Online Class: Paralegal Studies 101 — Career Overview
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16Lessons
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34Exams &
Assignments -
15Hours
average time -
1.5CEUs
Course Description
The paralegal field is highly rewarding for those who seek to be a part of the justice system. On a daily basis, the paralegal is the lawyer's right hand. From the perspective of the law, paralegals are almost like junior lawyers in so far as they must know a lot of what the lawyers know as they will create and present documents for execution upon their lawyer's approval. Paralegals are detail-oriented people, and they will follow up on communications, confirm court dates, check client backgrounds, smooth client relations, help law office to law office relations, and check every detail and every reference in all of their lawyer's documents. In addition, they'll research applicable laws and case references, prepare all court documents, and generally keep their lawyer moving forward.
Trial paralegals also prepare the case interrogatories, file with opposing counsel for discovery, prep the client for deposition and accompany the attorney to court. Although the work is quite detailed, in practice, a paralegal's work is anything but secretarial and many have equal use of their attorney's secretary. Some paralegals also have legal assistants [junior paralegals] to whom they delegate details of their responsibilities.
This introductory Paralegal Studies course is designed to give you information you need to become a successful paralegal. It will take you through a survey of what is needed to become a paralegal, how you may choose to go about it, all of the business details which are generally not known until you are within a firm, and some of the social skills and information you will need to survive and thrive in a firm. If you already have your paralegal certification, then this course will be beneficial if you are seeking your first firm position. You will get an insider's scoop on common mistakes and pitfalls, and you will know how to avoid or overcome common faux pas.
Course Motivation
DO YOU ENJOY?
Here is a short check list of things that a paralegal personality type will generally enjoy:
- Details, detailed work, and follow up
- Discretion and keeping the secrets of others
- Operating from a humble position, yet entrusted with a fair amount of power
- Overtime and going beyond the call of duty
- Letting others have "the last word"
- Research and a certain amount of private investigating
- Case research and referencing case law for your attorney
- Client relations and soothing client concerns
- Deadlines and court appointments
- Hot-headed attorneys and those who need to be the center of attention and always right.
DO YOU HATE?
Here is a short list of things that a paralegal personality type will generally hate:
1. Tardiness
2. Sloppiness
3. People who make excuses for everything
4. Gross injustice
5. People who seek to get one over on everyone they meet
6. Arrogance [although a certain amount from attorneys must be tolerated]
7. Presumptuousness and those who think everyone owes them something
8. Prideful and boastful personalities
9. Indiscretion
10. Intolerant people
CAN YOU PROSPER UNDER A BOSS WHO…
Here is a short list of personality traits and quirks and behaviors common to many attorneys. You must be able to accept these things, not just tolerate them. You must be comfortable putting your own preferences or needs in second place to these things in order to get along well in a law firm.
- Must always be right regardless of what you think, or if you are actually right
- Must have the last word in everything large and irrelevant
- Argues at the drop of a hat
- Curses and perhaps blasphemes when he is angry at other attorneys
- Yells frequently and loudly throughout the firm
- Does not expect you to grovel or always apologize about your errors
- Does not want to hear excuses for anything; he only wants to hear solutions from you regardless of what the nature of the error happens to be
- Will tell you he never expects you to stay late, but he expects you to stay late
- Will brag on you to other attorneys if he is extremely pleased, and you may never know it, except by the way other attorneys respect you
- Gives rare kudos, but very sweet-year end bonuses
BEFORE YOU START INTO LAW
AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN A PARALEGAL FOR A WHILE
The alternative to changing within a firm, or from firm to firm, is to take the next step up to law school. It is estimated that approximately 5 percent of those who begin as paralegals in their mid to late 20s eventually take steps to go to law school and become lawyers. This is a great way to move into a career as a lawyer. It is also one factor that will make you an excellent lawyer, since you already know and understand the paralegal's position/disposition. It also makes you more likely to treat your paralegals well.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: So You Want to Be A Paralegal?
This lesson will cover some of the practical things to consider or research before taking the leap into a paralegal course, or signing on with a firm.Lesson 2: Qualifying, Education, and Certifications
The initial and primary concerns of anyone who wants to become a paralegal are, "Do I qualify?" and "What type of education do I need?" These are important questions to be answered before setting sail into the world of legal services.Lesson 3: Making the Cut: Getting Hired and Negotiating Your Salary
This is a cardinal rule in negotiations: He who speaks first loses. At a time when you are seeking to win, don't let your tongue set you up for a loss.Lesson 4: Unspoken Expectations and How to Get Promoted at Your Firm
Everyone has expectations -- spoken and unspoken. Law firms are no different, since they are made up of people. The better paying the firm, the greater the expectations they have of you.Lesson 5: Attorneys, Attitudes, Egos, and Your Managing Attorney
First and foremost, it is helpful for a new paralegal to have a general understanding of their attorneys and what makes them tick.Lesson 6: Language and Business Philosophy That Brings Favor From Attorneys
Language and business philosophy are two things that an attorney focuses on in his everyday dealings.Lesson 7: Things Paralegals Get Burned Over: Protocol and Scapegoats
Protocol is the established, proper, and correct order of business and business communications in a firm that must comply with state and federal laws and regulations.Lesson 8: Pecking Order Among Paralegals: How to Get Along With Your Interoffice Competition
Unlike other modern businesses, the pecking order in law firms remains traditional in the sense that paralegals with the most years of tenure are the top chicks.Lesson 9: Managing Your Case Load: Priorities and Management Styles
How to sort and manage your case load will be the first major decision you will make that will determine the success and quality of your actual finished product.Lesson 10: Research, Attorney Support, and Lexis Nexis
When it comes to research on the client file, you are the "go-to person" for your attorney. He will count on your ability to find out what needs to be found out -- and then some.Lesson 11: Your Firm's Case Tracking Systems; eCase, Paradox, etc.
Each firm has a tracking system the paralegals use to centralize client cases and communicate with one another, especially between departments.Lesson 12: Email, Phone Calls, and Filing
There are particular things to know about each of these that are peculiar to the legal profession in that you, the paralegal cannot legally treat these things as you may otherwise in a different profession or type of business.Lesson 13: Client Relations and Office-to-Office Relations
There is nothing that is more of a touchy subject in a law firm than the firm's client relations.Lesson 14: Attorney/Client Privilege and Your Role in It
If this course is your first exposure to the world of paralegals, then you will be reminded along the path of your education or certification process, of the importance of the attorney-client privilege supported in all of our laws.Lesson 15: Office Politics, Downsizing, and Firm Mergers
You may think this segment wouldn't belong in a course on paralegal studies, or you may think office politics is just common sense. In some ways it is common sense.Lesson 16: Year End Bonuses, Fringe Perks, Parties, and Dinners
This is a short lesson with a few common sense words about the part of your paralegal career you will certainly enjoy, but which clearly is not owed to you.
Learning Outcomes
- Define what a paralegal is.
- Describe attorneys, attitudes, egos and your managing attorney.
- Describe language and business philosophy that brings favor from attorneys.
- Describe things paralegals get burned over - protocol and scapegoats.
- Summarize how to get along with your interoffice competition.
- Summarize priorities and management styles.
- Describe research, attorney support and Lexis Nexis.
- Describe email, phone calls and filing procedures.
- Summarize client relations and office to office relations.
- Describe attorney/client privilege and your role in it.
- Summarize office politics, downsizing and firm mergers.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Student Testimonials
- "THE INSTRUCTOR IS VERY EXCELLENT" -- MONTAS R.
- "Instructor is excellent. She corrected me when i needed it." -- Delia F.
- "What a terrific instructor and very helpful!!" -- Elizabeth I.
- "Taking this course has changed my life and has inspired me to continue learning. What was most helpful was the comprehensive course content." -- Alexandria B.
- "This course painted a vivid picture of the working environment at a law firm." -- Karen R.
- "The whole course was a plus!" -- Sidney P.
- "Thank you for all the comments and recommendations." -- Ramona E.
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