(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Santa Ana College (SAC) hosted a special ribbon-cutting event for SAC's new Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies at the Cesar Chavez Atrium. Hosted by the Legal Studies Department, Congressman Lou Correa, SAC Alumnus and founding partner of Aitken*Aitken Cohn Wylie Aitken, and Chancellor Marvin Martinez were among the many in attendance to support this special moment.
Special guest speaker and faculty member Kai Williamson delivered a heartfelt speech about her journey in the legal field. She shared her 33 years of experience as a paralegal, detailing her path to becoming an Association paralegal member and leading the Orange County Paralegal Association (OCPA). Her passion for the paralegal field led her to simultaneously pursue teaching, having taught paralegal studies for 19 years. Williamson went on to share that after years of hard work, this has been a rewarding career as she makes well into six figures and has been able to comfortably provide for her family. She encouraged the incoming students to get involved with their local paralegal association.
Faculty member Kai Williamson shares about her journey to becoming a paralegal
“It's an incredible honor to stand here today at the ribbon cutting for our new BA in Paralegal Studies program," shared the Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jeffrey Lamb. “This moment represents the hard work and unwavering dedication of our Legal Studies Department. This program is a powerful step forward. We are offering a high-quality, affordable pathway for students who want to advance their education and make a real difference in the legal field."
In November 2023, it was announced that this new Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies received provisional approval from the Chancellor of California Community Colleges (CCC). Final approval from the CCC Board of Governors was received in January 2024 and the first cohort of this baccalaureate degree will convene for its first class in one week.
“We are beyond excited to welcome in this program's first cohort," shared Professor Kim Smith. “This is a defining moment, as SAC will be able to deliver a bachelor's of paralegal studies on our own college campus and online for a much lower cost than other institutions," Smith said. “Our community ties, work experience opportunities, and hands-on clinics will elevate the student experience beyond what can be accomplished elsewhere."
Professor Kim Smith
The baccalaureate-level Paralegal Studies program at SAC is the first of its kind at any public institution in California. The program is designed for students who already have an associate degree in Paralegal Studies from an institution approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), such as SAC's long-standing paralegal training program that currently offers associate of arts and certificate options.
With this new program instated, SAC will now compete with private, post-secondary institutions that offer more expensive paths toward a bachelor's degree in paralegal, Smith explained.
"We warmly welcome our inaugural class for the Paralegal Studies Bachelor program," said Dean of the Business Division, Anthony Pagan. "These students are embarking on a journey that will prepare them to excel in the legal field. We wish them tremendous success as they begin this important chapter in their academic and professional lives."
According to a UC Davis Benefits and Opportunities report, graduates of community college bachelor degree programs earn twice as much as they did before obtaining their degree, with nearly 98 percent of students reporting their employment in the same field of study as their degree.
Demand for trained paralegals and legal assistants is high, said Kristen Robinson, SAC Legal Studies Department co-chair, citing a 2022 report from the Orange County Center for Excellence, which showed there will be a demand for 17,291 paralegal and legal assistant jobs in Orange and Los Angeles Counties by 2025, compared with 15,964 in 2020, an increase of 8 percent and significantly higher than the growth expected nationally in the field.
“The law faculty at SAC is so proud of our students and we really wanted this opportunity for them," Robinson said. “A bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies has the potential to be transformative. Law is about power and understanding the systems that underlie power. I can't wait to see what students demanding equity, and schooled in power, do with that knowledge and how that serves our community."
According to Smith, SAC's paralegal program offers robust internship placements, clinical work, and collaboration with public interest law firms.
“Our students work with Community Legal Aid and Public Law Center to host legal clinics and create a bridge from the classroom over to well-paying jobs," Smith added. “We also offer courses in legal technology, e-Discovery, and an apprenticeship in law firm interpreting."
For more information, please visit www.sac.edu/paralegal. Questions about this press release can be directed to Ethereal Reyes, Public Information Officer at reyes_ethereal@sac.edu.
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About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 70,000 students yearly. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. Santa Ana College is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District
