty
Emailvfalahati@chabotcollege.edu
Building & roomBuilding 400, 1st fl

Sunny Lerner, Esq.
Adjunct Faculty
Email slerner@chabotcollege.edu
Building & room Building 400, 1st fl

Dr. Nidaa Pervaiz, Ph.D.
Adjunct Faculty
Email npervaiz@chabotcollege.edu
Building & room Building 400, 1st fl

Building & room Meet Our Team

POTENTIAL CAREERS

What is a Paralegal?
A paralegal is a legal professional who assists attorneys by performing a wide range of tasks that require legal knowledge. While they can’t practice law, they help gather facts, interact with clients, prepare court documents, and assist in investigations under attorney supervision. Their work allows lawyers to focus on complex legal issues while ensuring deadlines and documentation are met.

Key Responsibilities
Paralegals handle a wide range of tasks that require legal knowledge but not a law degree: 

  • Drafting legal documents like contracts, pleadings, and reports 
  • Conducting legal research to support cases 
  • Organizing case files and managing evidence 
  • Interviewing clients and witnesses 
  • Fact-checking and summarizing depositions 
  • Assisting attorneys during trials by managing exhibits and notes 

Work Environment
Paralegals usually work in: Law firms (small to large), Corporate legal departments, Government agencies, Nonprofits, or advocacy organizations 

Skills & Knowledge
To thrive as a paralegal, paralegals need a blend of legal expertise, technical proficiency, and soft skills that make them indispensable to attorneys and legal teams. This includes, but is not limited to, legal research, document drafting, familiarity with court filing procedures, deadlines, and jurisdictional nuances, case management systems, E-discovery platforms, document management, and cybersecurity awareness. 

Industry Impact
The paralegal industry has quietly but powerfully reshaped the legal landscape—acting as the unsung backbone of law firms, court systems, and advocacy organizations.