COMPLETE LIST OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Paralegal certificates are awarded to all students successfully completing any of the following online academic certification programs:
Paralegal Litigation Specialist - Generalist Program (360 Hours) - For Most Entry-Level Students
Paralegal Litigation Specialist - Advanced Generalist Program (504 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Specialist - Advanced Corporate Law Program (504 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Specialist - Advanced Comprehensive Program (648 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Law Firm Specialty Program - Legal Field Specific (180 Hours)
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
Paralegal Litigation Specialist- Generalist Internship Program (480 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Specialist- Advanced Generalist Internship Program (624 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Specialist-Advanced Corporate Law Internship Program (624 Hours)
Paralegal Litigation Specialist-Advanced Comprehensive Internship Program (744 Hours)
PROGRAM AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – GENERALIST PROGRAM (360 Hours)
This certificate program consists of 10 specialized paralegal courses described below as follows:
PL 101 Legal Research, Writing, Terminology and Proofreading (36 Hours)
Instruction on basic legal research techniques, including: law library research utilizing federal and state statutes and case law reporters; West's Key Number Systems, legal treatises, hornbooks, law school reviews, journals and periodicals; updating the law utilizing Shepards, citing the law by Bluebooking; Legal writing techniques, including preparing case law briefs, law office correspondence, memoranda of law and pleadings; Legal terminology and proofreading; and an introduction to LEXIS/NEXIS and WESTLAW internet assisted legal research.
PL 102 Civil Procedure Law - Federal and State (36 Hours)
Examines the procedures necessary for commencing and maintaining civil lawsuits in both the Federal and State court systems. Subjects include: court structure, jurisdiction, venue, service of process, pleadings, parties, motions, discovery techniques, statutes of limitations, provisional remedies, judgments, arbitration and appeals. Students learn drafting and reviewing of pleadings such as: summons and complaints, interrogatories and answers, injunctions, stipulations or subpoenas, and docket control.
PL 103 Criminal Law and Procedure - Federal and State (36 Hours)
Lectures on crimes including: Assault, battery, sexual offenses, homicide, burglary, arson, robbery, larceny and internet-related crimes; defenses of insanity, self-defense and entrapment. Instruction on federal and state criminal court structure and procedures, grand jury proceedings, indictment, arrest, arraignment, hearings, pleas, motions, trials, jury selection and charges, verdicts, convictions, sentencing and appeals. Analyzes prisoner rights and appeal procedures.
PL 104 Business Corporations and Entities Law (36 Hours)
Lectures on the formation and organization of corporations, C-corps, not-for-profits, limited liability companies (LLC's), agencies and partnerships. Students learn the rights and duties of shareholders, directors and officers, corporate management, mergers and acquisitions, insider trading, dividends, distributions and dissolution. Students also learn the procedures and forms required for successful incorporation.
PL 105 Family Court Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Examines the laws and procedures governing the marriage contract, annulment, separation, divorce, alimony and maintenance, property distribution, child support, custody and adoption; uncontested divorce, procedure and document preparation.
PL 106 Real Estate, Contracts, Mortgage Closing Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Students learn the types and elements of contracts encountered in legal practice. Emphasis on contract formation, mutual assent, consideration, defenses to formation, Statute of Frauds, modification, rescission, revocation, breach of contract and remedies, and UCC Article 2 Sales. Students examine the types of real property ownership, easements, covenants, foreclosure, and the landlord tenant relationship. Emphasis on buying, selling, residential, coop, condo and commercial real estate and mortgage closing procedures.
PL 107 Torts - Personal Injury, Accident and Medical Malpractice Law (36 Hours)
Students analyze the legal concepts of intentional torts to persons and property, negligence and special duties, strict liability, defamation, slander, invasion of privacy, nuisance, fraud, as well as the various defenses associated with these torts; workers' compensation law; and medical malpractice law.
PL 108 Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law (36 Hours)
Examines wills preparation, execution, revocation and contest, intestacy and right of election; revocable and irrevocable trusts; powers of appointment; guardianship; conservatorship; estate taxation and planning. Students learn to prepare sample will and trust instruments Special section covers Elder Law issues.
PL 109 Trial Litigation Specialist, Paralegal Employment and Ethics (36 Hours)
Reviews specific stages of trial litigation preparation and procedure, federal and state rules of evidence; client and witness interviewing, case investigation, docket control, file preparation and maintenance. Examines paralegal employment opportunities, resume, cover and follow-up letter preparation, networking, and maintaining employment. Compares paralegal and attorney ethics.
PL 110 Legal Office Technology - LEXIS/NEXIS, WESTLAW and Internet Research (36 hours)
Features LEXIS/NEXIS, WESTLAW, and Internet legal research training; E-Mail sending and receiving; internet legal research word processing integration; computer assisted Shepardizing and cite-checking, and EDGAR electronic filing procedures.
Note: The school determines the order in which students attend their programs of instruction. Such course order of instruction may vary from those listed on our website. Students receive the courses listed in their program, in an order determined by the school.
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST- ADVANCED GENERALIST CERTIFICATION (504 Hours)
This certificate program consists of 14 specialized paralegal courses as follows: the 10 courses in the above described Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Generalist Program, plus 4 advanced specialized paralegal courses described below:
PL 201 Immigration and Naturalization Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Examines the immigration and nationality laws and regulations and the federal agencies responsible for enforcement of immigration laws. Subjects include visa requirements and procedures, citizenship, political asylum, refugee admission, exclusion, deportation and prosecution. Students learn immigration applications and forms preparation and assisting immigration trial and appeal attorneys.
PL 202 Landlord and Tenant Court Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Instructs students on the rules and procedures governing landlord and tenant courts, including laws and procedures concerning rent control and stabilization; commercial and non-commercial rent non-payment and holdover proceedings; the defenses of breach of warranties of habitability and quite enjoyment, retaliatory eviction, and objectionable tenancy.
PL 203 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Sports & Entertainment Law (36 Hours)
Examines copyright duration, royalties, renewals, and the application process, including searches, form execution, filling fees, and appeal procedures. Domestic and international and forms of intellectual property are analyzed. Discusses legal issues relating to contracts in the film, theatrical, music, television, radio and sports industries.
PL 204 Bankruptcy, Debtor and Creditor Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Examines personal and corporate bankruptcy laws and procedures. Emphasis on the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, petitions, stays, and exemptions, preferential transfers, creditors claims, powers, and duties of trustees, discharge, wage earners' plans, and corporate reorganization. Analyses state debtor and creditor laws.
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW PROGRAM (504 Hours)
This certificate program consists of 14 specialized paralegal courses as follows: the 10 courses in the above described Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Generalist Program, plus 4 advanced corporate law practice specialized paralegal courses described below:
PL 205 Banking Law (36 Hours)
Analyzes the federal and state laws affecting commercial banks, municipal credit and thrift institutions, including lending practices, consumer rights and protections, legal and usurious interest rates, check presentment and negotiation. Discusses UCC Articles 3 and 4 Negotiable Instruments and Commercial Paper, and UCC Article 9 Secured Parties and Transactions. Examines the legal department operations of investment banking firms.
PL 206 Insurance Law (36 Hours)
Examines the various types of insurance, insurable interests, policy provisions, coverage amounts, claim adjustment and settlement, risk management, representations, warranties, subjugation, no-fault, and liabilities of brokers and agents responsibilities. Examines the legal department operations of insurance companies.
PL 207 Securities Regulation and State Blue Sky Laws (36 Hours)
Explores civil and criminal liabilities relating to: the Securities Act of 1933 registration and compliance procedures, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reporting requirements, the Investment Company and Investment Advisors Act of 1940, mutual funds, state "Blue Sky" laws, and the underwriting process. Examines the legal department operations of corporate securities firms.
PL 208 Employment Rights, Benefits and Workers Compensation Law
Analysis and review of the employee retirement and benefits laws and regulations including limited and prohibited transactions, and federal and state compliance. Examines employment discrimination and sexual harassment litigation and prevention, disability, and worker's compensation laws are analyzed.
Note: The school determines the order in which students attend their programs of instruction. Such course order of instruction may vary from those listed on our website. Students receive the courses listed in their program, in an order determined by the school.
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – ADVANCED COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM (648 Hours)
This certificate program consists of 18 specialized paralegal courses as follows: the 10 courses in
the above described Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Generalist Program, plus all 8 advanced specialized paralegal courses described above in the Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Advanced Generalist and Corporate Law Advanced Programs.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – GENERALIST INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM (480 Hours)
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – ADVANCED GENERALIST
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (624 Hours)
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (624 Hours)
PARALEGAL LITIGATION SPECIALIST – ADVANCED COMPREHENSIVE
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (744 hours)
These certificate programs consists of the specialized paralegal courses described above in the Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Generalist Program (10 Courses), the 4 additional courses in the Paralegal Litigation Specialist – Advanced Generalist Program (14 courses), the 4 additional courses in the Advanced Corporate Law Program (14 Courses) and the Advanced Comprehensive Program (18 Courses), plus the head start of entry level employment experience from a school arranged “hands-on” legal internship course described below:
PL 210 Paralegal Internship Course (120 Hours)
This comprehensive 120 hour course incorporates intensive hands-on experience in an actual legal workplace environment. Students gain valuable work experience and job resume credit by conducting for instance: supervised legal and law office related research tasks; reviewing, drafting, filing and organizing legal and law office related materials; ascertaining analyzing and determining case related facts and issues; drafting and reviewing legal memoranda; as well as assisting attorneys and staff with: witness and client interviewing, investigation, file indexing and digesting, maintaining case schedules; and assisting attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries and law clerks with law office related tasks.
PARALEGAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM SPECIALTY PROGRAM
Recognizing the unique needs and demands of New York law firms, corporate and government legal departments, the world's fastest paced legal, business, and economic working environment, the school designed the Paralegal Litigation Law Firm Specialty Certification Program for busy entry level and working paralegals. These perspective and working paralegals often work for one of the majority of New York based law firms and legal departments that typically concentrate their legal practice in only one to three specific legal fields. Finally, now students can customize paralegal certification training to suit their current or perspective legal employer's specific practice
needs.
The Law Firm Specialty Program is perfect for perspective entry-level paralegals, law clerks, law firm receptionists, legal secretaries, and proofreaders. The program is also perfect for currently working certified paralegals seeking to renew, upgrade or merely improve their continuing paralegal education skills, and/or paralegals wanting to change or upgrade their law firm or legal department employment.
PARALEGAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM SPECIALTY PROGRAM (180 Hours)
This Law Firm Specialty Program consists of the four (4) essential core paralegal courses all previously described as follows: Legal Research, Writing and Proofreading; Civil Procedure - Federal and State; Trial Litigation Specialist, Paralegal Employment and Ethics; and Legal Office Technology - LEXIS/NEXIS, WESTLAW and Internet Legal Research, plus one (1) of the following Specialty Law courses all previously described:
Immigration and Naturalization Law and Procedure (36 hours)
Real Estate and Mortgage Closing Law and Procedure (36 hours)
Torts - Personal Injury, Accident and Medical Malpractice Law (36 hours)
Criminal Law and Procedure - Federal and State (36 hours)
Family Court Law and Procedure (36 hours)
Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law (36 hours)
Bankruptcy, Debtor & Creditor Rights Law and Procedure (36 hours)
Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Sports & Entertainment Law (36 hours)
Banking Law (36 hours)
Insurance Law (36 hours)
Securities Regulation and State Blue Sky Laws (36 hours)
Business Corporations and Entities Law (36 hours)
Landlord & Tenant Court Law and Procedure (36 Hours)
Note: The school determines the order in which students attend their programs of instruction. Such course order of instruction may vary from those listed on our website. Students receive the courses listed in their program, in an order determined by the school.