Certificate in Paralegal Studies at San Francisco State University

Paralegal Studies is a 30 unit certificate program, providing instruction in practical legal skills and substantive law. All coursework is taught at the upper-division level by attorneys and working paralegals.

The mission of the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies certificate program is to meet the evolving needs of the legal community and prepare students from diverse backgrounds for employment in the legal profession by providing a comprehensive curriculum taught by experienced legal professionals that include procedural and substantive law; ethics; and legal research, writing, and analysis. 

ABA-Approved

For over 40 years, the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program, an American Bar Association-approved paralegal studies program, has been providing educational excellence to its students.

California legislation defines who may call himself or herself a paralegal and sets forth education criteria for paralegals. One of the criteria is graduation from a program approved by the American Bar Association. Please refer to the section on California Legislation on Paralegals cited below.

California Legislation on Paralegals

The state of California has adopted legislation that defines the titles "paralegal" and "legal assistant" and sets educational criteria and continuing education requirements for paralegals. The San Francisco State University Paralegal Studies certificate program meets the educational requirements of the law by virtue of being offered by an accredited institution with an ABA-approved program, and consisting of more than 24 units of paralegal coursework. 

1. Apply ethical principles that guide paralegal conduct in real-world situations.
2. Compile and evaluate research to support attorney needs.
3. Apply legal knowledge to support the litigation process.
4. Demonstrate clear, concise, and organized oral and written communication skills.
5. Utilize fundamental legal concepts which govern the practice of law.