Description
These records include course materials, reports, and goals for the certificate Paralegal Program with the University of
San Diego School of Law. These records document planning that occurred for the program as well as perceptions for how the
program was faring in its early years.
Background
The Paralegal Program, formerly known as the Lawyer's Assistant Program, was added as a University of San Diego School of
Law certificate program in 1975. It was a twelve week course in which students studied introductory law and selected an area
of emphasis: litigation, real estate and mortgages, corporations and estates, or trusts and wills. The National Center for
Legal Training worked with the USD School of Law and Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education, Raymond Brandes, to offer
this type of Lawyer's Assistant training program. The program was thought to bring legal costs down by providing trained assistants
to help lawyers with their work. In 1975 only six other universities offered this kind of program. Classes in the Lawyer's
Assistant Program were also endorsed by the American Bar Association.