A career as a paralegal can be exciting, fulfilling and lucrative. MTI's paralegal degree program is uniquely positioned to provide you the training that will make you competitive in the paralegal career field.
MTI College's Paralegal Studies program is a two-year associate's degree program approved by the American Bar Association to equip students to work as paralegals in civil and criminal law. Students with prior college work may only need to enroll in the program for one year, depending on MTI's approval. The second year of the program features an online course option for busy students. During the second year of studies, online students can be on campus as little as one night per week, depending on how they have structured their studies.
Paralegal Program Objectives
The paralegal degree program, based in Sacramento, California, trains students to serve as paralegals under attorney supervision. Students learn how to understand the law and apply legal principles through a combination of analytical thinking, critical thinking and practical application of substantive and procedural law. Graduates are able to serve as paralegals for both the private and the public sector, performing substantive, behind-the-scenes legal work for legal departments, law firms and more.
Paralegal Program Outcome
Graduates of the Paralegal Studies program will be able to:
- Adhere to California Business and Professions Code 6450 (the legal profession and legal ethics)
- Provide necessary data to attorneys, colleagues and clients
- Anticipate the needs of attorneys, colleagues and clients
- Assist supervising attorneys with interviews, trial preparation, depositions, trials, and producing legal documents
- Produce written documentation and presentations of research, investigations and interviews
- Keep up to date on the legal profession and improve legal skills through independent study, community service, continuing education and more
- Work alone and in a team to finish projects effectively and efficiently
- Perform legal research with available technological tools
- Prepare, edit and transmit legal messages and documents
- Maintain client and case files
- Perform electronic filing and computerized calendaring
Paralegal Career Training Outline
MTI's paralegal degree program includes two years of courses in the following:
First Year
- general education courses in five subject areas
- introduction to legal terminology and procedure
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and other software programs in Microsoft Office
Second Year
- legal writing and analysis
- civil litigation
- major areas of substantive and procedural law
Following the first year, students will have attained enough skills for entry-level work in various areas of legal administration. Students are encouraged to work in a legal environment during their second year of study. Students also have the opportunity to become licensed as a notary.
Paralegal Studies Course Requirements
Interest in a paralegal career and both the willingness and ability to succeed academically are the chief criteria for admission to our Sacramento, California, paralegal program. There are also specific requirements for admission to each year of the program:
First Year
- complete the admissions interview process
- complete entrance assessments
- interview with the Paralegal Studies department chair or the director of education (if MTI deems it necessary)
Second Year
- pass entrance exams
- possess working knowledge of Microsoft Windows
- one of the following: complete year 1 of the paralegal program at MTI with a 3.0 GPA; provide transcripts that reflect 54 accredited quarter units (36 semester units) in general studies and business; or provide transcripts that reflect the completion of an accredited and recognized associate or baccalaureate degree program.
- interview with the Paralegal Studies department chair or the director of education (if MTI deems it necessary)
Graduation is contingent upon academic success and the ability to type 55 words per minute. Typing courses may be required during the second year of studies if the student has not attained this level of efficiency prior to enrollment.
Program Advantages and Job Placement
In addition to being accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, our Sacramento-based paralegal program has the rare distinction of American Bar Association approval. Our faculty includes paralegals, attorneys and others in the legal profession, thereby enabling our program to provide a well-rounded education in legal theory and practice. We take our job seriously and provide the best paralegal education available because we want to train effective ambassadors for the school who also demonstrate excellence in the legal field.
Graduates of MTI's paralegal program have access to professional placement services. We recommend that students seek legal internships and law-related employment while they are students because this experience increases your job prospects after graduation. We will help interested students gain this internship and employment experience.
MTI is a member of the Sacramento
Valley Paralegal Association (SVPA), the National
Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the American
Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), a national organization
comprised of paralegal educators and institutions offering paralegal and legal assistant
education programs.
Learn More
Take the next step and contact an MTI Admissions Advisor
to learn more about paralegal careers and your educational options!