Paralegal Certificate Online Program Curriculum

This survey course introduces the paralegal profession. Career opportunities will be examined, as well as the training and educational requirements demanded of the paralegal. Civil litigation and criminal law will be explored. The entire trial process — from filing a complaint to the appeals process — will be studied. The history of American laws and the structure of the US court system are also highlights of this course.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Discuss the roles and duties of the paralegal.
• Distinguish between the rules of ethics that govern attorneys and those that govern paralegals.
• Explain how law firms are structured
• Discuss the role technology plays in a law office.
• Outline the history, sources, and functions of U.S. law.
• Describe the federal and state court systems.
• List the steps in a trial.
• Discuss the protections afforded by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Credit Hours: 3

The paralegal's role in investigation and interviews highlights the beginning of the course. Legal research and writing will be examined throughout. Then this survey course moves into specific legal subjects. Torts; property law, including intellectual property (IP); contracts and e-commerce, family law; and labor law will be explored in depth.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Explain the importance of the initial contact with clients and witnesses.
• Explain the process of identifying legal issues, material facts, applicable law, and reaching a conclusion after applying the law to the facts.
• Describe the types of damages available to plaintiffs in tort and product liability lawsuits.
• Discuss the elements of a contract.
• Distinguish between real and personal property.
• Explain how courts determine child custody and support issues.
• Discuss the scope of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and major legislation that impacted workers' rights.
• Discuss the protections afforded to intellectual property (IP).

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores tort law. Negligence, intentional torts, and strict liability torts will be examined, as well as the affirmative defenses defendants can raise. Premises liability and business-related torts will also be covered. The common law history of tort law and modern remedies for resolving such disputes will be examined as well. The entire trial process — from filing a complaint to the appeals process — will be studied in depth.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• List the elements of tort.
• Explain how a lawsuit gets started and the rules that govern its progression.
• Discuss the concept of duty of care and how it can be breached.
• List the elements of the intentional torts of assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of a right to privacy, defamation, conversion, trespass to land, and trespass to chattels.
• Outline the elements of negligent misrepresentation and fraud.
• Explain the defenses of necessity, consent, and mistake.
• Explain the concept of strict liability.
• Describe the concept of vicarious liability and how it comes into play.

Credit Hours: 3

The steps involved in a lawsuit are covered from start to finish, including post-trial procedures and the paralegal's role in civil litigation. Settlements and alternatives to litigation are examined as well. This course also takes a close look at discovery. The importance of the Rules of Civil Procedure is emphasized as they apply to each phase of the litigation process.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Describe the role of the paralegal in civil litigation.
• Discuss the structure of the three branches of the US government and its dual court system.
• Discuss why attorneys and paralegals must be familiar with legal deadlines and the Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Discuss the influence of technology on document production.
• Explain how to prepare clients and witnesses for trial.
• Describe the primary purposes of discovery.
• Explain the benefits and drawbacks of mediation and arbitration.
• List the requirements for perfecting an appeal.

Credit Hours: 3

This course takes a close look at the U.S. criminal justice system. The steps involved in a criminal prosecution are covered from start to finish, including appeals. Types of crimes and the elements required to commit crime are explored as well. This course also examines the U.S. Constitution and the rights afforded to criminal defendants. The paralegal's role as assistant to either the prosecutor or criminal defense attorney is highlighted throughout the course.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Describe various categories of crime and their respective elements.
• Define various degrees of murder.
• Discuss kidnapping and human trafficking issues.
• Explain why some crimes are classified as social crimes.
• Explain why treason, sedition, and espionage are such serious offenses.
• Discuss the Common Law defenses of self-defense, necessity, duress, entrapment, mistake of fact, mistake of law, and consent of the victim.
• Discuss the U.S. Constitutional provisions of the Fourth Amendment that protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
• List the steps in a criminal trial.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with an overview of real property law. The course begins by exploring the influence England had on American property laws. From there, the course examines concurrent forms of ownership, life estates, and common interest properties. Landlord-tenant law, zoning, and the duties of principals, agents, and brokers are also highlights of this course. The course concludes with a discussion of real estate development.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Distinguish among real property, personal property, and fixtures.
• Discuss the parameters of the three major forms of concurrent ownership.
• Describe how zoning regulations, variances, nuisance, and eminent domain impact property rights.
• Identify the duties of principals, agents, and brokers, including actions that can subject them to sanctions.
• Describe encumbrances that can create cloud on a title.
• Distinguish between pure-race, race-notice, and pure-notice statutes.
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of common interest communities.
• Discuss the stages of real estate development.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides insight into the practical side of operating a law office. The roles and duties of the legal team are explained. Later lessons discuss the unauthorized practice of law, calendaring, docket control, and case management. The role ethics plays is examined throughout. The course concludes with a discussion of marketing and the legal library.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:

• Discuss the duties and titles of each member of the legal team.
• Identify the functions of legal administration.
• Discuss ethical codes that apply to paralegals and attorneys.
• Discuss factors that will promote successful client relationships.
• Differentiate between timekeeping and billing.
• Explain why paralegals need a rudimentary understanding of law office accounting.
• Discuss how to calculate court deadlines and calendar important meetings.
• Identify cost-saving practices for legal libraries.

Credit Hours: 3