— Adam S.I had a great experience with CLS. Well-organized content, accessible instructors, engaging coursework. Overall a great experience.
V-Legal Executive Certificate
View our “Why V-Legal” video
Learn more about this course!

About this course
Advance your knowledge
If you regularly encounter legal issues at work, and you want to better understand the complexities of the law and “think like a lawyer,” the V-Legal certificate will help you gain that fluency. Constructed by legal experts at Vanderbilt Law School, V-Legal helps you become grounded in legal principles, language, and processes. You will gain skills that may have an immediate impact on your job performance and career advancement.
- Discover how to confidently work with lawyers
- Understand legal risk in the business environment
- Become a sophisticated consumer of legal advice
- Synthesize legal issues at work and in the news
- Gain a basic understanding of U.S. law, legal structures, legal research, and more
- Learn from experts at Vanderbilt – a Top 20 law school
View our “Why V-Legal” Video
Learn about the coursework, learning outcomes and answers to frequently asked questions
V-Legal Executive Certificate — Increase your knowledge of the law.
Class format
Flexible online education
For over 40 years, CLS has provided students with flexible and effective legal education through a variety of formats catered to your busy life. All formats and designed and updated to remain on pace with the current industry and taught by working professionals. The V-Legal Executive Certificate is offered 100% online, in a self-paced format, so you can complete your coursework around your schedule.
Our completely self-paced virtual classroom format allows busy students to learn anytime, in the comfort of your own home or office.
The easy to use and interactive platform offers 24/7 course access. Review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information and complete at your own schedule.
- You don’t need to wait for a session to start!
- Start the course when you are ready.
- 24/7 course access
- Once registered, your password and access information will be sent to start the course.
- Student Support
- CLS provides ongoing administrative and technical support for all students.
Review the V-Legal Executive Certificate Syllabus to learn more.
Course details
Learning outcomes
Divided into three course modules (The Architecture of American Law, The Language of the Law, and The Content of American Law), this certificate course will cover the basic structure of the legal system and legal reasoning, and introduce you to important business topics such as contracts, discovery, attorney-client privilege, and property. The certificate will cover the basic structure of the legal system and legal reasoning, and introduce you to important business topics, including Contracts, Discovery, Attorney-Client Privilege, and Property. Read the V-Legal Q&A with Professor Serkin.

Frequently asked questions
Do I need a High School Diploma or GED to take CLS courses?
CLS courses are designed for adult students and are taught on a college level. Minimum requirements to take any of our courses are a high school diploma or GED, and to be 18 years of age prior to enrollment.
Can I get financial aid?
Traditional financial aid (Pell grants, Stafford Loans, etc.) usually do not apply to these courses due to their continuing education status. Please view our Payment Options information to explore possible options.
Is the Paralegal Certificate Course© offered by The Center for Legal Studies approved by the American Bar Association?
No. In our opinion, there is no need to seek the approval of the American Bar Association (“ABA”) for any paralegal course of study. Our opinion is apparently shared by the vast majority of paralegal programs, since most paralegal programs are not ABA-approved. The ABA is a voluntary association of lawyers and, recognizing this, only about half of all practicing lawyers are members of the ABA. Not even all law schools have sought ABA approval. In our three decades of experience in training and educating paralegals, we have never had one of our graduates contact us and tell us that he or she was not interviewed or employed as a paralegal by a lawyer or law firm because he or she graduated from our course rather than an ABA-approved course. Our course is sponsored by well-known academic institutions, which are held in high national esteem. So most students actually prefer a Paralegal Certificate from a nationally known and respected school like the University of Arizona or Auburn University rather than from a private, proprietary “Paralegal Institute” which may have paid a large sum of money to receive ABA approval. We have found that our lack of ABA approval has not impacted the job opportunities of our graduates.
Request more information
Are you interested in learning more about the V-Legal Executive Certificate? Complete this contact form to receive emails and text messages from CLS. You’ll also be able to set up a personalized consultation with one of our Enrollment Counselors who can answer all your question and recommend the best course for you.
You’ll receive updates on:
- How the V-legal course works
- Career growth and outlook information
- Course pricing, payment options and promotions
- Exclusive webinars, events and more!
View our “Why V-Legal” Video
What you’ll learn:
- About the coursework
- Learning outcomes
- Answers to frequently asked questions
Related courses
You may also be interested in these popular CLS by BARBRI courses
Paralegal Certificate Course©
Our flagship introductory course for those interested in a paralegal career.
Online, Live Lecture, Text Only or Online Flex course
Starting at:
$1,895
eDiscovery for Paralegals
An introductory course for paralegals entering the eDiscovery Field.
Online course
Starting at:
$995
Personal Injury for Paralegals
Understand the legal terms, causes of action and remedies available to victims.
Online course
Starting at:
$995
Advanced Legal Research and Writing
Learn advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing legal resources.
Online course
Starting at:
$995