Legal Assistant / Paralegal

Course details

Start learning more about paralegal careers with Stratford's legal assistant/paralegal course today! 

Our innovative training methods allow you to complete your studies right in the comfort of your own home. Plus, our online tools let you submit exams, contact instructors, review grades and more. 

Stratford's legal assistant/paralegal program covers everything from the role of the paralegal to litigation, criminal procedure and law, and more! This comprehensive course can help you take the first step toward a rewarding new career.

Legal Assistant / Paralegal Career Forecast

Stratford's Paralegal Studies Course Can Mean Career Success for You!

• A quality beginning to your paralegal studies education is important for career success as a legal assistant/paralegal. Stratford's paralegal studies course can provide you with a thorough introduction about the work of a paralegal which you could apply in your current job, a future job, or in furthering your paralegal studies. 

Paralegal/Legal Assistant Careers and YOU…

• Your Stratford paralegal studies can help prepare you for the various duties often performed by a paralegal. Paralegals perform specialized jobs that directly assist lawyers and other law professionals. 

Your paralegal studies can help you prepare for a number of paralegal duties, including:

• Research
• Organize and track files
• Analyze information
• Write reports
• Prepare legal documents
• Obtain affidavits
• And more!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 17% between 2012 and 2022. Full-time paralegals and legal assistants had median annual earnings of $46,990.*

Upon completing your paralegal studies, you could gain employment with:

• A law firm
• Corporation
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organizations

Legal Assistant / Paralegal Course Outline

Legal Assistant/Paralegal Module 1

Becoming a Paralegal

• The Law Office Setting
• Duties of the Paralegal
• The Court System
• The Role of the Paralegal
• The Discovery Process
• The Framework of a Lawsuit
• Real Estate Law
• Medical Records
• Legal Research
• The Paralegal

Legal Assistant/Paralegal Module 2

Civil Litigation and the Paralegal

• Civil Litigation Law Firms
• The Framework of a Civil Lawsuit
• Negligence and its Defense
• The Discovery Process
• Expert Witnesses and Trial Preparation
• From Initial Case Development to Trial Technology
• Trial Evidence
• Settlement
• Post Trial Motions and Appeals

Legal Assistant/Paralegal Module 3

Criminal Procedure

• Court Systems in the United States
• Constitutional Law
• The Anatomy of a Criminal Prosecution
• Elements of a Crime
• Statutory Law: From Introduction Through Analysis
• Defenses
• Victims of Crime
• Criminal Trials and Evidence
• Post-Conviction Issues
• The First Amendment

Legal Assistant/Paralegal Module 4

Legal Writing

• Sentences and Paragraphs 
• Word Selection and Usage 
• Grammar 
• Punctuation 
• Legal Citation 
• Computer and Internet Research Web Sites 
• The Writing Process for Effective Legal Writing 
• Legal Correspondence 
• Legal Research Memorandum 
• Court Briefs