Paralegal Online Program Curriculum

Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal

The Paralegal Diploma program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as paralegals or legal assistants, while providing a strong foundation for further training.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...

Demonstrate a general understanding of the duties a paralegal performs, the importance of privileged communications with clients, and how to avoid conflicts of interest
Discuss the legal system in the United States, including the origins and history of the law, the development of common law, statutory law, and constitutional law, and the litigation process for both criminal and civil litigation
Understand the litigation process for both criminal and civil litigation, including discovery, depositions, interrogatories, laws of evidence, venue, important hearsay exceptions, and rights of the accused
Demonstrate computer literacy using office software
Demonstrate effective written office communications
Recognize and use legal terminology appropriately
Recognize ethical violations and understand ethical rules that regulate conduct of lawyers and paralegals
Describe different forms of business organization, advantages and disadvantages of various entities, types of torts, defenses to negligence, and the paralegal's role in preparing commonly used documents
Write an effective legal memorandum; state and characterize facts and legal arguments to best advance a legal position
Research primary and secondary sources to determine relevant case law, find statutes and other information from appropriate sources using Lexis.com and other Internet sources, and correctly cite sources

Starting Your Program

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.

Objectives:

Understand how to use your Student Portal.
Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.

The Paralegal Professional

Paralegals are common not only in the traditional legal community but also in government, education, and business. Your career as a paralegal will provide exciting and challenging opportunities.

Objectives:

Summarize how the role of paralegals have developed over the years
Illustrate the duties and challenges of the paralegals in their different practices
Explain the intricacies involved in working with attorneys and law firms
State the education qualification and licensing required in paralegal practices

Legal Terminology, Part 1

Familiarity with common legal words and phrases is required when creating and interpreting legal documents. This lesson will introduce you to a broad range of basic legal terminology and documents.

Objectives:

Describe the general terminologies of precision, common English terms, and Latin laws
Explain the term litigation as well as the common terms associated with the legal practices
Classify the various processes involved in a trial
Identify the basic principles of tort law

Legal Terminology, Part 2

A solid understanding of the language of law is essential in your career as a paralegal. This lesson will continue to introduce you to a broad range of legal terminology and documents.

Objectives:

Describe the basic elements of criminal law and various types of offenses
Explain contract law and its types
Illustrate the issues and the regulations of property laws
Define the various terminologies associated with family law

Critical Thinking

Strong critical thinking skills improve your own arguments and your ability to evaluate the arguments of others.

Objectives:

State the need for self-evaluation
Identify the ways in which one could use critical thinking in an argumentative scenario
Describe the ways in which one could use logic in the critical thinking process
Recognize how emotions, agenda, tactics, and illogic can manipulate ones thinking ability
State how close scrutiny can ensure critical points in ones thinking ability
Identify how the causes and comparison of things ensures in having an effective reasoning ability
Define the terms intellectual laziness, personal values, and own beliefs
Explain how the conflicting viewpoints and the source consideration have an impact on critical thinking
Identify the elements of critical thinking that ensures something is wrong in an argument

Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Paralegals are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and competence; handling fees and funds; avoiding potential malpractice of law; and preventing conflicts of interest.

Objectives:

Recognize ethical rules, regulations, and laws that affect lawyers, organizations, governments, and paralegals
Summarize the emergence of unauthorized practices of law and the reasons to avoid them
Identify the ethics of confidentiality as an important factor impacting attorney and client
List the types of conflicts that affect attorneys as well as paralegals
Describe the differences between advertising and solicitation and the rules and regulations that restrict advertisements
Identify the ways to handle client and attorney funds, and the consequences of mixing both
Explain competence, incompetence, and malpractice in the context of a lawyer's job
Identify zealous representation and the ways to keep within the bounds of the law
Identify the importance of professionalism in law

Project: Thinking Critically About Ethics

Prepare a report on situations involving breach of ethical rules by paralegals and attorneys.

How the Law Works

The American legal system is complex, but it’s understandable once you know the basics of its structure and functions. This lesson works through the building blocks of American law.

Objectives:

State the five sources of American Law
Explain the structure of legal community in America
Describe the role of a legal assistant
Illustrate the importance of ethical consideration in an attorney-client relationship
Explain the structure of state and federal courts
Describe the function of federal, state, concurrent, and pendent jurisdiction
Recognize the process of case briefing and legal analysis
State the purpose of subnative and procedural due process
Recognize the different factors related to conflicts of law and enforcement of judgments
Describe the term statute of limitations, res judicata, and immunity

The U.S. Court System, Part 1

Learn how history has shaped the organization of contemporary courts as well as the legal system of case law, codes, and administrative regulations.

Objectives:

Outline the history of organized law
Identify the various legal terms and their utilization under the legal system
Summarize the importance of English common law in the emergence of American law
Define case and the reason behind its legal usage in various scenarios
List the types of sources for studying law
Recognize the basic workings of state courts and their structure
Explain the working process and the structure of the modern federal court system

The U.S. Court System, Part 2

This lesson helps you develop a better understanding of the litigation process in state and federal courts.

Objectives:

Identify the working process of the civil litigation system in America
Describe the steps in civil procedure and trial in federal courts
Recognize the elements and procedures in civil litigation in state courts
Define the important process of criminal litigation in federal and state courts

Business Law

Courts spend a good deal of their time settling business disputes, but much business law doesn’t involve litigation at all. Many paralegals work on business matters where clients are buying and selling things - not suing each other. Understanding the basics of the subject will help you make sense of the business-oriented world in which we live.

Objectives:

Describe how each kind of organization is formed and operated from a legal standpoint
Describe the general principles of the various kinds of entities
Show the format of recommendation letter and signing of lease and liability
Classify the legal rules governing formation and operation of entities
Explain how confidentiality and conflicts of interest are important parameters in ethical consideration

Project: Business Law

Modify a generic partnership agreement form to meet the needs of two hypothetical clients.

Torts

A tort is essentially any action that causes harm to a person or property. A good deal of law involves torts, so as a paralegal, you’ll be constantly exposed to tort actions.

Objectives:

Explain the sources of tort laws
Identify the function of different types of torts
Describe the various factors require for raising defenses to negligence
Recognize the various negligence principles applicable to the intentional torts

Civil Litigation

Litigation involves the use of the court system to resolve disputes. Increasingly, paralegals are involved in litigation support.

Objectives:

Explain the types of civil litigation and the role of paralegal in litigation
State the functions of courts, jurisdiction, and an overview of the litigation process
Describe evidence law and the requirements to make evidence admissible
Classify the evaluation and investigation process of a case
Explain how to prepare and file a complaint, including serving the complaint and summons
Summarize the rules for counterclaims and cross-claims
Describe motion basics and how it concerns to pleading and procedural defects
State the factors associated with settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution
Explain the post-trial motions

Discovery

Discovery is a way to obtain information from parties and witnesses for litigation. It is different from other methods of obtaining information for litigation because it uses the rules of civil procedure and the power of the court.

Objectives:

Explain the purpose of discovery, types of discovery, and timing of discovery
Write the exceptions to discovery
State the procedure, court use, and paralegal's role in a deposition
Recognize the process of framing questions, answers, and objectives for interrogatories
Define Rules 34 and 35, and describe the procedures for using them
Explain the purpose of requests for admissions and the consequences of denying with grounds matters

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is one of the fastest growing areas of the law today. Traditional litigation is a time-consuming, rigid, and expensive process. ADR is a fast, flexible, and less expensive method to settle disputes.

Objectives:

Identify the major kinds of ADR mechanisms and their key elements
Recognize the federal, state, and ethical guidelines for ADR
State the importance of developing interviewing and communication skills
Describe the negotiation process for an ADR
Explain the tasks of the paralegals in mediation process
State the advantages and disadvantages of different types of arbitration
Illustrate the dispute resolution process in the court system
Identify the ADR mechanism involving hybrid resolution measures

Criminal Litigation

The study of criminal law and litigation is concerned with what’s considered "criminal" by the law.

Objectives:

Explain the reasons behind criminal laws
Identify the different elements of crime
State the differences between crimes against a person, a property, and the public
Recognize the role of the judge, prosecution, defense, and law enforcement officers
Describe the importance of Miranda warnings and the rules of search and seizure
Identify what happens from the time a person is arrested until trial

Microsoft® Word™

Learn how to use Microsoft® Word™ to create, edit, and illustrate documents.

Create, edit, format, and merge Word™ documents.
Add graphics and tables.

Project: Microsoft® Word™

Develop the literature for a Welcome Package for Healthy Home Care, Inc.

Microsoft® Excel®

In this course, you’ll learn about the most widely used spreadsheet program, Microsoft® Excel.® Excel® can perform numerical calculations and is also useful for non-numerical applications such as creating charts, organizing lists, accessing data, and automating tasks.

Objectives:

Use the basic elements of Microsoft® Excel.®
Add, delete, and sort data.
Create and use formulas, charts, and graphs.

Project: Microsoft® Excel®

Design a spreadsheet that tracks the cost of elementary school supplies distributed to teachers over a two-month period.

Microsoft® PowerPoint®

Microsoft® PowerPoint® is a powerful graphics presentation program for communicating ideas to an audience.

Objectives:

Understand the basic elements and fundamentals of Microsoft® PowerPoint.®
Apply Slide Master, shapes, and effects.
Insert hyperlinks, illustration objects, and media clips.
Work with advanced tools, tables, and charts.

Project: Computer Applications

This course will allow you to build your computer skills through a combination of reading and hands-on practice while learning Microsoft® Office.

Objectives:

Create, edit, and illustrate Microsoft® Word™ documents.
Apply formulas and functions to large data sets in Microsoft® Excel.®
Incorporate useful charts and graphs to summarize data.
Add, delete, sort, and lay out table data.
Create presentations in Microsoft® PowerPoint® using advanced tools, tables, and charts.

Introduction to Writing

This lesson deals with basic writing skills and grammar. You’ll look at the process of writing as well as the parts of speech and how to use them.

Objectives:

Know the parts of speech.
Use correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
Develop sentences and paragraphs.
Improve your writing.

Using the Parts of Speech

In this lesson, you’ll work on polishing your writing so letters and documents look professional and communicate clearly.

Objectives:

Use pronouns and modifiers properly and effectively.
Construct complete sentences.
Explain subject-verb agreement.

Punctuation and Capitalization

In this lesson, you’ll cover various types of punctuation, rules for capitalization, spelling, and citations. While you may already know some of these standard principles, it’s important that you carefully review each topic.

Objectives:

Use end marks, commas, and other common punctuation marks.
Use capitalization correctly.
Explain common spelling rules and use them in your writing.
Cite research sources.

Writing Sentences and Paragraphs

By expressing yourself with correct grammar, organizing your ideas, and focusing on the topic, your writing will become more effective and professional.

Objectives:

Compose a variety of sentence structures.
Construct unified, coherent paragraphs.
Connect paragraphs to build a well-organized, logical document.

Improving Your Writing

This lesson is designed to help you make the best use of your writing tools as you plan, develop, revise, and present your work.

Objectives:

Identify your audience, medium, and purpose.
Focus and organize your ideas.
Plan both informal and formal writing projects.
Revise, edit, and proofread to make your final copy accurate and professional.

Types of Business Writing

In this lesson, you’ll prepare for the various kinds of writing you’re most likely to need for your job.

Objectives:

Write well-structured, professional letters.
Format business letters, memos, and emails.
Process routine information requests and complete typical office forms.

Legal Writing

One of the most important skills for a paralegal or an attorney is the ability to communicate effectively in writing. This lesson is designed to provide training in the kind of writing that you’ll actually be doing as a paralegal.

Objectives:

Write an effective legal memorandum that answers questions of law or supports a motion.
Format legal writing.
Perform some basic techniques to enhance your writing.

Project: Legal Writing 1

Prepare a letter, a deed, and a memorandum using the skills acquired from the course.

Legal Research

As a paralegal, you’ll find yourself doing legal research for your supervising attorney. This lesson will introduce you to the great number of tools that can be used in legal research and will allow you to practice using these tools.

Objectives:

Approach a research problem from different access points.
Look up cases and statutes using the appropriate sources.
Read and brief a case.
Use basic procedures for citation.

Project: Legal Writing 2

Prepare a report and memorandums on the parental custody case.

Computer-Assisted Legal Research, Part 1

Legal databases are constantly changing, so paralegals must keep their research skills up-to-date. This lesson teaches you how to quickly and efficiently retrieve legal information using Lexis.com.®

Objectives:

Formulate a search request and search for documents.
Verify the accuracy of citations using Shepard’s Citation Service.
Locate, profile, and investigate people and companies.
Conduct financial and business research.

Computer-Assisted Legal Research, Part 2

This lesson explains how to integrate the Internet into a practice environment to improve access to information, move cases forward, and, most importantly, deliver better legal services to clients.

Objectives: