Language: English
Short Description: This certified entry level paralegal program is designed to prepare students for certification. Therefore, you don’t need to have any prior experience in the law. This program will take care of that for you.
Our program aims to prepare students to sit for the Certified Paralegal exam by NALA. With a Certified Paralegal credential, you can offer services to firms as a paralegal.
This program contains a plethora of assessment material, which will ensure that students are ready to take this certification exam. You’ll also have interactive learning opportunities, such as activities, games, and flash cards, which make the learning process more engaging.
In a nutshell, this program provides students, who have no experience in law, with the necessary knowledge and skills to secure entry-level paralegal jobs as a starting point. After that, it’s up to you to develop a career in law for yourself.
Instructor Description: Though this program is a self-paced program it is supported by an educational mentor. Educational mentors are subject matter experts who have years of experience in their field as well as the necessary educational training and credentials to work as an expert. The mentor is available to answer any questions a learner may have including questions on course content, course material, certifications, and even industry questions. Mentors also monitor the progress of learners to ensure training retention and program advancement. In eLearning, motivation is a key tool to success. Because of this, mentors provide encouraging comments, feedback, and coaching to motivate learners throughout the duration of the program to support completion and success!
Certification: Upon successfully completion of the training program, learners will be prepared to sit for the Certified Paralegal certification exam through NALA. Learners will be provided an exam voucher,
at no cost, to sit for the exam.
To be eligible for the Certified Paralegal examination, a paralegal must meet one of the following requirements listed below. The NALA Certifying Board and NALA do not provide nor approve any education that is required for initial certification.
1. Graduation from a paralegal program that is:
(a) Approved by the American Bar Association; or
(b) An associate degree program; or
(c) A post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
(d) A bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
(e) A paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (900 clock hours or 90 quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.
Each state may have additional licensing requirements, be sure to research your states requirements for employment by visiting your states occupation board.
Requirements
Internet Connection
• Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)
Hardware Requirements
• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended
Software Requirements
• Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Adobe PDF Reader
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Lesson 1
Paralegal Professional
Module 1: The Paralegal Career
• What is a Paralegal?
• Paralegal Tasks
• Educational Options
• Skills and Attributes
• Career Opportunities
• Compensation
• Organizational Structure of Law Firms
• Filing Procedures
• Communications
• Law Office Culture and Politics
Module 2: American Law and Court Systems
• Regulation of Attorneys
• Attorney Ethics
• Regulation of Paralegals
• Sources of American Law
• Constitutional Law
• Statutory Law
• Administrative Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Basic Judicial Requirements
• Federal and State Court Systems
Module 3: Online Legal Research and Analysis
• Researching Case Law
• Case Reporting System
• Analyzing Case Law
• Researching Constitutional and Statutory Law
• Analyzing Statutory Law
• Legal Resources on the Internet
• Lexis and Westlaw
• Alternative Legal Research Sources
• Conducting Online Research
Module 4: Legal Writing and Civil Litigation
• Receiving a Writing Assignment
• Tools for Writers
• Pleadings, Discovery and Motions
• General Legal Correspondence
• The Legal Memorandum
• Preliminaries and Pleadings
• Discovery of Electronic Evidence
• Maintenance of Electronic Records
• Pretrial Motions
Module 5: Interviews, Investigations and Trial Procedures
• Planning for the Interview
• Interviewing Skills
• Interviewing Clients
• Interviewing Witnesses
• Planning and Conducting Investigations
• Preparing for Trial
• Jury Selection
• Post-trial Motions and Procedures
Module 6: Criminal, Tort and Consumer Law
• Defining Crime
• Types of Crime
• Cyber Crime
• Prosecution
• Intentional Torts
• Negligence
• Product Liability
• Consumer Law
Module 7: Contracts, Insurance Law and Family Law
• Requirements to Form a Valid Contract
• Defenses to Contract Enforceability
• Sales Contracts and Warranties
• Contract Performance and Remedies
• Online Contracting and Electronic Signatures
• Intellectual Property Law
• Real Property
• Insurance Law
• Family Law
• Wills, Trusts and Estates
Module 8: Employment Law, Bankruptcy and Environmental Law
• Forms of Business Organization
• Agency Law
• Employment Law
• Bankruptcy Code
• Liquidation Proceedings
• Individual Repayment Plans
• Reorganizations
• Environmental Law
Legal Analysis and Writing
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 1
Introduction to Legal Principles and Legal Analysis
Sources of Law
Hierarchy of the Law
Authority
Introduction to Legal Citation
Legal Analysis
Legal Research
Analysis Process
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 2
Types of Legal Research
Constitutions
Statues
Administrative Law
Court Rules
Case Law
Encyclopedia
Treatises
American Law Reports
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 3
Legal Research, continued
Legal Periodicals
Restatements of the Law
Uniform Laws and Model Acts
Computers and Internet Legal Research
Commercial Internet Research
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 4
Legal Analysis: Key Facts and Issue Identification
Importance of Facts
Types of Facts
Key Facts Identification: Client’s Case
Key Facts Identification: Case Law
Issue Identification: Client’s Case
Issue Identification: Case Law
Spotting the Issue
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 5
Stating the Issue, On Point Importance, and Counteranalysis
Shorthand or Broad Statement of the Issue
Comprehensive or Narrow Statement of the Issue
Issue-Law Component
Issue-Question Component
Objectively Stating the Issue
Is this Case on Point?
Counteranalysis: Why, When, Where?
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 6
Fundamentals of Writing
Sentences
Paragraphs
Word Selection and Usage
Grammar
Punctuation
Importance of Writing Skills
Legal Writing Process
Goal of Legal Writing
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 7
Office Legal Memorandum
Purposes, Uses, and Importance
Prewriting Stage
Sections of the Office Memorandum
Analysis to Conclusion
Legal Analysis and Writing Module 8
Court Briefs and Correspondence
Trial Court Briefs
Appellate Court Briefs
Basic Components of Correspondence
Types of Correspondence
Understanding the Law Module 1
Introduction to the Law
The English Source of U.S. Law
Modern Sources of U.S. Law
Types & Classifications of Law
The Relationship Between Law & Ethics
Using Court Cases
Constitutional Law
Judicial Review
Separation of Powers
The National Government
What is Federalism?
The Police Power
The Bill of Rights
Freedom of Speech & Religion
Unreasonable Searches
Due Process of Law
Affirmative Action
The Right to Privacy
Understanding the Law Module 2
The Court System & The Attorney
What is Trial Court?
Appellate Court
Understanding Jurisdiction
The State Court System
The Federal Court System
Trial Proceedings
The Adversarial System
Attorneys-at-Law
Professional Ethics
Hire & Fire an Attorney
Legal Malpractice
Unauthorized Practice of Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Understanding the Law Module 3
Administrative Law & Crimes
What is Administrative Law?
History of U.S. Administrative Law
Administrative Agencies
Areas of Administrative Law
Agency Power, Process, & Action
Limits of Agency Power
What is a Crime?
Parties to a Crime
Corpus Delicti
Felony, Misdemeanor, or Infraction
Crimes Against the Person
Crimes Against Property
Defenses to Crimes
Statute of Limitations
Procedures in a Criminal Trial
Parole, Probation, & Clemency
Understanding the Law Module 4
Torts & Contracts
What are Torts?
Torts by Intentional Conduct
Torts by Negligent Behavior
Strict Liability Torts
Damages & the Collection of Damages
Contracts: Enforceable Agreements
How are Contracts Classified?
Requisites of a Valid Contract
Third Parties in Contracts
Discharged Contracts
Breach of Contract
Individual Consumer Contracts
Warranty Protection
Understanding the Law Module 5
Application of Law to the Individual
Family Law
Marriage Laws
Legal Consequences of Marriage
Laws Governing Parenthood
Protection of Minors
Termination of Marriage
Family Law Contracts
Motor Vehicle Law
Owning a Motor Vehicle
Driving a Motor Vehicle
Purchasing Automobile Insurance
Acquiring Ownership of Personal Property
Will or Inheritance
Mislaid, Lost, & Abandoned Property
Understanding the Law Module 6
Renters, Landlords & Employee Rights
Types of Leases
Landlord-Tenant Relationship
Legal Remedies for Landlords
Legal Remedies for Tenants
Employee Rights
Worker Laws
Legal Classification of Employees
Discrimination Laws
Employee Duties
Benefits for Employees
Rights Regarding Unions
Understanding the Law Module 7
Consumer Rights, Family Law and Wills
Consumer Rights and Protection
Consumer Privacy
Consumer Protection
Federal Government Involvement in Family Law
What is Marriage?
Legal Consequences of Marriage
Laws Govern Parenthood
Divorce
Family Laws and Contracts
What is Estate Planning?
Tax Burdens Reduced or Avoided
Matters Concerning Wills
Matters Concerning Probate
Living Wills & Advance Directives
Discover a Career as a Paralegal
Module 1: Paralegal Duties
• Duties of a Paralegal in a Law Firm and Public Sector
• Skills Required by a Paralegal
• Importance of the Legal Precedence in American Jurisprudence
• Paralegal Specialties
• Categories Used to Describe Types of Law
Module 2: Legal Authority
• Explanation of Mandatory and Persuasive Authority
• Understanding of Primary and Secondary Authority
• The Court Doctrine of Stare Decisis
• Preparing Legal Documents
• Gathering Evidence as a Paralegal
Module 3: Legal Research
• Preparing for the Initial Interview
• Searching for Applicable Law
• Pre-Trial Duties for a Paralegal in a Civil Case
• Differences Between Procedural and Substantive Law
• Criminal Trial Procedures
Module 4: Effective Writing Style
• Effective Writing for a Paralegal
• Mastering the Mechanics of Writing
• Maintaining a Good Filing System
• Most Important Rules of Ethics
• Using a Calendar System for Time Management
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