Professional Development
Paralegal Certificate
Watch the video of Richard B. Herman, Esq., one of the leading defense attorneys in the United States and CNN contributor, and learn why this program is ideal for you!
USF's Paralegal Certificate Program was designed for paralegals by paralegals, attorneys and judges across the country. The hands-on program focuses on the real world skill sets in demand by law firms, legal divisions, attorneys, corporations, and government agencies. Our paralegal program is designed with the working student in mind and provides the education needed to begin a paralegal career or advance an existing career in the legal field.
In just four months, our innovative paralegal certificate program teaches the knowledge and skills used daily by paralegals. In this unique paralegal certificate program, taught by an esteemed faculty of judges, students will learn legal processes, court structure, interviewing, investigation, document preparation, file maintenance, correspondence, research, writing and analysis, as well as substantive topics of law, such as torts, contracts and civil procedure.
Students will be trained in online legal research with individual subscriptions to Lexis and Westlaw. USF's Paralegal Certificate Program offers a high-quality educational experience providing students with access to many resources. These resources include customized texts and dynamic interactive online support tools such as practice exercise questions, lecture notes, quizzes, writing labs, mock exams and more.
University of South Florida's On-Campus and Online Paralegal Certificate Program will include a comprehensive and intensive educational experience for students unsurpassed by any other program.
- Legal staff who wish to advance their careers and qualify for lawful designation as a paralegal.
- Career changers looking for a professional career with strong growth potential.
- Individuals who want to gain a clearer understanding of the legal process.
- Individuals considering law school and seeking an introduction to the field to gain a competitive advantage.
Areas of study in the University of South Florida Paralegal Certificate Program will
include:
INTRODUCTION TO THE LEGAL FIELD
Students will learn what kind of job opportunities exist and what tasks a paralegal
may perform.
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY
By presenting an actual legal matter and following it throughout the legal process,
students are introduced to the most relevant legal terms. The case presented is tracked
through both the civil and criminal court procedures.
STAGES OF LITIGATION
The three stages of the litigation process are presented, and the functions a paralegal
may perform during each stage are discussed.
EVIDENCE
Students discuss various forms of evidence, including direct, circumstantial, oral,
physical and hearsay. The elements of admissibility are presented, as are the procedures
for presentation of evidence to the court.
LAW OFFICE INVESTIGATION
Skip tracing, formal and informal witness statements, the obtaining of public documents,
and other investigative matters are presented.
INTERVIEW CLIENTS
Specific techniques will be presented and discussed for conducting client interviews.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Students will develop skills to analyze case law & statutes, including IRAC method.
LEGAL MEMORANDUM FORM
After learning the analytical process, students will analyze cases and statutes. Students
will then be taught how to create a legal memorandum.
BLUEBOOK CITATION FORM
Students will learn the most broadly used system of legal citation.
PLEADING PREPARATION
Students will study pleadings and will prepare a Summons & Complaint, as well as other
court documents.
DISCOVERY PREPARATION
Students will be taught to create sets of Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions,
and Requests for Production and Inspection of Documents.
DISCOVERY COORDINATION
Students will learn the rules relevant to discovery and will learn how to track both
sent and received discovery documents.
PREPARING FOR AND DIGESTING DEPOSITIONS
Students will study various considerations for deposition setup. Students will be
provided with a deposition transcript and will be taught to summarize that document.
UTILIZATION OF LEGAL FORMS
Students will learn to manipulate templates and utilize formbooks.
AUTHORITY IDENTIFICATION
Learn to identify primary, secondary, mandatory, persuasive, and non-authority.
MOTIONS, NOTICES, AND BRIEFS
Learn various forms of motions and prepare a motion, notice, and brief.
WESTLAW TRAINING AND ACCESS
Students will receive training and be provided with individual access to Westlaw Online
Legal Research for the duration of the class.
LEXIS TRAINING AND ACCESS
Students will receive training and be provided with individual access to Lexis Advance
Online Legal Research for the duration of the class.
LEGAL RESEARCH SKILLS
By using hands-on, interactive training devices, students will learn proper law library
utilization: how to locate primary authority, how to use secondary sources, how to
update research sources, how to validate authority using Shepard's, and how to utilize
specific legal materials. Students will be trained in The Key Number System and the
Total Client Service Library.
FILE MAINTENANCE
Proper file maintenance is discussed. Students will be required to assemble all documents
created in the class into a client file for evaluation.
LAW OFFICE ETIQUETTE
Students will learn how to properly present themselves in a law office environment,
including dress considerations, telephone tips, and a discussion of office politics.
FILE MAINTENANCE
Students will learn how to create and maintain a client file.
TICKLER AND CALENDARING SYSTEMS
The class will discuss various forms of reminder systems for important due dates,
and both hard-copy and computer-based calendaring methods.
ELECTRONIC FILING FOR COURTS
Students will develop skills related to Court Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF).
This is the system used by PACER, the most broadly utilized legal document e-filing
tool.
ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY
Students will learn procedures and issues surrounding the disclosure of electronically
stored information.
BILLABLE HOURS
Students will learn the importance of keeping track of billable hours.
TRIAL NOTEBOOK PREPARATION
Students will learn how to prepare an ad-hoc trial notebook for use at trial.
LEGAL ADVICE & REPRESENTATION
The class will be instructed in rules preventing a paralegal from providing legal
advice and will discuss what does and does not constitute such advice. Students will
discuss the rules restricting paralegal representation.
ABA RULES OF ETHICS
Students will become familiar with the ABA Rules that guide the ethical behavior of
attorneys and will discuss how these rules affect paralegals in their day-to-day lives.
LAW OFFICE ETHICS
Students will be taught to maintain a high ethical standard. To facilitate the learning
process, students will be presented with ethical scenarios and potential pitfalls
to avoid.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & COURT STRUCTURE
Students will learn the structure of government and the laws that apply to each branch.
Students will be instructed in the basic differences between state and federal jurisdiction,
as well as the federal trial and appellate jurisdictions. The Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure will be introduced.
THE ARBITRATION PROCESS
The class will learn how the arbitration process works and will learn the difference
between mandatory and binding arbitration. The class will also learn new trends in
extra-judicial proceedings, such as "Mini-Trials."
COURT STRUCTURE, PROCEDURES, & COURT RULES
Trial and appellate courts will be discussed, including how to access filing procedures
for specific courts. Students are taught the most frequently used court rules and
are also taught the skills necessary for finding any rule for specific procedural
questions.
TORT LAW FOR PARALEGALS
Students will learn the foundations of tort law, including elements and defenses for
the most common civil actions that result in litigation.
CONTRACT LAW FOR PARALEGALS
The practical skills related to a paralegal's role in contract law, including scenarios,
contract construction, and the ability to identify flaws that could identify faulty
agreements.
RESUME PREPARATION
Students will receive instruction in preparing resumes and cover letters, as well
as tips for interviewing.
STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYMENT
Multiple strategies for seeking employment will be discussed, including traditional
and non-traditional methods.
The Comprehensive Support Program Includes:
Client-Based and Case Study Educational Experience
At the inception of the program, each student is provided with his or her own personal
client file which is an individualized hypothetical fact pattern. The research and
writing assignments are tailored to the particular student's client. Thereafter, the
student is required to maintain their client file throughout the program, including
indexing, filing final assignments, and keeping track of billable hours.
CareerStudyLabs.com
The site is a communication portal and e-learning platform among students, instructors
and administrators. Key site features are chat rooms, online assignment submissions,
posting of job opportunities, instructor and administrator announcements, privately
maintained test scores and grades, and the ability to send announcements directly
to students via email.
Study Support Website
This site features dynamic tools designed to make the in-class learning experience
more efficient and effective. Each text chapter and section of the student manuals
are supported on the ParaStudent website. Students are provided with extensive support
through features which include:
a. Exercises
Various exercises with instantaneous feedback including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank,
online crossword puzzles and many other methods designed for step-by-step self-evaluation
as students progress throughout the program.
b. Viewpoints and Demonstrations
Graphical demonstration tools of materials and processes provide students with alternative
methods designed to enhance the absorption of concepts and information.
c. Paralegal Perspectives
For every skill set being taught, there are real-life stories or examples of how that
skill set affects paralegals in the workplace, including success stories and cautionary
tales relevant to the skills in development.
d. Research Labs
The USF Program uniquely offers training in law library research, Westlaw online research
and Lexis online research. USF's Paralegal Certificate Program is the only program
offering training in all three of the above.
e. Writing Labs
Students are provided with in-class instruction on legal writing in conjunction with
access to the Legal Writing Labs. These labs provide templates which permit online
modifications for writing assignments. As students progress through the assignments,
they access written instructions for each element of every document on a sidebar tool
or, if they prefer, they may listen to an instructor provide step-by-step audio instructions.
The Writing Labs on Demand include every U.S. state and territory, including Federal
court.
f. Citation Labs
Interactive online exercises and step-by-step instruction assist students in learning
to create federal and state citations.
g. Mock Exams
The online Mock Exams are an exceptional teaching tool. When the Mock Exam is submitted,
the student is immediately provided with their actual grade as well as the correct
answers. Additionally, the students are provided with Mock Exam Answer Study Links
which thoroughly explain the rationale for each answer. Once students learn exactly
why their response was not accurate, they are not likely to make the same mistake
in the future.
No application is required. You may simply register by following the registration link.
- Participants must successfully complete the Essential Skills course and substantive topic courses to earn the University of South Florida Paralegal Certificate.
- Class projects and exams, including a comprehensive final will be administered.
- Participants must score 70 percent or better on the final exam, obtain a per class average of 70 percent and meet attendance requirements in order to earn the certificate.
Whether you choose our on-campus program or online program, be assured that you will develop the same skills and knowledge. The certificate makes no distinction between the on-campus or online program, and those who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Paralegal Certificate from the USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education.
On-Campus Program Register Now!
Cost of Attendance: $4,995
Effective Monday, July 2, 2018 new registrations include a parking permit in the cost
of attendance. Please review your registration receipt for additional information.
- In person instruction from judges
- Two evenings per week for four months
- Extensive online study support
- Successful graduates receive a Paralegal Certificate from the USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education
- Good for students who prefer a more structured environment
Online Program Register Now!
Cost of Attendance: $6,995
- Go-at-your-own-pace format
- Study online when it is convenient for you
- Every student is assigned her or his own judge instructor
- Students are provided with the instructor's email and phone number
- Successful graduates receive a Paralegal Certificate from the USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education
- Best for students who are able to be disciplined and focused
*Fee does not include cost of textbooks, approximately $700. A textbook list and ordering instructions will be emailed to registered students.
This program may be eligible for a payment plan where typically the total cost of attendance is divided into a few equal payments and the last payment takes place prior to class start. For a detailed plan please call 813-974-6263.
Additional Questions?
Contact Anelys at: (813) 974-6263 or anelys@usf.edu
Upcoming Webinars
Thursday, September 26 from 7pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday, October 29 from 7pm - 8:30pm
Thursday, November 21 from 7pm - 8:30pm
If the above dates/times are not convenient for you, feel free to reach out to us
at: CE-Inquiries@usf.edu