Paralegal Job Description in California

California is a great state in which to become a paralegal. According to the California Employment Development Department, from 2008 to 2018 it is expected that jobs for paralegals and legal assistants in California will increase by more than 17 percent. The paralegal profession is regulated more in California than in other states, as the California Business and Professions Code 6540-46 outlines rules and regulations as well as standards of education that California paralegals must meet. If you wish to discover how to become a paralegal in California, keep reading.
 

Under California law, paralegals must fulfill one of the following educational requirements:

• Complete at least 24 credits in paralegal studies at an accredited or state-approved college or university
• Complete a bachelor’s degree in any field and one year of experience working under the supervision of a California lawyer who has been licensed for at least three years or works in the federal court system in California
• Complete a paralegal certificate program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)

California Paralegal Online and Campus Schools

If you choose to apply to an ABA-accredited paralegal program in California, you may select from among the following programs:

• West Valley College – Saratoga:
• Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
• Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies
• West Los Angeles College – Culver City:
• Paralegal Certificate
• Associate of Science-Paralegal Studies
• University of San Diego :
• Paralegal Certificate
• University of La Verne – La Verne:
• Paralegal Certificate
• University of California – Santa Barbara:
• Paralegal Certificate
• University of California – San Diego:
• Paralegal Certificate
• University of California – Riverside:
• Paralegal Certificate
• University of California – Los Angeles:
• Certificate – Paralegal Studies
• University of California – Irvine:
• Paralegal Certificate
• Santa Ana College – Santa Ana:
• Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
• San Francisco State University College of Extended Learning – San Francisco:
• Academic Certificate – Paralegal Studies
• Pasadena City College – Pasadena:
• Certificate of Achievement-Paralegal Studies
• National University – Los Angeles and Woodland Hills:
• Paralegal Specialist Certificate-Criminal Law Specialization
• Paralegal Specialist Certificate – Corporations Specialization
• Paralegal Specialist Certificate – Litigation Specialization
• Associate of Science-Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Science- Paralegal Studies
• MTI College- Sacramento:
• Associate in Arts – Paralegal Studies
• Associate of Applied Science – Paralegal Studies
• Mount San Antonio College – Walnut:
• Associate in Science-Paralegal Studies
• Miramar College- San Diego:
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies
• Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
• Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles:
• Associate in Arts – Paralegal Studies
• John F. Kennedy University – Pleasant Hill:
• Paralegal Certificate
• Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies
• Fullerton College- Fullerton:
• Associate in Science-Paralegal Studies
• Certificate – Paralegal Studies
• Fremont College – Cerritos:
• Associate of Arts Degree-Paralegal Studies
• El Camino College- Torrance:
• Certificate of Achievement – Paralegal Studies
• Associate in Arts Degree – Paralegal Studies
• DeAnza College-Cupertino:
• Certificate of Achievement – Advanced- in Paralegal Studies
• Associate of Arts Degree in Paralegal Studies
• Cuyamaca College – El Cajon:
• Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal
• College of the Canyons- Santa Clarita:
• Associate of Arts Degree in Paralegal Studies
• Coastline Community College – Fountain Valley:
• Associate of Arts Degree in Paralegal
• Cerritos College – Norwalk:
• Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal
• Associate of Arts Degree in Paralegal
• California State University – Los Angeles:
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies
• California State University East Bay – Hayward:
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies
• American River College – Sacramento:
• Associate of Arts in Legal Assisting
• Legal Assisting Certificate

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Most of the ABA-approved California paralegal education programs listed above contain a work experience component, or internship. If you are in need of further experience before moving on with your career plans to become a paralegal in California, you might want to contact one of the following groups that work with those in need on a free or reduced-cost basis. Agencies such as these served 214,458 Californians in 2012:

• Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
• Legal Services of Northern California, Inc.
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc.
• Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Inc.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
• Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc.
• Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc.
• Central California Legal Services
• California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
• California Indian Legal Services, Inc.
• Bay Area Legal Aid

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Certification is optional for California paralegals under state law. However, certification allows you as a paralegal to specialize in certain areas of the law and to seek further advancement in your career. The Commission for Advanced California Paralegal Specialization, Inc. recommends the following certifications to California paralegals who are considering certification:

• Certified Legal Assistant/California Advanced Specialist (CLA/CAS): These credentials may be earned in the following ways:
• CAS (stand-alone) - may be pursued if you are a paralegal who is already a CLA or CP (Certified Paralegal). In order to earn the CAS, you must complete 10 to 20 courses
• CAS and APC (Advanced Paralegal Certified) combination – may be pursued if you already hold a CLA or CP and wish to earn an APC and CAS in a specialty area. You must complete three to five courses and learn differences between federal and California laws and procedures.

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You have completed the required education, gained some experience and may be certified. You are now ready to search for the perfect paralegal job in California. This job does not necessarily have to be within a California law firm, although many of the larger law groups in California do hire paralegals. Paralegals in California also work for businesses, research, non-profit organizations and more. Examples of employers of paralegals in California are:

• County of Riverside – Riverside
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company – Newport Beach
• Department of the Army – Sacramento
• Whalen Bryan, Inc. – Santa Barbara
• The Walt Disney Studios – Burbank
• St. Jude Medical – Sylmar
• Cellino & Barnes – Los Angeles
• Lam Research – Fremont
• Allstate Corporate – Glendale
• Toshiba America Information Systems – Irvine
• Kaufman Dolowich Voluck LLP – Los Angeles
• Paramount Pictures – Los Angeles

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Congratulations! You are now working as a paralegal in California! The next step you may wish to take to maintain your credentials is to complete continuing legal education (CLE), regardless of your certification status. The following associations of paralegals in California can help to put you in touch with relevant CLE activities, enhance your networking capabilities and increase your marketability as a California paralegal:

• California Alliance of Paralegal Associations
• Santa Barbara Paralegal Association
• Los Angeles Paralegal Association
• Orange County Paralegal Association
• Kern County Paralegal Association
• Ventura County Paralegal Association
  

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