PLG 306 - Paralegal Studies - Online Self-Paced
Course Description
EXCITING NEWS!
UM's DCIE proudly 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!
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 for approximately six months. 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, for approximately six months. Access this powerful legal research tool from any computer with an Internet connection.
Career Services
The office of Professional Advancement (OPA) is excited to announce that in a partnership with the TOPPEL Career Center at the University of Miami are now offering to our students and alumni a comprehensive suite of career services available via our career services platform Handshake!
What is Handshake?
Handshake is a career services platform created for students and alumni to use in their career development. It's used by over 200,000 employees, including all Fortune 500 companies! Thousands of internships and job opportunities are posted on Handshake by employers specifically looking to hire students.
All students have a Handshake account that is automatically created for them once they begin their program of study at the U. Once you receive an email notification, all you have to do is log into Handshake to activate your account. Handshake will then recommend certain positions to you based on your profile allowing for easy searching. Comparing and updating your profile will provide Handshake with a better idea of which job interviews/internships listings you may be interested in.
Here are some of the awesome things you can do with Handshake:
- Apply for jobs & internships
- Register for career fairs, workshops, & info sessions
- Upload your resume for an online critique from the Toppel Career Center
- Research thousands of employers
- Network with recruiters and other students for career insights
Library Services
The office of Professional Advancement (OPA) is excited to announce that our students now have access to the Otto G. Richter Library services throughout the duration of their respective Certificate Programs.
Student online resources: https://www.library.miami.edu/
For accessing certain resources, students may need to go through UM IT authentication and enter their CaneID and passwords. Students can retrieve their CaneID and password at: https://caneidhelp.miami.edu/
Students are also able to check out books in person. To do so, they may stop by the Access Services desk to pick up a library card on their first visit to the Richter Library Building, located at Otto G. Richter Library Building, 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146