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. Included subject areas are: arson investigation, products 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.

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

Session 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.

Session 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.

Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:

• Discuss the origins and history of the American legal system
• Define and apply important legal terminology
• Discuss ethics for the law office
• List the elements of tort law and contract law
• Explain the important rules of civil procedure
• Demonstrate how to interview clients and witnesses
• Demonstrate how to conduct a legal investigation: gathering facts, gathering evidence and taking statements of clients and witnesses
• Demonstrate how to handle evidence that has been gathered
• Explain the important rules regarding the admissibility of evidence in court
• Describe how to perform legal research
• Discuss how to create a freelance legal investigation business

Expectations

Students will be expected to spend an average of at least 10 hours per lesson reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.

Required textbooks for this course:

• Guide to Legal Investigations, The Center for Legal Studies, Inc.
• Federal Civil Rules Booklet, LegalPub.com, Inc.

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

• Oran’s Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition, by Daniel Oran. Clifton Park: Delmar Cengage Learning

For more information, call The Center for Legal Studies at 800-522-7737, or visit our Online Store to order.

• Students have 30 days from the date they register for the DVD format of the course to return all materials and drop the class to receive a refund less a $50 non-refundable administrative fee. Materials including printed packets, and/or DVDs, must be received by CLS in new condition no less then 30 days from the date of purchase. No items will be accepted after 30 days.
• If students drop after 30 days from their registration date no refund will be issued.