CLS - Victim Advocacy Certificate Course

Victim Advocacy Certificate Course

Achieving Excellence in Legal Education Since 1980

About This Course

Participants will be prepared to work in victim advocacy arenas, such as domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, crisis hotlines, and with state and county governments to assist crime victims in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery. Course topics include legal terminology, legal process, legislation regarding victims rights, jurisdiction and venue, ethics, effects of victimization on the victim, victim advocate skills, guardianships and crisis intervention. It also covers counseling skills for victims of assault, battery, robbery, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, murder and homicide.

Lesson 1: This first section focuses on legal terminology and the legal process, theories of victimization, effects of crime on victims and guidelines for responding to victims of crime and trauma. Crime victim statutes will also be discussed.

Lesson 2: This section covers crisis theories and the role of the crisis interventionist. Students will learn how to respond to crisis situations, understand the actual nature of the crisis, assess the victim's situation, and implement effective listening skills to determine the best support system for the victim.

Lesson 3: During this section, students will learn the facts and myths regarding domestic violence, crimes against children, sexual assault, and related crimes. Discussions will include restraining orders, basic police procedures, guidelines for assisting those dealing with the death of a loved one, and the role of the victim advocate. Job search strategies and placement possibilities will also be discussed. A high school diploma or GED is a prerequisite, but students will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework and pass two exams.

Formats available:

Online
DVD
Text-Only

Assist Crime Victims

This is a course on the rapidly growing field of victim advocacy and assistance.

Participants will be prepared to work in victim advocacy arenas, such as domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, and crisis hotlines, and with state and county governments assisting crime victims in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery.

Training in this area will prove to be rewarding to your career possibilities in the area of law enforcement and crime victim advocacy.

Online Format

The Center for Legal Studies features in an online format the Victim Advocacy Certificate Course that has been offered for over fifteen years at colleges and universities throughout the nation. Through the computer, this course is available to students who desire a flexible study schedule that retains weekly deadlines.

View the Course Syllabus
Review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information.
Benefit from interaction with the instructor and other students by way of email and a discussion board.
Complete the online course in 7 weeks.
E-mail assignments and exams on the course web site.
Schools offering the Online format - Schedule and Tuition
Once registered, your password and access information will be sent in time for the start of class.
Financial Aid Information
Order Books Online

DVD Format

The Center for Legal Studies features on DVD, the Victim Advocacy Certificate Course that has been offered at several colleges and universities across the United States. This program is designed to train and qualify students to provide assistance to crime victims, both inside and outside of the courtroom. This course is now available to students, who because of location or schedule conflicts are unable to attend the popular live lectures, on video. Participants will be prepared to work with state and county governments as advocates for crime victims, assisting them in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery. Additionally, participants will learn advocate skills necessary to work hands-on with victims of crime in settings such as domestic violence shelters and rape crisis clinics.

View the Course Syllabus
Students mail, email, or fax assignments and take-home exams
Review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information.
Questions can be directed to the instructor via a toll-free number or by mail or email.
Twenty-eight (28) hours of taped live lecture.
Students may start the course at anytime and have a maximum of six months to complete the Victim Advocacy Certificate Course.
Schools offering the DVD format - Schedule and Tuition
Financial Aid Information
Order Books Online

Text-Only Format

The Center for Legal Studies features in a text-only format the Victim Advocacy Certificate Course that has been offered for over fifteen years at colleges and universities throughout the nation. This course is available to students who desire a flexible study schedule that retains weekly deadlines.

View the Course Syllabus
Review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information.
Students mail, email, or fax assignments and take-home exams
Questions can be directed to the instructor via a toll-free number or by mail or email.
Students may start the course at anytime and have a maximum of six months to complete the Victim Advocacy Certificate Course.
Schools offering the Text-Only format - Schedule and Tuition
Financial Aid Information
Order Books Online

Required Course Books

Required Books for the DVD and Text-Only formats:

Manual for Victim Advocacy, by Scott and Lisa Hatch, published by The Center for Legal Studies, ISBN# 0-9637248-8-6. This book is only available for purchase through CLS.
Order Books Online
Order DVD Online

Required Books for the Online Format:

No Required Text

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LEGAL RESOURCES:

WESTLAW legal research access, only $75. Please call 1-800-522-7737 for more information. Order online
Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd Pocket Edition, $35
Ballentine's Legal Dictionary and Thesaurus, $69
Order Books Online