AWC appoints interim coordinator for paralegal programs

Arizona Western College recently appointed an interim coordinator for its paralegal associate's degree and certificate programs within its Business and Liberal Arts Department.

  Jim Smith, a Yuma attorney and former English teacher in the AWC adjunct faculty, was selected by the paralegal committee overseeing the program and approved by Matt Anderson, dean of the department. Smith helped launch the paralegal studies 2-1/2 years ago with Amy Wells, who was expected to head up the program until she decided to pursue other opportunities.

  Yuma is a growing community and is getting more complex as far as litigation is concerned, Smith noted.

  "There are a lot of jobs in the profession that are not necessarily attorney. The paralegal program creates a path into the legal profession without having to pass the state bar exam."

  AWC offers an associate of arts degree as well as a certificate in paralegal studies. The program is designed for students who plan to attend college for two years, and those attending full time can complete the 65-credit degree in four semesters.

After successful completion, students will have a broad knowledge of the subject matter that most law offices deal with, including criminal, civil, administrative, family, business and probate law, Smith said.

"With the program we have, we've done a good job of getting lawyer/practitioners to teach our curriculum."

Katie Mattson completed the certificate program in a 1.5-year period that included a summer internship. Mattson, who had a bachelor's degree in history from University of Wisconsin, had planned to continue on in law school but personal circumstances prevented her from doing so, she said.

However, Mattson was hired as a courtroom clerk in the Yuma County Superior Court. Although not much has changed in her job since she finished her certificate, AWC's paralegal studies enabled her to better understand the process of how a particular litigation got into court, Mattson said.

"The attorneys provide a good hands-on experience. They have challenging assignments for us and set high standards for the program."

Mattson added that she intends to continue with her education and get a master's certificate in public administration from Northern Arizona University-Yuma, and eventually realize her original goal of attending law school.

Also graduating from the certificate program was Melissa Hamm, who compiled enough credits to transfer to NAU-Yuma's criminal justice program. She said she has prior experience in billing and has been working as the billing manager for the Shadle and Walsma law firm.

Hamm, who arrived in Yuma from Phoenix, had expected to study law, but there were no evening courses available. AWC's schedule allows her to keep her job and is one of the reason's she enrolled there, she said.

There are also guest lecturers who are very insightful and offer a good supplement to the teaching staff, among them Yuma County Superior Court Judges Andrew Gould, Lawrence Kenworthy and Mark Reeves, she said.

"Our instructors wanted the class to have exposure to legal experts who deal with the issues every day," Hamm said.

She also praised lecturer Darcie Farrell, who now works in the county attorney's office and who was formerly the assistant attorney general in the Department of Child Support Enforcement. Hamm, who is leaning toward family law practice, said she had no idea there was a whole division of DES that enforces child support.

"Who better to teach it and I'm grateful for all the guest lecturers who take time to prepare," Hamm said. "Mary Katharine Boyte taught family law and that was my favorite class. It was very interesting and Mary was well organized, using Power Point, and I really like that method of instruction."