About The Legal Studies Program

The Legal Studies Program includes an 18-unit certificate as well as a 2-year degree in Legal Studies and will prepare students for transfer to a 4-year college or university or to a specialized job training program, such as a paralegal program. Students interested exploring a career as a prosecutor, defense attorney, civil attorney, corporate lawyer, legal clerk, paralegal or judge will find value in the Legal Studies Program. The degree track provides students with all of the transfer courses required for the CSU or UC system. This program will be ideal for first-year college students interested in law school. Classes are available in a face-to-face and online format.

The Student Learning Outcomes For the Legal Studies are:

• Identify the roles and responsibilities of various positions found in the legal profession.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct basic legal research including case law citation.
• Define common terms used in the legal profession.
• Read and interpret legal codes and case law decisions.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate ethical decision making related to the legal profession.
• Demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences related to the legal profession.

The course requirements and electives are:

For Current Students FInishing The Former Paralegal Program ONLY:

Students who completed a Paralegal class at Napa Valley College prior to the fall 2009 semester can finish their certificate or degree in Paralegal Studies during the 2009/2010 school year. We will offer PLEG 271 and 272 (Research and Writing 1 and 2), PLEG 273/278 (Civil Procedures 1 and 2), PLEG 277 (Torts), and PLEG 190 (Paralegal Internship). Please note PLEG 270 will no longer be offered.

Students who completed a Paralegal class at Napa Valley College prior to the fall 2009 semester may take ADMJ 120 in lieu of PLEG 270 until the equivalent Legal Studies Course is offered. We will also now accept all of the electives listed in the table above as elective choices for the Paralegal Certificate and Degree.

For New Students:

We are no longer offering the Paralegal Program. We anticipate beginning to offer courses in the Legal Studies Program in the fall of 2011 depending on the State of California's budget and there being funding available to support the program. If you don't want to wait until the program officially starts, consider taking classes listed under electives above. These classes are available now and will be able to be applied toward a Legal Studies Certificate or Degree. Santa Rosa Junior College is starting a Paralegal Program in 2010.

Please check back to this website for more information on when these couses will become available.

More Information

If you have questions about this revision or about your individual situation as an existing Paralegal Program student, please contact Greg Miraglia, Dean of Career Technical Education, at 707-253-3035 or by email at gmiraglia@napavalley.edu