Paralegal Class Schedule

PARALEGAL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
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Courses of study concentrate on the practical aspects of the legal system and of the law office. The curriculum follows the guidelines of the American Bar Association, which recommends the collegiate training of attorney assistants. The Law and Paralegal Program, approved by the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, is authorized to grant a certificate upon completion of the courses. The program consists of 12 subjects totaling 300 hours of instruction as well as a 60 hour internship. A brief synopsis of each class follows:

Bankruptcy

Class Length: 21 hours

Course Description:
Basic bankruptcy instruction for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13, including all forms for bankruptcy filings, filing requirements and the practical side of representing debtors and creditors.

Business Associates/Corporations

Class Length: 15 hours

Course Description:
Instruction about the legal requirements for stock corporations, non-profit and non-stock, Articles of Incorporation, By-laws and formation requirements, as well as Partnerships, Limited Legal Partnerships and joint venture agreements.

Civil Litigation

Class Length: 45 hours

Course Description:
An introduction to the California legal system, with a focus on the practical aspects of litigation, including the causes of action, elements of causes of action, how to prepare a complaint, summons, response; how to serve; what is legal service; how to recognize and prepare a complaint; discovery; how to recognize an issue; the parties (who can and cannot be a party to an action); proper jurisdiction and venue; handling civil litigation cases; recognizing civil issues.

Criminal Procedure

Class Length: 30 hours

Course Description:
Focus on basic California criminal law, including misdemeanor and felony law, as well as the criminal trial process, including arraignments, preliminary hearings, motions to suppress and dismiss, continuances, standard of proof and sentencing, basics of the appeal process, habeas corpus and bail procedures.

Ethics

Class Length: 15 hours

Course Description:
Instruction on the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the National Association of Legal Assistants, as well as excerpts from the American Bar Association Code of Professional Responsibility and the State of California Rules of Professional Conduct.

Evidence

Class Length: 30 hours

Course Description:
An overview for legal assistants of the rules for admission of evidence in court from the point-of-view of all parties, including the defendant and plaintiff.

Family Law

Class Length: 30 hours

Course Description:
Basics of family law, including preparation of forms, necessary pleadings such as preliminary dissolution, child support and judgment pleadings, as well as division of property, child and spousal support issues, custody of children concerns, joinder of parties (including retirement benefits/pension plans), summary dissolutions and non-dissolution proceedings, establishing paternity, community and separate property, and instruction on the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, Emancipation of Minors and Domestic Partners Acts, ending with adoptions.

Law Office Practice

Class Length: 15 hours

Course Description:
Introduction to law office management, including the legal assistant’s role, legal ethics and responsibility, law office accounting, office skills, records management and other office skills for a paralegal assistant.

Legal Research

Class Length: 18 hours

Course Description:
Instruction on basic legal researching skills, including familiarization with statutory and case law, with particular emphasis on court decisions and how to “Shepardize” cases.

Real Estate Law

Class Length: 30 hours

Course Description:
Practical aspects of how real property is acquired, used and transferred, including instruction on co-tenants, fees, mortgages, marital rights, trust, cooperatives, tenancy, tenant rights, deeds, land contracts, installment sales and escrow.

Wills/Trusts/Probate

Class Length: 21 hours

Course Description:
Instruction on all elements of a will, probate, basics of estate taxation, sales, conservatorships and guardianships.

Worker's Compensation

Class Length: 30 hours

Course Description:
An overview of California Workers’ Compensation Law, with special emphasis on the basic concepts of industrial injuries, terms peculiar to this area and familiarization with all necessary forms required for both prosecution and defending a claim, including penalties, discrimination, and serious and willful misconduct resulting in injury.