Paralegal

Frequently asked questions

I have a bachelor’s degree, should I apply to the Paralegal degree or certificate program?

Your degree qualifies you for the Paralegal certificate program. If you want to work in a law firm in a traditional paralegal position, the certificate program is a fine way to go. If you want to work in a government position, we have seen job postings requiring a paralegal degree. If you decide to apply to the degree program, you will need to make sure you meet the prerequisites which are WR 121, a general education communication course, and a general education political science course.

I have a BAS or BFA or BBA degree. Can I apply for the Paralegal Certificate?

Neither a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) nor a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) nor a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) are qualifying degrees for the Paralegal Certificate. If you have one of these degrees, the AAS degree may be a good option. Suppose you decide to apply to the degree program. In that case, you will need to make sure you meet the prerequisites which are WR 121, a general education communication course, and a general education political science course. If you took equivalent courses in your undergraduate program, they may transfer into PCC and count towards these requirements. Submitting your official transcript for evaluation is the best way to know what will officially transfer.

Which Paralegal program is preferred in the legal industry?

If you want to work in a law firm in a traditional paralegal position, the certificate program is a fine way to go. If you want to work in a government position, we have seen job postings requiring a paralegal degree. If you decide to apply to the degree program, you will need to make sure you meet the prerequisites which are WR 121, a general education communication course, and a general education political science course.

Will my writing courses from my bachelor’s degree count towards the requirements for the Paralegal program?

Oftentimes, students have writing credits from their degree that will transfer to cover 4 – 8 credits of writing requirements. Depending on the degree, some other courses may transfer as well. Submitting your official transcript for evaluation is the best way to know what will officially transfer.

Is it possible to take any of the classes for credit without being in the program? If so, would they count toward the certificate later?

It is possible to take a few of our courses without being in the program. These include our introductory course in paralegal (PL 101), and an elective course about various options for legal careers (PL 100). Additionally, there are courses you need for the Certificate that are offered by other departments each term that do not require admission to the Paralegal program, including Intro to Accounting (BA 111), a computer prerequisite (CIS 120-Digital Literacy OR CIS 125-Database Applications), and several electives in other departments such as Criminal Justice (CJA). All this to say, if you want to take a course or two before seeking admission to the program, that is certainly possible.

I am an experienced paralegal or a paralegal with a Paralegal degree or certificate. Can I just take a couple of classes – such as Ethics or Legal Research – without being admitted to the program?

Yes, a limited number of non-paralegal students may take Paralegal courses to enhance their skills and knowledge, subject to space availability. To enroll as an ad hoc student, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Admitted to PCC
    Apply to PCC as a credit-seeking student at www.pcc.edu/admissions. This process is free and takes 2-3 business days. Choose “General Studies” as your major and “PSESS” as your pathway. Be sure to use your PCC email for all communication.
  2. Submit Official Transcripts
    Submit official transcripts of all prior coursework to PCC student records. Do not include official transcripts in your application packet; they should be submitted directly to student records by the application deadline. Include a screenshot or PDF confirmation from student records.
  3. Meet Course Prerequisites
    • Complete WR 121 or an equivalent course with a grade of “C” or better.
    • Complete PL 101 or have at least one year of legal work experience (or both).

Once these requirements are met, you may request a registration override by emailing diana.blake@pcc.edu with the following details:

  • Student name and G number
  • Term you wish to enroll
  • Course number, name, and section CRN
  • A current resume outlining your legal field experience
  • A statement explaining why you want to take the course(s)

Important: Requests can only be submitted after the course schedule for the term is released, and decisions will be made before the PCC admission deadline.

If you later apply for the Paralegal Degree or Certificate Program, up to 15 credits taken as an ad hoc student will count toward your degree or certificate.

Is this program offered online or in-person and do I have to attend full-time?

The program is flexible. Students can attend full-time or part-time, whatever works best for their schedule.

Most Paralegal classes are offered online with a Zoom weekly meeting component on a once-per-week schedule, from 6:30 pm – 9:20 pm (Online (Scheduled Meetings)). There are a few courses that. do not have a weekly Zoom component (Online (No Scheduled Meetings)).

  • General education, writing, and math requirements can either be done Online (Scheduled Meetings), Online (No Scheduled Meetings), or in person.
  • Online courses are not self-paced; they are set to open with a new lecture and material each week.

How are Paralegal Program classes scheduled?

Most Paralegal classes are held online with scheduled evening meetings (called “online (weekly meetings)” classes). These typically run from 6:30pm to 9:20pm, one evening per week for each class, Monday through Thursday.

We offer several Paralegal classes each evening, which means some classes you need may be scheduled at the same time. This can sometimes delay your progress toward graduation. We do our best to avoid scheduling conflicts, but they do happen.

To help you stay on track, we’ll work with you to create a course plan for your program and adjust it as needed.

Do I have to take 14 credits of classes with a weekly Zoom component every term?

No, you only need to take 14 credits of paralegal classes with a weekly Zoom component (Online (Scheduled Meetings)) during your entire program.

This limitation does not apply to Career Pathway Certificate in Legal Assistant students, who can take their program completely Online (No Scheduled Meetings).

What is the cost of the program?

The cost (tuition/fees) for the program depends on the number of credits you take to complete the specific degree or certificate you are seeking. This page provides information on current tuition/fees at PCC. At the bottom of the tuition page, you will find a tuition calculator that can estimate the total cost per term based on the varying factors. Books are in addition to the tuition. Books are estimated at $100/course; some courses share books and some courses do not require books as the instructor provides the materials.

Can I get financial aid for this program?

The AAS PL degree and the Paralegal Certificate are financial aid eligible. Please see the PCC Financial Aid website for details on financial aid and scholarships. You can also contact our Career Services office to get individual help finding scholarships. The PCC Foundation offers a scholarship specifically for paralegal students. See the process of application and deadlines.

Our Career Pathway Certificate in Legal Assistant is not federal financial aid eligible at this time.

What technology is needed for this program?

This program requires students to use applications for some courses that do not formally support Mac. A PC is preferred to a Mac for most programs. PCC provides access to Microsoft 365 and your email, calendar, and Google Drive. You will be required to purchase a subscription or access to test banks as part of the “textbook” requirement for particular classes.

If you use a Mac, you will be responsible for your own application access support or you may need to use Parallels Desktop or a similar application that supports Windows programs on a Mac. You may contact the Student Help Desk for assistance.

I use computers daily and have done so for many years. Do I have to take the computer elective course?

Yes. While many potential students report using computers daily, primarily with programs like Word and Google Docs, the paralegal profession relies heavily on technology. Paralegals are often the technology experts within their firms. To be a well-qualified professional, it’s important to go beyond basic program usage. There’s always more to learn than what’s encountered in day-to-day use, and studying the software in a structured, comprehensive way will significantly enhance your skills. For this reason, all students are required to complete one of the computer elective courses, unless they’ve already completed an equivalent course.

What communications and political science course(s) can I take to meet the prerequisite to apply to the paralegal program?

Below is a list of eligible Communications and Political science courses that meet the prerequisites to apply for the Paralegal program.

Communications

  • COMM 100-Introduction to Communications
  • COMM 111-Public Speaking
  • COMM 112-Argumentation, Advocacy, and Debate
  • COMM 140-Introduction to Intercultural Communication
  • COMM 204-Visual Communications for Media
  • COMM 215-Communicating in Teams and Small Groups
  • COMM 218-Interpersonal Communications
  • COMM 227-Nonverbal Communications
  • COMM 228-Mass Communications and Society
  • COMM 237-Gender and Communication

Political Science

  • PS 201-US Government
  • PS 202-US Public Policy & Democracy
  • PS 203-State and Local Government
  • PS 205-Global Politics: Conflict & Cooperation
  • PS 211-Peace and Conflict
  • PS 220-US Foreign Policy
  • PS 221-Globalization and International Relations
  • PS 225-Political Ideologies: Idea Systems

How do I find ABA-approved general education courses?

Visit the General Education page. Eligible subjects are: ASL, ATH, BI, CH, CHLA, COMM, EC, ENG, ES, ESR, FR, G, GEO, GER, GS, HE, HST, HUM, IDS, INTL, J, JPN, MTH, NAS, PHL, PHY, PS, PSY, R, RUS, SJ, SOC, SPA, WR, and WS.

At the bottom of the page, you will see [+ General Education/Discipline Studies]. Click on the plus sign to open a list of all general education courses.?Clicking on the course name/number, a description of the course and its prerequisites will appear. Once you identify which course you are interested in, check the course schedule for available offerings.

If you are looking for an ABA approved lab science course, make sure there is a checkmark in the last column indicating the course qualifies as a lab science course.

Can prerequisites or program classes be substituted with other classes or work experience?

Most writing, math, and other general education classes can be transferred from any regionally accredited college. Submit your official transcripts to PCC for evaluation to see which courses will transfer.

You may be eligible for Credit for Prior Learning through Course Challenge for some of your non-paralegal courses. The Paralegal department does not offer Credit for Prior Learning. Any questions about Credit for Prior Learning in other departments, such as writing, accounting, or math, should be addressed to the Faculty Department Chair of that department, or you may fill out the Course Challenge Inquiry Form.

Will my prior paralegal courses transfer?

This page provides information on requirements for paralegal course transfer and how to request a transfer of paralegal courses.

Can I apply to the Paralegal program if I have not completed all of the prerequisite courses?

To ensure student success in the program, applicants must complete all prerequisite courses to be considered for the program. The courses must be complete with grades available.

How do I find out if my credits from another college or university meet the program prerequisites?

Please submit a copy of your official transcripts for evaluation.

What are my chances of being accepted into the program?

The Paralegal program receives 60-80 applications per application cycle and accepts 50 students per term (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

Be sure to review the information on how your application will be evaluated.

Keep in mind that applications are reviewed in the order received and apply as soon as possible after applications are open each term.

What is the employment rate of your graduates?

The program is not required by federal or state regulations to track or maintain records of student employment. However, as part of our approval process through the American Bar Association (ABA), we are required to report the employment status of graduates six months after graduation.

In our most recent ABA report, covering the period from September 2019 to August 2022, we found that, on average, 61% of graduates were employed as paralegals or in other legal roles. The remaining graduates were either:

  • Continuing their education
  • Employed in fields outside of law
  • Actively seeking employment
  • Unresponsive to our outreach attempts

It’s important to note that these statistics do not guarantee employment and are specific to the cohort reported. Employment percentages can vary in other terms or periods. The data presented is intended to provide a snapshot of graduate outcomes at a specific point in time, and should not be interpreted as a definitive representation of employment trends for all students.

What are the job prospects and pay for someone with a prior career and a bachelor’s degree? Would I be looking at entry-level positions and pay, or would my previous education and career be considered experience?

The job outlook for paralegals and legal assistants is quite strong (see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry on Paralegals). In Portland and Oregon more generally, most paralegals have to begin at entry-level salaries until they gain about two years of experience specifically in a legal environment.?Internship and Clinical experience can often count towards the required experience.

I understand there is an exam for paralegals. How long after receiving the certificate does that need to be taken?

There are several national voluntary certificate programs for paralegals. These all require some combination of education and experience to qualify for the exam that you have to pass to obtain that national voluntary credential. Our program is not intended to prepare students to take these exams. However, it covers the content and process of qualifying and succeeding on the exam for the National Federation for Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE) to earn the Core Registered Paralegal credential in the final Capstone course. Students are not required to take any of the tests or seek voluntary certifications.

Deciding to seek one of these voluntary credentials is an individual decision. The credentials available nationally are not required for the vast majority of jobs in the Oregon legal market right now. More commonly, graduates are able to get their subsequent legal employer to cover the cost of studying for and taking the exam. We do not require students to take/pass the exam to graduate as there is a cost associated with the exam and maintaining the credential each year.

Will this program prepare me for the Oregon Licensed Paralegal (LP) exam?

The program is not intended to prepare you to take any of the examinations required of Oregon Licensed Paralegal applicants. Certain classes in the PCC Paralegal program may count towards application requirements. For information about the LP program requirements, please see the Oregon State Bar’s LP website and address any questions to the Oregon State Bar Center at 503-620-0222.

Will this program help me study for the LSAT, apply to law school, or help me succeed in law school?

The program is not intended to prepare you to take the LSAT, apply to law school, or help you succeed in law school. The education of a paralegal and a lawyer are quite different. While a paralegal education can prepare you to work as staff in a law office, it does not prepare you to be a law student or lawyer. The two things are very different.

In fact, the program may delay your ability to enter law school as quickly as you could with a transfer degree. If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, you are qualified to enter law school. If you do not, you’ll need to get one before you can apply to law school. A transfer degree from PCC (not a paralegal degree) would allow you to enter a 4-year college as a junior, significantly decreasing the time needed to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. In this way, completing a year’s worth of paralegal credits (as required by our program) will delay your ability to apply to law school. If you want to be a lawyer, you should focus on maximizing your undergraduate GPA, preparing for the LSAT, and finishing a 4-year degree.

Notwithstanding these caveats, some students choose to pursue the paralegal degree or certificate to allow them to work in legal to determine if they even want to practice law, to begin making a higher salary as a paralegal while they attend a 4-year school or law school, or to avoid paying very high law school tuition. The program may be useful for these purposes, but no guarantees of employment or success in applying to law school are guaranteed.

I’m interested in the Paralegal Program – what do I need to do?

Review the Paralegal Program admissions process and application information on our website. You can find the required classes for the degree in the catalog.

I have questions that are not addressed in the FAQ – who do I contact?

If you have questions that are not addressed by these FAQs, feel free to get in touch with the Paralegal Department Chair or the program advisor.