Paralegal Professional with Certification Exam - WIOA Approved

Course Description

Paralegals play one of the most important roles in the legal industry. Though individual attorneys are ultimately responsible for the legal work they produce and the strategies they devise, many tasks – from legal research and writing, source citing, filing, and others – are delegated to paralegals.

Working in a large firm or assisting just a handful of attorneys, Paralegals require a fundamental understanding of the substantive and procedural elements applicable to the specific areas of law where they’ll be working so that they can build on a solid foundation of knowledge starting from the first day.

This program offers an in-depth view of the role of paralegals play within the American legal system. Examining the myriad of skills used by paralegals everyday alongside the typical legal working environment, learners will explore the common areas of law in which they’ll likely be working, the various ethical considerations that may arise as well as the sources of law they’ll reference every day. Learners will be offered an offered an overview of traditional state and federal courts as well as the implications and uses for alternative dispute resolution. Learners will also be introduced to various career opportunities available to trained paralegals.

Certification exam fee included.

Learning Objectives

The Paralegal Professional Program is ideal for those students looking to start their career in this meaningful profession. This program covers the following key concepts and fundamental topics for Paralegals:

• Paralegal and General Legal Ethics
• Technology in the Law Office
• Legal Research and Writing
• Substantive Law
• Procedural Law
• Microsoft Word

Materials Provided

All materials are included within the course.

Detailed Program Topics

• Role of the paralegal in the US legal system
• Legal accounting procedures
• Becoming a paralegal professional
• Paralegal profession regulations
• Common ethical issues
• Sources of American Law
• State and federal court systems
• Client interviews and the investigation process
• Legal Research
• Different styles and formats used in legal writing
• Drafting legal documents
• Trial Preparation
• Trial & appellate processes and ADR
• Criminal law and procedure
• Legal principles of tort, property, family, estate and probate, business & contract law
• Legal ethics including unauthorized practice of law, legal fees, solicitation and advertising
• Zealous representation, integrity & duty to report

Course Requirements

• Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED
• Students will be prepared to sit for the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Paralegal Professional (L-PARA) Certification
• Experience with relational databases and writing queries using SQL.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please fill out the self-disclosure form. The Office of Disability Services coordinates services for students with disabilities. Documentation of a disability needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided.