Paralegal

Program Overview

This Paralegal Certificate program, designed for students seeking paralegal employment, offers a comprehensive curriculum covering legal principles, research, writing, and technology. Students can complete the 23-semester-hour program in a year with full-time enrollment and a prior degree. Graduates demonstrate entry-level competency in technology, communication, research, and legal ethics, preparing them for employment in the local legal community.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Paralegal Certificate Curriculum:
• Designed for students seeking employment as paralegals.
• 23 semester hours, completable in a calendar year with full-time enrollment and a prior degree.
• Can be pursued concurrently with an associate's degree.
• Course Schedule:
• First Semester:
• PAR 101: Introduction to Law (3 credits)
• PAR 201: Civil Litigation (3 credits)
• PAR 204: Legal Research (3 credits)
• PAR 106: Law Office Technology (3 credits)
• Second Semester:
• PAR 206: Legal Writing (3 credits)
• PAR 235: Internship (1 credit)
• PAR 239: Paralegal Capstone (1 credit)
• Paralegal Electives (6 credits)
• Individual Modules with Descriptions:
• PAR 101: Introduction to Law:
• Skills for legal work under attorney supervision.
• Case and statute location and interpretation, legal analysis structure.
• Legal terminology, grammar, legal citation, ethics, investigation skills.
• Legal technologies, legal research databases, court databases, case management software.
• PAR 106: Law Office Technology:
• Law office case management software for document management, time tracking, billing, calendaring, practice management, trial management, and presentations.
• Legal Technology Certificate from National Society for Legal Technology.
• PAR 108: Family Law:
• Illinois domestic relations law.
• Relevant statute analysis, tax consequences identification, pleading drafting for marriage dissolution and other family law matters.
• PAR 201: Civil Litigation:
• Civil procedure and pleading.
• Interviewing to post-trial proceedings, including discovery and file management.
• Written assignments.
• PAR 203: Real Property Law:
• Sale and lease of real estate procedures and documents.
• Functions of law office, lender, or title company.
• PAR 204: Legal Research:
• Federal and multi-state materials legal research and analysis.
• Subscription services, fact pattern analysis, logical conclusions.
• PAR 205: Wills, Trusts, and Probate:
• Estate planning document preparation.
• Probate estates, non-probate asset transfer, trust administration.
• PAR 206: Legal Writing:
• Advanced concepts in legal writing, research, and analysis.
• Client letters, objective memoranda, transactional document drafting.
• PAR 207: Criminal Law Procedure:
• Illinois criminal law statute and Constitutional rights.
• Arrest, investigation, trial procedures, corrections system.
• PAR 223: Business Entity Formation:
• Business formation structures under Illinois law.
• Agency law and its relation to business partners and formation structure.
• Business entity formation and limited liability maintenance research.
• PAR 235: Internship:
• Legal-related position proficiency credit eligibility.
• Paralegal internship requirement.
• Internship location responsibility of student.
• Journal detailing work performed.
• Attorney or legal staff member supervision.
• Learning Management System assignments and discussions.
• PAR 237: Paralegal Special Topics:
• Paralegal principles application to specific problems.
• Case studies, simulations, special projects, or problem-solving procedures.
• Offered no more than twice in three years.
• PAR 239: Paralegal Capstone:

Careers:

• Paralegal employment in the local legal community.
• Graduates demonstrate entry-level competency in:
• Technology:
• Microsoft Word and Excel Certification.
• Legal document formatting.
• Document changes marking and uncovering.
• File format conversion and searchable PDF creation.
• Court and county records office eFiling.
• Business video conferencing facilitation.
• Workflow management, team communication, and client matter updates using enterprise software.
• Communication:
• Grammar and proofreading for legal document preparation and written communication.
• Attentive listening and accurate, complete, and useful written summaries.
• Professional and friendly communication with clients and peers.
• Professional dress, speech, writing, and conduct.
• Deadline observation and proactive reminders.
• Question formulation and timing.
• Research:
• Medical, corporate, and non-governmental records location and request.
• Record relevancy evaluation and accurate summarization.
• Internet-based factual searches.
• Primary and secondary legal materials identification and analysis.
• Primary and secondary legal materials citation and interpretation.
• Legal Ethics:
• Unauthorized practice of law avoidance.
• Client confidentiality protection.
• Conflict of interest recognition and reporting.
• Integrity and candor in all interactions.
• Client property safeguarding through proper client trust account procedures.