Program Overview
The major goal of this program is to enhance the academic skills of Paralegals and Legal Assistants. This program provides you with the essential academic and practical legal assisting skills sought after by law firms and other employers.

During this program you will sharpen your skills in preparing legal documents, drafting legal memoranda, legal ethics, black letter law, case management, legal research, local court rules and various other legal office administrative functions.

Upon completion of this program you will have sharpened your legal assisting skills, gained a much greater understanding of the law, and improved your career position. Conduct interviews with clients and prepare appropriate memoranda, depositions, and interrogatories. Prepare and file all court documents, such as complaints, answers, motions, and orders.Research, draft, and analyze legal memoranda and documents in the manner most helpful to an attorney. Analyze and define potential legal problems in any factual situation.

Program Length
This program was designed be completed in 4 months and provides the equvalent of 180 contact hours. Students completing this program may earn 12 credits towards the Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies.

Program Delivery Method
This is an independent study program. There is no traditional classroom attendance required for this program. You will be required to have high speed internet access and a modern computer. During this program you will be required to attend online lectures, participate in subject related discussions, and independently complete your reading and research assignments.

Admissions Criteria
Admission into this program is on a rolling basis. This means you may apply for admission and register for classes at any point in time prior to the start of classes. Admission is limited to those who have graduated from high school (or earned a GED diploma) and have a strong desire to enter the legal support field. This is a reading, writing and research intensive program. Therefore in order to successfully complete this program, you should be prepared to devote at least 16-20 hrs per week to your studies and research projects.

Curriculum
In this course students will explore some of the most relevant employer required skills of a paralegal.

Introduction to Law

This course introduces the student to the American legal system and the various bodies of law which governs the system, including their structure and jurisdiction. Further students will be introduced to the various branches of government, agencies, and concepts such as separation of powers, legal concepts and principles including sources of law, judicial decision making, the appellate process, sources and classifications of law, including the constitution, statutes, common law, civil law, statutory law and the law of equity.

Principles of Paralegalism

In this course students will be introduced to some of the most relevant skills required of a paralegal. Topics include; Legal Ethics, Regulation of Paralegals, Legal Analysis, Legal Research, Legal Writing, legal interviewing, law office administration, and Legal Terminology

Paralegal Essential Skills

This course introduces the student to legal analysis, legal interviewing, law office investigation, the world of legal research, legal writing, informal & formal advocacy, and law office administration. The course uses the School’s electronic law library to conduct legal research. Students will learn where to start and when to end a legal research project, how to decipher mounds of legal writings and the use of primary and secondary sources in the research process.

Civil Litigation

This course surveys the procedural rules applicable to civil lawsuits in the United States. Topics covered include; personal and subject matter jurisdiction, the Erie doctrine, pleading, discovery, motions, trials, post-trial motions, issue preclusion, and claim preclusion (issue estoppel).

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