Certificate of Achievement (Transcripted): Legal Office Technician

Below is a sample academic plan that shows you how you can complete your Certificate in a timely manner. Your path may look different depending on your circumstances?for example, if you attend part-time, choose to take Intersession or Summer courses, or have earned prior credit (Credit for Prior Learning, Dual Enrollment, Transfer Credit). You are required to meet with a counselor to set up a comprehensive education plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals.

This certificate program will prepare the student with technical office skills necessary for employment in a law office as an assistant to attorneys and paralegals. This program is not designed to prepare students for the practice of law; it is not designed to meet the requirements of Business and Professions code section 5450 (Paralegal Qualifications); it is not an ABA approved program option.

Understand the ethical and professional responsibilities of the legal profession

Understandthe procedures of a law office

Achieve an entry level proficiency in the technology utilized in a law office

Understand proper formatting, grammar and punctuation of business documents

Apply basic accounting procedures.

Program Map

GE General Education Course
M Major Course
E Elective Course
SI Summer/Intersession Course *
* Course is appropriate for Summer and Intersession, which are accelerated terms.

Getting Started

Comprehensive Education Plan: You are required to meet with a counselor for a comprehensive educational plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor in your first semester.

First Semester

12 units
LAW 100 or PARA 100
Overview of the legal system including the courts, participants and various sources of law in the American legal system. Review of the legal and judicial process in the United States covering the adversarial system, jurisdiction of federal and state courts, and the general process of judicial review. Explanation of different sources of law including statutes, court cases and administrative agency rules. Review of basic legal reasoning and introductory legal research methods. Examination of legal ethics. Introduction to substantive areas of law and the effect the law has in various groups and individuals in our system. (Same as PARA 100.)
    Plan 1: 4B. Social Science
    Plan 2: 4. Social and Behavioral Sciences
    OR
    Overview of the legal system including the courts, participants and various sources of law in the American legal system and how society is affected. Review of the legal and judicial process in the United States covering the adversarial system, jurisdiction of federal and state courts, and the general process of judicial review and how different segments of society are affected. Explanation of different sources of law including statutes, court cases and administrative agency rules. Review of basic legal reasoning and introductory legal research methods. Introduction to substantive areas of law and the effect the law has in various groups and individuals in our system. Review of the role and regulation of legal professionals, legal ethics and consumer protection laws, and their effect on providing legal services to various segments of society. (Same as Law 100.)
      Plan 1: 4B. Social Science
      Plan 2: 4. Social and Behavioral Sciences
      LAW 121 or PARA 121
      This course provides an introduction to concepts and theories of ethical decision-making, moral conduct, obligation and permission, justice, responsibility, as applied to the Legal Profession. The course will explore the application of the California Rules of Professional Conduct as applied to the legal profession and society in general. (Same as PARA 121).
        OR
        This course provides an introduction to concepts and theories of ethical decision-making, moral conduct, obligation and permission, justice, responsibility, as applied to the Legal Profession. The course will explore the application of the California Rules of Professional Conduct as applied to the legal profession and society in general. (Same as LAW 121).
          BA 100 or BUS 222 or MGMT 122
          Develop clear and professional business writing skills to succeed in today’s workplace. Learn proper grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and organization while producing emails, memos, letters, reports, and online content. Practice editing and proofreading techniques and apply AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) to strengthen business writing, job search, and workplace communication skills.
            OR
            Overview of oral and written communication skills used in business. Emphasizes guidelines for improving writing and speaking skills, common solutions to common communication problems, ethical issues facing business communicators today, instructions on how to identify areas of legal vulnerability, and tested techniques for communicating successfully in today's high-tech, international business environment.
            • Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
            • Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
            OR
            Overview of oral and written communication skills used in business; emphasizes guidelines for improving writing and speaking skills, common solutions to common communication problems, ethical issues facing business communicators today, instructions on how to identify areas of legal vulnerability, and tested techniques for communicating successfully in today's high-tech, international business environment.
              BA 179
              Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
              Build professional technology skills by learning Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in one comprehensive course. Create, edit, format, and integrate documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using current business standards. Apply skills to real-world projects such as reports, budgets, and presentations that improve productivity and workplace success. Use AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to generate content, analyze data, and design slides more efficiently. Includes MOS certification exams in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, earning three industry-recognized credentials valued by employers.

                Second Semester

                10 units
                PARA 101
                Law Office Management
                Structure and procedures of the law office. Emphasis on time management, the role of paralegals and paralegal administrators in the law office, ethics in the law office, client property regulations, time keeping and billing, and technology management in a law office.
                  ACCT 120
                  QuickBooks Online
                  This course will instruct students on using QuickBooks Online software in the business environment for the preparation of accounting information. The course will cover accounting theory and practical knowledge of QuickBooks Online on topics that include company file setup, customizing QuickBooks, recording customer and vendor transactions, bank reconciliations, creation of accounting reports, customization, inventory management, time and billing, payroll setup, payroll processing, estimates and adjustments, and year-end procedures. This course will assist in preparing students for the QuickBooks Online Certified User exam.
                    BA 163
                    Adobe Acrobat
                    Learn to use Adobe Acrobat Pro to create, edit, secure, and optimize PDF documents for business and professional use. Apply proper techniques to build fillable forms, combine files, convert PDFs to Microsoft Office formats, add multimedia, and manage accessibility and security features. Use AI tools such as Acrobat AI Assistant to streamline editing, automate formatting, summarize and analyze content, and compare documents. Emphasis is placed on preparing professional documents for legal, business, and marketing purposes. Includes preparation for the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) Acrobat exam, earning a certification valued by employers.
                      PARA 105 or PARA 299 or LAW 299
                      This work experience course of supervised employment is designed to assist students that are participating in the Community Legal Information Resource and Referral Clinic (CLIRRC) to acquire desirable work habits, attitudes and skills in a field related to the students’ major to enable them to become productive employees. This course also provides students with career awareness for jobs. 54 hours of work equals one unit of course credit. Student repetition is allowed per Title 5, section 55253. Students may earn a maximum of 14 units of credit for work experience.
                        OR
                        This work experience course of supervised employment is designed to assist students to acquire desirable work habits, attitudes and skills in a field related to the students’ major so as to enable them to become productive employees in the paralegal profession. This course also provides students with career awareness for jobs. 54 hours of work equals one unit of course credit. Student repetition is allowed per Title 5, section 55253. Students may earn a maximum of 14 units of credit for work experience
                          OR
                          This work experience course of supervised employment is designed to assist students to acquire desirable work habits, attitudes and skills in a field related to the students’ major so as to enable them to become productive employees. This course also provides students with career awareness for jobs. 54 hours of work equals one unit of course credit. Student repetition is allowed per Title 5, section 55253. Students may earn a maximum of 14 units of credit for work experience.