Complete Paralegal Training Program (Self-Paced)
Contact Hours: 160 (an estimated time frame devoted to a course of study from start to finish that can vary from student to student)
This state-of-the-art paralegal home training course makes it possible for a student to quickly and easily learn this complex, prestigious and fascinating discipline. The program was developed by a battle-tested paralegal and is delivered through an "accelerated instruction technology" in a platform learning style. It is a fast-track program and should take no more than 5 to 6 months to complete.
The career outlook is excellent. Many opportunities exist for paralegals and legal assistants to specialize in various types of law practice, such as real estate, criminal, family, personal injury, business, etc., with job opportunities steadily increasing. This course consists of 2 sections.
• Section I is the module which teaches all about law basics and law office operations.
• Section II focuses on law specialties, complete with samples of pleadings, formats, and citations.
The course is streamlined and yet comprehensive – and provides everything needed to enter the workforce. It is designed to teach the functions and processes of institutions in the U.S. legal system, roles and issues in the field, and selected specialties of law. It discusses employment opportunities and provides resource websites for research purposes to enhance educational skills as well as to provide opportunities to network for employment.
The complete course also covers broader and more general issues directly relevant to the profession. You will learn:
• American Law, court systems and litigation
• Interview techniques
• Legal writing (including a grammar refresher)
• Legal research
• Citation use
Please note: Course of study may be completed earlier than indicated.
Expect to gain a full and practical knowledge of this highly complex and prestigious field, with skills useful in various aspects of the industry, legal secretarial, legal assistant, and paralegal.
At the conclusion of the course, the applicant must pass a final examination before a grade of pass/fail will be awarded. Successful passing students will be provided a Certificate of Completion.
The outlook for legal work in all the areas described is very good. It is expected by the Department of Labor to continue to be a high growth profession with anticipated growth of nearly 25% through 2016, driven by a steady increase in high demand. Public and private job opportunities include:
• Private law firms
• Banks
• Insurance agencies
• Real estate companies
• Legal clinics
• Courts
• Government agencies
• Charitable organizations
• Accounting and engineering firms
• Title companies
• Construction companies
• Legal aid offices
• Automobile dealerships
Collection agencies Paralegals either work with attorneys who assume professional responsibility for the final work product, or work in areas where "lay" individuals are explicitly authorized by statute or regulation to assume certain law-related responsibilities. Paralegals who work in the private sector are usually employed by law firms and corporations and often specialize in areas of law such as:
• Litigation
• Probate
• Real estate
• Corporate
• Taxation
• Domestic relations
• Employee benefits Paralegals who work in the public sector are often employed by:
• Non-profit public law firms
• State or local government agencies in areas such as:
· welfare
· family law
· health care
· landlord/tenant
· disability benefits
Self-assessment follows each lesson set so the student is constantly aware of progress, and concludes with a final examination. A passing grade is based on completion of 70% or more of each examination.
• The Profession
• The Law
• The Court System
• Civil Litigation
• The Law Office
• Interviewing and Investigation
• Legal Writing
• Research and Citation
• Internet References Topics Covered in Section II
• Bankruptcy Law
• Business Law
• Contracts Law
• Family Law
• Torts and Tortfeasors
• Litigation
• Criminal Law
• Real Estate Law
• Wills
• Terminology
• Shepardizing
• Formatting
• Basics
• Purposes, Principles and Mastery
• Changing Nature of the Source Media
• Who Sets the Standards and Rules
• Electronic Source Citation B. Citing