Paralegal Training Classes to Be Offered

Two new job-training programs--one for a civil litigation specialist, the other for a legal secretary--will be offered this spring by the Valley College extension program.

The programs are designed for working adults interested in quickly entering the paralegal profession, said Hariann Goldman, program director of the college’s extension program.

“I’ve designed these programs for people who want to get a jump start in the paralegal profession,” Goldman said. “Getting jobs are what the certificate programs are about, and there are no other programs that I’m aware of where people can get in and get out quickly so they can find real jobs and get to work.”

Goldman said graduates of the six-week civil litigation specialist program, which begins April 6, will gain a solid foundation in the paralegal profession.

In addition to essential civil litigation legal secretarial skills, the 15-week legal secretary program, which begins March 19, will cover specialty areas such as probate, family law, criminal law and records management, she said.

Prior to the start of classes, the extension program will offer a free legal careers open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 10 in the President’s Conference Room in the college Administration Building.

Tuition for the civil litigation specialist program is $625 and includes all materials and textbooks.

Cost for the legal secretary program is $975.

The extension program also offers continuing education workshops for executives, managers, human resource personnel and small business owners.

Applications forms are available in bungalow 49 on the south side of campus, located on 5800 Fulton Ave. in Van Nuys.

For more information, contact the extension office at (818) 781-1200 Ext. 320.