Law for Life: The Online Paralegal Certificate Course
An Intensive Two-Part Program for Professionals Online!

The Program
This intensive, nationally acclaimed program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. All classes are online.

What You Will Learn
Students will be trained 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 legal assistants are most in demand. There are no prerequisites, but students will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework for each weekend 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 of both the core and the advanced courses will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from CSU Dominguez Hills. To receive a Certificate, students must pass twelve quizzes and successfully complete five legal document writing assignments. Certificates will be mailed to successful graduates within 4 to 6 weeks of completion of each course. This Certificate provides an individual with the recognition that he or she has achieved the level of professional knowledge and competency necessary to work within the legal field, and it is designed to satisfy the requirements of California Business Professionals Code §6450.

Costs

Textbooks: Core:

Federal Civil Rules Booklet: Introduction to Paralegalism, 6th edition, by William Statsky
Basics of Legal Document Preparation, by Robert Cummins
Paralegal Procedures and Practices, by Scott and Lisa Hatch
Paralegal Career for Dummies
Books are available for approximately $300 from the Center for Legal Studies.

Textbooks: Advanced

Advanced Legal Research: Cohen and Olsons’ Legal Research in a Nutshell
Constitutional Law: Barron and Dienes’ Constitutional Law in a Nutshell
Family Law: Krause’s Family Law in a Nutshell
Mediation: Nolan-Haley’s Alternative Dispute Resolution in a Nutshell
Estate Planning: Lynn’s Introduction to Estate Planning in a Nutshell
Business Law: Basics of Legal Document Preparation, by Robert Cummins.
Bankruptcy Law: Basics of Legal Document Preparation, by Robert Cummins and A Paralegal Primer, by Scott and Lisa Hatch.
Criminal Law: Loewy’s Criminal Law in a Nutshell
Immigration Law: Immigration Law for Paralegals
Intellectual Property Law: The Law of Tradmarks, Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets
Criminal Procedure: Constitutional Limitations
Water Law: Water Law in a Nutshell
Educational Law: The Law of Schools, Teachers, and Students in a Nutshell
Victim Advocacy: No required textbook.

Fees for this program include:
• Handouts and a voluntary internship for those students finishing in the top 25% of the class who also desire legal experience
• Job Placement Assistance

Online Convenience
California State University, Dominguez Hills online paralegal classes are convenient for people who live or work anywhere, including Los Angeles, Torrance, Long Beach, Carson, Compton, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, San Pedro, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lakewood, Paramount, Bellflower, Downey, Inglewood and other parts of the South Bay and Southern California.

Financial Aid
Student loans may be available through TERI Continuing Education at 1-800-255-TERI.

Students can have Westlaw access for the duration of one online session for only $60. This is required for the second half of part I (core). Contact the Center for Legal Studies once you are enrolled in the program for further information.

Courses

Paralegal Certificate Course (Core)
Noncredit
Subject matter to be covered in Part I includes:
• Legal Terminology, Documents, Ethics, and the Litigation Process
• Introduction to the Evidentiary Predicate
• Identifying Relevant Authority
• Introduction to Legal Research
• Legal Research Practice
• Legal Writing, Appellate Procedure, and Law Office Administration
• An Introduction to Domestic Relations, Wills and Trusts
• Introduction to Corporations, Partnerships, Contracts and Bankruptcy

Paralegal Certificate (Advanced)
Noncredit
To receive a certificate, students must complete at least 6 of the 10 substantive law topics. Students may choose any of the following topics:
• Advanced Legal Research and Writing
• Bankruptcy Law Practice
• Business Law Practice
• Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties
• Criminal Law
• Estate Planning: Probate, Wills and Trusts
• Family Law
• Mediation and Other Forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Victim Advocacy
• Water Law

Schedule/Costs