community legal services
If you are a recent college graduate thinking about eventually attending law school, you've probably considered becoming a community legal services or legal assistant* at some point. After all, what better way to experience life in a law firm and the work of being an attorney than by working as a paralegal? So, just how does one become a paralegal in California?
California has a voluntary certification system - meaning it's up to the individual as to whether to get a certification or not. Although there are no licensing, registration or certification requirements per se in California, unlike for lawyers, doctors or other regulated professions, under California legislation enacted into law in 2000, community legal services are required to have one of the following:
a college B.A. or B.S. degree, and one full year of law related work experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney who has been a member of the State Bar of California for at least the three preceding years and who has signed a written declaration that the candidate is qualified to perform paralegal task;
certificate of completion from a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a post-secondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses
paralegal certificate obtained through a paralegal studies program approved by the ABA or from an accredited college or university
Tag: community legal services
