What Will I Learn in Paralegal School?

There are over 600 paralegal education programs within the United States. But the question is not about how to enter a program, it’s more about which program is the best for the individual student. A good program is going to offer good educational resources and be able to do that in a way that encourages and motivates the person going through the program. Only about a fourth of the programs available for paralegals have been approved by the American Bar Association also known as the ABA. However, it isn’t required that a paralegal program have ABA approval.

Formal education, such as a degree in paralegal studies, is the best investment that a paralegal can make for their career. Going to school allows the paralegal to learn about the various intricacies of law and better prepares them to effectively work in a law firm. A paralegal can increase their knowledge and pay by attending a good paralegal school.

The very first thing any future paralegal needs to know is the basis of the law system. This is provided in a course often referred to as The Introduction to Law. Being fully informed about the history of the American legal system is mandatory to understand the other coursework that will be given.

Bankruptcy Law: This teaches the future paralegal the proper way to file for bankruptcy and is very helpful in both civil and corporate law cases. Being knowledgeable about bankruptcy procedures is especially helpful in economic recessions when more individuals and corporations turn to law firms to help them file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy law also keeps the client fully aware of the creditor’s rights as well.

Intellectual Property: The number of law firms that are dedicated to intellectual property have increased as more individuals and corporations are willing to legally fight for the things that they have created and designed.  Intellectual property consists of trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Many individuals and corporations that use intellectual property law firms are involved in some facet of entertainment such as radio, television, music, or film and stage.

Immigration Law: Immigration is a growing issue in the United States and more law firms are tackling the issue by offering legal services that inform their clients of the rules and regulations involved in immigration law. The paralegal would learn about any exceptions in immigration law to help the client obtain visas, green cards, political asylum, and avoid deportation.

Torts/Injury Law: Torts consist of learning the legal rights of those who have been injured due to a medical mistake, recalled product, automobile accident, or workplace-related incident. Torts teach about the rights of the victim and how to get them financially compensated for injuries.  A torts-related course, Medical Abbreviations, is also taught in many paralegal schools. A key duty of the paralegal is to collect evidence and in the case of injuries, obtain medical charts. The ability to read the charts is necessary to help the attorney craft the case.

Criminal Law: Most paralegals are very interested in criminal law or they either don’t want to get involved in it at all. Criminal law courses entail getting informed about the criminal law litigation process and learning about the difference in crimes and offenses.

Legal Writing and Research: Every paralegal school must offer a course on legal writing and research. Writing and research constitutes more than half of the paralegal’s duties. The student will learn different aspects of legal writing, and learn how to wield the Internet and other sources to conduct legal research.

Paralegal Tasks: Besides legal writing and research, the other percentage of the paralegal’s day-to-day duties will include various tasks such as document production, filing, support tasks, and summarizing depositions. Paralegal school will teach an individual how to properly handle all of the smaller assignments that will keep the law firm running smoothly.

Ethics: Every successful law firm is ethical in how they deal with their clients and handle their cases. In an ethics course a paralegal learns about the ethical obligations that the firm has to each client who hires them. This is taught using the Ethics Codes that have existed for years and normally coincides with the Introduction to Law course.

Family Law: Although family law is one of the lower-paying fields of law, it is ironically one of the most personally rewarding fields for a paralegal to practice in. Getting informed about adoption and child custody issues enables the paralegal to effectively manage an important role in the life of many families. In these types of cases, the law firm most often works for the betterment of the family, particularly the children that are involved. Family law courses also entail prenuptial contracts in marriage, divorce, and other domestic relations.

Contracts: Many legal issues arise when contracts are not properly honored. A paralegal will learn the proper way to interpret and defend a contract. Learning about contracts is also necessary for paralegals who are interested in pursuing real estate law because contracts like lease agreements and foreclosures are often involved.

Wills and Trusts: Preparing the necessary documents for estate agreements, power of attorney, and estate taxation and planning, ensure that an individual has a firm idea on how property and other assets will be distributed in case of future events such as death.

Civil Rights: Courses that evaluate the amendments and how they can be applied to a person’s civil freedom are critical for cases involving a possible violation of amendment rights.  The basic amendment rights are one of the first things that a paralegal is taught in any formal degree program.

One of the most important things that can be learned is how to write a winning resume that can open the door to an interview at a law firm. Interview techniques and even job placement help is critical to ensuring that the paralegal is able to enter the profession they have worked so diligently to learn about. A top goal at any paralegal school is to make sure their students are able to secure work at a law firm and be successful.