American National University’s Paralegal certificate program – approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) – is designed exclusively for students and professionals who have previously earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree:
- recent college graduates seeking a legal career
- experienced professionals seeking a career change to the legal industry
Paralegals, whether they are employed on a full, part-time, or contracted basis, are increasingly in demand by corporate, government agencies, law firms, and other organizations because of the specific legal skills and knowledge they possess, making them indispensable to attorneys and the legal system. Please remember that paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
We offer one of the first DEAC Accredited, online paralegal certificate programs that is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)!
The ABA-approved paralegal certificate program’s content was developed with careful consideration toward satisfying the American Bar Association’s recommendations for paralegals’ continuing education, as well as their preparation for the national paralegal certification exam. Students will take the Paralegal Certification in Westlaw exam offered through Westlaw as part of PLG207 Legal Research and Writing course.
Also see Paralegal associate’s degree program.
Your Learning Experience
American National University’s Paralegal studies program combines academic rigor with legal, technical and leadership skills to develop well-rounded paralegal professionals. Our graduates are prepared to pursue careers as paralegals to perform tasks in legal, corporate, non-profit or government organizations.
- Learn from a curriculum designed with input from working professionals in the legal industry.
- Your learning experience will emphasize paralegal skills, forms, documents and procedures, as well as legal principles and theories which are pertinent to your performance as a paralegal.
- Develop an understanding on how to use industry-standard online research tools.
- Gain an understanding of how to navigate the court systems.
Paralegal Certificate Program Goals and Objectives
The Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies is designed for students who have already earned an academic associate or bachelor’s degree and wish to develop the skills necessary to become a paralegal. The program provides a broad-based understanding of the core areas of law and the court system, including terminology used in the legal system and how to understand legal documents, contracts, and other legal material. Graduates are prepared to draft routine pleadings and other legal documents, interview clients, conduct independent research of non–legal matters and simple legal questions, and draft legal memoranda.
Upon successful completion of this degree program, students will be able to:
- Understand the education and training required of a paralegal, and recognize the guidelines and ethical responsibilities of the profession and the importance of legal research and writing.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history, origin and structure of the American legal system, identify and use major tools, software, and sources of American law.
- Explain the difference between criminal and civil law and interpret various categories of civil law, such as torts, contract law, corporate law, property law, family law, and wills and estates.
- Draft basic legal documents such as complaints, answers, and contracts, interview clients, conduct independent research of non–legal matters and simple legal questions, and draft legal memoranda.
PARALEGAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE REQUIRED COURSES
36 credit hours required/56 quality points required. All courses are 4 Credit Hours
Program Core (Required) 28 total credit hours required
PLG102 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an overview of what a paralegal should be prepared for in the workplace. All of the basic areas of paralegal studies are covered: careers, ethics and professional responsibility, pretrial preparation, trial procedures, criminal law, legal interviewing and investigation, legal research and analysis, computer-assisted legal research, legal writing, and the impact technology is having on the profession. This course also provides instruction in substantive law, including bankruptcy, contracts, intellectual property, torts, product liability, real property, estates, business organizations, and family law.
PLG207 Legal Research and Writing
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ENG102, PLG102) This course is designed to provide an introduction into the basic principals in the study and practice of legal research and writing. Students will learn the methods and tools necessary to conduct legal research and analysis and how to write legal documents. Students will also obtain a Paralegal Certification in Westlaw.
PLG215 Torts and Personal Injury
4 Credit Hours
This course goes through the general concepts of civil law and then proceeds to the intentional torts and defenses, followed by an in-depth examination of negligence law. From there, the student will learn about product liability, business torts, ethics, and an explanation of the impact of insurance coverage on bringing and defending tort cases. This course discusses how technology is impacting the day-to-day practice of law and the impact it can have on practitioners.
PLG229 Legal Office Procedures
4 Credit Hours
Legal Office Procedures provides an overview of the legal industry, law office functions, and the essential skills students will use throughout their legal career. Students will learn the parameters and policies of the business of law, ethics, and the functions and procedures common to a law office environment.
PLG250 Pretrial Discovery and Trial Preparation
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG207) This course combines the theories and principles of law with the practical paralegal skills, ethics, and the goals and needs of the paralegal profession. Students will learn about client counseling and investigative techniques and processes, draft pleadings and motions, explore the discovery process, and learn about what the paralegal’s role is in assisting at trial. This course also examines how technology relates to the civil litigation arena.
PLG262 Criminal Law and Procedure
4 Credit Hours
This course provides an in-depth and thorough presentation of criminal law as it applies to the paralegal. Topics covered in the course include ethics, search and seizure, confessions and Miranda, arraignment, specific kinds of crimes, including crimes against person, crimes against property, and crimes against public morality and health. Students will also learn the day-to-day activities of paralegals, from meeting with the clients to preparing appellate briefs.
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PLG213 Medical Records Analysis
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will study medical terminology, major body systems, HIPAA, medical records, Functional Capacity Evaluations, Medicare Set-Asides, Physician Opinion Letters, Life Care Plans, Subpoenas for medical records and medical release forms.
PLG214 Family Law
4 Credit Hours
This course introduces the students to the fundamental concepts of family law as they pertain to marriage and divorce. Topics covered in the course include ethics, adoption, divorce, marriage, child support and custody, and the agreements encountered in family law.
PLG216 Estate Administration and Elder Law
4 Credit Hours
This course is divided into two parts. In the first 5 weeks, the students learn wills, trusts, and estate administration. During this time, students learn the responsibilities and duties that a paralegal performs under the supervision of an attorney when drafting a will, trust, or assisting with the administration of a decedent’s estate. Students also learn the terminology and general principles of law that are the bases for drafting wills and trusts or planning and administering an estate. This course includes material on inheritance rights for same-sex couples, estate tax changes, and the disposition of assets.
In the last 5 weeks of the course, students learn the terminology and legal framework of Elder Law. Topics discussed in the course include advance directives, guardianships/conservatorships, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, estate planning, housing, discrimination, end-of life issues, and ethics.
PLG232 Bankruptcy and Collections Procedures
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG207) This course provides the student with the fundamentals of bankruptcy law. Students will learn the substantive law of bankruptcy, the rules of procedure that control how the substantive law of bankruptcy is implemented, and ethics.
For all courses: See course description for applicable prerequisites.
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