Legal Studies
The Legal Studies Department provides students with the academic skills to succeed in the legal world. The degree program offers a strong foundation in liberal arts and business, and also helps students gain an extensive understanding of legal terms and procedures. The courses are designed to prepare students to find employment as legal assistants, paralegals, and many other positions in the business world that require legal knowledge.
A degree in Legal Studies qualifies students to work in law offices, real estate, banking, estate planning, document preparation firms, and governmental agencies. Many students also use a degree in Legal Studies as a stepping stone to gain entrance into Humphreys College Lawrence Drivon School of Law, as well as several other law schools in the Central Valley area.
The Criminal Justice program provides a distinctive education which emphasizes a practical approach to understanding crime and deviant behavior, the nature of law and social control, and the organization and management of criminal justice agencies. Instructors bring years of real-life experience to the courses. The academic backgrounds of the faculty are multidisciplinary and all faculty members are currently working or recently retired from the criminal justice field. The program of study leads to an Associate in Arts in Criminal Justice and prepares the student for an entry-level position in the criminal justice field.
Legal Studies Department faculty members are caring and qualified individuals who are committed to their students’ success. Ninety percent of paralegal courses are taught by local attorneys who work full time in government position or private practice. The chair of the department, Rowena Walker, has been with Humphreys College since 1978, the longest serving of all of the faculty members. She chairs a staff of adjunct instructors who are also veteran professionals of the field.
Degrees Offered
The Department offers the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts, Paralegal Studies
- Certificate of Completion, Paralegal Studies
- Associate of Arts, Legal Office Administration
- Associate of Science, Legal Office Administration
- Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice
- Certificate of Completion, Legal Office Administration
Degree requirements are presented in the college catalog.
Contact an Admissions Counselor for more information on the programs offered or to register for classes.
Notices & Information
Visit the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations for more information on paralegal education and employment for the state of California.
Faculty Introductions
Rowena Walker has taught at the college since 1978, the longest serving of all of the Humphreys College professors. She has also served as Chair of the Legal Department since 1980. She earned her M.A. in Political Science from the University of the Pacific in 1978.