Paralegal Professional

Lesson 1
Module 1: The Paralegal Career

Role and responsibilities of paralegals
Required skills and attributes
Career opportunities and professional development

Module 2: Law Office Operations and Ethics

Law firm organization and office management
Professional ethics and regulations
Unauthorized practice of law

Module 3: Sources of American Law

Constitutional, statutory, and case law
Administrative, national, and international law
Common law traditions

Module 4: The Court System

State and federal court structures
Jurisdiction and venue
Alternative dispute resolution

Module 5: Legal Research and Analysis

Case law and statutory research
Issue identification and analysis
Use of secondary legal resources

Module 6: Online Legal Research and Writing

Internet?based legal research methods
Legal correspondence and memoranda
Standards for legal writing

Module 7: Civil Litigation

Pretrial procedures and pleadings
Discovery and electronic evidence
Interviews and investigations

Module 8: Trial Procedures and Criminal Law

Trial preparation and courtroom procedures
Jury selection and post?trial actions
Criminal law fundamentals

Module 9: Substantive Areas of Law

Tort law and negligence
Consumer, contract, and intellectual property law
Cyber and commercial issues

Module 10: Real Property and Insurance Law

Real property ownership and transfers
Leasing and sales
Insurance law principles

Module 11: Family, Business, and Employment Law

Family law basics and estate planning
Business organizations and agency law
Employment law fundamentals

Module 12: Bankruptcy and Environmental Law

Bankruptcy processes and courts
Liquidation and repayment plans
Environmental law overview