Courses and Programs » Legal Studies

Legal Secretary and Paralegal
Online and Live

 

Are YOU interested in a career as a Legal Secretary or as a Paralegal? Be on the leading edge of technology with our online or live courses! Study at YOUR home computer or in a classroom at Jacksonville State University's Office of Continuing Education in cooperation with the Center for Legal Studies. We are making it easier and more convenient than ever to pursue a career as a Legal Secretary or as a Paralegal by offering either online or live courses. Our courses are a perfect fit for today's fast-paced and busy lifestyles! To register today, please call Annette Stahl (256) 782-5871, or check online for our live class schedule:

 

Legal Secretary Certificate Course

This intensive program is designed for both beginning and experienced secretaries who are interested in improving their skills and working more efficiently within the law office. Students will study such topics as: legal terminology; legal process; jurisdiction and venue; ethics; written communications including letters, pleadings, discovery, notices and motions; filing procedures, billing and accounting; time management; records management; computers, word and data processing; legal research; memoranda preparation, and citation format. Internship assistance is also provided to successful graduates.

Session 1: During this first session students will receive an introduction to the theory of law, the legal process, and the nature of the practice of law. Discussion will include the process of law as well as the specific legal terminology. Ethics are also covered.

Session 2: This session addresses the particulars of law office management. Also, this session studies technology in the law office.  Students will be exposed to actual court documents and will prepare some of these documents as part of their homework.

Session 3: The final session will be spent examining the intricacies of the law office, including office procedure manuals, billing techniques, and overall management techniques of the law office. Students will also be introduced to the basics of legal research and proper citation format. Job search strategies and placement possibilities will also be discussed.

This course can be taken by online, video or audio formats or as a live lecture.

Required texts: The Legal Secretary Handbook, by Scott and Lisa Hatch; and State Rules of Court.

 

Paralegal Certificate Course

This intensive, nationally acclaimed program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. Students 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.

Session 1: "Legal Terminology, Documents, Ethics, and the Litigation Process": This first session focuses on the history of American jurisprudence, the theory of law, the legal process, and the nature of litigation. Discussion will cover pre-trial, trial and post-trial procedures as well as an in depth coverage of legal ethics. At the end of the first session of class, students will know how to prepare a Complaint/Petition, Answer, Third Party Complaint/Petition, and Motion for Summary Judgment.

Session 2: "Introduction to the Evidentiary Predicate": This session covers the rules of evidence and civil procedure. Basic interviewing and investigation techniques and the development and use of demonstrative evidence will also be explained. At the end of the second session of class, students will prepare discovery matter such as Interrogatories, Request for Admissions and Request for Production of Documents.

Session 3: "Identifying Relevant Authority": During this session, students will learn 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 4: "Introduction to Legal Research": Students will learn research techniques for use in legal memoranda, motions, and briefs. Primary and secondary source materials will be discussed, and a concise approach to legal research will be developed.

Session 5: "Legal Research Practice": Legal research skills will be applied this session with emphasis on shepardizing statutes and case law and learning to use computerized legal research terminals.  Numerous research assignments will be given, discussed, and critiqued.  The West Key Number System® will be learned thoroughly.

Session 6: "Legal Writing and Appellate Procedure": This final session will concentrate on the preparation and critique of legal memoranda, including an Interoffice Memorandum of Law and Appellate Brief. Principles of appellate procedure will also be reviewed. Proper citation format will be covered along with a discussion of job hunting techniques and job leads for those seeking their first employment as paralegals.  

There are no prerequisites to take the course, but students will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework for each session. This program will help students increase their office's efficiency, productivity, and billable hours as well as learn new marketable job skills. Internship assistance is also available to the top 25% of each live lecture course, or to students who complete the course with a 95% or better on the VHS, audio, DVD, text-only, or online formats.

Required texts: Introduction to Paralegalism, 6th edition, by William Stasky; Basics of Legal Document Preparation, by Robert Cummins; Paralegal Procedures and Practices and Paralegal Career for Dummies, with CD of Forms, both by Scott and Lisa Hatch; and State Rules of Court. Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd Pocket edition, is not required, but highly recommended for those students with no or little legal experience. WESTLAW access is only required for online students. However we highly recommend it for students taking all other formats as well. WESTLAW access is purchased directly from The Center for Legal Studies.

Please purchase your textbooks prior to the first day of class. You may order your textbooks from The Center for Legal Studies Bookstore online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737.

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