Paralegal Specialized Courses
Online Paralegal Specialized Courses
Partnered with the Center for Legal Studies, UTC Center for Professional Education provides paralegals the opportunity to further their knowledge with robust certificate courses. From employment law to intellectual property law, these online courses give you in-depth knowledge that opens your career to new opportunities.
For More Information on the Center for Legal Studies:
Courses Available
- Advanced Legal Research and Writing
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This exciting course is designed to teach advanced and specialized approaches to utilize the legal resources available in a law library, and elsewhere. The conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research will be taught. You will also learn how to formulate Westlaw® search queries and effectively and efficiently use Westlaw® and other online legal research methods as time-saving devices in legal research and legal writing.
This course is designed to examine more thoroughly advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal sources available in the law library and online.
Lessons and objectives will include: legal authorities and citations, legal analysis, Westlaw® online legal research, the legal memorandum of law, manual legal research and types of legal writing.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Course
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ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) is geared to all professionals who are focused on “interest-based bargaining”. Participants will review the growth and application of settlement options in the United States. The course focuses on both traditional and non-traditional dispute resolution options. Participants will learn negotiation skills and how to select the most cost-effective and least intrusive ADR method to achieve the most positive result for both parties. Students will understand the processes and methods of ADR techniques; learn the proper application and limits of ADR techniques; appreciate the ethical considerations involved in ADR; and develop a basic ability to apply ADR methods. This course takes the mystery out of settlement processes and focuses on reaching reasonable solutions. Specific attention will be given to mediation, arbitration, summary jury trials, mini-trials and moderated settlement conferences. Successful graduates of this non-credit course will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
Topics of Study:
- Introduction, History and Origin of ADR.
- Techniques for ADR including arbitration, negotiation, mediation and the role of the mediator.
- Business disputes, settlement issues in the business sector, employment disputes and employer/employee relationships.
Participants will be expected to complete reading and homework assignments and will choose or be assigned project reports that deal with ADR topics. Independent project development is encouraged. Final projects will be presented for critique to The Center for Legal Studies as a prerequisite of course completion.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Employment Law Certificate Course
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Employment law is a branch of contract law that deals with relationships between employers and employees. This course will cover statutes such as the National Labor Relations Act, the Railway Labor Act, and other various statutes dealing with public employees. Topics to be included are master and servant, wages and hours, antidiscrimination in employment and minimum wages and maximum hours, as well as regulation of working conditions. The Center for Legal Studies is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Legal Investigation Certificate Course
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This exciting course is designed to teach legal investigation to those interested in pursuing a new career and those presently working in the legal field. At the end of the course, students will be qualified to assist attorneys, paralegals, insurance companies and private businesses, as well as state and federal government agencies, in the process of civil and criminal investigation. Students will also be taught how to create a freelance investigation business. Included subject areas are: arson investigation, products liability investigation, personal injury and traffic accident forensics, employment accidents, investigation of financial and equity matters, professional malpractice and negligence, skip-tracing, and the role of a legal investigator in preparing for civil and criminal litigation.
- Introduction to our legal system, legal and ethical considerations for the investigator, law of agency and coverage of rules of court and evidence.
- General interviewing and investigation techniques, sources of leads and information, fact analysis, taking witness statements, forensic photography, proper service of legal process, and surveillance.
- Personal injury investigation techniques, traffic accident reconstruction, premises accidents, employment accidents, government investigation, document analysis and control, financial and equity analysis, testimony, and case studies. Job search strategies and placement possibilities will also be discussed.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Legal Secretary Certificate Course
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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; overview of commonly used word and data processing programs; legal research; memoranda preparation and citation format.
During this 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.
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.
This 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.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Personal Injury for Paralegals
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With this exciting, fast-paced class you will learn many of the legal terms, causes of action, and remedies available to victims of personal injury accidents. We will review the negligence theory of torts upon which many personal injury claims are based. Students will discuss interviewing, investigating and other case building techniques vital to a personal injury paralegal's success in the law office. Class discussions and lesson material will include the different kinds of personal injury claims including (but not limited to): car accidents, slip and falls, medical negligence/malpractice, manufacturer product defects, and class-action lawsuits. Discover the basic categories of damages recovery, statutes of limitations, and schemes for liability.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Software Essentials for the Law Office
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This dynamic course is designed for legal professionals interested in improving their skills and knowledge of commonly used computer technology and programs within the law office. Course topics include: computer operating systems and peripheral devices; time tracking and billing software; database, case management and docket control software; litigation support software; electronic discovery, and trial presentation and graphics software.
Hands on exercises will prepare students to work with popular programs such as MS PowerPoint, Practice Master’s Tabs 3, AbacusLaw, DiscoveryFY, Trial Director and LexisNexis CaseMap and TimeMap, as well as understand the common functions and purposes of similar programs.
Common billing procedures and payment agreements, accurate time tracking, proper calendar and docketing procedures as well as the processes involved in electronic discovery will be addressed through a variety of exercises. In addition, students will be presented with real-life scenarios and asked to identify and examine ethical issues raised by the use of technology in a legal practice.
Cost: $995 + Books
- Victim Advocacy Certificate Course
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Participants will be prepared to work in victim advocacy arenas, such as domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, crisis hotlines, and with state and county governments to assist crime victims in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery. Course topics include legal terminology, legal process, legislation regarding victims' rights, jurisdiction and venue, ethics, effects of victimization on the victim, victim advocate skills, guardianships and crisis intervention. It also covers counseling skills for victims of assault, battery, robbery, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, murder and homicide.
Course outline:
This session focuses on legal terminology and the legal process, theories of victimization, effects of crime on victims and guidelines for responding to victims of crime and trauma. Crime victim statutes will also be discussed.
This session covers crisis theories and the role of the crisis interventionist. Students will learn how to respond to crisis situations, understand the actual nature of the crisis, assess the victim's situation, and implement effective listening skills to determine the best support system for the victim.
During this session students will learn the facts and myths regarding domestic violence, crimes against children, sexual assault, and related crimes. Discussions will include restraining orders, basic police procedures, guidelines for assisting those dealing with the death of a loved one, and the role of the victim advocate. Job search strategies and placement possibilities will also be discussed.
There are no prerequisites, but students will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework and pass two exams.
Cost: $995 + Books