This program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. You will be trained to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. The instruction is practice-oriented and relates to those areas of law in which paralegals are in most demand. There are no prerequisites to take the course, but you will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework for each session. This program will help you to increase your office's efficiency, productivity, and billable hours as well as learn new marketable job skills.
Session I: Legal Terminology, Documents, Ethics, and the Litigation Process focuses on the history of American jurisprudence, the theory of law, the legal process, and the nature of litigation.
Session II: Introduction to the Evidentiary Predicate covers the rules of evidence and civil procedure.
Session III: Identifying Relevant Authority covers how to identify relevant law, determine the differences between primary and secondary authority, and between mandatory and persuasive authority, and learn how to find and apply authority to hypothetical factual situations.
Session IV: Introduction to Legal Research will teach you research techniques for use in legal memoranda, motions, and briefs.
Session V: Legal Research Practice develops research skills to assist with statutes and case law and learning to use computerized legal research terminals.
Session VI: Legal Writing and Appellate Procedure will concentrate on the preparation and critique of legal memoranda, including an Interoffice Memorandum of Law and Appellate Brief as well as principles of appellate procedure.
Fall 2008
Saturdays and Sundays
October 18 - November 23
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuition: $1,089 (Textbooks not included)
Course is also available online beginning every 8 weeks
