Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course   

Advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal resources available in a law library and elsewhere will be examined. The conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research will be taught. You will also learn how to formulate WESTLAW search queries, and to effectively and efficiently use WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and legal writing. Coursework in Advanced Legal Research is equivalent to 45 hours of study. Learn more

Participants will learn negotiation skills and how to select the most cost-effective and least-intrusive ADR method to achieve the most positive result for both parties. Students will understand the processes and methods of ADR techniques, learn the proper application and limits of ADR techniques, appreciate the ethical considerations involved in ADR and develop a basic ability to apply ADR methods. Learn more

Bankruptcy is an area of law that has provided significant employment for paralegals. This course examines the debtor-creditor relationship and the difference between voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy, both under Chapter 7 (liquidation) and 11 (reorganization). You will study the Bankruptcy Code in depth and learn how to prepare the most important bankruptcy forms. Learn more

This course examines the law and practice of business organizations, plus the paralegal’s potential functions in this area of law. It begins with an examination of basic agency law, followed by a study of the fundamental structure and most important legal doctrines relating to general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, small closely held corporations and large publicly traded corporations. Learn more

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of the federal constitution, including the institution of judicial review, the limitations on federal judicial power, the constitutional roles of the legislative and executive branches, due process of law, and individual rights under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Possible future trends of the U.S. Supreme Court will also be explored. This course will focus on individual civil liberties and 42 U.S.C. section 1983 claims, emphasizing redress for violations of the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights of the U.S. Constitution. Learn more

The course begins with an overview of the concept of punishment and goes on to study the burden of proof and criminal defenses. It also provides a critical look at the most common crimes. Students will learn common terminology in criminal law and how to consider a crime thoroughly in terms of its elements. Learn more

This intensive course deals with the constitutional dimensions of criminal law and procedure. Students will leave the course with an appreciation of how the U.S. Constitution focuses on the rights of the accused and the impact upon our law enforcement system. Learn more

The Advanced Paralegal: eDiscovery topic is an introductory course for people entering the eDiscovery field, as well as professionals wanting to broaden their knowledge of the eDiscovery process. This 7-week course covers the entire eDiscovery process, from preparation to collection to review of Electronically Stored Information (ESI). Throughout the 17 online modules and tests, learners will progress through the basics of eDiscovery preparation, best practices for ESI collection and, finally, the review process. The course is supplemented with a comprehensive textbook that covers most relevant eDiscovery topics. Learn more

This course focuses on the laws that govern America’s public school system and home schooling, including student rights regarding discipline, suspension, personal grooming, testing and grading, and drug testing. Topics such as segregation, integration, dress codes and drug testing are essential not only for paralegals seeking full- or part-time law office employment, but also for teachers, school counselors and administrators working in the American education system. Learn more

This course explores the paralegal’s role in estate planning. The requirements of creating enforceable wills and trusts will be covered, and study of resulting and constructive trusts will be provided. Learn more

Family law pertains to the formation and dissolution of domestic relations, including the law of marriage, annulment, separation and dissolution, maintenance, and custody and support of children. This course will study the differences between community and separate property, the classification of property and the impact of such classification. The role of the paralegal in family law practice and the importance of mediation of domestic issues will also be discussed. Learn more

This course explores all significant aspects of the immigration and naturalization process in the United States, including the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Topics include worker and student visas, as well as Family Residence requirements, and the removal process. Learn more

This cutting-edge course provides in-depth instruction in one of the most dynamic and challenging areas of the law. Paralegals in this exciting area work on copyrights, patents, trademarks, unfair competition, protection of trade secrets, and much more. The knowledge gained in this course is not only applicable to full- or part-time law office employment, but is also essential for authors and business owners who may be involved in entertainment and contract matters. This challenging specialty is in great demand. Learn more

The law of real property is one of the basic law school courses and is a must for paralegals in a business law firm. Here we examine the system of common law property, the recording acts, conveyancing, mortgaging, landlord-tenant and financing. We cover the subjects every paralegal should know about land transactions and the documents that record the purchase, sale and leasing of real estate. Besides buyer-seller issues, the student should be able to deal with title insurance companies and recorders of deeds, and be able to recognize land finance subjects. Finally, we deal with foreclosure of mortgages and the possibility of redeeming a mortgage that has gone into default. Learn more

This intensive online program is designed to train and qualify students to provide assistance to crime victims. The course provides an overview of criminal procedure and discusses the devastating effects crime can have on its victims. Learn more

This intensive class is designed to give students an appreciation of the importance of allocation of water resources in the American west. Participants will learn of the common law and civil law approaches to the distribution of water in arid regions, the transportation of water from one basin to another and a hierarchy of competing uses for the water. Water was first viewed as an instrumentality of transportation (and the main impetus behind junking the Articles of Confederation in favor of the Constitution), later as power for industry, irrigation for agriculture and the water resource behind the growth of cities of the American west. Las Vegas and Phoenix, for example, would have been mere refueling stations on the transcontinental railroads were it not for massive water projects to make the desert bloom. Special emphasis will be given to Colorado’s unique system of water courts and water judges. Although this course is concerned with U.S. water law, the student will also recognize the importance of the free flow of water between the U.S. and its continental neighbors, Canada, and Mexico. Learn more