VOLUME I

Orientation and Introduction

1: The Profession
• Introduction
• What You Will Need for the Course
• What is a Paralegal?
• Paralegal Functions
• Paralegal Employment
• Career Opportunities
• Personal Assets and Skills
• Education
• Regulation, Ethics & Professional Responsibility
• Licensing

2: The Law
• Introduction
• The Origins of American Law
• Case Law and Common Law Tradition
• U.S. Constitution – The Law of the Land

6: Interview and Investigation

• Interviewing
• Litigation Review
• Preparation and Techniques
• Investigation

3: The Court System
• Jurisdiction
• Venue
• Standing to Sue
• Judicial Procedures
• Choosing a Court
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Selection Process
• On‐line Research Assignment

7: Legal Writing
• English Grammar 101
• Nouns
• Possessive Nouns
• Abbreviations
• Verbs
• Verb and Subject Agreement
• Contractions
• Homonyms or Confusing Words
• Punctuation
• Exercises in Grammar
• Latin – Language Origins and Adaptations ‐ Etymology
• Writing
• Effective Brief Writing
• Dictation, Word Processing & File Organization
• Typing Rules
• Electronic Files

4: Civil Litigation
• Substantive and Procedural Law
• Commencement of a Lawsuit
• Early Stages of a Suit
• Middle Stages of Suit
• The Trial – Last Stage of the Lawsuit
• Internet Research on Court Trials

5: The Law Office

• Overview ‐ Types of Law Offices
• The Legal Team
• Code of Ethics – Client Relationships
• Billing
• Marketing
• Policies and Procedures
• Document Maintenance and File Systems
• Law Libraries / References
• Special Assignment