Certified Paralegal Assistant (NALA 900 hrs) – HS/GED required
Legal Assistant (Paralegal)
Course Description:
Course Description:
The Legal Assistant/Paralegal course helps students understand the complexities involved with working in the legal field. Familiarization with fundamental legal terminology, ethics, and the responsibilities of the profession will be discussed. Speaking, writing, interviewing, investigating, research, critical thinking, and computer application skills will be covered to create a comprehensive background of the U.S. legal system and specific legal matters.
Course Objective:
A comprehensive understanding of legal terminology as it applies to cases in criminal law, torts, contracts, personal property and agency, court and practice, wills and estate, real property, family law, and business and bankruptcy law.
The student will learn the various roles of a paralegal and be able to identify and describe:
- Ethical Rules and Obligations,
- the Constitution and Sources of American Law
-Judicial and Dispute Resolution Option
-Administrative Law and Government Regulation
-Civil Legislation
-Criminal Law and Process, and the Appellate Process
- Tort and Strict Liability
- Contracts and Commercial Law
-Property and Environment
-Agency and Employment Law
-Business Organizations
-Intellectual Property and Internet Law
-Family Law, Wills, and Estates
Students will learn to properly conduct interviews with legal parties and be able to conduct appropriate traditional and computer research methods to prepare for court cases
Prerequisites:
HS Diploma or Equivalent and minimum typing speed of 25 WPM.
Course Content:
LESSON 1: LEGAL TERMINOLOGY: FUNDAMENTALS
1. Criminal Law Legal Words and Phrases
2. Law of Torts Legal Words and Phrases
3. Law of Contracts Legal Words and Phrases
4. Law of Personal Property and Agency Legal Words and Phrases
5. Court and Practice Legal Words and Phrases
6. Law of Wills and Estate Legal Words and Phrases
7. Law of Real Property Legal Words and Phrases
8. Family Law Legal Words and Phrases
9. Business Organization and Bankruptcy Legal Words and Phrases
Lesson 2: Being A Paralegal: An Occupation
A. The Paralegal Profession
1. Paralegals in Action
2. Paralegal: Defined
3. Role of the Paralegal
4. Associations and Education of Paralegals
5. Good Qualities of a Paralegal
B. Ethics, Regulation, and Profession Responsibility
1. Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)
2. Regulation of the Paralegal Profession
3. Ethical Rules and Obligations
C. Careers in the Paralegal Profession
1. Compensation Issues for the Paralegal
2. Specialty and Optional Selections through Background, Skills and Interests Assessment
3. Resume Preparation, Job Seeking and Interview Techniques
4. Arrangements and Organization of Law Offices and Law Firms
5. Administrative Procedures in the Law Office
D. Paralegal Workplace Skills
1. Paralegal General Tasks and Functions
2. Detailed Tasks and Functions for Paralegals in Legal Specialties
3. Paralegal Skills: Word Usage and Vocabulary, Grammar/Punctuation, Writing Skills, and Nonverbal and General communications related to client and interoffice office situations
Lesson 3: U.S. Legal System
A. The Constitution and Sources of American Law.
1. The Constitution of the United States of America
2. Law: Defined and History of American Law
3. Sources of Law in the United States
4. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
B. Judicial and Dispute Resolution Option.
1. Court System and Jurisdictions: State and Federal
2. Dispute Resolution Option
3. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
C. Administrative Law and Government Regulation
1. Government Regulations
2. Administrative Agencies and Administrative Law
3. Administrative Agencies Authority: Legislative, Executive and Judicial
4. Public Disclosure of Agency Actions
5. General Business Regulation
6. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
D. Civil Legislation
1. The Litigation Process and Pre-litigation
2. The Trial
3. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
E. Criminal Law and Process.
1. Crime: Defined, and Its Classification and Essential Elements
2. Criminal Acts as Basis for Tort Actions
3. Criminal Procedure and Trial
4. Crimes Affecting Business
5. Inchoate Crimes
6. Constitutional Safeguards
7. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
F. The Appellate Process.
1. Function of the Appellate Court
2. Federal Appellate Procedure
3. United States Courts of Appeals
4. United States Supreme Court
5. State Appeals Courts.
6. Role of the Paralegal in the Appellate Process.
7. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
Lesson 4: Special Focus On Legal Matters
A. Tort and Strictly Liability
With Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
B. Contracts and Commercial Law
With Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
C. Property and the Environment
With Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
D. Agency and Employment Law
With Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
E. Business Organizations
1. Sole Proprietorship
2. General and Limited Partnership
3. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
4. Limited Liability Company (LLC)
5. Corporation
6. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
F. Intellectual Property and Internet Law.
1. Trade Secrets: Patents, Copyrights and Trademark
2. The Internet: Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA)
3. Review of Legal Terminology related to the Lesson
G. Family Law, Wills, and Estates.
1. Family Law
2. Wills: Probate, Right to Die and Living Wills and Trusts
3. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
Lesson 5: Paralegal Skills
1. Interviewing and Investigative Skills.
2. Investigating Claims: Preparing and Conducting the Interview
3. Ethical Versus Moral Considerations
4. Privileged Communication
5. Expert Witnesses. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
6. Locating Witnesses
7. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
B. Traditional and Computer Research
1. Research Starting Point: Traditional Versus Computer-based Law Libraries
2. Traditional Legal Resources
3. Constructing a Search Query
4. Legal Research: Connectors and Updating
5. Parallel Citations
6. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
C. Critical Legal Thinking and Writing.
1. Court Brief and Office Memorandum Writing Styles
2. Honesty
3. Office Memorandum
4. Citations
5. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson
D. The Paralegal: Computer Applications.
1. The Internet: Online Computer Resources
2. Formats of Available Information: Types of Image Formats
3. Computer Viruses
4. Electronic Filing of Pleadings
5. Encryption Technology
6. Review of Legal Terms related to the Lesson