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Utah Career College offers legal courses that provide practical, rigorous training for students seeking careers as paralegals. All courses in Paralegal Studies are taught by practicing attorneys and paralegals. Classes in legal specialties are taught by professionals with extensive experience in those areas.
The Associate in Paralegal Studies degree program and the Bachelor’s in Paralegal Studies degree program are offered at campus locations in West Jordan (13 miles south of Salt Lake City Center), Orem and Layton. Many elective and paralegal courses can also be taken through our Online Education Department. Please contact UCC for information about specific course availability.
Paralegal Studies Course Descriptions
LA100 Legal Terminology - 4 Credits
This is an introductory, concentrated study of terminology used in the legal field. Students learn to spell, define and use legal terminology through reading, practice and application to real situations.
LA105 American Legal Systems - 3 Credits
This course familiarizes the student with the organization of the American courts, their influence on politics and society, the functions of judges, courts and lawyers, and an analysis of law as a coherent system. Students examine the fundamental history, structure and jurisprudential cornerstones of the modern American legal system.
LA115 Survey of Law - 3 Credits
This survey course introduces students to the sources and foundations of American law, providing an overview of constitutional law, criminal law, torts, property law, contracts, business law, family law and administrative law. Students study the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Rules of Evidence and the Rules of Appellate Procedure, with an emphasis on the application of these rules to Utah cases.
LA121 Introduction to Paralegal Studies - 3 Credits
This course provides an overview of the paralegal profession, its job requirements, career opportunities, professional affiliations and the legal and ethical constraints on its practice. It also surveys the typical work responsibilities of paralegals in various employment settings and covers skills important to effective interviews and investigations.
LA155 Legal Research I - 4 Credits
Prerequisite: LA100. This course emphasizes understanding and performing legal research using printed materials and the computer. Students learn and practice the fundamentals of legal analysis relating to primary law, correct citation format and using the law library and electronic resources. Students also learn how to access and use a range of other tools to find relevant primary law.
LA165 Family Law - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA115, LA155. This course examines substantive and procedural family law, especially as it exists in Utah. The course explores the paralegal’s role in preparing antenuptial, separation and custody agreements and in gathering information and drafting documents relating to divorce, annulment, property settlement and custody proceedings.
LA170 Real Estate - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: CS131, LA100, LA115. Students gain an understanding of the legal concepts of real property, including types of estates and ownership, encumbrances, recording and registration, title examination and real estate financing and foreclosure. Students study the documents and processes involved in real estate closings and learn to prepare documents transferring title and creating property interests, such as deeds, liens and commercial and residential leases.
LA180 Torts - 3 Credits
Prerequisite: LA100. This course prepares students to perform paralegal support functions in personal injury and other tort litigation. The student learns the underlying social policies, elements and defenses for actions based on negligence, intentional tort and strict liability and are able to analyze potential liability in a wide range of factual situations.
LA185 Criminal Law & Procedures - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA100, LA115. This course prepares students to perform paralegal support functions in the area of criminal law. Students examine both substantive criminal law and the procedural rules and processes of criminal practice. Constitutional considerations relevant to criminal law are also addressed.
LA205 Litigation I - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: CS111, KY100, LA100. This course provides both the theoretical and practical knowledge that a paralegal needs to assist an attorney in the initial stages of the litigation process. Students draft the legal documents required at the beginning of a lawsuit, including a Complaint, Answer and Counterclaim, Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Summary Judgment. Emphasis is placed on the Rules of Evidence and the Rules of Civil Procedure.
LA215 Law Office Procedures & Technology - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: CS131, LA100. This course familiarizes the student with the practical inner workings of a law office. Topics include office organization, fees and billing procedures, scheduling and calendaring, preparation and maintenance of case files, preparation of law office forms and an introduction to a variety of legal-specific software.
LA221 Immigration Law and Procedure - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA100, LA115. This course introduces students to immigration law. Topics include amnesty, political asylum and deportation, as well as immigration issues of concern to U.S. employers and employees, including immigrant and non-immigrant business visas, employer sanctions and employment discrimination. Students learn the appropriate forms to use in various situations and sources for required documentation.
LA222 Employment Law - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA100, LA115, LA155. This course prepares the prospective paralegal to research and analyze legal issues arising in the context of the employer-employee relationship. Students explore laws dealing with hiring and termination practices, compensation and benefits, discrimination, workplace safety and employer and employee rights.
LA225 Administrative Law - 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the role and functioning of administrative agencies in the American legal system. Topics addressed include agency discretion, administrative rules and regulations, informal and formal proceedings within administrative agencies and judicial review of administrative decisions. Emphasis is placed on specific skills paralegals need to work in the area of administrative law.
LA230 Contracts & Business Law - 4 Credits
This course provides students with an in-depth analysis of the law of contracts, including contract formation, elements of an enforceable contract, defenses to breach of contract claims and remedies for breach of contract, with emphasis on the Uniform Commercial Code, sales transactions and negotiable instruments. The course also covers agency relationships in business, labor and employment law and laws governing the creation and operation of businesses. Students draft a basic partnership agreement and a contract involving the sale of goods.
LA240 Legal Writing I - 4 Credits
Prerequisite: LA155. In this course, students review writing basics, including punctuation, capitalization, grammar and correct formatting of correspondence and legal documents. This course enables the student to prepare professional legal correspondence, legal case briefs and other written legal documents.
LA255 Ethics for the Law Office - 4 Credits
Prerequisite: LA100. This course is a concentrated study of legal ethics from the perspective of the paralegal. Students examine ethical situations, rules and model codes of the legal profession, conflicts of interest, client confidentiality and other ethical dilemmas.
LA265 Litigation II - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: LA205, CS131. Building on the foundation established in their Litigation I course, students learn the processes involved in preparing for and taking civil cases to trial. Students draft discovery documents, including Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, subpoenas and other documents. Using this information, students prepare for and participate in a mock trial or arbitration hearing, with emphasis on preparing a trial notebook and managing and organizing evidence and exhibits. Students also learn how to enforce judgments, prepare post-trial motions and assist in filing appeals.
LA299 Paralegal Externship - 6 Credits
Prerequisites: All core 100/200 level courses. This 90-hour externship integrates the student’s comprehensive paralegal training into a hands-on application in a law office environment. Students complete a portfolio showcasing legal documents they have created throughout the program.
LA300 Law Office Management - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: LA115, LA215, LA240, LA255. This practical course examines the details of managing a law office. Students evaluate management techniques used by the legal community and common problems that arise in the context of law office management. Students also examine the principles relating to the practice of law and the responsibilities of the paralegal.
LA305 Interviewing and Investigation - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: LA185, LA205. In this course, students develop the theoretical and practical knowledge paralegals need to carry out effective witness interviews and to plan and execute investigations. Students learn and apply the applicable rules from the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and the Utah Rules of Evidence.
LA310 Accounting & Taxation for Paralegals - 4 Credits
This course introduces students to maintenance, analysis, summarization and interpretation of financial records with an emphasis on accounting applications used in law offices. Students prepare basic financial statements used in business, as well as federal, state, fiduciary and gift tax returns. The course also addresses specific ethical issues that arise in the context of handling the books for a law firm, billing clients and safeguarding client funds.
LA321 Probate - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA115. Students gain an understanding of the law relating to the ownership of property, testate and intestate succession, estate distribution and requirements for creating valid and enforceable wills and trusts. Students prepare a will, a trust and the documents necessary for informal administration of an estate.
LA322 Cyberlaw - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: CS131, LA115, LA240, LA255. This course examines legal doctrines and principles relating to computer technology and the Internet. Students explore how jurisdiction is determined for disputes arising in cyberspace, how constitutional protections affect the use of cyber technology, legal challenges faced by businesses that rely exclusively on the Internet, property rights associated with the sharing of information over the Internet and the prosecution of criminal activities involving the use of computer technology.
LA323 Bankruptcy - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: CS131, LA115, LA255. This course provides the theoretical and practical knowledge required for a basic understanding of bankruptcy litigation. Students use bankruptcy software to prepare a Chapter 7 petition.
LA324 Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA240. This course deals with copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets. The student studies real cases and business situations that illustrate the concepts and principles of intellectual property law.
LA326 Corporate Business Structures - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA115, LA240, LA255. In this course, the prospective paralegal gains an understanding of the law governing sole proprietorships, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations, including the rights, responsibilities and relationships created by each structure. Practical focus is on document preparation related to each structure.
LA350 Environmental Law - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA105, LA115, LA155. This course introduces students to the system through which the U.S. attempts to preserve its natural resources. Students explore specific laws and procedures in the areas of pollution and air-quality control, the control of toxic substances, water management, energy sources and the protection of public lands and endangered species. Students also examine the involvement of administrative agencies in making and enforcing laws dealing with protection of the environment.
LA400 Alternative Dispute Resolution - 3 Credits
Prerequisites: LA155, LA205. This course covers available processes other than litigation for resolving disputes. Students examine approaches such as negotiation, mediation and arbitration with a view toward identifying the participants, where ultimate decision-making authority lies, which method is the best alternative for a particular dispute and the role that the paralegal plays in the process.
LA410 Legal Research II - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: CS111, LA115, LA155. Students further develop their legal research skills by locating relevant law in primary and secondary sources and applying that law to specific situations. In addition to researching codes and case law, students learn to locate relevant law in administrative rules and regulations and executive orders, while locating and using the legislative history of codes and statutes to analyze the meaning and intent of enacted law. Students are also exposed to the use of law review articles, legal treatises, the ALR system and legal encyclopedias as resources in researching applicable law. Correct citation form is emphasized.
LA420 Litigation III: Advanced Litigation - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: LA215, LA240, LA265. This course covers advanced topics in the civil litigation process. Students follow a hypothetical case from initial client interview and factual investigation through the filing of the first pleadings, to discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, appeal and enforcement of judgment. The emphasis is on document production and management in complex cases and class action suits.
LA425 Legal Writing II - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: LA240. In this course students develop the ability to write clear, concise and persuasive legal arguments. Students learn to apply critical analytical skills as they evaluate legal authority and synthesize information in the preparation of legal documents.
LA490 CLA Review - 2 Credits
Prerequisites: CM121, LA121, LA155, LA165, LA170, LA185, LA230, LA240, LA255, LA340, LA265. Students prepare to take NALA’s Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal examination by reviewing the American legal system and the litigation process. They explore the substantive law in the areas of family law, criminal law, contract law, estate planning and probate, real estate law and administrative law. Students also take mock examinations in legal research, judgment and analytical ability, human relations, communication and ethics.
LA498 B.S. Externship - 4 Credits
Prerequisites: All core courses. This 90-hour paralegal internship integrates a student’s paralegal training into hands-on applications in a law office environment. Students use the critical thinking and analytical skills they have developed throughout the program to analyze facts, synthesize information and perform legal work under the direction and supervision of an attorney. Students may assist in preparing exhibits and evidence, obtaining information from clients, preparing for pretrial conferences or case settlement meetings, drafting contracts or other agreements, performing legal research and creating internal and external legal memoranda.
To find out which courses are available at which times, see the current course schedule on our students site.
Legal classes that provide practical skills
Unlike some college classes in paralegal studies, courses at Utah Career College provide students with practice in every type of task they will later perform as paralegals. Employers know they can rely on that level of preparation – our graduates have an excellent placement rate.
If you are interested in our associate (two-year degree) or bachelor’s (four-year degree) program, please contact UCC Admissions. A representative will be happy to help you.