Paralegal Certificate (350 Hours)

The skills required in this certificate prepare the student for an entry-level career in Paralegal. This certificate program consists of 350 total contact hours of instruction.

LGLA 1002 Introduction to Paralegalism (16 Hrs)

Introduction to practices and techniques needed in a legal office including such topics as civil, probate, corporate, real estate, and family.

Learning Outcomes:

• Define and properly use legal terminology.
• Describe the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal in the legal setting; and demonstrate knowledge of legal documents forms & procedures.

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ITSC 1009 Integrated Software Applications I (48 Hrs)

Integration of applications from popular business productivity software suites. Instruction in embedding data, linking and combining documents using word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and/or presentation media software.

Learning Outcomes:

• Use word processing, spreadsheet, database, and/or presentation media software
• Apply integration techniques
• Produce combined documents.

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LGLA 1019 Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility (16 Hrs)

The ethical and legal responsibilities and duties that a member of the legal profession owes to the public, the court, clients, and other professional colleagues. Includes a review of the canons, codes, and rules of professional responsibility.

Learning Outcomes:

• Define and properly use terminology related to legal ethics
• Describe the ethical responsibilities of lawyers and law office personnel
• Recognize breaches of ethical obligations that may result in malpractice or disciplinary actions; and demonstrate knowledge of the canons of legal ethics governing legal professionals.

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LGLA 1011 Introduction to Law (48 Hrs)

Introduction to legal systems, concepts, procedures, and terminology.

Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate appropriate use of legal terminology
• Explain fundamental legal concepts, systems, and courts.

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LGLA 2002 Paralegal Trial Preparation and Procedures (48 Hrs)

Methods and techniques used by paralegals to assist trial attorneys. Includes interviewing witnesses, investigating complex fact patterns, researching applicable law, and assisting in preparing cases for trial.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply and utilize appropriate legal terminology, documents, and ethics in the litigation process
• Demonstrate appropriate use of evidentiary predicate law
• Demonstrate legal writing and research ability, including identification and application of relevant legal authority
• Analyze complex fact patterns; and prepare trial exhibits

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LGLA 2205 Interviewing and Investigating (32 Hrs)

This course is a study of principles, methods, and investigative techniques utilized to locate, gather, document, and manage information. Emphasis on developing interviewing and investigative skills to prepare the paralegal to communicate effectively while recognizing ethical problems.

Learning Outcomes:

• Conduct effective interviews with clients and witnesses in preparation for alternative dispute resolution and litigation processes
• Utilize multiple sources of information
• Apply ethical standards in interviewing and investigation.

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LGLA 1091 Special Topics in Paralegal (112 Hrs)

This course includes topics of formal and informal marriages, divorce, annulment, marital property and parent-child relationship. Other topics include intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability.

Course also Includes law of agency, sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and other emerging business entities. Procedures from arrest to final disposition, principles of federal and state law, and the preparation of pleadings and motions as applied to paralegals. Other course areas are nature of real property, rights and duties of ownership, land use, voluntary and involuntary conveyances, and the recording of and searching for real estate documents.

This course also presents fundamental concepts of the law of wills, trusts, and probate administration and fundamental concepts and procedures of Texas civil litigation. Another phase of the course includes pretrial, trial, and post trial phases of litigation and utilizes alternative dispute resolution strategies.

Course also includes processes used for settling conflicts and identifying effective dispute resolution systems used outside of court, and the creation, procurement, preparation, filing of and for patents, copyrights, and trademarks, and the processes of intellectual property litigation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to family law Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to tort law
• Locate and analyze sources of law relating to business organizations Locate and analyze cases and statutes relating to criminal law
• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to real property
• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to wills, trusts, and probate administration
• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to the civil litigation and applicable court rules
• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to the Texas civil litigation process.
• Locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to the Texas civil litigation process
• Outline the process used for settling conflicts
• Perform the appropriate tasks to execute and legalize documents required to file foreign patent or trademark applications; find existing trademark, copyright, and patent registration document

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LGLA 2088 Paralegal Internship (30 Hrs)

A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. A learning plan is developed by the college and the employer.

Learning Outcomes:

• As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry
• Demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.

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Julia T. Garcia
Industrial Safety & Quality Program Manager
Corporate & Community Education
Phone (210) 486-3411
Fax (210) 486-3926