Certified Paralegal Assistant (NALA 225 hrs) – College degree required
Lesson 1: Fundamentals
A. Legal Terminology
1. Latin Terms
2. Legal Terms
B. Communication
1. Grammar and Word Usage
2. Capitalization and Punctuation
3. Rules of Communication and Correspondence
C. Ethics
1. Definition
2. Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
3. Application of Ethics Rule
D. Test Taking Guidelines
1. Certified Legal Assistant Exam Overview
2. Eligibility Requirements
3. Preparation for the Exam
E. Simulated NALA Exam
Lesson 2: Paralegal Resources
A. Judgment and Analytical Ability
1. Definition of Terms
2. Practical Approach
3. Interpretation of Procedural Matters
B. Legal Research
1. Sources of Primary and Secondary Law
2. Ways Primary Law Is Documented
3. Technical and Substantive Skills of Legal Research
4. Citing the Law
C. Human Relations and Interviewing Techniques
1. Office Politics In/Out and Personal Recognition
2. Interviewing Principles and Procedures
3. Special Interview Challenges
D. Simulated NALA Exam
Lesson 3: American Legal System
A. General Law
1. Overview
2. Classification
3. Sources of Law
4. Constitutional Law
5. Judicial System
B. Administrative Law
1. Organization and Classification
2. The Administrative Process
3. Rule Making and
4. Adjudication
C. Criminal Law
1. Jurisdiction
2. Sources and Interpretation of Criminal Law
3. Theories of Punishment
4. Categorization of Crimes
5. Constitutional Limitations
6. Merger
7. Essential Elements of a Crime
8. Liability for the Acts of Others
9. Inchoate Offenses
10. Criminal Capacity
11. Exculpation
12. Types of Offenses
13. Criminal Procedure
D. Litigation
1. Proper Court Selection
2. Parties
3. Pleading
4. Discovery
5. Trial Procedure
E. Simulated NALA Exam
Lesson 4: Special Focus on Legal Matters
A. Bankruptcy Law
1. Jurisdiction
2. Officers of the Estate
3. Commencement of the Case
4. The Bankruptcy Estate
5. Trustee’s Avoiding Power
6. Administration
7. Debtor’s Duties
8. Conversion
9. Dismissal
10. Claims of Creditors
11. Discharge
B. Contract Law
1. Classification of Contracts
2. Formation of a Valid, Enforceable Contract
3. Construction and Interpretation of a Contract
C. Estate Planning and Probate
1. Estate Planning
2. Probate
D. Business Organizations
1. Types of Establishments
2. Entity
3. Corporate Financial Structure
4. Dividends and Redemption
5. Corporate Taxation and Management
6. Special Problems of Closely and or Publicly Held Corporations
7.Corporation
8. Corporate Litigation and Dissolution
E. Family Law
1. Marriage
2. Family Relationship
3. Annulment
4. Divorce
5. Parentage Issues
6. Guardians and Conservators
F. Real Estate Law
1. Freehold Possessory Estate
2. Concurrent Ownership
3. Duties and Rights of Cotenants
4. Nonfreehold Estates
5. Rights in the Land of Others
6. Limitations Upon The Use of The land
7. Public Land Use Controls
8. Sale of Land
9. Methods of Title Assurance
10. Land Financing
11. Real Estate Closing
12. Adverse Possession
G. Simulated NALA Exam Including: hardware vs. software
Prerequisite: College Graduate
Hours: 225 hours