Curriculum

Paralegal Diploma Curriculum

In your online paralegal classes, you'll cover topics such as legal terminology, the U.S. court system, how to conduct legal investigations, legal writing and legal research, and more. If you are interested in furthering your studies, you can also transfer many of your lessons and continue on with Penn Foster's Paralegal Studies Associate Degree.

Paralegal

Career Diploma

4 months

As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Paralegal Diploma Curriculum

9 courses
51.2 continuing education units (CEUs)
35 exams
11 submitted projects

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 4 months
Average time = 11 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

Occupation of the paralegal; strategies for completing the paralegal studies program as an independent learner; value of the paralegal in the practice of law as it’s conducted in the traditional legal community as well as in government, education, and business.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
- Identify the various opportunities and challenges of a paralegal professional
Basic legal terminology needed to embark on a career as a paralegal; avoiding inaccuracies that can give rise to serious legal consequences; basics of critical thinking in the drafting of good legal arguments.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Analyze the various aspects of litigation, trial procedures, and tort law
- Categorize the various legal terminologies associated with trial procedures, tort, criminal, property, and family law
- Analyze the various elements in developing the critical thinking skills
Professional responsibilities that apply to paralegals as they assist their employers and their clients, including maintaining confidentiality and competence; handling fees and funds carefully; and avoiding unauthorized practice of law, conflicts of interest, and potential malpractice.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Analyze the legal system structure and the important roles and issues within the system
- Prepare a report on situations involving breach of ethical rules by paralegals and attorneys
How history has shaped the organization and structure of our contemporary courts; definition of law; moral or value systems from which our laws have sprung; how the law works.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Analyze the structure of court system, sources of law, and legal concepts of American law
- Examine the history that has shaped our legal system of case law, codes, and administrative regulations
- Explain the differences between civil and criminal litigation and the steps involved in litigating a civil trial
Courts spend a good deal of their time settling business disputes, but much business law doesn’t involve litigation at all. Many paralegals work on business matters where clients are buying and selling things—not suing each other. Understanding the basics of the subject will help you make sense of the business-oriented world in which we live.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Analyze the paralegal’s role in the organizational structure of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies
- Point out the various fact patterns involved in the tort actions
- Modify a generic partnership agreement form to meet the needs of two hypothetical clients
Litigation involves the use of the court system to resolve disputes. Increasingly, paralegals are involved in litigation support.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to
- Analyze the process of civil and criminal litigation
- Explain the importance of discovery for obtaining information in litigation process
- Categorize the major kinds of ADR mechanisms and the ways paralegals contribute to ADR processes
- Analyze the requirements of the different types of crimes and the stages of a case
Students will learn about PC applications in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software, as well as create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Students will also learn how to integrate the applications.
- Identify how to create various Microsoft Word documents
- Write a sound Microsoft Word letter
- Identify how to create various Microsoft Excel documents
- Produce a thorough Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
- Identify the basic skills needed to use Microsoft PowerPoint
- Create a well-constructed memo, spreadsheet, and presentation
In this course you’ll learn the skills you need to become more confident in your writing.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the process of writing, as well as the parts of speech and how to use them
- Explain various types of punctuation, rules for capitalization and spelling, and documenting sources for research
- Construct complete, correct sentences and well-organized, coherent paragraphs
- Recognize how to plan, develop, revise, and present your work
- Prepare for the various kinds of writing most likely needed for a job

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.