IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CURRENT PARALEGAL STUDENTS

The Paralegal Program is undergoing a complete revision and will become a Legal Studies Program. Students already enrolled in the Paralegal Program will be given the opportunity to finish their work in the program during the 2009/2010 school year. If you are enrolled in a Paralegal course for the first time this fall, you will not be eligible to earn a Paralegal Certificate. However, Paralegal classes will be considered for the Legal Studies certificate and degree once the program actually begins. Napa Valley College will no longer provide Paralegal classes after the 2009/2010 school year.

NEW: Paralegal classes will now be offered at Santa Rosa Junior College starting in the spring of 2010 (Introduction to Paralegal and Research and Writing). We will accept these courses for credit toward a Paralegal Certificate here at Napa Valley College for those existing Paralegal Program students who began the Paralegal Program in Napa prior to the fall of 2009. Registration for these classes begins on December 14, 2009 for new students at Santa Rosa Junior College. CLICK HERE to learn more.

The State of California's current budget crisis is continuing to cripple community colleges throughout the state. At this time, we are uncertain about being able to start offering Legal Studies Program classes in the fall of 2010.

This web page will be updated with information about this program revision and will provide students with options and recommendations for how to achieve their certificate or degree goals.

About The Legal Studies Program

The Legal Studies Program will offer 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 will provide 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. Our plan is to offer classes in both a face-to-face and online education 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 Paralegal Program Students 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 accepting new students into the Paralegal Program. We anticipate beginning to offer courses in the Legal Studies Program in the fall of 2010 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.

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

More Information

Napa Valley College is committed to providing the highest quality education possible for our students. We recognize that we are responsible for responding to the needs of our community and are excited about this program revision. The Legal Studies Program has the support of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and local legal community. We believe that it will better serve more students and the legal community by offering a broader range of study in the legal profession and preparing more students for transfer to a 4-year college or university.

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