Education & Training Plan Paralegal/Legal Assistant Online MyCAA Information Tuition: $3600 (NALA exam included) MyCAA Course Code: LIT-PLA3 Course Contact Hours: 900 Hours Program Duration: 6 Months (Please note these courses are approved as one course block) This training program combines: Paralegal: An Introduction Paralegal: Intermediate Paralegal: Advanced Program Description Paralegal Assistants are in high demand in the job market, and the need for trained legal professionals is constantly expanding. This comprehensive program is broken down in to three courses Paralegal 1: An Introduction; Paralegal 2: Intermediate; Paralegal 3: Advanced. Paralegal: An Introduction makes the paralegal field come alive for the student. It uses real-world examples, offering practical applications for each concept discussed. In this course each student will gain a thorough introduction to not only the legal system in general but also to specific areas of the law and the paralegal's integral role as a member of the legal team. The Paralegal: Intermediate course provides you with comprehensive, up-to-date information on the use of technology by paralegals in all types of legal organizations. It describes basic computer concepts as well as more complex skills and software programs. This course covers important topics such as an updated discussion of electronic discovery, Internet legal/factual research, legal timekeeping and billing, litigation support software, and case management and docket control software. A variety of other topics are covered including Westlaw Next, Google Scholar, mobile computing, document management, security, ethics, the electronic courthouse and many other trends in legal computing. Paralegal: Advanced course uses hypothetical and real examples to illustrate important points of the law and to inspire insight. This course also incorporates extensive coverage of ethical issues and the law. Students will learn about international and comparative law in order to give the student essential knowledge for today's global marketplace. After completing this course, you should be able to: Type quickly and correctly, Comprehend the use of computers in the law office, Identify types of spreadsheets, legal timekeeping, and billing software used in the law office, Identify types of databases and litigation support software used in the law office and Define the types of technology used in the courtroom. After completing this course, you should be able to: Comprehend the job description and classifications of the paralegal profession Comprehend law ethics, the categories of law, and the court system Define the steps involved in various legal procedures Identify the key elements of the law Type quickly and correctly
Comprehend the use of computers in the law office Identify types of spreadsheets, legal timekeeping, and billing software used in the law office Identify types of databases and litigation support software used in the law office Define the types of technology used in the courtroom The Paralegal Profession What Do Paralegals Do? Paralegal Skills & Attributes The Future of Paralegalism Career Opportunities Paralegal Specialties Paralegal Compensation Planning Your Career Marketing Your Skills The Inner Workings of the Law Office Organizational Structure Employment Policies Filing Procedures Financial Procedures Law Office Culture & Politics Ethics, the Law & the Court System The Regulation of Attorneys Attorney Ethics & Paralegal Practice Regulation of Paralegals The Unauthorized Practice of Law Sources of American Law Case Law & the Common Law Tradition Constitutional Law Statutory Law Administrative Law National & International Law Basic Judicial Requirements State Court System The Federal Court System Alternative Dispute Resolution Legal Procedures Researching Case Law Finding Relevant Cases The Case Reporting System Analyzing Case Law Researching Constitutional & Statutory Law Analyzing Statutory Law Researching Administrative Law Online Legal Research Free Legal Resources on the Internet Lexis & Westlaw alternative Online Programs Conducting Online Research Legal Writing The Importance of Good Writing Skills Pleadings and Discovery General Legal Correspondence The Legal Memorandum
Paralegal Skills & Legal Procedures Civil Litigation Preliminary Investigation The Pleadings Pretrial Motions Traditional Discovery Tools The Duty to Disclose Planning the Interview Interviewing Clients Interviewing Witnesses Planning & Conducting Investigations Preparing for Trial Jury Selection The Trial Posttrial Motions & Procedures Criminal Law & Procedures Elements of Criminal Liability Types of Crimes Constitutional Safeguards Criminal Procedures & Trial Key Elements of the Law The Basis of Tort Law Intentional Torts Negligence Cyber Torts Strict Liability Product Liability Consumer Law Contracts & Intellectual Property Law Requirements to Form a Valid Contract Defenses to Contract Enforceability Sales Contracts & Warranties Electronic Contracting Intellectual Property Law Real Property Law Insurance Law Additional Types of Law Family Law Wills, Trusts, & Estates Forms of Business Organization Agency Law Employment Law Family & Medical Leave Workers' Compensation Laws The Bankruptcy Code The Bankruptcy Trustee Liquidation Proceedings Individual Repayment Plans Filing the Petition Confirmation of the Plan Reorganizations Debtor in Possession Environmental Law
Federal Regulation of the Environment Typing Practice & Improvement Pre-Test Your Typing Ability Finger Positioning Exercises Typing Practice Games Typing Progress Tracking Improve Your Typing Skills Increase Your Typing Speed Overview of Computers in the Law Office Introduction to Computers and the Law Elementary Computer Concepts Specific Law Office Applications of Computer Software How Computers Can Help the Legal Assistant Legal Technology Trends Legal Ethics and Computer Technology Centralized and Decentralized Word Processing Systems Legal Word-Processing Programs Legal Word-Processing Fundamentals PDF File Creation Document Assembly Programs Word Processing in the Legal Environment Spreadsheet Software, Legal Timekeeping & Billing Software What is a Spreadsheet? "What If" Analysis Structure and Organization Spreadsheet Fundamentals Spreadsheet Planning Spreadsheets in the Legal Environment Introduction to Timekeeping and Billing Manual versus Computerized Billing Systems The Computerized Timekeeping and Billing Process Kinds of Legal Fee Agreements Legal Expenses Timekeeping and Billing for Legal Assistants Functions of a Successful Billing System Computerized Timekeeping and Billing Integrating Timekeeping and Billing Accounting, and Case Management What to Look for in Timekeeping and Billing Software Billing from the Corporate and Government Perspective The Ethics of Timekeeping and Billing Databases, Docket Control Software & Electronic Discovery What is a Database? How Databases Are Used in Law Offices Calendaring, Docket Control, and Case Management Introduction to Docket Control / Case Management Manual Docket Control Types of Computerized Docket Control Systems Overview of Computerized Legal Case Management and Docket Control Implementing Case Management Systems--Why They Fail
The Docket Cycle Electronic Discovery Electronically Stored Information Electronic Discovery Overview The Electronic Discovery Process The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Electronically Stored Information Producing and Receiving ESI Litigation Support Software & Computer-Assisted Legal Research Information and Documents to Be Tracked in Litigation Why Litigation Support? Manual Litigation Support Methods Overview of Computerized Litigation Support Types of Computerized Litigation Support Systems The Litigation Support Process Litigation Support Tips Questions and Fears about Computerized Litigation Support Introduction to the Internet Use of the Internet in Legal Organizations Searching for and Finding Information on the World Wide Web Performing Legal Research on the Internet Problems with Researching on the Internet CALR: Online Legal Databases Fee-Based Computer-Assisted Legal Research Services WESTLAW & LexisNexis Other CALR Fee-Based Service Providers Increased Productivity on CALR Systems Legal Organization Web Pages Legal Organization Intranets and Extranets The Electronic Courthouse, Automated Courtroom, and Presentation Graphics The Electronic Courthouse The Automated Courtroom Overview of Presentation and Trial Presentation Software Creating Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint Courtroom Presentation Tips Presentation Graphics in the Legal Environment 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 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 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 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 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 Renters, Landlords & Home Ownership Types of Leases Landlord-Tenant Relationship Legal Remedies for Landlords Legal Remedies for Tenants Characteristics of Home Ownership Dealing with Real Estate Agents Offer to Purchase a Home Financing the Purchase of a Home What is Escrow? Title Insurance Role of Attorney in Home Transactions Home Taxes Home Insurance Neighbor Laws Employer/Employee Law & Estate Planning Employee & Employer Rights and Duties Classification of Employees Laws Against Discrimination The Basic Duties of Employees Common Benefits of Employees Rights Regarding Unions Arbitration of Employment Disputes What is Estate Planning? Tax Burdens Reduced or Avoided Matters Concerning Wills Matters Concerning Probate Living Wills & Advance Directives Matters Concerning Trusts Different Types of Trusts Ways to Avoid Probate Conservatorship & Guardianship System Requirements: Internet Access Broadband or high-speed internet access is required. Broadband includes DSL, cable, and wireless connections. Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Moodle pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible. Hardware
Windows hardware configurations and processors are acceptable Mac computers MUST have Microsoft Window Operating Systems over Bootcamp (Bootcamp is a free download from Apple's website) 1 GB RAM minimum recommended Operating Systems o Windows XP, Vista or 7 and Mac OS X 10 or higher with Windows Web Browsers o Google Chrome is highly recommended o Internet Explorer is not recommended as it may not display certain menus and links Cookies MUST be enabled Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled) Kindle Reader App is needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded onto your computer.) Adobe PDF Reader Media Plug-ins (These may be required depending on your course media.) Adobe Flash Player (Required for many of our career courses and ALL of our IT courses.) Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Quicktime, Windows Media Player, &/or Real Player PowerPoint Viewer (Use this if you don't have PowerPoint) **Subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**