Orange County students seeking a path to a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies now have an option that’s affordable, accessible and close to home: Santa Ana College launched a Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies this fall – the first of its kind at a public institution in California.
The groundbreaking, two-year program is designed for students who already have an associate degree in paralegal studies from an institution approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). This includes SAC’s paralegal studies program, which offers associate of arts and certificate options.
Kim Smith, associate director of legal programs at Santa Ana College, said she’s “beyond excited” to welcome the first cohort of 40 students to the program, which was designed specifically with their needs in mind.
“This program was developed to be a resource to our students,” she said. “These paralegal jobs are living-wage jobs. There was an obvious growth in the field, and there was space for this bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies to fit into the menu of options for our students.”
Santa Ana CollegeKim Smith talks about the new Bachelor of Arts Degree in Paralegal Studies now being offered at Santa Ana College.Filling a need
Smith notes that the state considers paralegal studies career technical education, which better aligns with the focus of community colleges than it does the public university system, which does not offer paralegal bachelor’s degrees in California.
This program fills that gap.
“Our graduating students knew they wanted a bachelor’s degree because that would help them get higher pay and open up these bigger jobs with law firms,” Kristen Robinson, co-chair of the Legal Studies Department at SAC, said. “And so we had a lot of weird kind of problem-solving and hoop-jumping for students to try to help them transfer to a system that really didn’t recognize the value of their degree because it was in a career area. And that’s just not an area that the UCs and Cal States have done a great job of focusing on.”
Another benefit? Cost: At $130 per unit, or about $5,200 over two years, the program offers a more affordable option to private, four-year universities, which can run more than $25,000 to $30,000 per semester, a total of up to $120,000 for the degree.
“Students were graduating (from private institutions) with $60,000 in student loan debt,” Smith said. “And to me, that was unacceptable when the community college could step in with a really good option for them.”
Santa Ana CollegeKristen Robinson with one of the instructors in Santa Ana College's paralegal studies program.Immediately applicable
The Paralegal Studies BA is tailored for working professionals, ideally currently employed in the legal field, with evening and online synchronous classes. Importantly, it features industry expert instructors, including a federal public defender teaching criminal procedure and a civil litigation partner teaching civil procedure.
The curriculum was developed with input from industry partners and an advisory board comprised of judges, attorneys and law firm managers. It emphasizes technology, ethics and work experience that can be completed at students’ current jobs.
For Devon Atkinson, it’s the perfect fit.
Atkinson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 2007 and an associate degree in paralegal studies from Santa Ana College in 2017. She’s been employed as a paralegal for 15 years and currently works in her “dream job” with the Orange County Department of Education.
Why did she decide to pursue the Paralegal Studies BA at SAC?
“I am always motivated by trying to meet best practices,” Atkinson said. “And even though I don’t really need it for my job, the idea of letting it sit out there and not having the highest level of education that’s attainable for this career field didn’t feel right.”
Atkinson said she had been impressed with the caliber of the instructors and quality of education at SAC while in the paralegal certification program.
“It’s just so immediately useful,” said Atkinson, who juggles full-time work and parenting four children under the age of 8. “The classes are geared toward the working professional and being able to use the information immediately in your current job. I’ve just never experienced anything like that. Even just starting this program, it’s been immediately applicable.”
Santa Ana CollegeKim Smith talks with a student in the paralegal studies program at Santa Ana College.Growing demand
SAC’s Paralegal Studies BA couldn’t have come at a better time: Projected job openings for paralegals and legal assistants in California are expected to increase 12% between 2023 and 2033, according to data from O*NET online, a comprehensive resource for occupations in the U.S.
The salary outlook is rosy, too: Students can expect to make more than $60,000 annually upon completion of their paralegal program, according to a survey by the Orange County Paralegal Association in which more than 30% of the 222 respondents reported earning in excess of $100,000 yearly.
That’s great news for Gustavo Westerheyde, a first-generation college student who is looking forward to making the transition from an insurance sales job to a paralegal within the next year. Westerheyde was inspired to pursue paralegal studies through a personal experience with a family law attorney who helped him gain full custody of his daughter. He graduated from Santa Ana College in June with an associate degree in paralegal studies and is now part of the first cohort of the Paralegal Studies BA program.
Although Westerheyde was accepted to three other universities, he chose to stay at SAC because of its affordability, proximity to home and his familiarity with the school and the community.
“SAC is a very rich Hispanic college, so there was a lot of meaning to it, a lot of being able to relate with these students,” he said.
Although he finds the workload heavy, he appreciates the camaraderie he has with other students in the program and the caliber of the instructors. “So far, the professors are very understanding, and the knowledge they bring to the table is just phenomenal,” he said.
Atkinson agreed, adding, “I don’t think I can gush enough about the professors, every single one of them, and how much they care about making this degree attainable.”
Paying it forward
Both students said they are excited to be among the first cohort of SAC’s Paralegal Studies BA program.
“Being in the army, we get taught that we lead by example,” Westerheyde said. “I’m hoping that I’m setting the bar for the next generation. I have a 16-year-old daughter, and I’m hoping she can see that the investment in education is worth it.”
For information on SAC’s Paralegal Studies BA program, visit www.sac.edu/paralegal.
For information on Santa Ana College, visit sac.edu.
The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.
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