Oxnard, Calif. (Sept. 12, 2023) — Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program recently received the prestigious approval of the American Bar Association (ABA). Graduates from ABA-approved programs are highly sought after by legal employers and professional organizations seeking to hire paralegals. The ABA’s approval followed an intensive review and on-site evaluation during the spring semester, with final recognition coming recently from the organization’s House of Delegates, which acted on the recommendation of the group’s Standing Committee on Paralegals.
“Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program is among our region’s finest and most reputable,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “We’re proud that our paralegal studies graduates will now be able to proudly point to the American Bar Association’s seal of approval while advancing their careers here in Ventura County and throughout the country.”
Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program was first launched in 1980 and includes an Associate Degree and Certificate of Achievement. The program prepares students to become paralegals with responsibility for assisting attorneys for trial or arbitration, researching existing laws, and performing a moderate degree of investigation. The program’s experienced faculty have served as attorneys and paralegals at leading law firms, corporations, and public sector organizations. The Paralegal Studies Program is also among several educational pathways included in Oxnard College’s new PACE initiative, helping working adults in paralegal studies complete their degrees in as little as one year.
According to the ABA’s website, the principal aim of the organization’s approval process is “to foster high-quality paralegal education and training and the development of educational standards” and that the organization’s efforts have helped lead “to the development of superior paralegal education programs designed to raise the competence of those individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services.”
“We at Oxnard College are excited that the American Bar Association’s approval will increase the marketability of our paralegal graduates in the workforce,” shared Dr. Isaac Rodriguez, dean of Career Education at Oxnard College. “I’d like to thank the outstanding faculty, classified staff, and administrators whose efforts to secure this designation have ensured our community has a local and affordable ABA-approved Paralegal Studies program right here in Ventura County.”
The ABA’s approval takes effect immediately and is set to last through August 2030. For information regarding Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program or its ABA approval, visit www.oxnardcollege.edu/paralegalstudies or contact James Schuelke at 805-678-5275 or jschuelke@vcccd.edu.