Welcome
Welcome to the Paralegal Program at Tacoma Community College. This program is designed to prepare students to enter into the legal services field as specialists who will provide assistance to an attorney or other legal professional. The Paralegal Program at Tacoma Community College is ABA approved.
In this rapidly growing career field, jobs are available not only in law firms large and small, but also in corporate enterprises, government offices, courts, real estate firms, and numerous other organizations that use legal services including public utilities, health insurances, and banks.
***It is important to note that paralegals are distinctly different from attorneys. Paralegals must always work under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney. Paralegals do not represent clients in court, are not permitted to give legal advice, and are not permitted to practice law.***
The typical responsibilities of a paralegal include interviewing clients and witnesses, assisting in trial preparation, using general and legal computer software, calendaring and tracking important deadlines, drafting legal documents under the supervision of an attorney, conducting legal research and investigations, maintaining client files, and applying legal reasoning to factual situations.
You can earn an Associate in Applied Sciences Degree (Paralegal); or, if you already have an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree or a BA degree, you may want to obtain the Paralegal Pro-Certificate.
Looking for ways to pay for college? Visit the TCC Foundation's website to search scholarships and grants and download an application: http://www.tacomacc.edu/foundation/scholarshipsandgrants/
For more information, contact Janet Olejar (Program Chair) at 253.566.5053, jolejar@tacomacc.edu, or Kim Phillips (Program Secretary) at 253.566.5076, kphillips@tacomacc.edu.
Entrance Requirements
Assessment at college-level English and Reading is required. Developmental courses are offered throughout the year.
Legal Specialty Credit Transfer Policy
Upon a student’s admission to Tacoma Community College and enrollment in the Paralegal Program, up to eighteen (18) quarter credits for legal specialty courses earned from another similarly accredited institution may be accepted. To transfer legal specialty credits, students must meet with the program coordinator and submit supporting documentation, including previous transcripts, course descriptions, syllabi, and work product samples when available. Students wishing to transfer credits will then need to register for their first quarter classes and meet with the program coordinator a second time to discuss the student’s performance. If in the judgment of the program coordinator the transferring courses(s) are equivalent to TCC’s legal specialty courses(s) and the student’s performance is adequate, then consideration will be given to waiving courses. Quality is generally viewed more favorably with courses transferred from ABA-approved and AAFPE member institutions as long as content is similar.
Each legal specialty course submitted for consideration of transfer into the TCC Paralegal Program is evaluated by the TCC program coordinator. Determination of transferability is based upon course content, hours of instruction, and the grade earned in the course by the student. Review of college transcripts, course materials, and an oral examination may be required in order to determine whether the student is competent in the area of study and deemed appropriate for transfer of credits.
Enrollment Information
Students may enroll on a full or part-time basis and take day or evening classes. It is possible for evening students to complete the program requirements. Students may enroll any quarter; however, students are cautioned that not all courses are offered every quarter and careful sequencing of classes will prevent unnecessary delays in completing the program. Additionally, students who have already taken college-level classes may be able to reduce the number of classes/length of time required to complete this program. Therefore, frequent advisor consultations are strongly recommended.
Program Information Packet Download
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