LAW X455.6 - Fundamentals of Paralegal Studies
Course Description
Acquire the basic knowledge needed to begin your career as a paralegal. Designed for the student entering the Paralegal Studies Professional Certificate Program, this course provides an in-depth overview of the legal system with special emphasis on the areas in which the paralegal works. Topics include:
- Structure and function of the legal system
- Roles of the attorney, paralegal, and other law office personnel
- Issues within the paralegal profession
- Legal ethics
- Investigation in a law office
- Introduction to legal research, writing, and analysis
- Law office administration and economics
- Career development and planning
Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Explain the various components of the legal system
- Summarize the role of the paralegal within the legal system
- Recognize and describe current issues of professional responsibility facing a paralegal
- Characterize the role of an investigator working under the direction of an attorney
- List and apply the basic steps of performing legal research
- Integrate the basic components of sound legal writing
- Apply the concepts of law office administration and economics
Notes
Certification Disclosure: In California, an individual may qualify to hold one’s self out as a paralegal in one of several ways including earning a certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. (Calif. Bus. & Prof. Code §6450(c)(1).) The Paralegal Professional Certificate program offered by UCSB PaCe satisfies the requirements of California Law in this regard.
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Paralegal Studies : Required Courses