Legal Assistants 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 legal assistants. As such, it is imperative for successful Legal Assistants to have a fundamental understanding of the primary substantive and procedural elements applicable to the practice of law so that they can support the attorneys as best as possible. To be as successful as possible on the job, Legal Assistants require a broad understanding of the law, various civil litigation principles where Legal Assistants are used most often as well as the ethical considerations that affect every aspect of the job.
This program offers an in-depth view of the role of legal assistants and paralegals play as an essential part of the overall profession. Examining the myriad of skills used by legal assistants 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 also be introduced to various career opportunities available to trained legal assistants. This program also provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of professional responsibility in the legal field and how these laws apply to all legal staff, specifically. In addition to the general legal ethical concepts presented in the course, learners will research individual state professional responsibility rules as they apply to the overall field and to the paralegal role.
Program Objectives
After completing this program, learners will be able to:
- Understand the Historical Basis and Current Structure of the American Legal System
- Describe courts and legislation
- Determine the Law of Ethics
- Analyze torts
- Describe family law
- Examine property law
- Describe the law of contracts
- Appraise criminal law
- Determine legal principles and authorities
- Examine case law
- Analyze the writing process for effective legal writing
- Appraise the legal team, law practices, and law firm governance
- Describe legal administration and technology
- Understand client relations and communication skills
- Examine legal fees, timekeeping, and billing
Detailed Program Objectives
- The Historical Basis and Current Structure of the American Legal System
- The Historical Basis of American Law
- The Modern Legal System
- The Law of Ethics
- How Law and Ethics Interrelate
- The Result of Ethical Violations
- Torts
- What Is a Tort?
- The Development of Tort Law
- Terminology in Torts
- Negligence
- Strict Liability
- Intentional Torts
- Product Liability
- Employment and Torts
- Medical Malpractice
- Effects of Electronic Communications on Modern Tort Law
- Tort Defenses
- Damages in Tort Actions
- Family Law
- Marriage and Annulment
- Ending the Marital Relationship
- Custody
- Child Support
- Visitation
- Property and Debt Division
- Maintenance (Alimony or Spousal Support)
- Nontraditional Marital Relationships
- Reproductive Law
- Property Law
- Real Property
- Personal Property
- Intellectual Property
- The Law of Business
- Agency
- Sole Proprietorships
- Partnerships
- Corporations
- Negotiable Instruments
- Criminal Law
- Definitions and Categories of Crime
- Parties to Crime
- Elements of Serious Crimes
- Punishment
- White-Collar Crime
- Defenses to Charges of Criminal Conduct
- Introduction to Legal Principles and Authorities
- Sources of Law
- Hierarchy of the Law
- Authority
- Introduction to Legal Citation
- Key Points Checklist: Legal Principles and Authorities
- Application
- Introduction to Legal Research and Analysis
- Legal Analysis Defined
- Legal Research and the Analysis Process
- General Considerations
- Constitutions, Statutes, Administrative Law, and Court Rules—Research and Analysis
- Anatomy of a Statute
- Statutory Research—Locating Statutes
- Administrative Law
- Court Rules
- Analysis—The Process
- General Considerations
- Citing Constitutions, Statutes, Administrative Law, and Court Rules
- Fundamentals of Writing
- Parts of Speech
- Sentences
- Paragraphs
- Word Selection and Usage
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- General Considerations
- The Writing Process for Effective Legal Writing
- Importance of Writing Skills
- Goal of Legal Writing
- Legal Writing Process
- General Research Suggestions
- The Legal Team, Law Practices, and Law Firm Governance
- The Legal Team
- Types of Law Practices
- Law Practice Organization Structures
- Legal Administration and Technology
- Legal Administration Principles
- Functions of Legal Administration
- Practice Management
- Leadership
- Controlling
- Financial Management
- Human Resources Management
- Planning
- Marketing Management
- Organizing, Policies, and Systems
- Facilities Management
- Office Services Management
- Technology and Information Systems Management
- Client Relations and Communication Skills
- Why Do Paralegals Need to Foster Good Client Relationships and Communicate Effectively?
- Ethical Duty to Communicate with Clients
- Client Relationships
- Communication Skills
Certification Opportunities
After completing this program, learners will have the opportunity to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.
Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity
Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.
Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.
