PLG 306 - Paralegal Studies

Course Description

UM's DCIE participates in ACE Learning Evaluations services. As of July 1st, 2024, our Paralegal Studies Program has received college credit recommendations and/or workplace competency validations from the American Council on Education, which endorses the quality of our program in alignment with education and workforce requirements. Put your learning to work today by registering and successfully completing our PLG Program!

You can call 305-676-4818 or schedule a one-on-one with an enrollment advisor to learn more.

UM's Paralegal Studies Certificate Program prepares participants to successfully work as paralegals in a variety of industries. Paralegals are integral members of the legal team. Knowledge and skills in key legal areas are the foundation for competent performance of paralegal job functions. Paralegals conduct interviews, investigate case details, participate in discovery processes, draft pleadings, briefs, and motions, lay out legal arguments, analyze cases, document case details, and perform legal research. The Program through a skill-building and developmental approach that emphasizes application-based incremental learning, prepares participants to transition from the classroom to the legal community with a comprehensive knowledge base for work as paralegals within legal and ethical parameters. Emphasis is placed on foundational skill development. A building block learning approach is taken, with focus on legal terminology, sources of law, legal research techniques, and legal writing strategies applied to core paralegal functions and fourteen specific substantive law areas. Skill sets are developed in the core areas of law office technology and operations, and administrative support for all stages of the legal process. Participants apply skills in progressive drafting assignments, using multiple hypothetical clients, culminating in a Virtual Clients File ePortfolio of work to showcase abilities.

The program is 16 weeks long and is offered in the fall, spring and summer. The program is offered in an Online Self-Paced format.

Course Outline

• Foundations I & II
• Law Block I
  • Tort law
  • Contract Law
  • Business Law
• Law Block II
  • Real Estate Law
  • Foreclosure and Eviction Law
  • Bankruptcy Law
• Law Block III
  • Elder and Healthcare Law
  • Wills, Trust & Estate Law
  • Family Law
• Law Block IV
  • Employment & Workers Compensation Law
  • Immigration Law
  • Criminal Law & Procedure

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the University of Miami Paralegal Certificate program, the participant will demonstrate proficiency in:

• Applying ethics rules in the legal environment
• Navigating procedural rules for case management and compliance
• Conducting electronic legal research using Lexis and Westlaw
• Constructing legal analysis based on law interpretation
• Drafting legal documents
• Using legal technology
• Exploring key components of fourteen substantive areas of law
• Demonstrating fundamental and substantive specific skillsets associated with career readiness

Notes

This Program is offered in a Self-Paced modality, as it allows learners to study on their own time throughout the week. However, the Program has a defined start and end date, with no option to extend completion beyond its published end date. In addition, to ensure learners are able to complete the Program within its published time frame, there are specified deadlines and due dates for assignment and assessments (exams) submissions (no extensions may be granted).

Online Legal Research Training

Students are provided legal research access to the two cutting edge legal research providers. Throughout the Program, students learn, practice, and demonstrate proficiency using Westlaw and LexisNexis® Academic.

Westlaw
Participants will have access to Westlaw online legal research. Westlaw is a premier legal research database and system designed specifically for the legal field. Learn the West Key Number system and access your legal research on the go via Westlaw's free app.

LexisNexis® Academic
Participants will have access to LexisNexis® Academic, one of the industry standards in online legal, regulatory and business information, and analytics research. Access this powerful legal research tool from any computer with an Internet connection.

Contact Us

You can call 305-676-4818 or schedule a one-on-one with an enrollment advisor to learn more.