LITIGATION PRACTICE

The Litigation Practice Certificate¹ is designed to prepare students to work in civil litigation on the state and federal level. Special attention is given to strengthening legal technology skills. Electives offer students opportunities to explore different areas of law.

Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as authorized by law.

¹

Certificate applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

CURRICULUM

The Litigation Practice Certificate in Paralegal Studies requires the successful completion of 11 courses (22 semester hours).

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Paralegal Core
PLST 331	Introduction to Paralegal Studies	2
PLST 332	Legal Research and Writing I	2
PLST 333	Legal Research and Writing II	2
PLST 335	Legal Ethics	2
PLST 345	Law Office Computer Applications	2
Litigation Practice Core
PLST 340	Civil Litigation I	2
PLST 341	Civil Litigation II	2
PLST 342	Litigation Technology & eDiscovery	2
PLST 336	Corporate Topics for Litigation Paralegals	2
Elective Courses
Select two of the following: 1		4
PLST 334	Legal Analysis: Practical Applications
PLST 343	Real Estate Transactions I
PLST 344	Real Estate Transactions II
PLST 346	Advanced Litigation Technology
PLST 348	Advanced Online Research Skills
PLST 349	Torts
PLST 350	Medical Malpractice
PLST 351	Intellectual Property: Patents and Trade Secrets
PLST 352	Intellectual Property: Trademarks and Copyrights
PLST 353	Securities Regulation
PLST 355	Estates, Trusts & Wills
PLST 357	Family Law
PLST 358	Criminal Law and Litigation
PLST 359	Environmental Law
PLST 360	Employment Law
PLST 361	Immigration Law
PLST 368	Corporate Compliance Topics
PLST 398	Internship
Total Hours		22

¹

Or any other course for which the student qualifies

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
PLST 331	Introduction to Paralegal Studies	2
PLST 340	Civil Litigation I	2
	Hours	4
Spring
PLST 332	Legal Research and Writing I	2
PLST 341	Civil Litigation II	2
	Hours	4
Summer
PLST 333	Legal Research and Writing II	2
PLST 335	Legal Ethics	2
	Hours	4
Year 2
Fall
PLST 345	Law Office Computer Applications	2
Select one from list of Electives		2
	Hours	4
Spring
PLST 342	Litigation Technology & eDiscovery	2
Select one from list of Electives		2
	Hours	4
Summer
PLST 336	Corporate Topics for Litigation Paralegals	2
	Hours	2
	Total Hours	22

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the certificate:

1. Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations.
2. Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations.
3. Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions.
4. Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals.
5. Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including Word, Excel, Adobe and PowerPoint.
6. Draft court pleadings and maintain case files and databases.
7. Collect and organize information through investigation and the discovery process.
8. Help prepare the case for trial, and often assist attorneys at trial by coordinating the case material.