1.

How long has the program been in existence?

The program has been in existence since 1976.

2.

Is Fresno City College accredited?

Yes, the college is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Completion of the FCC program establishes the student as a paralegal under Business and Professions Code § 6450. 

3.

Are there paralegals on the advisory board and on the faculty?

Paralegals are both on the advisory board and on the faculty. The faculty and the advisory board are made up of a mixture of paralegals and attorneys.

4.

Are there any special admissions requirements to enter the program?

No. FCC does not require an entrance exam or other special admissions requirements for the Paralegal Studies Program. Once you have been admitted to the college you may register for courses in the Paralegal Studies Program, providing you have fulfilled the prerequisites for a specific course.

5.

Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in Paralegal 1?

Yes. You must have previously taken BA 20 (Law and Legal System), or be enrolled in BA 20 at the same time you are enrolled in Paralegal 1, or have special permission from a Paralegal 1 instructor.

6.

Am I required to take the paralegal courses in any particular order?

No. The order of courses set forth in the materials prepared by the college is a suggested sequence only. The only requirement is that you fulfill any prerequisites for a specific course before enrolling in it.

7.

How frequently are the paralegal elective courses offered?

The various elective courses in the paralegal program (i.e., Probate, Family Law, Evidence, etc.) are offered on a cyclical basis. Generally, each of those courses is offered at least once during a three semester period.

8.

Is there a field study or internship program as part of the certificate program?

Completing an internship is a core requirement to graduate from the program. Three hundred hours must be completed over a minimum of one semester.

9.

When should I do my internship and how do I arrange that?

You should complete at least two semesters in the program before you begin your internship. You also need to have completed at least one semester of Legal Research and Writing. You can be placed in an internship through the school, or you may find your own internship. If you have any relatives or friends who are attorneys, they may be willing to help you. 

10.

What steps do I take to be eligible for graduation?

It is your obligation to have your transcripts evaluated by the Admissions and Records Office well in advance of your last semester. Applications for the evaluation are available in the Student Services Building. No student is a candidate for graduation until the transcript evaluation is completed.

11.

Is there a student organization for paralegal students?

Yes. The Student Paralegal Association (SPA), one of the largest and most active student organizations at the college, is open to all students enrolled in the Paralegal Studies or Legal  Administrative Assistant Programs, providing they maintain a 2.0 GPA. Dues are $5.00 per semester or $8.00 per year. Contact the Director of the Paralegal Studies Program, Brian J. McCully at 442-4600 ext. 8485 or the current president of the Student Paralegal Association for membership information. 

12.

How do I obtain information about events and activities related to the Paralegal Studies Program and the Student Paralegal Association (SPA)? 

Announcements of events and activities are posted on the SPA bulletin board, located on the ground floor of the Business Education Building between Rooms 127 and 129 and in the glass case adjacent to the Business Education Division Office BE-110. In addition, the SPA publishes a periodic newsletter, which is distributed in all paralegal studies classes. A  representative of the SPA will visit your classroom during the first few weeks of classes with  more information.

13.

Are there tutorial services available? 

Yes. Tutoring is available by appointment in the Tutorial Center, located in the Library/Learning Resources Center building, near the Computer Lab. Tutorial services are free of charge to students with a library card. Contact the Tutorial Center for more information.

14.

Is there a computer lab available for use by students?

Yes. The Computer Lab is open to all students enrolled and holding a library card. It is located in the Learning Resources Center at the east end of the Library/Learning Resources Building. Contact the Lab for information about hours of operation. 

15.

What libraries are available to do legal research? 

Fresno City College has an extensive (and growing) law collection, located in the Reference Room of the Library. Other available libraries are  the Fresno County Law Library, located on the 6th floor of the Fresno County Courthouse, and the law collection in the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno. Contact these facilities directly for information about their hours of operation. Information about the Fresno City College Library can be obtained from http://www.fresnocitycollege.edu/library 

16.

Are there counselors or other persons available to assist me with what courses I need to complete for my certificate or degree?

Yes. For assistance with law-related courses, Brian J. McCully, Director of the Paralegal Studies Program, and the staff of the Business Education Division are available to answer your questions. For help with general education courses, the staff of the Counseling Department, located on the second level of the Student Services Building, is available to all students.

Contact that office at 442-8226 for hours of operation.

17.

What percentage of students complete the program and find employment as paralegals?

Fifty to seventy-five percent of the students completing the Fresno City College paralegal program find jobs either at their respective places of internship or other law offices in the Fresno community. 

18.

Is there a placement service and/or a placement office available to students? 

Fresno City College has a placement office where paralegal students can register. On an informal basis, the director of the paralegal program receives numerous contacts by law firms in Fresno and forwards the information on job openings to students.

19.

What types of employment do graduates of the program obtain?

FCC paralegal graduates are employed by private law firms, government agencies, courts, corporations, etc.

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