Certified Paralegal (Voucher Included)
Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals handle a variety of tasks, from conducting legal research to drafting legal documents across traditional law offices, corporations, government agencies, and public arenas. Obtaining formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.
The Certified Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce, including generative AI and AI-assisted legal...
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Certified Paralegal (Voucher Included)
Details + Objectives
Course code: GES2034
What you will learn
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the U.S. legal system, including court structures, legal terminology, ethics, and procedural processes.
- Conduct effective legal research using industry-standard platforms such as Westlaw and AI-assisted research tools, while validating sources and applying proper citation methods
- Perform client and witness interviews using appropriate legal and ethical guidelines
- Apply essential litigation communication skills, including drafting legal documents and professional correspondence
- Exhibit workplace soft skills such as professionalism, time management, ethical conduct, and effective collaboration within a legal environment
- Identify and apply core competencies required for success in the legal industry, including legal writing, document review, and case organization
How you will benefit
- Strengthen your legal writing, research, and technology skills, including proficiency in legal research and the ethical use of AI tools
- Develop an understanding of the ethical and professional responsibilities associated with AI, including confidentiality, accuracy, and appropriate human oversight
- Build the confidence to perform effectively in professional legal settings
- Prepare for the Certified Paralegal (CP) certification exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), subject to eligibility requirements
- Receive a membership to the NALA and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal Exam Review and Practice Exam
How the course is taught
- Self-paced, online course
- 12 Months to complete
- Open enrollment, begin anytime
- 225 course hours
Instructors & Support
Casey Thompson
Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.
Trina Brown
Trina Brown is an accomplished legal educator and legal professional with more than 30 years of experience in the legal field. Since 2013, she has dedicated her career to educating and mentoring aspiring legal professionals. Trina has contributed extensively to university education through professorial appointments and service on multiple advisory boards, where she shaped paralegal curricula. Her published work includes her longstanding contribution to the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Ethics Handbook and her article, How to Become a High-Potential (HiPo) Paralegal, which was featured in The Legal Educator, the journal of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).
Trina earned a Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studies from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Dynamics from Immaculata University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in mediation, further expanding her expertise in conflict resolution and legal education. In addition to her professional and educational experience, Trina is a Credentialed Distinguished Mediator and has previously served as a court-appointed mediator for the Dallas and Tarrant County courthouses.
Requirements
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, you will need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to start a career as a paralegal. It is also recommended that you have basic computer skills, including proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and fundamental keyboarding skills. A strong grasp of English grammar conventions, such as spelling, punctuation, and composition, is also recommended.
To meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the NALA Certified Paralegal exam, you must meet one of the following requirements: You must have 60 semester hours, of which at least 15 hours* (225 clock hours) are from paralegal studies or hold an associate's degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor's degree in any field, or have five years of experience as a legal assistant under the supervision of a member of the Bar. Please review the exam requirements before enrolling in this course.
*Note: (15 semester hours = 225 clock hours) - This course is 225 hours and can be combined with 45 semester hours to meet the 60 semester hours required in option 1(e). If you do not have 45 semester hours, you will need to meet eligibility with category 2 or 3)
Certification Requirements:
If you plan to pursue the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal (CP) credential, you must meet one of the NALA Certification Eligibility Requirements. We recommend determining eligibility before enrolling in this course. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, this Legal Secretary course will prepare you for an entry-level legal career that can build up to the paralegal role.
NALA Certification Eligibility Requirements
You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.
1. Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:
- (a) approved by the American Bar Association; or
- (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
- (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
- (In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.)
- (d) a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
- (e) a paralegal program that consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.
(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)
2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.
(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)
3. A high school diploma or equivalent, plus five (5) years of experience as a paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of substantive continuing legal education completed within the two-year period prior to application for the examination. Evidence of substantive continuing legal education credit is documented by the supervising attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting certificates of completions for CLE taken. No further documentation is required.
(Candidates applying under Category 3 may combine on-the-job experience from more than one employer, as applicable. Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting certificate of completions of CLE taken. No further documentation is required.)
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 12 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Office (not included in enrollment).
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online. The following digital textbooks for the Certified Paralegal course are accessed via links in the course lessons:
- Introduction to Paralegalism: Perspectives, Problems, and Skills (eBook)
- Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work (eBook)
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