Course

Paralegal Certificate Course REGISTRATION & DATES LINKED IN DETAILS

Self-paced

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Full course description

Disclaimer: REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN THROUGH EXTERNAL LINKS BELOW:

Snippet:

The Paralegal Certificate Course offers instruction on how to work as a full-time or part-time paralegal, or how to open your own freelance business. Students in this certificate program are given 14 weeks to complete Paralegal I and II, divided into 7 weeks for each portion.

Registration:

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Overview:

This intensive, nationally acclaimed program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. Training includes instruction on how to assist trial attorneys, interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. The instruction is practice-oriented and relates to those areas of the law in which paralegals are most in demand. The Paralegal Certificate Course offers instruction on how to work as a full-time or part-time paralegal, or how to open your own freelance business. Students in this certificate program are given 14 weeks to complete Paralegal I and II, divided into 7 weeks for each portion. 

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.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Paralegal I

Legal Terminology, Legal Process, and Rules of Civil Procedure

Ethics, Torts, and Contracts

Legal Documents and Legal Analysis

Discovery Documents and Legal Interviewing

Evidence

Legal Investigation

Paralegal II

Legal Authority

Introduction to Legal Research, Secondary Sources, and Finding Tools

Citation Format and Appellate Procedure

Computerized Legal Research

Legal Writing and Analysis

Law Office Administration & Informal and Formal Advocacy, Job-Hunting Techniques & Course Wrap-up

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. If you are a grant recipient, textbooks are included in the price of your grant reward. 

Paralegal Online Course Schedule 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4

2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6

The online course is completed in two consecutive 7-week sessions and both sessions must be successfully completed in order to receive a Certificate.

Course Requirement: This course is designed for adult students and is taught on a college level. Minimum requirements to take this course is a high school diploma or GED, and to be 18 years of age prior to enrollment.