Paralegal
1
Paralegal 2
Online Course Duration: Students have
14 weeks to complete the online course (7 weeks for paralegal I and 7
weeks for paralegal II).
Note - Both sessions must be taken consecutively.
Paralegal
1
Introduction
Welcome to Paralegal I, the first section of the Paralegal Certificate
Course offered online. This online course represents the culmination of
twenty-three) years of "live" classroom instruction of this course for
liberal arts and pre-law students at major universities across the United
States. To serve foreign students and law firm employees overseas, as
well as people residing far from our live classroom lecture locations,
we began offering this course on a VHS format in 1987. Now, with this
interactive online format, we are overcoming the boundaries of distance
and time by bringing the classroom into your office or living room. This
interactive Paralegal Certificate Course provides guided instruction and,
in some cases, credit hours with which to work toward a degree. Plus,
students successfully completing both section 1 and section 2 will receive
a Paralegal Certificate of Completion from their chosen, sponsoring university.
Once registered, your password and access information will be emailed
to you in time for the start of class.
This course will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of the American
judicial system. It will also teach you practical skills including how
to assist trial attorneys, interview witnesses, investigate complex fact
patterns, research the law, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom
litigation.
Paralegal One: Introduction to Paralegal Studies provides
the foundation for the study of paralegalism. During the seven week course,
you will gain an understanding of the American legal system and learn
how you can be of assistance in the exciting field of law. Coursework
in Paralegal One is equivalent to 45 class hours of study.
Paralegal
I: Introduction to Paralegal Studies
This course is the first of two courses leading to a Paralegal Certificate.
Successful completion of both Section 1 and Section 2 of the paralegal
Certificate Course will result in a Paralegal Certificate issued from
the sponsoring university of your choice. (California paralegals may need
to complete Advanced coursework to meet the requirements of new legislation,
California Business and Professional Code §6450. Please click here
for more information.) The course is designed to train students to work
as paralegals, provide advanced legal workers with additional skills,
and educate students in the American legal system.
SECTION ONE OBJECTIVES:
After successfully completing the tests and assignments for this seven
week course, you will know:
- the origins and
history of the American legal system
- the meaning and
application of important legal terminology
- attorney and paralegal
ethics
- techniques of jury
selection and the jury selection process
- how to prepare
legal documents including demand letters, pleadings, discovery documents,
motions and memos
- significant elements
of the substantive law of torts, contracts
- the important rules
of civil procedure and evidence
- how to conduct
a legal interview
- how to conduct
legal investigation
- how to conduct
legal analysis and perform legal problem solving
EXPECTATIONS
This is an accelerated course. You will be expected to spend an
average of 12 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments.
Please note that no extensions will be granted for this online course.
70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.
Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time.
All assignments must be submitted to pass the course.
The entire program, Paralegal I and Paralegal II, runs 14 weeks; seven weeks
for Paralegal I and seven weeks for Paralegal II. NOTE: To
receive your Paralegal Certificate, students must enroll in, and successfully
complete, both Paralegal I and Paralegal II. Paralegal I is a prerequisite
for Paralegal II.
TEXTS: The following texts are available to order from
The Center for Legal Studies. Some of the texts may be available in libraries,
but most students prefer to own these texts because they are great references
even after the course has ended. Please note that these same texts will
also be used for Section Two, Paralegal II.
The following texts/items are required:
- Basics
of Legal Document Preparation, Cummins, Robert R. |
Albany: Delmar Publishers Inc., 1997.
- Paralegal
Career for Dummies, Hatch, Scott A. and Lisa Zimmer Hatch
| Hoboken: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2006.
- Paralegal
Certificate Course© Workbook, Kirk, Margaret J. |
Golden: The Center for Legal Studies, Inc., 2009.
- Introduction
to Paralegalism: Perspectives, Problems and Skills, 7th
Edition, Statsky, William | Minneapolis/St. Paul: West Publishing Company,
2009.
- Federal
Civil Rules Booklet, Dahlstrom Legal Publishing, Inc,
2009
The following texts/items
are recommended but not required:
- Black's
Law Dictionary, 3rd Pocket Edition, Garner, Bryan A.,
| Minneapolis/St. Paul: West Publishing Company
2006.
- WESTLAW online legal
research access, available during
the online session for only $75.00*. Order
online
We
also recommend that you purchase the rules of court for your particular
state so that you know the unique procedural rules specific to your state.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Please read from your texts according to the following guidelines:
Lesson
One: Legal Terminology, Legal Process, and Rules of Civil Procedure
- Read Chapters
1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 in Introduction to Paralegalism ("Statsky").
- Read Chapter
4 in Paralegal Career for Dummies ("PCD").
- Read Chapter
7 pages 99-108 in PCD.
- Review the
legal terms on pages 309-334 of PCD.
- Read Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, concentrating on Rules 1-56.
|
- Lesson
Four: Discovery Documents and Legal Interviewing
- Read Chapters
8 in Statsky
- Read Chapter
10 in Legal Docs
- Read Chapter
11 in PCD
- Review Chapters
10 & 16 in PCD
|
- Lesson
Two: Ethics, Torts, and Contracts
- Read Chapter
5 in Statsky.
- Read Chapters
5, 15, & 19 in PCD.
- Read Chapter
2 in Basics of Legal Document Preparation ("Legal Docs").
|
- Lessons
Five & Six: Evidence and Legal Investigation
- Read Chapters
9 & 10 Statsky
- Read Chapter
12 in PCD
- Review Chapter
7 pages 109-114 in PCD
- Read Federal
Rules of Evidence
|
- Lesson
Three: Legal Documents and Legal Analysis
- Read Chapters
7 & 12 in Statsky
- Read Chapters
10 & 16 in PCD
- Read Chapters
1 & 9 in Legal Docs
- Review Appendices
B through I in Legal Docs
|
- Lesson
Seven: Course Wrap-up
- No reading
assignment
|
TESTS: Each
lesson you will submit a 50-point short answer/essay test covering the
topics in that lesson's reading. These tests are due by 9:00 a.m. each
Friday. You will not have a test on the last week of class.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: Your writing assignment is to prepare
two interoffice memos in which you analyze legal issues. Each memo is
worth 100 points. The first is due by 9:00 a.m. on the Friday of the fourth
week of class, and the second is due by 9:00 a.m. on the Friday of the
sixth week of class.
BULLETIN BOARD
ASSIGNMENTS: You will also post your responses to six class participation
assignments. These assignments are referred to as Bulletin Board Submissions
and will be submitted by either selecting Bulletin Board Submission from
within the lesson material, or by selecting 'Forums' under Activities
on the Left Hand Block.
All lesson objectives,
assignments, and tests can be found in the Lesson Materials.
GRADING
Your grade will be based on your completion of six tests, two
memos, and class participation assignments /Bulletin Board Submissions.
The tests and writing assignments can be accessed from within the lesson
material, or by selecting 'Assignments' under Activities on the Left Hand
Block. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation"
by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments
throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments
will enhance your understanding of the reading material. All assignments
must be submitted to pass the course. 70% is the minimum passing score
on all assignments.
Your final grade will be figured as follows:
- The six tests are
50 points each and comprise 60% of your grade.
- Two interoffice
memos are 100 points each and comprise 30% of your grade.
- Your participation
in bulletin board assignments comprises 10% of your grade.
WITHDRAWAL
POLICY
Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund less a non-refundable
$15 administrative fee if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal
Studies by email at info@legalstudies.com by the Wednesday before class
begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written
notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email at info@legalstudies.com
anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday
of class. After the first Thursday of class, no refunds will be issued.
Paralegal
2
Introduction
Welcome to Paralegal II, the second section of the two-part Paralegal
Certificate Course (Core Courses) offered online. This online course represents
the culmination of twenty-three years of "live" classroom instruction
of this course for liberal arts and pre-law students at major universities
across the United States. To serve foreign students and law firm employees
overseas, as well as people residing far from our live classroom lecture
locations, we began offering this course on a VHS format in 1987. Now,
with this interactive online format, we are overcoming the boundaries
of distance and time by bringing the classroom into your office or living
room. This interactive Paralegal Certificate Course provides guided instruction
and, in some cases, credit hours with which to work toward a degree. Plus,
students successfully completing both section 1 and section 2 will receive
a paralegal certificate from their chosen, sponsoring university.
Once registered, your
password and access information will be emailed to you in time for the
start of class.
This course will provide
you with a working knowledge of legal authority: how it is used in the
litigation process and how to locate it through legal research. You will
also learn the basics of law office management, substantive law (such
as criminal law, domestic relations, real property law, and bankruptcy),
and informal and formal advocacy.
Paralegal Two: Advanced Paralegal Concepts takes over
where part one leaves off. You will learn the advanced skills of legal
research and writing, formal and informal advocacy, and appellate procedure.
Coursework in Paralegal II is equivalent to 45 class hours of study.
Paralegal
II: Advanced Paralegal Concepts
Prerequisites: Paralegal I: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
This course is the second of two courses leading to a Paralegal Certificate.
Successful completion of both Section 1 and Section 2 of the paralegal
Certificate Course will result in a Paralegal Certificate issued from
the sponsoring university of your choice. (California paralegals may need
to complete Advanced coursework to meet the requirements of the California
Business and Professional Code §6450. The course is designed to train
students to work as paralegals, provide advanced legal workers with additional
skills, and educate students about the American legal system.
SECTION TWO OBJECTIVES:
After successfully completing the tests and assignments for this seven
week course, you will know:
- the importance
of precedence
- what legal authority
is, and which authority is the most important
- how to conduct
legal research and learn how to use the 4 most effective legal research
tools found in virtually every law library
- how to Shepardize
your authority
- how to properly
cite your authority
- how to conduct
computerized legal research used extensively in law offices throughout
the country.
- proper and effective
legal writing style
- the basic documents
for several important substantive areas of law
- advocacy techniques
for usage in formal or informal settings, and
- how to begin your
job search and perhaps begin a freelance paralegal business after your
education
EXPECTATIONS:
This is an accelerated course. You will be expected to spend an average
of 12 hours per week reading and completing writing and research assignments.
Please note that no extensions will be granted for this online
course.
70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this
course. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they
have the time. All assignments must be submitted to pass the course.
The entire program, Paralegal I and Paralegal II, runs 14 weeks; seven
weeks for Paralegal I and seven weeks for Paralegal II. NOTE:
To receive your Paralegal Certificate, students must enroll in, and successfully
complete, both Paralegal I and Paralegal II. Paralegal I is a prerequisite
for Paralegal II.
Student WESTLAW access
through CLS lasts for the duration of the session (subject to terms and
conditions). If you purchase WESTLAW access, you may choose to access
the Federal Civil Rules Booklet (which includes FRCP
and FRE) online rather than purchasing the bound copy.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
The following texts are available to order from The Center for Legal Studies.
Some of the texts may be available in libraries, but most students prefer
to own these texts because they are great references even after the course
has ended.
The following texts are required: Please note that these are
the same texts you used for Paralegal 1.
- Basics
of Legal Document Preparation, Cummins, Robert R. |
Albany: Delmar Publishers Inc., 1997.
- Paralegal
Career for Dummies, Hatch, Scott A. and Lisa Zimmer Hatch
| Hoboken: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2006.
- Paralegal
Certificate Course© Workbook, Kirk, Margaret J. |
Golden: The Center for Legal Studies, Inc., 2009.
- Introduction
to Paralegalism: Perspectives, Problems and Skills, 7th
Edition, Statsky, William | Minneapolis/St. Paul: West Publishing Company,
2009.
- Federal
Civil Rules Booklet, Dahlstrom Legal Publishing, Inc,
2009
- WESTLAW online legal
research access, available during
the online session for only $75.00*. Order
online
The following text is
recommended but not required:
- Black's
Law Dictionary, 3rd Pocket Edition, Garner, Bryan A.,
| Minneapolis/St. Paul: West Publishing Company
2006.
We also recommend
that you purchase the rules of court for your particular state so that
you know the unique procedural rules specific to your state.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Please read from your texts according to the following guidelines:
Lesson
One: Legal Authority
- Read Chapter
11 in Introduction to Paralegalism ("Statsky")
- Read Chapter
8 in Paralegal Career for Dummies ("PCD")
|
Lesson
Four: Legal Writing, Computers, and Appellate Procedure
- Read Chapters
12 & 13 in Statsky
- Read Chapter
12 in Basics of Legal Document Preparation ("Legal Docs")
- Read Chapter
16 in PCD
|
Lesson
Two: Introduction to Legal Research
- Review Chapter
11 in Statsky
- Read Chapter
13 in PCD
|
Lesson
Five: Law Office Administration & Informal and Formal Advocacy
- Read Chapters
14 & 15 in Statsky
- Read Chapters
17 & 18 in PCD
|
Lesson
Three: Legal Research Practice and Citation Format
- Review Chapter
11 in Statsky, concentrating on Section J
- Review Chapter
13 in PCD, concentrating on pages 208-209
|
Lesson
Six: Substantive Areas of Law
- Read Chapters
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 11 in Legal Docs
Lesson
Seven: Job-Hunting Techniques & Course Wrap-up
- Read Chapter
1, 2, & 3 in PCD
- Review Chapter
2 in Statsky
|
TESTS:
Each lesson you will submit a 50-point short answer/essay exam covering
the topics in that lesson's reading. These tests are due by 9:00 a.m.
each Friday. You will not have a test on the last week of class.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: Your writing assignment for this
course is to complete an Appellate Brief based on a hypothetical case.
This assignment is worth 100 points and is due by 9:00 a.m. on the Friday
of the sixth week of class.
BULLETIN BOARD
ASSIGNMENTS: You will also post your responses to six class participation
assignments. These assignments are referred to as Bulletin Board Submissions
and will be submitted by either selecting Bulletin Board Submission from
within the lesson material, or by selecting 'Forums' under Activities
on the Left Hand Block.
All lesson objectives,
assignments, and tests can be found in the Lesson Materials.
GRADING
Your grade will be based on your completion of six tests, two
memos, and class participation assignments /Bulletin Board Submissions.
The tests and writing assignments can be accessed from within the lesson
material, or by selecting 'Assignments' under Activities on the Left Hand
Block. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation"
by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments
throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments
will enhance your understanding of the reading material. All assignments
must be submitted to pass the course. 70% is the minimum passing score
on all assignments.
Your final grade will be figured as follows:
- The six tests are
50 points each and comprise 60% of your grade.
- Two interoffice
memos are 100 points each and comprise 30% of your grade.
- Your participation
in bulletin board assignments comprises 10% of your grade.
WITHDRAWAL
POLICY
Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund less a non-refundable
$15 administrative fee if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal
Studies by email at info@legalstudies.com by the Wednesday before class
begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written
notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email at info@legalstudies.com
anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday
of class. After the first Thursday of class, no refunds will be issued.
* Westlaw
access is available for a maximum of seven weeks for only $75.00. Please
read the Westlaw
User Agreement for more information. |