Paralegal Specialist Certificate in Litigation
The Paralegal Specialist Certificate in Litigation is intended to introduce you to the legal skills required to serve the community effectively and ethically in a litigation practice. The paralegal litigation specialization covers case analysis, legal research, drafting pleadings, motion and discovery documents, evidence, and preparation of cases for trial. The paralegal program provides an academic and practical education of uncompromising quality.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association and offered online and in the Los Angeles region. It combines a comprehensive academic curriculum with practical education in the role of the paralegal in a legal environment.
Program Requirements
PLA 212 Torts – 4.50
Examines the fundamental principles of the law of intentional torts (e.g., battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress); negligence (standard of care, breach of duty, causation, damages); strict liability; the torts of nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy torts; and the defenses to each of these torts. Also addresses the concepts of products liability and vicarious liability.
PLA 213 Leg Res Wrtg-Briefing/Analysis – 4.50
Develops legal research skills through focused exercises using print and computerized research. Exposes students to primary and secondary legal authorities, with an emphasis on constitutions and statutes. Develops writing skills by analyzing and briefing court opinions, drafting letters, and examining the purposes and uses of a legal memorandum.
PLA 214 Contracts – 4.50
Examines basic contract principles, including formation, validity, defenses to formation, rights of third parties, performance, breach, remedies, and damages. Emphasizes case analysis and application of principles, and covers code sections from Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Restatement Second of Contracts.
PLA 215 Leg Res Wrtg-Legal Memo – 4.50
Develops legal research skills through focused exercises using print and computerized research. Exposes students to primary and secondary legal authorities, with an emphasis on legislative history, administrative materials, and loose-leaf services. Develops writing skills by examining different parts of the legal memorandum, including questions presented, brief answers, statements of fact. And conclusions.
PLA 216 Computers & The Law – 4.50
Teaches computer technology as a tool to assist the legal professional in the practice of law. Utilizes lectures, group discussion, and hands-on computer use. Using the latest software for time and billing, case management docketing, control, and litigation support, students complete legal projects with assignments in the computer lab. Students learn how to effectively evaluate vendor products, and design and manage a litigation database project. Also covered are telecommunications and computer-assisted research, and ethical concentrations, such as software piracy, misuse of software and databases, security, and protecting client data.
PLA 219 Foundations of Property Law – 4.50
Examines real property law, including interests in land, landlord/tenant easements and conveyances.
PLA 326 Legal Writing Project – 4.50
The course allows students the opportunity to prepare a legal writing work product using both print and online legal resources.
PLA 327 Litigation Essentials – 4.50
Covers civil procedure in both state and federal courts and civil litigation strategies. Emphasizes the paralegal’s role in discovery, pre-trial, and trial proceedings. Includes discussion of various forms of discovers, such as depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of documents, and introduces judgments and the appellate process.
Degree and Course Requirements
This program option requires the completion of 90 quarter units of coursework. It includes 8 courses, all of which are legal specialty courses. Please note that a minimum of 27 quarter units of general education course work (across at least three disciplines, such as social science, natural science, mathematics, humanities, foreign language, and English) are required by the American Bar Association.
All lower division general education courses must be completed at Berkshire University or another regionally-accredited institution. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree.
Students may earn more than one Paralegal Specialist Certificate. Generally, any course completed for any one Paralegal Specialist Certificate need not be repeated and will apply towards other Paralegal Specialist Certificates. Each certificate is tailored to include training in substantive legal analysis, drafting legal documents, and understanding procedural matters.
The Litigation Specialization covers case analysis, legal research, drafting pleadings, motion and discovery documents, evidence, and preparation of cases for trial.
Program Learning Outcomes
Discuss broad legal principles from the primary areas of law, such as Torts, Contracts, Real Property, and others, and explain the definitions of certain basic legal terms and phrases.
Conduct legal research using manual and computer-assisted methods.
Demonstrate the basic process of legal reasoning and analysis.
Explain the litigation process and the paralegal’s role in pre-trial, trial, and post-trial proceedings.
Recognize how broad ethical principles apply to paralegals in a litigation practice.
Admissions
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