Paralegal Career for Dummies

Apply important legal concepts and skills you need to succeed



Get educated, land a job, and start making money now!

Want a new career as a paralegal but don't know where to start? Relax! Paralegal Career For Dummies is the practical, hands-on guide to all the basics -- from getting certified to landing a job and getting ahead. Inside, you'll find all the tools you need to succeed, including a CD packed with sample memos, forms, letters, and more!

Discover how to
* Secure your ideal paralegal position
* Pick the right area of the law for you
* Prepare documents for litigation
* Conduct legal research
* Manage a typical law office


Sample resumes, letters, forms, legal documents, and links to online legal resources.

Please see the CD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements.

Scott Hatch, JD, and Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, are founders and administrators of The Center for Legal Studies, which offers training and certificate courses, including paralegal certificate courses, to thousands of people through hundreds of colleges and universities every year.

Introduction.

Part I: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession.

Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession.

Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams.

Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position.

Part II: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know.

Chapter 4: “All Rise”: The American Judicial System.

Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law.

Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process.

Chapter 7: How It’s Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.

Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority.

Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals.

Part III: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process.

Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents.

Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation.

Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing.

Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research.

Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance.

Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals.

Part IV: Skills Paralegals Need to Soar Ahead.

Chapter 16: Write On: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style.

Chapter 17: The Latest Thing: Using Technology in Law.

Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics.

Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know.

Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment.

Part VI: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Glossary of Important Legal Terms: A Mini Legal Dictionary.

Appendix B: About the CD.

Index.