Introduction to Criminal Law
Gain an inside look at criminal law from a former major-felony prosecutor who has appeared on Court TV. This course gives a behind the scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.
Introduction to Criminal Law
Details + Objectives
Course code: icl
Criminal law is one of the most fascinating areas of legal practice. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.
You will examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault. The trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you. You'll also explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures. A variety of exercises based on the lessons will give you a hands-on experience. Each lesson will also feature A View from the Inside, which includes compelling information about the criminal justice system in the words of actual people who experience it every day.
What you will learn
- Examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault
- Fully understand the trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you
- Explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures
- Gain experience with hands-on criminal justice exercises
How you will benefit
- Gain knowledge of common legal issues and terms and become more confident discussing legal matters
- Get a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and how it works to determine whether or not you'd like to pursue a career
How the course is taught
- Instructor-Moderated or Self-Guided online course
- 6 Weeks or 3 Months access
- 24 course hours
Instructors & Support
Neal Bevans
Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of over 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (Order of the Barrister) and has been a college instructor for over 10 years. He has also presented numerous seminars to medical professionals about the legal field, including training seminars for legal nurse consultants and sexual assault nurse examiners. In addition to practicing real estate law, he also worked as a title examiner and bought and sold real estate investment properties. An author of fiction and nonfiction material, his textbook Criminal Law and Procedure for Paralegals, was published in 2002. His second textbook, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, was published in 2003. He has also published numerous magazine articles about many aspects of the legal and medical fields, including articles focusing on developing a legal nurse consulting practice. He is also a contributing columnist to Legal Assistant Today magazine.
Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.
Requirements
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- 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.