Students in this module learn how to research both online via WestlawNext and the old fashioned way in stacks of legal tomes. They will be taught to research in each of the five primary sources of law: the constitution; case law; statutory law; regulatory law; and executive orders. They learn the hierarchical court structures for both the federal and state systems. Students learn how to utilize each court's respective reporter series, as well as the Massachusetts Digest and the Federal Practice Digest. Additionally, students are instructed on both federal and state statutory and regulatory law, and they learn how to utilize the respective legislative and administrative codes. The instructor then challenges students with hypothetical situations that require them to implement their newfound research tool by finding case, statutory, or regulatory law and systematically applying these laws to the issues presented in the hypothetical situations.
The most important aspect of legal writing is to understand the logic and rationale behind the writing. Through a series of writing assignments, students will be introduced to the manner in which lawyers reason. Students will be introduced to the distinction between a factual issue and a legal issue, they will be taught to write case briefs, and they will be instructed in the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) style of legal writing analysis. In addition, students will be introduced to the concepts of precedential and persuasive authorities. In a final paper, students must synthesize the facts in a hypothetical situation with four case holdings and statutory law.
This module covers both established and cutting-edge skills, concepts, and tools relating to the use of technology by legal professionals. Practical skills such as electronic filing are discussed, along with important legal topics such as the retrieval of electronically stored information (ESI) in lawsuits. Students are trained on Microsoft Excel in the legal context. Current developments in artificial intelligence in the legal profession are addressed. The important new area of project management for paralegals is discussed, along with practical applications and exercises. In addition, we have updated our current curriculum on the functions and legal advantages/disadvantages of Blockchains, cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, digital assets / Non-fungible Tokens, PACER software and CaseMap.
To learn more about the online Paralegal Studies Program, contact an enrollment advisor at (888) 700-3966 or fill out the form below to download a free brochure.
In this module you will learn real estate law in relation to how property is held and how it is transferred. Students learn the importance of the Offer to Purchase, its contents, how to read the offer and incorporate it into the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Other topics include pre-closing items—what they are, how to obtain them, how to review them, and the specific role each plays at the closing. All aspects of real estate closings are covered, including how to prepare deeds and other documents, title searches, title abstracts, certifications of title and title insurance, run downs, payoffs, and recording requirements. A focus of this course is the preparation of the HUD Settlement Statement where students calculate all the buyer's and seller's closing figures as well as the final distribution of proceeds from the sale, taking into account all charges, payoffs, and commissions. We will prepare for a hypothetical closing using conveyancing software. Other topics include categories of real property, ownership restrictions, legal descriptions of property, liens on property, due diligence, leases and environmental issues. In addition, you are encouraged to visit a Registry of Deeds.
Business Law is designed to provide students with an introduction to the substantive area of corporate/business law, and the practical skills necessary to serve as a corporate paralegal. Students will learn about the legal formation and functioning of various business entities, including corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies; as well as learn to distinguish the formation, liability, and taxation attributes of these business entities. Through the lens of current events, students will also learn about the intersection of politics and business law; and receive a comprehensive introduction to corporate finance and securities regulation, an overview of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, and highlights of intellectual property law. Detailed analysis of business law transactions will help students gain the requisite legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to assist attorneys with various corporate transactions.
Students in the Litigation module will learn the most frequently employed civil discovery devices and some strategic aspects of discovery. This session begins with an overview of the litigation process from investigation to filing a lawsuit, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and various common law and statutory privileges against disclosure, including marital privilege, the work product doctrine, and the attorney-client privilege. The course will place an emphasis on the use of interrogatories, requests for production of documents, depositions, and independent medical examinations. Students will also be given an overview of summary judgment and the role of experts in preparing a case for trial. Students will review the rules and then read and analyze case law interpreting discovery issues. Students will be given various discovery materials and a hypothetical fact pattern. They will then be asked to prepare responsive documents. The instructor will provide technical education as well as "practice pointers" and strategic aspects of the discovery process.
The Probate and Family Law module has four main areas of concentration: Estate Planning, Law of Same Sex Marriage, Divorce Law, and Estate Administration. In the Estate Planning section, students learn about wills and what happens if one dies without a will. A case study illustrates a typical chain of legal events that may unfold after a death. In the Law of Same Sex Marriage section, students undergo a review of the landmark Supreme Court decision and gain an understanding of the procedural path of this issue through state and federal courts. In the Divorce Law section, students learn the basics of divorce law, including child custody, alimony, and division of marital estates. Finally, in the Estate Administration section, students learn what executors and administrators do and explore the role of the paralegal in estate administration. Throughout the class, you will be exposed to the forms used in the national probate and family law courts, which are similar to those in other jurisdictions. These forms and other module materials will also cover how the day-to-day work of paralegals impacts guardianships/conservatorships, clinical team reports, and federal tax and medicaid planning.