The body of knowledge required to effectively perform legal support services can only come from a formal education in paralegal studies. As attorneys, corporations and government agencies work within an increasingly complex legal framework, the level of responsibility they expect paralegals to be able to take on has also increased. Law offices and other employers in California have come to rely on paralegals with the kind of expertise that can only come from earning a certificate or degree in paralegal studies.
From the burgeoning tech industry in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley to the massive real estate and entertainment industries in Los Angeles, there are plenty of reasons why California’s legal environment is stronger than ever. According to the State Bar of California, there are nearly 190,000 practicing attorneys in the state. In Los Angeles alone, there are at least five firms staffed with more than 200 attorneys, and hundreds more paralegals.
Whether you have visions of sitting in on the in-counsel boardroom meetings of mammoth companies like Facebook or Google, or you want to walk the halls of one of the more than 500 court buildings that make up the largest court system in the nation, you’ll find your opportunity here in California.
And education opportunities are just as varied here, from associate or undergraduate certificates in paralegal studies at the ground level to bachelor’s, post-degree certificates and master’s degrees for the established paralegal looking to specialize.
While the huge selection of programs in California has its benefits, finding one that suits your needs may be a particularly stressful process. We got you covered.
We’ve put together a list of the best online programs and campus options available in the state—all of which are regionally or nationally accredited. Request information to find out more about tuition costs and other key details.
The body of knowledge required to effectively perform legal support services can only come from a formal education in paralegal studies. As attorneys, corporations and government agencies work within an increasingly complex legal framework, the level of responsibility they expect paralegals to be able to take on has also increased. Law offices and other employers in California have come to rely on paralegals with the kind of expertise that can only come from earning a certificate or degree in paralegal studies.
From the burgeoning tech industry in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley to the massive real estate and entertainment industries in Los Angeles, there are plenty of reasons why California’s legal environment is stronger than ever. According to the State Bar of California, there are nearly 190,000 practicing attorneys in the state. In Los Angeles alone, there are at least five firms staffed with more than 200 attorneys, and hundreds more paralegals.
Whether you have visions of sitting in on the in-counsel boardroom meetings of mammoth companies like Facebook or Google, or you want to walk the halls of one of the more than 500 court buildings that make up the largest court system in the nation, you’ll find your opportunity here in California.
And education opportunities are just as varied here, from associate or undergraduate certificates in paralegal studies at the ground level to bachelor’s, post-degree certificates and master’s degrees for the established paralegal looking to specialize.
While the huge selection of programs in California has its benefits, finding one that suits your needs may be a particularly stressful process. We got you covered.
We’ve put together a list of the best online programs and campus options available in the state—all of which are regionally or nationally accredited. Request information to find out more about tuition costs and other key details.
Abraham Lincoln University
Associate of Paralegal Studies – online
Diploma in Paralegal Studies (post-baccalaureate) – online
Allan Hancock College
AS in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate – campus
American River College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Legal Assisting – campus
Legal Assisting Certificate (post-associate) – campus
Brandman University
Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies – online
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal Studies-Business Law – online, hybrid
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal Studies-Paralegal Profession – online, hybrid
Butte College
Associate in Science (AS) in Legal Office Administration – campus
Certificate in Legal Office Administration – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Office Administration – campus
Canada College, Redwood City
AS in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate – campus
Cerritos College – Norwalk
Paralegal Associate of Arts (AA) Degree – campus
Paralegal Certificate (post-associate) with the following specialization options: campus
- Business Law
- Commercial Law
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Legal Technology
- Litigation
- Probate and Estate Planning
Cerro Coso Community College
AS in Paralegal Studies – online
Paralegal Studies Certificate – online
Chaffey College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Certificate in Paralegal Studies – campus
City College of San Francisco
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal/Legal Studies – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal/Legal Studies – campus
Claremont McKenna College
Legal Studies Sequence – campus
Coastline Community College
Paralegal Associate of Arts (AA) Degree – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate (post-associate) – campus
College of the Canyons
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
College of the Sequoias
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Contra Costa College
Certificate of Achievement in Pre-Law Studies – campus
Cuesta College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Associate of Arts (AA) in Legal Studies-Business or Social Science options – campus
Associate of Arts-Transfer (AA-T) in Law, Public Policy, and Society – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Cuyamaca College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
DeAnza College
Paralegal Certificate of Achievement-Advanced (post-associate) – campus
Associate of Science/Arts (AA/AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Downey Adult School
Paralegal Certificate of Completion – online
East Los Angeles College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Law, Public Policy, and Society – campus
Executive Legal Assistant Certificate – campus
El Camino College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate of Achievement (post-associate) – campus
Evergreen Valley College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Fremont College – Cerritos
Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies – campus
Fresno City College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate – campus
Fullerton College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate (post-associate) – campus
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto campuses
Associate’s Degree in Legal Studies – campus
Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies – campus
Master of Legal Studies (MLS) – campus
Irvine Valley College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Associate of Arts (AA) in Law, Public Policy, and Society – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Los Angeles City College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Los Angeles Mission College
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Assisting/Paralegal – campus, online
Associate of Arts (AA) in Legal Assisting/Paralegal – campus, online
Los Angeles Pierce College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Legal Office Procedures – campus
Certificate in Legal Office Procedures – campus
Certificate in Legal Office Skills – campus
Los Angeles Southwest College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Law/Paralegal Studies – campus
Law Office Specialist Certificate – campus
Law Office Assistant Specialist Certificate – campus
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Loyola Marymount University
Master of Science in Legal Studies – campus
Merritt College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Mt. San Antonio College – Business Administration Department
Paralegal Associate of Science (AS) – campus
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Associate of Arts-Transfer (AA-T) in Law, Public Policy and Society – campus
MTI College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus, online
Legal Administrative Assistant Diploma – campus
National University (Los Angeles and Woodland Hills, CA campuses only)
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus, online
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Paralegal Studies – campus, online
Paralegal Specialist Certificate (post-associate), with concentrations in: campus, online
- Corporations
- Criminal Law
- Litigation
Oxnard College
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Pasadena City College – Business Education Division
Paralegal Certificate of Achievement (post-associate), can be earned concurrently with any Associate of Science (AS) – campus
Associate of Arts-Transfer (AA-T) in Law, Public Policy, and Society – campus
Riverside City College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
San Diego Miramar College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Paralegal Certificate – campus
San Joaquin Delta College
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies Certificate of Achievement – campus
Pre-Law Studies Certificate of Achievement – campus
Associate of Arts-Transfer (AA-T) in Law, Public Policy, and Society – campus, online
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies – campus
Associate of Arts-Transfer (AA-T) in Social Justice Studies – campus
Santa Ana College
Paralegal Associate Degree – campus
Paralegal Certificate (post-associate) – campus
Santa Barbara Business College – Bakersfield
AAS- Paralegal – online, campus
Santa Monica College
Legal Administrative Assistant Associate of Science (AS) – campus, online
Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate of Achievement – campus, online
Legal Office Clerk Certificate of Achievement – campus, online
Santa Rosa Junior College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Scripps College
Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies – campus
Minor in Legal Studies – campus
Skyline College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies – campus
South Coast College
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies – campus
Southwestern College
Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies (Bilingual English/Spanish option) – campus
Associate of Science (AS) in Legal Office Management – campus
Associate of Science (AS) in Legal Office Professional (Bilingual English/Spanish option) – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies (Bilingual English/Spanish option) – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Interpretation and Translation Intermediate (Spanish/English option) – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Interpretation Basic (Spanish/English) – campus
Certificate of Proficiency in Legal Office Management Basic – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Office Professional (Bilingual Spanish/English option) – campus
Certificate of Achievement in Legal Office Professional, Business Law specialty – campus
Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura
Master of Legal Studies – online
University of California-Berkeley
Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies – campus
University of California – Davis Extension
Paralegal Studies Certificate – online
University of California – Santa Barbara Extension
Paralegal Certificate Program (post-associate) – online
University of California-Santa Cruz
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal Studies – campus
Minor in Legal Studies – campus
University of La Verne
Certificate in Paralegal Studies (campus), which can be completed concurrently with:
Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies – campus
University of San Diego
Paralegal Certificate (post-bac): campus
University of Southern California
Minor in Legal Studies – campus
Certificate in US Legal Studies – campus
Victor Valley College
Paralegal Certificate – campus
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission
West Los Angeles College – Culver City
Associate of Arts (AA) in Paralegal Studies (WLAC has transfer provisions with National University’s bachelor’s degree program in Paralegal Studies) – campus, online
Certificate in Paralegal Studies – campus, online
West Valley College
Paralegal Associate of Science (AS) – campus
Paralegal Certificate (post-associate) – campus