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 must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction. Students will have the opportunity to earn their Lexis+® Paralegal Certificate as part of the 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.
American National University is an institutional member of AAfPE (American Association for Paralegal Education).
PARALEGAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE REQUIRED COURSES
28 credit hours required/56 quality points required. All courses are 4 Credit Hours
Program Core (Required) 6 courses required
PLG102 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
4 Credit Hours
Introduction to paralegal careers, including ethical and professional standards. Overview of learning to research, citations, legal documents, substantive areas of practice, legal analysis and investigation, and law office administration.
PLG207 Legal Research and Writing
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ENG102) 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 have the opportunity to earn their Lexis+® Paralegal Certificate as part of the PLG207 Legal Research and Writing course.
PLG215 Torts and Personal Injury
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) 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
This course is designed to furnish the student with relevant and interesting experiences relating to the career of a legal office assistant. This course presents basic legal concepts in law and outlines the various documents used in these fields.
PLG250 Pretrial Discovery and Trial Preparation
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG102 and 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
(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) A theoretical and practical survey of the statutory law of crimes, evidence, and criminal procedure including an examination of sample pleadings and motions. Topics include the elements of specific crimes, formal procedures from pre-trial to post-trial, actual courtroom strategies, and the practical concerns involved in both the prosecution and defense of criminal cases. Constitutional safeguards and procedures from arrest through trial, sentencing, punishment, and appeal are also studied.
Electives – Select 1
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.
PLG218 Intellectual Property
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG207) This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the legal protections afforded in intellectual property. Students will learn the four traditional regimes of intellectual property law – patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets – along with the more recently recognized right of publicity and the neighboring doctrines of hot news misappropriation and idea protection. Students will explore the international and trade aspects of intellectual property.
PLG219 Labor and Employment Law
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG207) This course examines employment law and its impact on the employer-employee relationship. This course provides guidance as to the federal and state laws regarding employment law and will examine workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation.
PLG220 Immigration and Citizenship
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – PLG207) The course explores the underlying policies and basics of immigration law. Students will learn from real-life examples and will walk the student through the entire background, process, and tools needed to master immigration law.
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.
BUS117 Supervision
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will learn how to be effective supervisors. Topics for discussion include how supervisors inspire, empower and develop people so that they become more effective in their working roles, the supervisory function for employee and workplace safety, and the supervisor’s responsibilities for planning and decision-making.
BUS223 Sales & Contract Law
4 Credit Hours
This course provides an examination of the principles of law as they relate to contract and the application of the uniform commercial code as it relates to sale-of-goods contracts.
For all courses: See course description for applicable prerequisites.
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