This exciting course is designed to teach legal investigation to those interested in pursuing a new career and those presently working in the legal field. At the end of the course, students will be qualified to assist attorneys, paralegals, insurance companies and private businesses, as well as state and federal government agencies, in the process of civil and criminal investigation. Students will also be taught how to create a freelance investigation business. Included subject areas are: arson investigation, product liability investigation, personal injury and traffic accident forensics, employment accidents, investigation of financial and equity matters, professional malpractice and negligence, skip-tracing, and the role of a legal investigator in preparing for civil and criminal litigation.

Lesson 1: Introduction to our legal system, legal and ethical considerations for the investigator, law of agency and coverage of rules of court and evidence.

Lesson 2: General interviewing and investigation techniques, sources of leads and information, fact analysis, taking witness statements, forensic photography, proper service of legal process, and surveillance.

Lesson 3: Personal injury investigation techniques, traffic accident reconstruction, premises accidents, employment accidents, government investigation, document analysis and control, financial and equity analysis, testimony, and case studies. Job search strategies and placement possibilities will also be discussed.

Formats available:

• Online
• DVD
• Text-Only

The Center for Legal Studies features in an online format the same Legal Investigation Certificate Course that has been offered live since 1980 at colleges and universities throughout the nation. Through your computer, this course is available at the convenience of your home or office 24 hours a day.

• View the Course Syllabus
• Review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information.
• Students benefit from direct interaction with the instructor and other students by way of email and a discussion board.
• Students have 7 weeks to complete the online course.
• Students e-mail assignments and exams
• 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

• View the Course Syllabus
• Students may begin the course at any time
• Students mail or email 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 e-mail.
• Sixteen (16) hours of taped live lecture.
• Students have a maximum of six months to complete the Legal Investigation Certificate Course.
• Schools offering the DVD format - Schedule and Tuition
• Financial Aid Information
• Order Books Online

The Center for Legal Studies features in a text-only format the same Legal Investigation Certificate Course that has been offered sine 1980 at colleges and universities throughout the nation. This course is available to students who, because of location or schedule conflicts, are unable to attend the popular online courses.

• View the Course Syllabus
• Students may begin the course at any time
• 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 e-mail.
• Students have a maximum of six months to complete the Legal Investigation Certificate Course.
• Students e-mail assignments and exams or mail to office for grading and feedback.
• Schools offering the Text Only format - Schedule and Tuition
• Financial Aid Information
• Order Books Online

Required textbooks for the DVD format are:

• Guide to Legal Investigations, by Scott and Lisa Hatch, published by The Center for Legal Studies, ISBN# 0-9637248-5-1. This book is only available for purchase through CLS.
• Federal Civil Rules Booklet
• Order Books Online
• Order DVD Online

Required textbooks for the Online and Text-only formats are:

• Federal Civil Rules Booklet
• Order Books Online

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

• WESTLAW legal research access. Please call 1-800-522-7737 for more information. Order online
• Oran’s Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition
• Order Books Online