updated: 5-17-08

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Accreditation Statement

Accreditation Statement
Los Angeles Mission College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education,.

Los Angeles Mission College recently went through reaffirmation of accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The college participated in a multi-college pilot project, which combined the efforts of LA Valley College and LA Pierce College to present a consistent view of the relationship between the colleges and the district office. The visiting accreditation team commended the college for its efforts and honesty in producing the self-study. The team found a proud college community with tremendous optimism for the future of its institution.

Statutory Compliance Statement (Bus. Prof. Code § 6400 and § 6450

The Los Angeles Mission College Paralegal Studies Program has been approved by the Board of Governors of the L.A. Community Colleges (since 1987), and its curriculum is continuously updated to ensure that it is a quality paralegal program. Recently (2002) all of the 12 classes and course outlines went through a rigorous update through our Curriculum Commitee at Mission which includes information competency, and have been approved for delivery in an entirely online paralegal certificate to meet the needs of its students.

The Paralegal Program at Mission College exceeds the mandate for paralegal education requirements under the Business and Professions Code §§ 6400 and 6450 in the State of California. Earning a Certificate of Completion from the L.A. Mission College Paralegal Studies Program complies with the educational requirements of this new California law regulating paralegals in the State of California. The new law states the paralegal should receive a certificate either from an ABA approved school, or a certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a post secondary institution that requires the successful completion of 24 semester units. ( Mission College is an approved post secondary institution). Our program exceeds the ABA guidelines (which requires 18 semester units while our program requires 36 units).

Our program is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE), and Professor Jordan has written articles for the Paralegal Educator, on the use of "Hypernews Discussions in the Classroom".

Seeking American Bar Association approval is voluntary on the part of the institution. There are some quality programs that have chosen not to seek approval and Mission College for a number of reasons has chosen not to seek ABA approval at this time However, the ABA guidelines are useful in evaluating a program you are considering, and in helping you to decide whether a particular program will meet your needs. We have structured our program around those guidelines to ensure that
your needs will be met. We believe we have a high quality program. We have been in the business of training and graduating paralegals since 1987 when our program commenced.

American Association for Paralegal Education, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, Association of Legal Administrators, Legal Assistant Management Association, National Association of Legal Assistants, and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations promote high standards in the paralegal profession. The AaFPE suggests the following important factors to consider in evaluating the quality of paralegal programs ("How you should choose a paralegal program).