Paralegal/Legal Assistant Basic Certificate

450 Hours/Instructor supported

This Online Paralegal Training - Legal Assistant Basic Program provides the most effective way to start the process of becoming a paralegal (also known as “legal assistant”). Our Paralegal basic courses are self-paced and conducted 100% online. Includes basic law office interaction, billing, law theory, interview/investigation, writing, citations and research, and internet resource directories.

As law firms get pressed by their clients to cut back on their billing, there will be more demand for paralegals as a less costly way to get basic work done instead of having expensive attorneys billing clients. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics rates paralegal as a field with “much faster than average” job growth over the next 8-10 years.

• Convenient anytime, anywhere training
• Fast track high tech legal terminology training
• About the Profession
• Civil Litigation
• Interviewing, Writing, Research and Citation
• Research sites, Internet job sites

Course Syllabus

Module 1: The Profession

·         Describe the responsibilities of a paralegal.

·         Discuss the categories of paralegal employment and ongoing career possibilities.

·         Examine the personal assets and skill sets necessary to the profession.

·         Relate the educational requirements of paralegal programs.

·         Explain the ethics and professional responsibilities of the profession.

·         Describe the need for licensing requirements.

Module 2: The Law

·         Describe the complexities involved with making, interpreting and enforcing law.

·         Discuss the distinctions between equity and law that apply to the remedies of common law.

·         Explain the foundation of the U.S. Constitution and the relationships between the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (President), and the judicial branch (Courts).

·         Describe statutory law, federal and state legislatures, administrative law, and international law.

 

Module 3: The Court System

·         Explain jurisdictional determination of cases in relation to state courts and federal courts.

·         Describe the requirements or factors that contribute to jurisdiction.

·         Recognize the procedural rules of relevant courts.

·         Explain Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and its methods for settling disputes.

Module 4: Civil Litigation

·         Define and differentiate substantive and procedural law.

·         Describe process and procedures of a lawsuit, including pleading, discovery, and litigation process.

·         Illustrate the early stages of the lawsuit.

·         Describe the middle stages of the lawsuit.

·         Explain the trial or the final stages of the lawsuit.

Module 5: The Law Office

·         Explain the seven types of law practices.

·         Discuss ethical considerations or concerns in relation to the legal team, client relations, and billing/fees

·         Describe the American Bar Association’s marketing guidelines for attorneys.

·         Be aware of the policies and procedures, file systems, and library/reference resources within a law office.

Module 6: Interview and Investigation

·         Demonstrate a clear grasp of rules of English grammar.

·         Use correct punctuation and proper abbreviations.

·         Explain verb and subject agreement.

·         Define the appropriate usage of quotation marks and parentheses.

·         Relate how Greek and Latin form the basis of almost all of the law.

Module 7: Legal Writing

·         Demonstrate a clear grasp of rules of English grammar.

·         Use correct punctuation and proper abbreviations.

·         Explain verb and subject agreement.

·         Define the appropriate usage of quotation marks and parentheses.

·         Relate how Greek and Latin form the basis of almost all of the law.

Module 8: Research and Citations

·         Explain how opinions are structured and describe how to properly read and analyze cases.

·         Define the various “reporters” and what each provides to legal research.

·         Summarize the “shepardizing” process.

·         List the premier legal research databases and define their search capabilities.

·         Explain the differences between procedural and substantive facts.

·         Show correct citation methods for URLs.

 Certification: Upon completion of the course, final examination is required.

• 80% or better = Certificate of Completion
• 85% or better = Certificate of Completion + Recommendation Letter
• Certificates well accepted in the industry
• Certification for CLA – Each state has varying to no requirements for certification. The most commonly known is the “Certified Legal Assistant” (CLA). The training when combined with our Paralegal – Advanced Program is sufficient to sit for that examination.
• 450 hour course equivalency

What equipment do I need? 

 For the training, a computer with a modem or DSL to access the Internet, a word processor (many law offices use WordPerfect with its legal version).

Materials Included

• Black’s Law Dictionary (pocketbook), Bryan A. Gardner
• The Bluebook: (citations),
• Handbook of Basic Law Terms (pocketbook), Bryan A. Gardner,

Instructor: Jari Davis, MA