Paralegal Certificate

This program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. You will be trained to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. The instruction is practice-oriented and relates to those areas of law in which paralegals are in most demand.

There are no prerequisites to take the course, but you will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework for each session. This program will help you to increase your office’s efficiency, productivity, and billable hours as well as learn new marketable job skills. 

Please contact Coursehorse to order for the textbook.

Session 1: Legal Terminology, Documents, Ethics, and the Litigation Process focuses on the history of American jurisprudence, the theory of law, the legal process, and the nature of litigation. Discussion will cover pre-trial, trial and post-trial procedures as well as an in-depth coverage of legal ethics. You will know how to prepare a Complaint/Petition, Answer, Third Party Complaint/Petition, and Motion for Summary Judgment.

Session 2: Introduction to the Evidentiary Predicate covers the rules of evidence and civil procedure. Basic interviewing and investigation techniques and the development and use of demonstrative evidence will also be explained. You will prepare discovery matter such as Interrogatories, Request for Admissions and Request for Production of Documents.

Session 3: Identifying Relevant Authority covers how to identify relevant law, determine the differences between primary and secondary authority, and between mandatory and persuasive authority, and learn how to find and apply authority through the use of hypothetical situations.

Session 4: Introduction to Legal Research will teach you research techniques for use in legal memoranda, motions, and briefs. Primary and secondary source materials will be discussed, and a concise approach to legal research will be developed including an introduction to Westlaw Online Legal Research.

Session 5: Legal Research Practice & Document Preparation develops research skills with emphasis on statutes and case laws. Numerous research assignments will be given, discussed, and critiqued. You will learn how to prepare legal documents relating to real property, corporations, partnerships, wills, trusts, bankruptcy, and domestic relations.

Session 6: Legal Writing and Appellate Procedure will concentrate on the preparation and critique of legal memoranda, including an Interoffice Memorandum of Law and Appellate Brief as well as principles of appellate procedure.