Affordable
Quality education should not put you in the red. The cost of attending Irvine Valley College is very low compared to the private, UC, and CSU systems.
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For pure, undiluted action, it’s hard to beat a career in the paralegal field. Professionals in this fast-paced sector command tremendous demand, and bold paychecks to match.
With job opportunities expected to grow 15% by 2026, the paralegal industry is one of the nation’s most upwardly mobile "Bright Outlook" occupations, according to occupational data application O-Net Online. The American Bar Association (ABA) approved Paralegal Studies program at Irvine Valley College provides a broad and versatile foundation for careers in administrative agencies, corporations, insurance companies, private law firms, local governments, and other legal environments.
The curriculum emphasizes practical, up-to-date training covering workplace-relevant career skills, as well as an introduction to legal theory. Courses are taught by experienced faculty with real-world experience as practicing attorneys and paralegals.
IVC Paralegal Studies program graduates enter the workforce qualified for paralegal employment under California Business and Professions Code, Section 6450.
The average full-time student can complete the program in 1.5 years.
A Paralegal Studies AS will prepare you for future study in the field of Legal Studies, Public Policy, Government Relations, Human Resources, or any law related discipline.
Sample Academic Plans
Course | Title | CSU GE Units/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
WR 1 | College Writing 1 | A2 & Major | 4 |
ECON 10, MGT 10, or PSYC 10 | Statistics for Business and Economics or Statistical Methods in Behavioral Sciences | B4 & Major | 3 |
COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | A1 & Major | 3 |
AJ 2, 4, or 6 | Administration of Justice Course | Major | 3 |
Learning & Self Dev | Lifelong Learning and Self Development GE Course | E | 3 |
Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
COMM 2, COMM 3 or WR 2 | Critical Thinking GE Course | A3 & Major | 3-4 |
Life Science | Life Science GE Course | B2 | 3 |
Arts | Arts GE Course | C1 | 3 |
PHIL 2 | Introduction to Ethics | C2 & Major | 3 |
Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 3 |
Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
Major Course | Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
HIST 20 or HIST 21 | American History Course | D & Major | 3 |
Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | C1 or C2 | 3 |
Ethnic Studies | Ethnic Studies GE Course | F | 3 |
Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 3 |
Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
Major Course | Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
PS 1 | American Government | D & Major | 3 |
Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | B1 | 3 |
Science LAB | Physical Science Lab | B3 | 1 |
Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 3 | |
Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 1-3 |
Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
MATH 10 or PSYC 10 | Statistics | 2A & Major | 3 |
COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | 1C | 3 |
AJ 2 | Introduction to Administration of Justice | 4 & Major | 3 |
Transfer Elective | UC Transfer Elective (Courses 1-99) | 1-3 |
Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
WR 2 | College Writing 2 - Critical Thinking | 1B | 4 |
PSYC 1 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 & Major | 3 |
Arts | Arts GE Course | 3A | 3 |
Humanities | Humanities GE Course | 3B | 3 |
AJ 4 | Criminal Law I (Recommended Elective) | 3 |
Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
PSYC 30 or 37 | Social Psychology or Abnormal Psychology | 4 & Major | 3 |
PSYC 2 | Research Methods in Psychology | Major | 3 |
Life Science | Life Science GE Course | 5B | 3 |
AJ 5 | Community and the Justice System (Recommended Elective) | 3 | |
Transfer Elective | UC Transfer Elective (Courses 1-99) | 3 |
Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
ENV 1 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 4 & Major | 3 |
Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | 3A or 3B | 3 |
Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | 5A | 3 |
Physical Science LAB | Physical Science GE Lab | 5C | 1 |
Transfer Elective | UC Transfer Elective (Courses 1-99) | 3 | |
Transfer Elective | UC Transfer Elective (Courses 1-99) | 2-3 |
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
MATH | Math GE Course | 1C | 3-5 |
LGL 201 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Ethics | Major | 2 |
LGL 202 | Computer Technology and Electronic Research (Fall Only) | Major | 3.5 |
Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | 4 | 3 |
Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
Communication/Thinking | Communication/Analytical Thinking GE Course | 1B | 3-4 |
LGL 203 | Business Law Contracts and Torts | Major | 3 |
LGL Major | LGL Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
Social Sciences | Social Sciences GE Course | 3 | 3 |
Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 |
Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
LGL 213 | Legal Ethics (Summer Only) | 2 |
Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
LGL 205 | Introduction to Legal Research and Writing | Major | 3 |
LGL 206A | Civil Litigation I (Fall Only) | Major | 3 |
LGL Major | LGL Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 | |
Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 |
Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
---|---|---|---|
LGL 206B | Civil Litigation II (Spring Only) | Major | 3 |
LGL Major | LGL Major Course from List A | Major | 3 |
LGL 168 | Cooperative Work Experience: Paralegal Studies | Major | 1-3 |
Natural Sciences | Natural Sciences GE Course | 2 | 3 |
Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 |
Course | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
LGL 201 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Ethics | 2 |
LGL 202 | Computer Technology and Electronic Research (Fall Only) | 3.5 |
LGL 203 | Business Law Contracts and Torts | 3 |
LGL 206A | Civil Litigation I (Fall Only) | 3 |
Course | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
LGL 205 | Introduction to Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
LGL 206B | Civil Litigation II (Spring Only) | 3 |
LGL Major | Legal Major Course from List A | 3 |
LGL Major | Legal Major Course from List A | 3 |
Course | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
LGL 213 | Legal Ethics (Summer Only) | 2 |
LGL Major | Legal Major Course from List A | 3 |
AA = Associate of Arts | AS = Associate of Science | AA-T = Associate of Arts for Transfer | AS-T = Associate of Science for Transfer | COA = Certificate of Achievement | COP = Certificate of Proficiency
Median Salary
$96,118
Job Growth
+20%
Education
New workers start around $54,961. Normal pay is $96,118 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $151,683.
Median Salary
$96,118
Job Growth
+20%
Median Salary
$105,266
Job Growth
+10%
Education
New workers start around $55,964. Normal pay is $105,266 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $199,655.
Median Salary
$105,266
Job Growth
+10%
Median Salary
$52,614
Job Growth
+30%
Education
New workers start around $22,172. Normal pay is $52,614 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $150,324.
Median Salary
$52,614
Job Growth
+30%
Median Salary
$51,924
Job Growth
+8%
Education
New workers start around $36,182. Normal pay is $51,924 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $134,490.
Median Salary
$51,924
Job Growth
+8%
Median Salary
$93,354
Job Growth
+5%
Education
New workers start around $49,643. Normal pay is $93,354 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $149,258.
Median Salary
$93,354
Job Growth
+5%
Median Salary
$50,761
Job Growth
+18%
Education
New workers start around $33,744. Normal pay is $50,761 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $94,599.
Median Salary
$50,761
Job Growth
+18%
Exploratory Interest Area
Explore Engineering while still working toward your academic goals.
Talk with a Counselor
Speak to one of IVC’s Academic Counselors to learn more about all of your options.
Why choose IVC?
Quality education should not put you in the red. The cost of attending Irvine Valley College is very low compared to the private, UC, and CSU systems.
With Fast Track Career Paths, at IVC, we give you the tools to quickly enter the workforce and start making money.
Looking to transfer to a four-year university? With the #1 Transfer Rate in California, IVC is the best place to start!
Note: The website was launched on July 5, 2022, and the search may take 1-2 weeks to fully index. While the search index builds, search results may vary and be inconsistent.