Build your credentials with a flexible, highly regarded program that empowers you with the educational foundation necessary for a successful career as a paralegal.
Distinguish yourself by earning your certificate from one of the first American Bar Association (ABA) approved programs in the East Bay and increase your earning potential by opening the doors to some of the most prestigious law firms in the San Francisco Bay area. Since its inception in 1980, the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program has earned high marks and qualified aspiring paralegals like you for positions at some of the most sought after practices.
Member, American Association for Paralegal Education
Member, National Association of Legal Assistants
Member, San Francisco Paralegal Association
Approved California State Bar Provider of MCLE courses (MCLE provider #10897)
An ABA approved program that opens doors.
Learn how to investigate and prepare cases for trial, draft legal documents, interview clients, and conduct legal research expertly while receiving hands-on instruction and practical assignments from legal experts and practicing attorneys.
Without a doubt the paralegal program helped my career. It made the difference in landing my first paralegal job. Being certificated increased my value to the firm, and substantially increased my salary.
Emil Forsblad Paralegal Studies GraduateAt Cal State East Bay, you’ll experience maximum convenience and flexibility with both asynchronous and synchronous online courses. You'll enjoy a personal, student-centered learning experience and benefit from the small class sizes, personal attention from faculty and staff, career assistance, and internship opportunities only East Bay has to offer you.
Charles Jackson, a social justice advocate and former refugee from Liberia, embarks on a new phase in his life helping other African immigrants navigate complicated US residency laws.
Paralegals cannot provide legal advice, except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish a client/business relationship or represent a client in court.
Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations. As a graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal program, you will have the experience and skills needed to succeed in the field, whether in law offices, corporations, government agencies, or other organizations.
As a paralegal, you will be involved in sophisticated legal work and aid in a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, drafting documents, and preparing for hearings, trials and corporate meetings.
—Labor Market Analytics – Lightcast
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
—Labor Market Analytics – Lightcast
Paralegals cannot provide legal advice, except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish a client/business relationship or represent a client in court.
Held in high regard by legal professionals, Cal State East Bay graduates have become accomplished paralegals at some of the most prestigious law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Past graduates have secured legal jobs with organizations including the Santa Clara County Public Defender Office, Pixar Animation Studios, Intuit Inc., and Wendel, Rosen, Black and Dean LLP.
As a student in the program, you will have access to career assistance in several ways:
Career CounselingTake advantage of an experienced paralegal career counselor and quarterly career workshops, which assist you with resume writing and developing your interview skills.
Exclusive JobsBrowse unique paralegal job opportunities available exclusively to students and graduates of the East Bay Paralegal Studies Program, which provides employment opportunities in settings from law firms to federal courts.
Legal Association MembershipFoster relationships with local legal associations, including a complimentary student membership to the San Francisco Paralegal Association.
And if you choose to continue your education as a legal professional, graduating from the Cal State East Bay Paralegal Studies Certificate Program qualifies you for a 50% discount when taking additional paralegal courses.
As a graduate of the program, you will acquire:
Thanks to this program and its professors, I understand how to draft memoranda and briefs professionally, be efficient on legal research, and know how best to serve a client.
Jason Pfister Paralegal Studies Graduate
My Paralegal certificate and knowledge gave me a great advantage looking for a job in the legal field. The training I received through the program allowed me to jump right into my job with little training from my employer.
Daisy Llanos Paralegal Studies Graduate
Everything I learned in my classes has helped me be a functional paralegal in my new firm. I was stuck at a dead-end retail job before completing the program at East Bay and now my quality of life has improved exponentially. Not only am I already making more money than I was, but there are endless opportunities for advancement within my position.
Stephanie Spearman Paralegal Studies GraduateParalegals cannot provide legal advice, except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish a client/business relationship or represent a client in court.
Cal State East Bay is committed to helping you find the perfect job to fit your personal and professional needs. That’s why this job board was created exclusively for current students and graduates of the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program.
To earn your Certificate in Paralegal Studies, simply complete 12 courses:
Please note, a “C” grade or better is required for a class to count toward your certificate.
Writing Proficiency Requirement
The ABA requires students to demonstrate writing proficiency at the college level. To comply with this requirement, students who have not received a Bachelor's or Master's degree from a U.S. or Canadian college/university or who have otherwise not met the UWSR (University Writing Skills Requirement) need to complete the Writing Proficiency Declaration Form during their final session in the Paralegal Studies program. Students will need to submit this form for review to the Paralegal Studies Program Director, along with three writing samples from assignments completed during the Paralegal Studies program. Submissions will be accepted after the start of the student's final session in the program and no later than 30 days after the end date of the student's final session in the program.
Courses are delivered online, making them fit to your busy lifestyle. Evening courses with remote learning options are available year-round.
The Paralegal Studies Certificate program, pursuant to ABA requirements, offers two types of online courses: 1) asynchronous; and 2) synchronous. Students must complete a minimum of 9 units (3-4 courses) in the online synchronous format.
Online asynchronous means that the course meets for 8 weeks without any scheduled class meeting days/times. Quizzes and assignments will still be due on specific dates.
Online synchronous means that the course will meet for 8 weeks with live required class meetings (via Zoom) taking place once a week for 8 weeks from 6-9:45 pm.
The majority of courses do have required textbooks. For your purchasing convenience, you can view and download the complete list of textbooks at any time.
| Required Courses | Units | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTX 150: Introduction to Paralegalism | 0.6 | X | X | |
| POSC 801: Legal Research & Writing I | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 802: Legal Research & Writing II | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 803: Introduction to Law | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 804: Litigation I | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 805: Litigation II | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 807: Personal Injury and Tort Litigation | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 808: Contract Law | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 809: Computer Applications for Paralegals† | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 810: Ethics and Professional Responsibility | 3 | X | X | |
| POSC 811: Paralegal Internship | 2 | X | X | X |
†Students who demonstrate proficiency in all of the legal software that is taught in this class may, with the program director's consent, substitute another course from the electives offered.
| Elective courses | Units | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POSC 812: Corporate Law | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 814: Family Law | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 815: Criminal Law | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 816: Interviewing and Investigating | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 817: Wills & Trusts | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 818: Immigration Law | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 819: Intellectual Property | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 820: Employment Law | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 821: Evidence for Paralegals | 3 | X | ||
| POSC 822: E-Discovery, Advanced Legal Research & Motion Writing | 3 | X | X |
Please note: the list of elective courses above is tentative and subject to change.
Students can begin the Paralegal Studies program in January or in August. If you follow the course sequence, the program can be completed in 12 months. Students may move through the program at a slower pace as long as the program is completed within three years from the initial start date.
All students seeking the Paralegal Studies Certificate must complete one elective course during their time in the program.
Required Coursework – Fall Cohort (August start)
| Fall Semester, Session I (Weeks 1-8) |
|---|
| EXTX 150: Introduction to Paralegalism |
| POSC 803: Introduction to Law |
| POSC 801: Legal Research and Writing I |
| Fall Semester, Session II (Weeks 9-16) |
|---|
| POSC 804: Litigation I |
| POSC 802: Legal Research and Writing II |
| Spring Semester, Session I (Weeks 1-8) |
|---|
| POSC 805: Litigation II |
| POSC 808: Contract Law |
| Spring Semester, Session II (Weeks 9-16) |
|---|
| POSC 807: Personal Injury and Tort Litigation |
| POSC 809: Computer Applications for Paralegals |
| Summer Session (8 weeks) |
|---|
| POSC 811: Paralegal Internship |
| POSC 810: Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals* |
Required Coursework – Spring Cohort (January start)
| Spring Semester, Session I (Weeks 1-8) |
|---|
| EXTX 150: Introduction to Paralegalism |
| POSC 803: Introduction to Law |
| POSC 801: Legal Research and Writing I |
| Spring Semester, Session II (Weeks 9-16) |
|---|
| POSC 804: Litigation I |
| POSC 802: Legal Research and Writing II |
| Summer Session (8 weeks) |
|---|
| POSC 805: Litigation II |
| POSC 808: Contract Law |
| Fall Semester, Session I (Weeks 1-8) |
|---|
| POSC 807: Personal Injury and Tort Litigation |
| POSC 809: Computer Applications for Paralegals |
| Fall Semester, Session II (Weeks 9-16) |
|---|
| POSC 811: Paralegal Internship |
| POSC 810: Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals* |
**POSC 810 Paralegal Ethics & Professional Responsibility may be taken at any time after completion of POSC 801
All students are required to enroll in POSC 811 - Paralegal Internship and complete a 120-hour internship while being enrolled in that course. For more information, click here.
It is possible to transfer credit for two paralegal program classes from other ABA-approved Paralegal Programs. Please note that transferred courses must have been completed within the past five years.
Paralegals cannot provide legal advice, except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish a client/business relationship or represent a client in court.
It is not the function of the teacher to cover the material, it is their duty to uncover it.
The Honorable Jacob Blea III is a Superior Court Judge in Alameda County. He is a former Presiding Judge of Family Law and is currently the Supervising Judge of the Pleasanton Court. Judge Blea maintained an extensive Civil Litigation, Family Law, and general law practice before his appointment to the bench in 1998.
Judge Blea is also a past president of the Alameda County Bar Association. Judge Blea has been a member of CSUEB’s Paralegal Studies faculty since 1986 teaching Civil Litigation, Introduction to Law, and Family Law. He is a graduate of CSUEB, where he also received his teaching credential He received his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law-Boalt Hall.
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
Dwight Dickerson, Esq., sincerely believes as professionals that we have a duty to bring along the next generation of professionals. The joy of teaching is to inspire students to move forward with the desire of learning and doing and not be afraid to take risks. Life is not about the ultimate destination but the journey getting there and what we experience and learn along the way.
Dickerson is the Director of the Paralegal Studies Program at California State University, East Bay and a former member of the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission and an active member of and presenter for The American Association for Paralegal Education.
He has been a member of the faculty of the CSUEB Paralegal Studies Program since 1991, and is an instructor of Contract Law and Nonprofit Law. Dickerson graduated from Brandeis University with honors majoring in American & Urban Studies and received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He has been an active member of the State Bar of California since December 1977, specializing in real estate, consumer, business, and non-profit law related matters.
Jeff D. Feinberg, Esq., is a solo practitioner teaching Civil Litigation in the Paralegal Studies Program at California State University, East Bay. Before starting his own practice, Feinberg was senior counsel at Toschi, Sidran, Collins & Doyle, where he specializes in first and third party auto liability, personal injury, premises liability, and subrogation defense. He earned his BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
I use an interactive style with students in which legal questions and issues are resolved through the active participation of the class.
Michael Greathouse is a 1981 graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law. He has been a practicing attorney in the State of California since 1981. Greathouse has tried approximately 20 criminal and civil jury cases to completion in state and federal court. He has prepared and argued numerous motions in state and federal courts in real estate, personal injury, business, and employment cases. Greathouse is an experienced appellate attorney who has handled appeals in state and federal court. He has also worked as General Counsel for a nutritional and high technology map company.
Greathouse has been teaching on a part-time basis for the past nine years in CSUEB’s Paralegal Studies and Human Resource Management programs. He teaches Legal Research and Writing and Electronic Discovery in the Paralegal Studies program. He teaches Discrimination Law and Wage and Hour Practice in the Human Resource Management program. His teaching philosophy is teaching students practical skills that will help them succeed as paralegals. Students learn through direct participation, writing exercises, and visual presentations that teach the basics of research and writing.
In my trial experience, I have found that cases are often handled by lawyers who thought they knew everything and paralegals and secretaries who really did.
Edward M. Lai practices in the areas of employment and general liability defense, construction defect, and Americans with Disabilities defense. He also brings with him experience as an insurance claims representative at several national insurance carriers.
Lai has had overwhelmingly successful results in jury and bench trials in state and federal courts and arguing civil appeals before the California District Court of Appeal. He has represented building contractors, developers, small business owners, national corporations, and individuals alike in the defense of various general liability and business litigations.
Lai is also very active in the East Bay community. In addition to being an associate professor at Cal State East Bay, he is a Special Master for numerous Bay Area Counties and a commissioner with the City of Oakland Rent Board. Lai is secretary of the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Meals on Wheels, president of the Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association, and an oral board assessor for the Oakland Police.
I enjoy bringing real world legal research problems directly from my law office into the classroom to allow the students an opportunity to tackle an actual 'live' legal matter. I am proud to say that on many occasions, my students have sharpened their legal skills while helping a client in need at the same time.
Alexander H. Lubarsky, LL.M., Esq. is a practicing litigator and a legal technology enthusiast. Upon graduating from law school, Lubarsky co-founded Community Legal Centers in East San Jose to provide low cost immigration, bankruptcy, family law, and criminal defense representation to low income immigrant communities. He also consults on litigation software solutions and e-discovery practices to corporate legal departments and law firms of all sizes.
Lubarsky has consistently been active in legal technology. In 2003, he was elected to the California State Bar Law Technology Executive Committee. He is a certified trainer/consultant in the four major litigation support applications: Catalyst CR , Summation, Concordance, and CaseMap. Lubarsky is EnCase Certified and spent several years as a Director for Guidance Software – the world’s leading computer forensic software manufacturer. Further, he has taught litigation support courses to students at various law schools and paralegal schools throughout California. He has remained a member of the paralegal education faculty at California State University, East Bay for over a decade. Lubarsky is a regular speaker on the topic of litigation support systems and electronic discovery as well as computer forensics. He has presented at multiple legal technology conferences and State Bar events throughout the nation.
He has held past positions with Summation Legal Technologies, ZANTAZ Guidance Software, Catalyst Repository Systems, and TERIS. He assists small law firms and solo practitioners implement technology to allow them to compete ‘head-on’ with AMLAW 200 large law firms. He has authored various articles for legal technology publications such as the electronic discovery chapter of CEB’s Internet Law, Law Office Computing, and The Bottom Line. He is currently authoring the textbook Computer Applications for the Paralegal for Aspen Law and Business Publishers. Lubarsky has trained and consulted to hundreds of law firms, corporate legal departments, and government counsel offices.
