Napa Valley College

The Criminal Justice Training Center/Napa Valley College offers The Paralegal Program. No matter whether you're preparing for law school or simply a job as a paralegal, this program of studies can benefit you.

Program Overview:

For this last several years, the demand for paralegal services, or legal assistance has been increasing significantly. Many professional organizations are finding the services of a paralegal necessary in this age of spiraling legal costs and liability. Some of these include law firms, insurance companies, local governments, and financial institutions. Paralegals who are properly educated and trained will be able to complete many legal tasks for an attorney.

These tasks may involve some of the following:

• preparation of pleadings
• conducting interviews with clients and witnesses
• managing cases
• drafting motions of discovery
• drafting wills
• drafting forms for bankruptcy
• researching legal issues
• helping prepare for court
• drafting letters
• preparing other legal documents

Students are not only trained to work as paralegals, they also receive education that can help prepare them to transfer to a four-year college or law school. We have a tight working relationship with Sonoma State University and other local law schools, for example St. Mary's College. Our classes are well regarded, and most can receive transfer credit.

Members of the legal community serve on an active Advisory Committee that helps to support the program. Students will find the program's curriculum to be challenging and contemporary. The Criminal Justice Training Center mandates strict adherence to ethical principals pertaining to their Paralegal Studies Program. It is our goal to give our paralegal students the best possible training and instruction in order for them to achieve success.