Legal   

Gain an understanding of the various forms of bankruptcy and the court filing requirements.

This course will teach you all about General Court rules and document preparation for bankruptcy filing. You will learn the basics of bankruptcy situations and gain a foundation in substantive law for the various types of bankruptcy and filing requirements.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an understanding of the various forms of bankruptcy and the court filing requirements.

1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
   1. Liquidation
   2. Available to Individuals And Business Entities
2. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
   1. Reorganization
   2. Available to Business Entities
3. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
   1. Plan to Repay The Debt
   2. Available to Individuals And Entities
4. The Bankruptcy Process
   1. The Filing Process
5. The Perspectives of Bankruptcy

What you will learn

• Chapter 7 bankruptcy
• Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Chapter 13 bankruptcy

How you will benefit

• Build necessary skills for working as a paralegal and or to advance your paralegal career
• Gain more knowledge about legal principles and procedures

Self-Study

Gain an understanding of the various forms of bankruptcy and the court filing requirements.

This course will teach you all about General Court rules and document preparation for bankruptcy filing. You will learn the basics of bankruptcy situations and gain a foundation in substantive law for the various types of bankruptcy and filing requirements.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an understanding of the various forms of bankruptcy and the court filing requirements.

1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
   1. Liquidation
   2. Available to Individuals And Business Entities
2. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
   1. Reorganization
   2. Available to Business Entities
3. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
   1. Plan to Repay The Debt
   2. Available to Individuals And Entities
4. The Bankruptcy Process
   1. The Filing Process
5. The Perspectives of Bankruptcy

What you will learn

• Chapter 7 bankruptcy
• Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Chapter 13 bankruptcy

How you will benefit

• Build necessary skills for working as a paralegal and or to advance your paralegal career
• Gain more knowledge about legal principles and procedures

Self-Study

The Certified Legal Secretary course will help you gain the skills you need to begin work as a legal secretary and prepare for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) certification exam through NALS the Association of Legal Professionals.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 7 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office or equivalent (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Accounting for Managers
• Bookkeeping Made Simple

The legal profession has a range of career opportunities available with over 300,000 positions today and is projected to grow to 325,000 by 2026. If you're ready to enter the legal profession and develop a great career that will be in-demand long into the future, this Certified Legal Secretary course can help by providing foundational knowledge over a broad range of legal topics to help prepare you for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.

The Certified Legal Secretary course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the legal profession regardless of the type of law that interests you. Lawyers rely on these legal professionals to coordinate the daily functions of their law practice by maintaining schedules, managing clients, filing documents, drafting paperwork, and more. You will learn basic legal terminology, office procedures and management advice, basic accounting, and QuickBooks. Throughout the course, you will discover what it is like to work in this fast-paced, exciting, and in-demand field.

1. Ethics for Paralegals
   1. Ethics for paralegals
   2. Codes that apply to legal professionals
   3. Specific duties that a paralegal can perform according to the ABA
   4. Confidentiality in your role as a paralegal
   5. What is considered a conflict of interest in your role as a paralegal
   6. Communications with the "other side"
   7. Paralegal disclosure
   8. Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for a paralegal.
2. Law Office Management
   1. Duties you may have as a law office professional
   2. Accounting and billing in the law office
   3. Files and record management in the law office
   4. Technology used in the law office
   5. Types of files encountered in the law office
3. Introduction to Accounting
   1. Overview of Accounting
   2. Methods of Accounting
   3. The Accounting Cycle
   4. Major account groupings
   5. The Accounting Cycle
4. Grammar Essentials
   1. Components of Writing
   2. The components of a sentence
   3. Different types of sentences
   4. Identifying faulty sentences
   5. Using punctuation correctly
   6. Using the correct verb tense in your writing
   7. The function of a paragraph
   8. Using cause and effect in your writing
5. Legal Writing
   1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
   2. Goal of legal writing
   3. Drafting documents in legal writing
   4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   5. Using defined terms in legal writing
   6. Word usage in legal writing
   7. Redundancies
   8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
   9. Reviewing legal documents
   10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis
6. Legal Research and The Law Library
   1. Introduction
   2. Authorities of Law
   3. FIRAC
   4. Statutory and Case Law
   5. Resources
   6. Computerized Legal Research
   7. Citations and Shepardizing
   8. Summary
7. Introduction to the Legal System
   1. Introduction to terminology used in the legal system
   2. Structure of the government
   3. Judicial system
   4. Jurisdiction in the legal system
   5. Using FIRAC to read a case
8. Administrative Law
   1. Introduction to Administration Law
   2. Administrative Agencies
   3. Administrative Procedures Act
   4. Political Control over Agencies
   5. Rule Making and Right to a Court Review
   6. Examples of Administrative Agencies
9. Civil Litigation
   1. Initial client overview
   2. In the investigation stage, the paralegal needs to examine and inquire into the claim
   3. In pretrial litigation, the initial preparation of pleadings to initiate a lawsuit
   4. The settlement means an agreement has been reached before the trial
   5. The order of the trial/appeal
10. Contracts
    1. Case Law and FIRAC
    2. Contracts
    3. Contract Acceptance
    4. Consideration.
    5. Enforcement
    6. Contractual Capacity
    7. Defenses
    8. Third-Party Beneficiaries
    9. Breach
11. Torts
    1. Types of Torts
    2. Torts to Property
    3. Defenses
    4. Cause of action
    5. Defense of Negligence
    6. Strict Liability
12. Criminal Law and Procedure
    1. Introduction
    2. Intent
    3. Crimes-Battery
    4. Crimes-Felony
    5. Elements of the crime
    6. Criminal capacity
    7. Justification
    8. Summary
13. Family Law Outline
    1. Marriage
    2. Divorce and Separation
    3. Child Custody
    4. Child Support
    5. Spousal Support
    6. Adoption
    7. Division of Property
    8. Summary
14. Business Entity Formation
    1. Choice of entity
    2. Sole proprietorship is an entity that is owned by one person
    3. A partnership requires two or individuals operating the partnership
    4. A corporation comes into existence through the filing of Articles of Incorporation
    5. Limited Liability Company is a type of entity that is a cross between a corporation and a partnership
15. Real Estate Law
    1. Real estate law
    2. Importance of contracts in real estate law
    3. Deeds and titles
    4. Lender rights and leases
    5. Real estate development and easements
16. Probate Law and Estate Planning
    1. Introduction to estate planning
    2. Components of a will
    3. Execution of a will
    4. Trusts in estate planning
17. Bankruptcy Law
    1. Chapter 7 bankruptcy
    2. Chapter 11 bankruptcy
    3. Chapter 13 bankruptcy
    4. The bankruptcy process
    5. The perspectives of bankruptcy

What you will learn

• Learn useful and practical office and administrative skills.
• Gain legal research and writing skills.
• Gain exposure to a broad range of law topics and fields.

How you will benefit

• Gain the foundational knowledge required to enter the legal profession.
• Prepare for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.

Katherine Squires Pang, J.D., LL.M., M.Ed has practiced law with since 1983. She has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Management at the University of Texas, Dallas, and has been an adjunct faculty member of many universities, including New York University and UC Irvine. She received her B.A. in 1980 from Clark University, her J.D. from the University of Dayton Law School in 1982, her LL.M in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School in 1983, and her M.Ed from the University of Texas in 2001.

The Certified Legal Secretary course will help you gain the skills you need to begin work as a legal secretary and prepare for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) certification exam through NALS the Association of Legal Professionals.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 7 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office or equivalent (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Accounting for Managers
• Bookkeeping Made Simple

The legal profession has a range of career opportunities available with over 300,000 positions today and is projected to grow to 325,000 by 2026. If you're ready to enter the legal profession and develop a great career that will be in-demand long into the future, this Certified Legal Secretary course can help by providing foundational knowledge over a broad range of legal topics to help prepare you for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.

The Certified Legal Secretary course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the legal profession regardless of the type of law that interests you. Lawyers rely on these legal professionals to coordinate the daily functions of their law practice by maintaining schedules, managing clients, filing documents, drafting paperwork, and more. You will learn basic legal terminology, office procedures and management advice, basic accounting, and QuickBooks. Throughout the course, you will discover what it is like to work in this fast-paced, exciting, and in-demand field.

1. Ethics for Paralegals
   1. Ethics for paralegals
   2. Codes that apply to legal professionals
   3. Specific duties that a paralegal can perform according to the ABA
   4. Confidentiality in your role as a paralegal
   5. What is considered a conflict of interest in your role as a paralegal
   6. Communications with the "other side"
   7. Paralegal disclosure
   8. Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for a paralegal.
2. Law Office Management
   1. Duties you may have as a law office professional
   2. Accounting and billing in the law office
   3. Files and record management in the law office
   4. Technology used in the law office
   5. Types of files encountered in the law office
3. Introduction to Accounting
   1. Overview of Accounting
   2. Methods of Accounting
   3. The Accounting Cycle
   4. Major account groupings
   5. The Accounting Cycle
4. Grammar Essentials
   1. Components of Writing
   2. The components of a sentence
   3. Different types of sentences
   4. Identifying faulty sentences
   5. Using punctuation correctly
   6. Using the correct verb tense in your writing
   7. The function of a paragraph
   8. Using cause and effect in your writing
5. Legal Writing
   1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
   2. Goal of legal writing
   3. Drafting documents in legal writing
   4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   5. Using defined terms in legal writing
   6. Word usage in legal writing
   7. Redundancies
   8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
   9. Reviewing legal documents
   10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis
6. Legal Research and The Law Library
   1. Introduction
   2. Authorities of Law
   3. FIRAC
   4. Statutory and Case Law
   5. Resources
   6. Computerized Legal Research
   7. Citations and Shepardizing
   8. Summary
7. Introduction to the Legal System
   1. Introduction to terminology used in the legal system
   2. Structure of the government
   3. Judicial system
   4. Jurisdiction in the legal system
   5. Using FIRAC to read a case
8. Administrative Law
   1. Introduction to Administration Law
   2. Administrative Agencies
   3. Administrative Procedures Act
   4. Political Control over Agencies
   5. Rule Making and Right to a Court Review
   6. Examples of Administrative Agencies
9. Civil Litigation
   1. Initial client overview
   2. In the investigation stage, the paralegal needs to examine and inquire into the claim
   3. In pretrial litigation, the initial preparation of pleadings to initiate a lawsuit
   4. The settlement means an agreement has been reached before the trial
   5. The order of the trial/appeal
10. Contracts
    1. Case Law and FIRAC
    2. Contracts
    3. Contract Acceptance
    4. Consideration.
    5. Enforcement
    6. Contractual Capacity
    7. Defenses
    8. Third-Party Beneficiaries
    9. Breach
11. Torts
    1. Types of Torts
    2. Torts to Property
    3. Defenses
    4. Cause of action
    5. Defense of Negligence
    6. Strict Liability
12. Criminal Law and Procedure
    1. Introduction
    2. Intent
    3. Crimes-Battery
    4. Crimes-Felony
    5. Elements of the crime
    6. Criminal capacity
    7. Justification
    8. Summary
13. Family Law Outline
    1. Marriage
    2. Divorce and Separation
    3. Child Custody
    4. Child Support
    5. Spousal Support
    6. Adoption
    7. Division of Property
    8. Summary
14. Business Entity Formation
    1. Choice of entity
    2. Sole proprietorship is an entity that is owned by one person
    3. A partnership requires two or individuals operating the partnership
    4. A corporation comes into existence through the filing of Articles of Incorporation
    5. Limited Liability Company is a type of entity that is a cross between a corporation and a partnership
15. Real Estate Law
    1. Real estate law
    2. Importance of contracts in real estate law
    3. Deeds and titles
    4. Lender rights and leases
    5. Real estate development and easements
16. Probate Law and Estate Planning
    1. Introduction to estate planning
    2. Components of a will
    3. Execution of a will
    4. Trusts in estate planning
17. Bankruptcy Law
    1. Chapter 7 bankruptcy
    2. Chapter 11 bankruptcy
    3. Chapter 13 bankruptcy
    4. The bankruptcy process
    5. The perspectives of bankruptcy

What you will learn

• Learn useful and practical office and administrative skills.
• Gain legal research and writing skills.
• Gain exposure to a broad range of law topics and fields.

How you will benefit

• Gain the foundational knowledge required to enter the legal profession.
• Prepare for the NALS Accredited Legal Professional exam.

Katherine Squires Pang, J.D., LL.M., M.Ed has practiced law with since 1983. She has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Management at the University of Texas, Dallas, and has been an adjunct faculty member of many universities, including New York University and UC Irvine. She received her B.A. in 1980 from Clark University, her J.D. from the University of Dayton Law School in 1982, her LL.M in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School in 1983, and her M.Ed from the University of Texas in 2001.

In this online course, you will train for a career as a paralegal. You will learn how to fulfill the standard duties associated with this vital role. By course completion, you will be prepared to sit for and pass the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Exam Requirements:

You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.

1. Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:

• (a) approved by the American Bar Association; or
• (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
• (In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.)
• (d) a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.

(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)

*Note: (15 semester hours = 225 clock hours) - This course is 225 hours and can be combined with 45 semester hours to meet the 60 semester hours required in option 1(e). If you do not have 45 semester hours, you will need to meet eligibility with category 2 or 3)

2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.

(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)

3. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven (7) years' experience as a legal assistant/paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education completed within a two-year period prior to application for the examination.

(Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting a certificate of completions of CLE taken.)

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Introduction to Paralegalism, by William P. Statsky,
• Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work, by Roger Miller and Mary Meinzinger
• Access to Westlaw: Legal Solutions
• After successful completion of the course and financial obligation you will receive access to the Certified Paralegal Exam review self-study courses, which includes:
  • Membership
  • Access to the self-study courses

Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals take on a variety of tasks ranging from legal research to drafting legal documents in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.

The Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce. You will learn how to conduct legal research and legal interviews, how to perform legal analyses, and more. As you prepare for your paralegal career, you will also receive soft skills training to increase workplace effectiveness. The course concludes with a capstone project and a portfolio review. You will first create a complete litigation file that includes: a legal analysis brief, an investigative report, client interview checklist, intake memo, complaint, legal research, and interoffice memorandum of law. Then, you will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you would make for your next employer.

Through a partnership with National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), you will also receive membership and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam Review courses should you choose to take the NALA CP exam at a future time.

1. Paralegal in the Legal System
2. Paralegal Employment
3. On-the-Job Realities
4. Regulation of Paralegals
5. Attorney and Paralegal Ethics
6. Introduction to the Legal System
7. Introduction to Legal Analysis
8. Legal Interviewing
9. Investigation in a Law Office
10. Litigation Management
11. Legal Research 101
12. Advanced Legal Research
13. Legal Writing
14. Introduction to the Use of Computers
15. Introduction to Law Office Administration
16. Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law
17. Contracts, Insurance, and Property Law
18. Estates and Family Law
19. Laws Affecting Business
20. Criminal Law
21. Capstone

What you will learn

• Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
• Master how to perform legal research and interviews
• Prepare yourself to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• Understand the basics of litigation communication skills
• Soft skills for workplace effectiveness
• Learn necessary skills required to thrive within the legal industry

How you will benefit

• Jump-start your career as a paralegal
• Work with an instructor for one-on-one assistance, and receive free access to NALA Campus and Westlaw
• Prepare a professional resume and portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge

Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.

In this online course, you will train for a career as a paralegal. You will learn how to fulfill the standard duties associated with this vital role. By course completion, you will be prepared to sit for and pass the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Exam Requirements:

You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.

1. Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:

• (a) approved by the American Bar Association; or
• (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
• (In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.)
• (d) a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.

(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)

*Note: (15 semester hours = 225 clock hours) - This course is 225 hours and can be combined with 45 semester hours to meet the 60 semester hours required in option 1(e). If you do not have 45 semester hours, you will need to meet eligibility with category 2 or 3)

2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.

(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)

3. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven (7) years' experience as a legal assistant/paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education completed within a two-year period prior to application for the examination.

(Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting a certificate of completions of CLE taken.)

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Introduction to Paralegalism, by William P. Statsky,
• Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work, by Roger Miller and Mary Meinzinger
• Access to Westlaw: Legal Solutions
• After successful completion of the course and financial obligation you will receive access to the Certified Paralegal Exam review self-study courses, which includes:
  • Membership
  • Access to the self-study courses

Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals take on a variety of tasks ranging from legal research to drafting legal documents in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.

The Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce. You will learn how to conduct legal research and legal interviews, how to perform legal analyses, and more. As you prepare for your paralegal career, you will also receive soft skills training to increase workplace effectiveness. The course concludes with a capstone project and a portfolio review. You will first create a complete litigation file that includes: a legal analysis brief, an investigative report, client interview checklist, intake memo, complaint, legal research, and interoffice memorandum of law. Then, you will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you would make for your next employer.

Through a partnership with National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), you will also receive membership and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam Review courses should you choose to take the NALA CP exam at a future time.

1. Paralegal in the Legal System
2. Paralegal Employment
3. On-the-Job Realities
4. Regulation of Paralegals
5. Attorney and Paralegal Ethics
6. Introduction to the Legal System
7. Introduction to Legal Analysis
8. Legal Interviewing
9. Investigation in a Law Office
10. Litigation Management
11. Legal Research 101
12. Advanced Legal Research
13. Legal Writing
14. Introduction to the Use of Computers
15. Introduction to Law Office Administration
16. Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law
17. Contracts, Insurance, and Property Law
18. Estates and Family Law
19. Laws Affecting Business
20. Criminal Law
21. Capstone

What you will learn

• Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
• Master how to perform legal research and interviews
• Prepare yourself to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• Understand the basics of litigation communication skills
• Soft skills for workplace effectiveness
• Learn necessary skills required to thrive within the legal industry

How you will benefit

• Jump-start your career as a paralegal
• Work with an instructor for one-on-one assistance, and receive free access to NALA Campus and Westlaw
• Prepare a professional resume and portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge

Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.

In this online course, you will train for a career as a paralegal. You will learn how to fulfill the standard duties associated with this vital role. After completing this course, you will be prepared to sit for and pass the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Exam Requirements:

You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.

1. Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:

• (a) approved by the American Bar Association; or
• (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
• (In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.)
• (d) a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.

(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)

*Note: (15 semester hours = 225 clock hours) - This course is 225 hours and can be combined with 45 semester hours to meet the 60 semester hours required in option 1(e). If you do not have 45 semester hours, you will need to meet eligibility with category 2 or 3)

2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.

(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)

3. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven (7) years' experience as a legal assistant/paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education completed within a two-year period prior to application for the examination.

(Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting a certificate of completions of CLE taken.)

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Introduction to Paralegalism, by William P. Statsky,
• Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work, by Roger Miller and Mary Meinzinger
• Access to Westlaw: Legal Solutions
• After successful completion of the course and financial obligation you will receive access to the Certified Paralegal Exam review self-study courses, which includes:
  • Membership
  • Access to the self-study courses

Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals take on a variety of tasks ranging from legal research to drafting legal documents in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.

The Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce. You will learn how to conduct legal research and legal interviews, how to perform legal analyses, and more. As you prepare for your paralegal career, you will also receive soft skills training to increase workplace effectiveness. The course concludes with a capstone project and a portfolio review. You will first create a complete litigation file that includes: a legal analysis brief, an investigative report, client interview checklist, intake memo, complaint, legal research, and interoffice memorandum of law. Then, you will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you would make for your next employer.

Through a partnership with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), you will also receive membership and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam Review courses should you choose to take the NALA CP exam at a future time.

1. Paralegal in the Legal System
2. Paralegal Employment
3. On-the-Job Realities
4. Regulation of Paralegals
5. Attorney and Paralegal Ethics
6. Introduction to the Legal System
7. Introduction to Legal Analysis
8. Legal Interviewing
9. Investigation in a Law Office
10. Litigation Management
11. Legal Research 101
12. Advanced Legal Research
13. Legal Writing
14. Introduction to the Use of Computers
15. Introduction to Law Office Administration
16. Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law
17. Contracts, Insurance, and Property Law
18. Estates and Family Law
19. Laws Affecting Business
20. Criminal Law
21. Capstone

What you will learn

• Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
• Master how to perform legal research and interviews
• Prepare yourself to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• Understand the basics of litigation communication skills
• Soft skills for workplace effectiveness
• Learn necessary skills required to thrive within the legal industry

How you will benefit

• Jump-start your career as a paralegal
• Work with an instructor for one-on-one assistance, and receive free access to NALA Campus and Westlaw
• Prepare a professional resume and portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge

Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.

In this online course, you will train for a career as a paralegal. You will learn how to fulfill the standard duties associated with this vital role. After completing this course, you will be prepared to sit for and pass the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Office (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Exam Requirements:

You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.

1. Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:

• (a) approved by the American Bar Association; or
• (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
• (In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.)
• (d) a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
• (e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.

(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)

*Note: (15 semester hours = 225 clock hours) - This course is 225 hours and can be combined with 45 semester hours to meet the 60 semester hours required in option 1(e). If you do not have 45 semester hours, you will need to meet eligibility with category 2 or 3)

2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.

(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)

3. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven (7) years' experience as a legal assistant/paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education completed within a two-year period prior to application for the examination.

(Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting a certificate of completions of CLE taken.)

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Introduction to Paralegalism, by William P. Statsky,
• Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work, by Roger Miller and Mary Meinzinger
• Access to Westlaw: Legal Solutions
• After successful completion of the course and financial obligation you will receive access to the Certified Paralegal Exam review self-study courses, which includes:
  • Membership
  • Access to the self-study courses

Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals take on a variety of tasks ranging from legal research to drafting legal documents in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.

The Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce. You will learn how to conduct legal research and legal interviews, how to perform legal analyses, and more. As you prepare for your paralegal career, you will also receive soft skills training to increase workplace effectiveness. The course concludes with a capstone project and a portfolio review. You will first create a complete litigation file that includes: a legal analysis brief, an investigative report, client interview checklist, intake memo, complaint, legal research, and interoffice memorandum of law. Then, you will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you would make for your next employer.

Through a partnership with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), you will also receive membership and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam Review courses should you choose to take the NALA CP exam at a future time.

1. Paralegal in the Legal System
2. Paralegal Employment
3. On-the-Job Realities
4. Regulation of Paralegals
5. Attorney and Paralegal Ethics
6. Introduction to the Legal System
7. Introduction to Legal Analysis
8. Legal Interviewing
9. Investigation in a Law Office
10. Litigation Management
11. Legal Research 101
12. Advanced Legal Research
13. Legal Writing
14. Introduction to the Use of Computers
15. Introduction to Law Office Administration
16. Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law
17. Contracts, Insurance, and Property Law
18. Estates and Family Law
19. Laws Affecting Business
20. Criminal Law
21. Capstone

What you will learn

• Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
• Master how to perform legal research and interviews
• Prepare yourself to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• Understand the basics of litigation communication skills
• Soft skills for workplace effectiveness
• Learn necessary skills required to thrive within the legal industry

How you will benefit

• Jump-start your career as a paralegal
• Work with an instructor for one-on-one assistance, and receive free access to NALA Campus and Westlaw
• Prepare a professional resume and portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge

Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.

This online course will teach you the skills needed to sit for the Oral Component of any State Court Interpreting Certification exams.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

A State Spanish Court Interpreter certification examination is a rigorous exam that requires intensive training and access to practices. The Court Interpreter course includes the finest online interpreting laboratory in the market.

You will be able to practice numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding. The material presented in each lecture is immediately practiced in the online laboratory to make sure that you are able not only to memorize the transfer of a word or phrase, but also are able to interpret as it is required in a court of law. You will learn how to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Arraignment
   2. Pre-trial Hearings
   3. Preliminary Hearings
   4. Criminal Terminology
   5. Trials
   6. Sentencing
   7. Progress Reports
   8. Probation Violation Hearings
   9. Colloquialisms
   10. Simultaneous Techniques
   11. Consecutive Techniques
   12. Criminal Offenses in the State Jurisdiction
   13. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanors in State Court
   2. Felonies in State Court
   3. Waivers and Plea Forms
   4. DUI/DWI – Driving under the influence/Driving while intoxicating
   5. Domestic Violence
   6. Drug Terminology
   7. Drug Possession cases
   8. Firearms Terminology
   9. Fingerprint Terminology
   10. Gang Terminology
   11. Juvenile Court Terminology
   12. Children's Court Terminology
   13. Typical Court Proceedings – Misdemeanors
   14. Typical Court Proceedings – Felonies
   15. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
3. Sight Translation for Court Interpreters
   1. Principles of localization
   2. Re-structuring techniques
   3. Equivalent legal structures
   4. Interferences – Filtering syntactical and grammatical interferences
   5. Style in the delivery
   6. Exam taking techniques - Objective versus subjective grading
   7. Transferring of low, regular and high register documents into the opposite language
   8. Formal criminal and civil vocabulary and the equivalent transfer
   9. Interpreting Laboratory Practices

What you will learn

• Learn best interpreting techniques - simultaneous, consecutive and sight translation
• Understand criminal and civil terminology in both Spanish and English and the corresponding transfer into the opposite language
• Develop an understanding of drug, firearm, fingerprint and gang terminology, colloquialisms and slangs, juvenile court terminology, and children's court terminology
• Master the necessary material to sit in a State Spanish Court Interpreter examination
• Grasp courtroom protocol and ethics of the court interpreter

How you will benefit

• Become prepared to take the State Court Interpreter Certification Exam
• Jump-start your career as a certified state court interpreter
• Learn both the technical and ethical skills required to do the job
• Access intensive laboratory programs that will allow you to practice your skills and gain experience

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community. Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as speakers in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in the transfer of legal and non-legal terminology. Mr. Wagner holds a Master degree from the University of Washington.

This online course will teach you the skills needed to sit for the Oral Component of any State Court Interpreting Certification exams.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

A State Spanish Court Interpreter certification examination is a rigorous exam that requires intensive training and access to practices. The Court Interpreter course includes the finest online interpreting laboratory in the market.

You will be able to practice numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding. The material presented in each lecture is immediately practiced in the online laboratory to make sure that you are able not only to memorize the transfer of a word or phrase, but also are able to interpret as it is required in a court of law. You will learn how to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Arraignment
   2. Pre-trial Hearings
   3. Preliminary Hearings
   4. Criminal Terminology
   5. Trials
   6. Sentencing
   7. Progress Reports
   8. Probation Violation Hearings
   9. Colloquialisms
   10. Simultaneous Techniques
   11. Consecutive Techniques
   12. Criminal Offenses in the State Jurisdiction
   13. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanors in State Court
   2. Felonies in State Court
   3. Waivers and Plea Forms
   4. DUI/DWI – Driving under the influence/Driving while intoxicating
   5. Domestic Violence
   6. Drug Terminology
   7. Drug Possession cases
   8. Firearms Terminology
   9. Fingerprint Terminology
   10. Gang Terminology
   11. Juvenile Court Terminology
   12. Children's Court Terminology
   13. Typical Court Proceedings – Misdemeanors
   14. Typical Court Proceedings – Felonies
   15. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
3. Sight Translation for Court Interpreters
   1. Principles of localization
   2. Re-structuring techniques
   3. Equivalent legal structures
   4. Interferences – Filtering syntactical and grammatical interferences
   5. Style in the delivery
   6. Exam taking techniques - Objective versus subjective grading
   7. Transferring of low, regular and high register documents into the opposite language
   8. Formal criminal and civil vocabulary and the equivalent transfer
   9. Interpreting Laboratory Practices

What you will learn

• Learn best interpreting techniques - simultaneous, consecutive and sight translation
• Understand criminal and civil terminology in both Spanish and English and the corresponding transfer into the opposite language
• Develop an understanding of drug, firearm, fingerprint and gang terminology, colloquialisms and slangs, juvenile court terminology, and children's court terminology
• Master the necessary material to sit in a State Spanish Court Interpreter examination
• Grasp courtroom protocol and ethics of the court interpreter

How you will benefit

• Become prepared to take the State Court Interpreter Certification Exam
• Jump-start your career as a certified state court interpreter
• Learn both the technical and ethical skills required to do the job
• Access intensive laboratory programs that will allow you to practice your skills and gain experience

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community. Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as speakers in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in the transfer of legal and non-legal terminology. Mr. Wagner holds a Master degree from the University of Washington.

This course is designed to give participants a thorough understanding of how to be a digital court reporter, as well as broad training for covering legal proceedings. Individuals taking this course will learn about the court system, laws, ethics, professionalism, legal procedure, and digital reporting software and equipment and be ready to take the AAERT Certified Electronic Reporters Exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.
• If using a desktop computer with no internal sound card, it may be necessary to plug in an external USB microphone.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome is preferred. Mozilla Firefox and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Digital Reporter Console-Basic Edition will be provided partially through the course
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This digital court reporting program prepares students to enter the high-demand field of court reporting. Currently, the industry is experiencing a severe shortage of court reporters with a need for an additional 10,000 nationwide. This well-established shortage presents a substantial opportunity for those seeking a rewarding career with a secure future. Digital reporters can work in the freelance market for a court reporting agency or work as a full-time government employee at a courthouse.

This course thoroughly prepares you for AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) national certification, CER (Certified Electronic Reporter) exam. The AAERT certification is the leading certification for courts and businesses throughout the United States and is required by various court systems and agencies for employment.

Note: If taking the course to prepare for the exam, please research the locations you are interested in working to determine whether they use digital reporting methods. Then ask if they recognize AAERT certification.

1. The Legal System
   1. Court System
   2. Laws
   3. Life Cycle of a Case
   4. Proceedings
2. Terminology
   1. Historic Terminology
   2. Legal Terminology
   3. Medical Terminology
   4. Business Terminology
3. Hardware
   1. Sound
   2. Audio Equipment
   3. Additional Equipment
4. Your Software and Annotations
   1. Software
   2. Annotations
   3. Annotation Practice
5. On the Job and On the Record
   1. Before the Proceeding
   2. During the Proceeding
   3. After the Proceeding
   4. Working with a Legal Videographer
6. Court Work and Large Proceedings
   1. Intro to Courtroom Proceedings
   2. Types of Court Proceedings
   3. Court Annotations
   4. Large Proceedings
7. Professionalism in the Legal System
   1. Professionalism and Decorum
   2. Ethics
   3. Maintain Confidentiality
8. Course Wrap up
   1. The Transcript
   2. AAERT Certification Information
   3. Final Test

What you will learn

• Digital court reporting procedure for all types of proceedings; depositions, hearings, trials, etc
• Digital reporting hardware and software, including practice using digital recording software
• Fundamentals of the United States legal system
• Professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• Legal, medical, and industry terminology

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills you need to become a successful digital reporter who can work in the field and at home
• Be in a position to sit for and pass the AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) exam
• AAERT certification vastly improves your marketability when applying for work at freelance agencies or court systems, some of which require the certification by law or because of government contracts

Merritt Gilbert is legal professional with over 10 years of industry experience. She is a Certified Electronic Reporter and holds a Certificate of Voice Writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Natalie Hartsfield is court reporter with more than 10 years of experience in the legal field. She has taught court reporting since 2007. Natalie holds an Occupational Associate Degree in Court Reporting from Stenotype Institute.

This course is designed to give participants a thorough understanding of how to be a digital court reporter, as well as broad training for covering legal proceedings. Individuals taking this course will learn about the court system, laws, ethics, professionalism, legal procedure, and digital reporting software and equipment and be ready to take the AAERT Certified Electronic Reporters Exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.
• If using a desktop computer with no internal sound card, it may be necessary to plug in an external USB microphone.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome is preferred. Mozilla Firefox and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Digital Reporter Console-Basic Edition will be provided partially through the course
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This digital court reporting program prepares students to enter the high-demand field of court reporting. Currently, the industry is experiencing a severe shortage of court reporters with a need for an additional 10,000 nationwide. This well-established shortage presents a substantial opportunity for those seeking a rewarding career with a secure future. Digital reporters can work in the freelance market for a court reporting agency or work as a full-time government employee at a courthouse.

This course thoroughly prepares you for AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) national certification, CER (Certified Electronic Reporter) exam. The AAERT certification is the leading certification for courts and businesses throughout the United States and is required by various court systems and agencies for employment.

Note: If taking the course to prepare for the exam, please research the locations you are interested in working to determine whether they use digital reporting methods. Then ask if they recognize AAERT certification.

1. The Legal System
   1. Court System
   2. Laws
   3. Life Cycle of a Case
   4. Proceedings
2. Terminology
   1. Historic Terminology
   2. Legal Terminology
   3. Medical Terminology
   4. Business Terminology
3. Hardware
   1. Sound
   2. Audio Equipment
   3. Additional Equipment
4. Your Software and Annotations
   1. Software
   2. Annotations
   3. Annotation Practice
5. On the Job and On the Record
   1. Before the Proceeding
   2. During the Proceeding
   3. After the Proceeding
   4. Working with a Legal Videographer
6. Court Work and Large Proceedings
   1. Intro to Courtroom Proceedings
   2. Types of Court Proceedings
   3. Court Annotations
   4. Large Proceedings
7. Professionalism in the Legal System
   1. Professionalism and Decorum
   2. Ethics
   3. Maintain Confidentiality
8. Course Wrap up
   1. The Transcript
   2. AAERT Certification Information
   3. Final Test

What you will learn

• Digital court reporting procedure for all types of proceedings; depositions, hearings, trials, etc
• Digital reporting hardware and software, including practice using digital recording software
• Fundamentals of the United States legal system
• Professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• Legal, medical, and industry terminology

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills you need to become a successful digital reporter who can work in the field and at home
• Be in a position to sit for and pass the AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) exam
• AAERT certification vastly improves your marketability when applying for work at freelance agencies or court systems, some of which require the certification by law or because of government contracts

Merritt Gilbert is legal professional with over 10 years of industry experience. She is a Certified Electronic Reporter and holds a Certificate of Voice Writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Natalie Hartsfield is court reporter with more than 10 years of experience in the legal field. She has taught court reporting since 2007. Natalie holds an Occupational Associate Degree in Court Reporting from Stenotype Institute.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees as a manager, supervisor, small business owner, human resource specialist, or corporate executive. This course will explain the difference between an employee and independent contractor: the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring; evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules.

You will gain an inside view of the law with court examples, real situations, and prevention strategies that prepare you to effectively resolve workplace issues. You will learn effective communication techniques, negotiation strategies, and what to expect if you do go to court. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
• This course is based on U.S. Employment Laws and is not suitable for other areas.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Are all workers employees? In this lesson, you'll learn to recognize the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. This will enable you to properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees. You'll take a look at a real court case to see how courts decide if someone is properly classified.

Employment Benefits

Do you wish you could retire to the beach with solid employment benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and vacation leave in place? In this lesson, you'll look at the legal requirements relating to employment benefits. You may be surprised to learn what the law does and doesn't require! The lesson will also talk about the reasons companies provide benefits for their employees.

Hiring Practices

Do you ever find yourself stuck with employees who aren't producing? This lesson will focus on ways to screen applicants for employment to keep poor employees out and find a good match between the job and skill level of an applicant. As the saying goes, it's better to have strong hiring practices than to deal with a problem employee later on.

Evaluating Employees

Ever wonder what to do with your employees and how to keep them effectively producing? This lesson will focus on evaluation, discipline, and termination processes. You'll learn how to tackle these tough issues without violating any laws in the process.

Employment Disputes

If you ever have to deal with upset people at work (employee outbursts, customer complaints, or vendor concerns) then this lesson is for you! This lesson will show you some dispute resolution tools that will help you turn conflicts into win-win situations.

Employment Disputes in Court

Do you ever wonder what happens behind courthouse doors? This lesson will talk about the litigation process from start to finish so that you'll know what to expect if you someday find yourself in court. It will also go over legal jargon—words like depositions and interrogatories—so that you really understand the words lawyers commonly use.

Discrimination and Title VII

While discrimination should be a thing of the past, prejudice still pops up in the workplace. This lesson will talk about how to comply with Title VII law, which prohibits discrimination at work. The examples and strategies discussed here will make this law easy to understand.

More Discrimination Laws

Has anyone ever requested a special accommodation from you? This lesson will explore what the laws are about this issue. You'll find out what your duty is regarding accommodation and learn to analyze your workplace to determine whether it's compliant.

Labor Unions

Suppose there's labor talk whispered in the halls of your workplace. What do you do? This lesson will discuss the legal rights of unions to organize. You'll also consider unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for.

Labor Negotiations

Collective bargaining, grievance and appeal, strikes—what do these things have in common? They're all processes that can occur in a union environment. This lesson will talk about how to prepare for and handle union bargaining and appeals.

Workplace Safety

What are your obligations when it comes to keeping employees safe on the job? This lesson will focus on employee safety and reporting. You'll get Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment.

Legal Compliance

Legal compliance requires an entire corporate strategy. The final lesson will focus on tools, tactics, and resources you can use to create an environment of compliance in your workplace.

What you will learn

• Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor and properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees
• Learn to screen applicants effectively
• Discover dispute resolution tools to handle disputes in the workplace
• Learn about the litigation process and laws that affect your workplace, such as discrimination laws and special accommodation laws
• Explore unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for
• Learn what your obligations are to keep your employees safe and discover Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment
• Discover tools, tactics, and resources to create an environment of compliance in your workplace

How you will benefit

• Know how to effectively screen applicants and develop strong hiring practices
• Be ready to resolve any type of conflict and turn it into a win-win situation
• Be familiar with laws that govern a safe, fair, and compliant workplace for your employees

Ann Nevers holds a law degree and a master's in health law. She works in dispute resolution for business, employment, and health care and regularly teaches courses in these areas. She has published numerous academic articles, edited legal manuals, and written chapters on employment, dispute resolution, and health care topics.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees as a manager, supervisor, small business owner, human resource specialist, or corporate executive. This course will explain the difference between an employee and independent contractor: the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring; evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules.

You will gain an inside view of the law with court examples, real situations, and prevention strategies that prepare you to effectively resolve workplace issues. You will learn effective communication techniques, negotiation strategies, and what to expect if you do go to court. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
• This course is based on U.S. Employment Laws and is not suitable for other areas.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Are all workers employees? In this lesson, you'll learn to recognize the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. This will enable you to properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees. You'll take a look at a real court case to see how courts decide if someone is properly classified.

Employment Benefits

Do you wish you could retire to the beach with solid employment benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and vacation leave in place? In this lesson, you'll look at the legal requirements relating to employment benefits. You may be surprised to learn what the law does and doesn't require! The lesson will also talk about the reasons companies provide benefits for their employees.

Hiring Practices

Do you ever find yourself stuck with employees who aren't producing? This lesson will focus on ways to screen applicants for employment to keep poor employees out and find a good match between the job and skill level of an applicant. As the saying goes, it's better to have strong hiring practices than to deal with a problem employee later on.

Evaluating Employees

Ever wonder what to do with your employees and how to keep them effectively producing? This lesson will focus on evaluation, discipline, and termination processes. You'll learn how to tackle these tough issues without violating any laws in the process.

Employment Disputes

If you ever have to deal with upset people at work (employee outbursts, customer complaints, or vendor concerns) then this lesson is for you! This lesson will show you some dispute resolution tools that will help you turn conflicts into win-win situations.

Employment Disputes in Court

Do you ever wonder what happens behind courthouse doors? This lesson will talk about the litigation process from start to finish so that you'll know what to expect if you someday find yourself in court. It will also go over legal jargon—words like depositions and interrogatories—so that you really understand the words lawyers commonly use.

Discrimination and Title VII

While discrimination should be a thing of the past, prejudice still pops up in the workplace. This lesson will talk about how to comply with Title VII law, which prohibits discrimination at work. The examples and strategies discussed here will make this law easy to understand.

More Discrimination Laws

Has anyone ever requested a special accommodation from you? This lesson will explore what the laws are about this issue. You'll find out what your duty is regarding accommodation and learn to analyze your workplace to determine whether it's compliant.

Labor Unions

Suppose there's labor talk whispered in the halls of your workplace. What do you do? This lesson will discuss the legal rights of unions to organize. You'll also consider unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for.

Labor Negotiations

Collective bargaining, grievance and appeal, strikes—what do these things have in common? They're all processes that can occur in a union environment. This lesson will talk about how to prepare for and handle union bargaining and appeals.

Workplace Safety

What are your obligations when it comes to keeping employees safe on the job? This lesson will focus on employee safety and reporting. You'll get Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment.

Legal Compliance

Legal compliance requires an entire corporate strategy. The final lesson will focus on tools, tactics, and resources you can use to create an environment of compliance in your workplace.

What you will learn

• Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor and properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees
• Learn to screen applicants effectively
• Discover dispute resolution tools to handle disputes in the workplace
• Learn about the litigation process and laws that affect your workplace, such as discrimination laws and special accommodation laws
• Explore unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for
• Learn what your obligations are to keep your employees safe and discover Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment
• Discover tools, tactics, and resources to create an environment of compliance in your workplace

How you will benefit

• Know how to effectively screen applicants and develop strong hiring practices
• Be ready to resolve any type of conflict and turn it into a win-win situation
• Be familiar with laws that govern a safe, fair, and compliant workplace for your employees

Ann Nevers holds a law degree and a master's in health law. She works in dispute resolution for business, employment, and health care and regularly teaches courses in these areas. She has published numerous academic articles, edited legal manuals, and written chapters on employment, dispute resolution, and health care topics.

This online course will teach you the skills needed to sit for the Oral Component of any State and Federal Court Interpreting Certification exams.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

State and Federal Spanish Court Interpreter certification examinations are rigorous exams that require intensive training and access to practice courses. The Federal Court Interpreter course includes the finest online interpreting laboratory in the market. You will be able to practice numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding, both at the state and the federal levels.

The material presented in each lecture is immediately practiced in the online laboratory to make sure that you are able not only to memorize the transfer of a word or phrase, but also are able to interpret as it is required in a court of law. This course also prepares you to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Arraignment
   2. Pre-trial Hearings
   3. Preliminary Hearings
   4. Criminal Terminology
   5. Trials
   6. Sentencing
   7. Progress Reports
   8. Probation Violation Hearings
   9. Colloquialisms
   10. Simultaneous Techniques
   11. Consecutive Techniques
   12. Criminal Offenses in the State Jurisdiction
   13. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanors in State Court
   2. Felonies in State Court
   3. Waivers and Plea Forms
   4. DUI/DWI – Driving under the influence/Driving while intoxicating
   5. Domestic Violence
   6. Drug Terminology
   7. Drug Possession cases
   8. Firearms Terminology
   9. Fingerprint Terminology
   10. Gang Terminology
   11. Juvenile Court Terminology
   12. Children's Court Terminology
   13. Typical Court Proceedings – Misdemeanors
   14. Typical Court Proceedings – Felonies
   15. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
3. Advanced Interpreting Techniques in Criminal and Civil Matters
   1. Parties involved in Federal Courts
   2. Federal Crimes
   3. Family Law Court
   4. Probate Court
   5. Contracts Law
   6. Advanced Sight Translations – Federal Level
   7. Advanced Consecutive Techniques
   8. Expert Witness Testimony – DNA
   9. Expert Witness Testimony – Computer Forensics
   10. Differences in the transfer of Criminal and Civil Legal Terminology
   11. Drug Trafficking
   12. Exam-Taking Techniques
4. Interpreting Laboratory Practices

What you will learn

• Understand interpreting techniques - simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation
• Learn criminal and civil terminology in both Spanish and English and the corresponding transfer into the opposite language
• Master drug, firearm, fingerprint, gang terminology
• Study juvenile court and children's court terminology
• Explore the necessary material to sit in either a State or Federal Spanish Court Interpreter examination
• Understand courtroom protocol and the ethics of the court interpreter

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills needed to work as an English to Spanish or Spanish to English translator
• Gain confidence in your abilities by practicing numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding, both at the state and the federal levels
• Understand the legal regulations required to work as a federal court interpreter
• Become prepared to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community. Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as speakers in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in the transfer of legal and non-legal terminology. Mr. Wagner holds a Master degree from the University of Washington.

This online course will teach you the skills needed to sit for the Oral Component of any State and Federal Court Interpreting Certification exams.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

State and Federal Spanish Court Interpreter certification examinations are rigorous exams that require intensive training and access to practice courses. The Federal Court Interpreter course includes the finest online interpreting laboratory in the market. You will be able to practice numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding, both at the state and the federal levels.

The material presented in each lecture is immediately practiced in the online laboratory to make sure that you are able not only to memorize the transfer of a word or phrase, but also are able to interpret as it is required in a court of law. This course also prepares you to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Arraignment
   2. Pre-trial Hearings
   3. Preliminary Hearings
   4. Criminal Terminology
   5. Trials
   6. Sentencing
   7. Progress Reports
   8. Probation Violation Hearings
   9. Colloquialisms
   10. Simultaneous Techniques
   11. Consecutive Techniques
   12. Criminal Offenses in the State Jurisdiction
   13. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanors in State Court
   2. Felonies in State Court
   3. Waivers and Plea Forms
   4. DUI/DWI – Driving under the influence/Driving while intoxicating
   5. Domestic Violence
   6. Drug Terminology
   7. Drug Possession cases
   8. Firearms Terminology
   9. Fingerprint Terminology
   10. Gang Terminology
   11. Juvenile Court Terminology
   12. Children's Court Terminology
   13. Typical Court Proceedings – Misdemeanors
   14. Typical Court Proceedings – Felonies
   15. Interpreting Laboratory Practices
3. Advanced Interpreting Techniques in Criminal and Civil Matters
   1. Parties involved in Federal Courts
   2. Federal Crimes
   3. Family Law Court
   4. Probate Court
   5. Contracts Law
   6. Advanced Sight Translations – Federal Level
   7. Advanced Consecutive Techniques
   8. Expert Witness Testimony – DNA
   9. Expert Witness Testimony – Computer Forensics
   10. Differences in the transfer of Criminal and Civil Legal Terminology
   11. Drug Trafficking
   12. Exam-Taking Techniques
4. Interpreting Laboratory Practices

What you will learn

• Understand interpreting techniques - simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation
• Learn criminal and civil terminology in both Spanish and English and the corresponding transfer into the opposite language
• Master drug, firearm, fingerprint, gang terminology
• Study juvenile court and children's court terminology
• Explore the necessary material to sit in either a State or Federal Spanish Court Interpreter examination
• Understand courtroom protocol and the ethics of the court interpreter

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills needed to work as an English to Spanish or Spanish to English translator
• Gain confidence in your abilities by practicing numerous court cases as if they were in an actual court proceeding, both at the state and the federal levels
• Understand the legal regulations required to work as a federal court interpreter
• Become prepared to interpret in any civil deposition and any other legal proceeding in the criminal and in the civil jurisdictions

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community. Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as speakers in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in the transfer of legal and non-legal terminology. Mr. Wagner holds a Master degree from the University of Washington.

Learn how to comply with the duties, rights, and responsibilities of HIPAA, ARRA & HITECH.

Are you a health care professional or considering a career in the health care industry, or do you provide services to a health care organization? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is mandatory that you understand the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA. These laws require all health care professionals to take careful steps to protect protected health information. In this course you will examine the compliance process. You will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA. This course will give real world examples to explain the Privacy rule. You will examine what is meant by covered entities, business associates, and many other relationships within the health care industry impacted by HIPAA. You will understand how computers fit into the Security Rule and examine many types of safeguards, which are crucial components of the Security Rule. You will also learn about the Office for Civil Rights, HIPAA's watchdog organization.

By the time you finish this course, you will be confident and capable of implementing HIPAA's Administrative Simplification rules, and the laws impacting it, in your own organization. If you are just starting your career in the health care field, you will have a priceless addition to your resume.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you are just starting your career in the health care field, HIPAA Compliance training is a priceless addition to your resume. This course provides an understanding of the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA.

Introduction to HIPAA

The first lesson will lay out the foundation of HIPAA so that you'll understand the motivation behind the law. It will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA and give you a good idea of its goals. As with any law, noncompliance comes at a price, so you'll also take a look at the penalties involved for anyone who ignores HIPAA's requirements.

HIPAA's Major Players: Covered Entities, Business Associates, and Related Organizations

Are you interested in working in a medical or dental office, an insurance company, or a government agency like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Department of Health and Human Services? All of these organizations are subject to HIPAA, and all of them have to work together. In this lesson, you'll learn which groups must comply with HIPAA's rules and standards as they gather and transmit health-related information. By the time you're done with this lesson, you'll know the difference between a covered entity, a business associate, and a trading partner.

Transactions, Code Sets, and Identifiers

It's time to put your newfound lingo to use. The overriding goal of HIPAA is to protect personal health information. In this lesson, you'll identify the 12 types of electronic transactions that HIPAA covers. You'll also take a peek at the code sets and identifiers used in these transactions. Transactions, code sets, and identifiers are key to your understanding of HIPAA, and this lesson will put those pieces of the puzzle together.

Introduction to the Privacy Rule

What happens if you or your employer violates the Privacy Rule? Could a court fine you or even send you to jail? What if the privacy breach was unintentional, and you tried to fix it as soon as you found out? Would that have any effect on your punishment? In this lesson, you'll answer these questions and many others as you delve into the administrative requirements of the Privacy Rule. You'll find out about civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance and wrongful disclosure of protected health information.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information

Now that you understand the Privacy Rule, you'll take the next step and delve into the requirements for using and disclosing protected health information (PHI). HIPAA has two types of disclosures: required and permitted. At the end of this lesson, you'll understand the difference between the two. Another concept that figures heavily into the entire HIPAA picture is minimum necessary. You'll see how this concept fits neatly into the issue of PHI disclosures.

Patient Rights

Under HIPAA, patients have seven fundamental privacy rights. You'll examine those rights in this lesson and find out what procedures HIPAA requires to ensure that patients can access their own medical information and control how others disclose that information. You'll also see how state laws can expand on HIPAA's provisions.

Introduction to the Security Rule

The Security Rule is the companion to HIPAA's Privacy Rule. In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the concept of information security. Security has its own key terms, and you'll spend some time on them so that you'll be familiar with their meanings. If you don't know the difference between a hacker and a spoofer, you will by the time this lesson is done! The lesson will also address the various threats that can exist when you electronically handle and transmit protected health information.

Risk Management and the Security Rule Standards

How common are security breaches in the real world, and what effects can they have? As you continue to investigate HIPAA's Security Rule, you'll explore its fundamental approach to addressing security. You'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule, then go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also examine the frequency and costs of some real-life security breaches, which will help you understand why effective security practices matter so much.

Administrative Safeguards

The Security Rule covers three major areas: administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand what administrative safeguards are and how they could affect you at your job.

Physical and Technical Safeguards

Continuing the journey into HIPAA's Security Rule, in this lesson, you'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule. You'll go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also take a look at some real-life security breaches, which should emphasize the need for good security practices.

Compliance, Rules, and Agreements

The previous lessons emphasized how important it is for your organization to comply with HIPAA, but what if one of your business associates fails to comply and leaves your patients' data exposed? In recent years, the federal government has tightened up rules related to business associates and security breaches. In this lesson, you'll explore the rules and laws about compliance and business associates. By the time you're done, you'll understand the basics of a business associate agreement.

HIPAA: Wrapping It Up!

When it's time to begin creating your own policies and procedures to implement HIPAA, it helps to have a framework to follow. That's what this lesson will give you: a description of the most common frameworks available so that you can choose the one that best suits your organization. You'll also look at some healthcare trends so that you'll have an idea of what the future holds for HIPAA.

What you will learn

• Learn about the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA
• Learn about transactions, code sets, and identifiers, which are all key elements in the HIPAA-mandated electronic health care transmissions
• Discover the Privacy Rule, which governs patient rights and disclosure of protected health information
• Learn how computers fit into the Security Rule
• Learn about administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, technical safeguards, and policy and procedure creation
• Learn about the civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance

How you will benefit

• Understand and comply with the requirements of HIPAA
• Know how to best protect patient confidentiality
• Gain a priceless addition to your healthcare resume

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Learn how to comply with the duties, rights, and responsibilities of HIPAA, ARRA & HITECH.

Are you a health care professional or considering a career in the health care industry, or do you provide services to a health care organization? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is mandatory that you understand the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA. These laws require all health care professionals to take careful steps to protect protected health information. In this course you will examine the compliance process. You will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA. This course will give real world examples to explain the Privacy rule. You will examine what is meant by covered entities, business associates, and many other relationships within the health care industry impacted by HIPAA. You will understand how computers fit into the Security Rule and examine many types of safeguards, which are crucial components of the Security Rule. You will also learn about the Office for Civil Rights, HIPAA's watchdog organization.

By the time you finish this course, you will be confident and capable of implementing HIPAA's Administrative Simplification rules, and the laws impacting it, in your own organization. If you are just starting your career in the health care field, you will have a priceless addition to your resume.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you are just starting your career in the health care field, HIPAA Compliance training is a priceless addition to your resume. This course provides an understanding of the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA.

Introduction to HIPAA

The first lesson will lay out the foundation of HIPAA so that you'll understand the motivation behind the law. It will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA and give you a good idea of its goals. As with any law, noncompliance comes at a price, so you'll also take a look at the penalties involved for anyone who ignores HIPAA's requirements.

HIPAA's Major Players: Covered Entities, Business Associates, and Related Organizations

Are you interested in working in a medical or dental office, an insurance company, or a government agency like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Department of Health and Human Services? All of these organizations are subject to HIPAA, and all of them have to work together. In this lesson, you'll learn which groups must comply with HIPAA's rules and standards as they gather and transmit health-related information. By the time you're done with this lesson, you'll know the difference between a covered entity, a business associate, and a trading partner.

Transactions, Code Sets, and Identifiers

It's time to put your newfound lingo to use. The overriding goal of HIPAA is to protect personal health information. In this lesson, you'll identify the 12 types of electronic transactions that HIPAA covers. You'll also take a peek at the code sets and identifiers used in these transactions. Transactions, code sets, and identifiers are key to your understanding of HIPAA, and this lesson will put those pieces of the puzzle together.

Introduction to the Privacy Rule

What happens if you or your employer violates the Privacy Rule? Could a court fine you or even send you to jail? What if the privacy breach was unintentional, and you tried to fix it as soon as you found out? Would that have any effect on your punishment? In this lesson, you'll answer these questions and many others as you delve into the administrative requirements of the Privacy Rule. You'll find out about civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance and wrongful disclosure of protected health information.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information

Now that you understand the Privacy Rule, you'll take the next step and delve into the requirements for using and disclosing protected health information (PHI). HIPAA has two types of disclosures: required and permitted. At the end of this lesson, you'll understand the difference between the two. Another concept that figures heavily into the entire HIPAA picture is minimum necessary. You'll see how this concept fits neatly into the issue of PHI disclosures.

Patient Rights

Under HIPAA, patients have seven fundamental privacy rights. You'll examine those rights in this lesson and find out what procedures HIPAA requires to ensure that patients can access their own medical information and control how others disclose that information. You'll also see how state laws can expand on HIPAA's provisions.

Introduction to the Security Rule

The Security Rule is the companion to HIPAA's Privacy Rule. In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the concept of information security. Security has its own key terms, and you'll spend some time on them so that you'll be familiar with their meanings. If you don't know the difference between a hacker and a spoofer, you will by the time this lesson is done! The lesson will also address the various threats that can exist when you electronically handle and transmit protected health information.

Risk Management and the Security Rule Standards

How common are security breaches in the real world, and what effects can they have? As you continue to investigate HIPAA's Security Rule, you'll explore its fundamental approach to addressing security. You'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule, then go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also examine the frequency and costs of some real-life security breaches, which will help you understand why effective security practices matter so much.

Administrative Safeguards

The Security Rule covers three major areas: administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand what administrative safeguards are and how they could affect you at your job.

Physical and Technical Safeguards

Continuing the journey into HIPAA's Security Rule, in this lesson, you'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule. You'll go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also take a look at some real-life security breaches, which should emphasize the need for good security practices.

Compliance, Rules, and Agreements

The previous lessons emphasized how important it is for your organization to comply with HIPAA, but what if one of your business associates fails to comply and leaves your patients' data exposed? In recent years, the federal government has tightened up rules related to business associates and security breaches. In this lesson, you'll explore the rules and laws about compliance and business associates. By the time you're done, you'll understand the basics of a business associate agreement.

HIPAA: Wrapping It Up!

When it's time to begin creating your own policies and procedures to implement HIPAA, it helps to have a framework to follow. That's what this lesson will give you: a description of the most common frameworks available so that you can choose the one that best suits your organization. You'll also look at some healthcare trends so that you'll have an idea of what the future holds for HIPAA.

What you will learn

• Learn about the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA
• Learn about transactions, code sets, and identifiers, which are all key elements in the HIPAA-mandated electronic health care transmissions
• Discover the Privacy Rule, which governs patient rights and disclosure of protected health information
• Learn how computers fit into the Security Rule
• Learn about administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, technical safeguards, and policy and procedure creation
• Learn about the civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance

How you will benefit

• Understand and comply with the requirements of HIPAA
• Know how to best protect patient confidentiality
• Gain a priceless addition to your healthcare resume

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

This course prepares you to work as an immigration court interpreter (English/Spanish).

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Immigration court interpreters are an essential element in the application of immigration laws. The immigration courts are flooded with respondents waiting their turn to be heard before the court.

Currently, there is no certification exam for immigration court interpreters. According to SOS International LLC (SOSi), candidates must have one year of experience in the legal field, pass a screening test, complete a training program, pass a final completion examination, and finally pass a performance evaluation to be considered an immigration court interpreter. The online Immigration Court Interpreter course addresses all the elements required except the one-year experience in the legal field.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Criminal Terminology
   2. Sample Arraignments
   3. Simultaneous Techniques
   4. Consecutive Techniques
   5. Criminal Offenses
   6. Pre-Trial Hearing
   7. Initial Appearance
   8. Statement of Rights
   9. Preliminary Hearings
   10. Slang Terminology
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanor Plea – Form and Court Proceedings
   2. Misdemeanor Plea – Memorandum
   3. Court Proceeding
   4. Misdemeanor Sentencing – Memorandum – Vehicle Code
   5. Misdemeanor Sentencing – Memorandum
   6. Disorderly Conduct and Indecent Exposure
   7. Felony Plea – Form and Court Proceeding Form
   8. Probation Violation Hearing – Time Waiver & Progress Report
   9. Sample Day in Court as a Court Interpreter
3. Interpreting in Immigration Court
   1. Structure of Immigration Court
   2. Immigration Holds
   3. Immigration Terminology
   4. Immigration Abbreviations
   5. Immigration Forms
   6. Immigration Proceedings
   7. Advisement of Respondent's Rights
   8. Advisement to Respondent: Failure to Appear
   9. Analytical Linguist
   10. Transcription Format

What you will learn

• Immigration court interpreting terminology
• A robust simultaneous and consecutive modes of interpretation
• Ethics, protocol, and professionalism expected in a formal Immigration Court matter
• The typical structures used in Master Calendar Hearings and Merits Hearings

How you will benefit

• This course prepares you for a growing market in interpreting
• You will become familiar with criminal court terminology
• Typically, Immigration Court Interpreters set their own schedule, thus providing you with flexibility

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community.

Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as a speaker in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil, and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in legal and non-legal terminology transfer. Mr. Wagner holds a Master's degree from the University of Washington.

This course prepares you to work as an immigration court interpreter (English/Spanish).

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Immigration court interpreters are an essential element in the application of immigration laws. The immigration courts are flooded with respondents waiting their turn to be heard before the court.

Currently, there is no certification exam for immigration court interpreters. According to SOS International LLC (SOSi), candidates must have one year of experience in the legal field, pass a screening test, complete a training program, pass a final completion examination, and finally pass a performance evaluation to be considered an immigration court interpreter. The online Immigration Court Interpreter course addresses all the elements required except the one-year experience in the legal field.

1. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I
   1. Criminal Terminology
   2. Sample Arraignments
   3. Simultaneous Techniques
   4. Consecutive Techniques
   5. Criminal Offenses
   6. Pre-Trial Hearing
   7. Initial Appearance
   8. Statement of Rights
   9. Preliminary Hearings
   10. Slang Terminology
2. Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II
   1. Misdemeanor Plea – Form and Court Proceedings
   2. Misdemeanor Plea – Memorandum
   3. Court Proceeding
   4. Misdemeanor Sentencing – Memorandum – Vehicle Code
   5. Misdemeanor Sentencing – Memorandum
   6. Disorderly Conduct and Indecent Exposure
   7. Felony Plea – Form and Court Proceeding Form
   8. Probation Violation Hearing – Time Waiver & Progress Report
   9. Sample Day in Court as a Court Interpreter
3. Interpreting in Immigration Court
   1. Structure of Immigration Court
   2. Immigration Holds
   3. Immigration Terminology
   4. Immigration Abbreviations
   5. Immigration Forms
   6. Immigration Proceedings
   7. Advisement of Respondent's Rights
   8. Advisement to Respondent: Failure to Appear
   9. Analytical Linguist
   10. Transcription Format

What you will learn

• Immigration court interpreting terminology
• A robust simultaneous and consecutive modes of interpretation
• Ethics, protocol, and professionalism expected in a formal Immigration Court matter
• The typical structures used in Master Calendar Hearings and Merits Hearings

How you will benefit

• This course prepares you for a growing market in interpreting
• You will become familiar with criminal court terminology
• Typically, Immigration Court Interpreters set their own schedule, thus providing you with flexibility

Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community.

Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as a speaker in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil, and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in legal and non-legal terminology transfer. Mr. Wagner holds a Master's degree from the University of Washington.

Build a foundation in the basic substantive law for the various subjects and some of the filing requirements.

This course covers the different areas within the transactional field such as entity formation and maintenance, including securities and mergers and acquisitions principles and contracts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Build a foundation in the basic substantive law for the various subjects and some of the filing requirements.

1. Introduction and Overview
2. Introduction to Entity Types
3. Entity Types
4. Corporate Formation
5. Corporate Maintenance
6. Dissolving an Entity
7. Securities Laws
8. Mergers and Acquisitions
9. Contracts and Intellectual Property
10. Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy
11. Conclusion

What you will learn

• Entity Types and considerations
• Corporate Formation
• Maintaining / Dissolving an entity
• Securities Laws
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Contracts and Intellectual Property
• Bankruptcy laws for corporations

How you will benefit

• Build a foundation in first-year law school concepts

Self-Study

Build a foundation in the basic substantive law for the various subjects and some of the filing requirements.

This course covers the different areas within the transactional field such as entity formation and maintenance, including securities and mergers and acquisitions principles and contracts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Build a foundation in the basic substantive law for the various subjects and some of the filing requirements.

1. Introduction and Overview
2. Introduction to Entity Types
3. Entity Types
4. Corporate Formation
5. Corporate Maintenance
6. Dissolving an Entity
7. Securities Laws
8. Mergers and Acquisitions
9. Contracts and Intellectual Property
10. Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy
11. Conclusion

What you will learn

• Entity Types and considerations
• Corporate Formation
• Maintaining / Dissolving an entity
• Securities Laws
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Contracts and Intellectual Property
• Bankruptcy laws for corporations

How you will benefit

• Build a foundation in first-year law school concepts

Self-Study

An in-depth look at criminal law and the real world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Criminal law is one of the most fascinating areas of legal practice. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

You will examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault. The trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you. You'll also explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures. A variety of exercises based on the lessons will give you a hands-on experience. Each lesson will also feature A View from the Inside, which includes compelling information about the criminal justice system in the words of actual people who experience it every day.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an inside look at criminal law from a former major-felony prosecutor who has appeared on Court TV. This course gives a behind the scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Introduction to Criminal Law

This lesson will lay the foundation for the course by examining the basic features of criminal law, including how this area of law differs from every other. You'll find this first look at the important aspects of the American criminal justice system very valuable!

Murder by Degrees

In this lesson, you'll begin to examine crimes against people by reviewing the facts of a real murder case. Here's your chance to visit a real crime scene and examine the body just as it was found on a chilly January morning. From there, you'll examine the basic elements of a murder case, as well as other crimes against people.

More Crimes Against Persons

In this lesson, you'll continue your examination into crimes against people by exploring the world of assault and battery. You'll also take a close look at some of the most common myths people believe about prosecuting crimes of violence. Then, the lesson will address the crimes of stalking and kidnapping.

Principals, Accessories, and Attempt

How is a person accused of helping another person commit a crime sentenced? Does the driver of the getaway car receive the same sentence as the bank robber? What is a conspiracy? This lesson will answer those questions and many others. You'll examine the roles of principles and accessories, and how prosecutors charge gang members and others who conspire to commit a crime.

Sex Crimes

What is rape? This lesson will go behind the legal definition to use plain language to define exactly what the elements of rape are, and then you'll look at how prosecutors charge sexual offenders. You'll also examine child molestation and the impact that these crimes have on their victims.

Crimes Against Property

In this lesson, you'll explore the crimes of burglary and fraud. You'll learn not only how a person commits burglary, but also the most common techniques most burglars use. The lesson will also expose white-collar crime schemes, common games, and other frauds.

Drug Crimes

Drug dealers have become very sophisticated over the years. In this lesson, you'll learn how prosecutors and police investigate, charge, and convict people who sell narcotics. You'll then examine, in detail, the concepts of possession of illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine, and other illegal substances.

Crimes Against Justice

What is the legal definition of bribery? In this era of corporate scandals and obstruction of justice by millionaire businesspeople, you'll need to know the basic steps to follow to bring a bribery or obstruction of justice charge.

The Trial

It's time to step inside a real courtroom! In this lesson, you'll go beyond what television presents and see how a real trial proceeds from start to finish. Do trial attorneys really scream at witnesses? Can lawyers really get away with some of the tactics you see them using on nightly television? This lesson will answer those questions and many others.

Defenses

When a person is on trial, what types of defenses can they raise? What exactly is an alibi defense? What is the definition of legal insanity? How does a defendant actually present their defense? In this lesson, you'll examine the role of different defenses, and then the lesson will dispel some common myths about criminal defenses.

Insanity and Constitutional Defenses

From mothers who drown their own children to men who attempt to kill the president, the insanity defense has had a long and controversial history in the United States. In this lesson, you'll step behind the headlines and examine the real details—not only about how to raise an insanity defense, but also looking at what the statistics have to say about the success of this defense.

Sentencing and Appeal

The course will conclude with a look at the appeals process. How many convictions are reversed on appeal? Is the appellate process different in death penalty cases? In this last lesson, you'll examine the entire appellate process from start to finish with a straightforward guide on criminal appeals.

What you will learn

• Examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault
• Fully understand the trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you
• Explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures
• Gain experience with hands-on criminal justice exercises

How you will benefit

• Gain knowledge of common legal issues and terms and become more confident discussing legal matters
• Get a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and how it works to determine whether or not you'd like to pursue a career

Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of over 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (Order of the Barrister) and has been a college instructor for over 10 years. He has also presented numerous seminars to medical professionals about the legal field, including training seminars for legal nurse consultants and sexual assault nurse examiners. In addition to practicing real estate law, he also worked as a title examiner and bought and sold real estate investment properties. An author of fiction and nonfiction material, his textbook Criminal Law and Procedure for Paralegals, was published in 2002. His second textbook, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, was published in 2003. He has also published numerous magazine articles about many aspects of the legal and medical fields, including articles focusing on developing a legal nurse consulting practice. He is also a contributing columnist to Legal Assistant Today magazine.

An in-depth look at criminal law and the real world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Criminal law is one of the most fascinating areas of legal practice. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

You will examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault. The trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you. You'll also explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures. A variety of exercises based on the lessons will give you a hands-on experience. Each lesson will also feature A View from the Inside, which includes compelling information about the criminal justice system in the words of actual people who experience it every day.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an inside look at criminal law from a former major-felony prosecutor who has appeared on Court TV. This course gives a behind the scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Introduction to Criminal Law

This lesson will lay the foundation for the course by examining the basic features of criminal law, including how this area of law differs from every other. You'll find this first look at the important aspects of the American criminal justice system very valuable!

Murder by Degrees

In this lesson, you'll begin to examine crimes against people by reviewing the facts of a real murder case. Here's your chance to visit a real crime scene and examine the body just as it was found on a chilly January morning. From there, you'll examine the basic elements of a murder case, as well as other crimes against people.

More Crimes Against Persons

In this lesson, you'll continue your examination into crimes against people by exploring the world of assault and battery. You'll also take a close look at some of the most common myths people believe about prosecuting crimes of violence. Then, the lesson will address the crimes of stalking and kidnapping.

Principals, Accessories, and Attempt

How is a person accused of helping another person commit a crime sentenced? Does the driver of the getaway car receive the same sentence as the bank robber? What is a conspiracy? This lesson will answer those questions and many others. You'll examine the roles of principles and accessories, and how prosecutors charge gang members and others who conspire to commit a crime.

Sex Crimes

What is rape? This lesson will go behind the legal definition to use plain language to define exactly what the elements of rape are, and then you'll look at how prosecutors charge sexual offenders. You'll also examine child molestation and the impact that these crimes have on their victims.

Crimes Against Property

In this lesson, you'll explore the crimes of burglary and fraud. You'll learn not only how a person commits burglary, but also the most common techniques most burglars use. The lesson will also expose white-collar crime schemes, common games, and other frauds.

Drug Crimes

Drug dealers have become very sophisticated over the years. In this lesson, you'll learn how prosecutors and police investigate, charge, and convict people who sell narcotics. You'll then examine, in detail, the concepts of possession of illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine, and other illegal substances.

Crimes Against Justice

What is the legal definition of bribery? In this era of corporate scandals and obstruction of justice by millionaire businesspeople, you'll need to know the basic steps to follow to bring a bribery or obstruction of justice charge.

The Trial

It's time to step inside a real courtroom! In this lesson, you'll go beyond what television presents and see how a real trial proceeds from start to finish. Do trial attorneys really scream at witnesses? Can lawyers really get away with some of the tactics you see them using on nightly television? This lesson will answer those questions and many others.

Defenses

When a person is on trial, what types of defenses can they raise? What exactly is an alibi defense? What is the definition of legal insanity? How does a defendant actually present their defense? In this lesson, you'll examine the role of different defenses, and then the lesson will dispel some common myths about criminal defenses.

Insanity and Constitutional Defenses

From mothers who drown their own children to men who attempt to kill the president, the insanity defense has had a long and controversial history in the United States. In this lesson, you'll step behind the headlines and examine the real details—not only about how to raise an insanity defense, but also looking at what the statistics have to say about the success of this defense.

Sentencing and Appeal

The course will conclude with a look at the appeals process. How many convictions are reversed on appeal? Is the appellate process different in death penalty cases? In this last lesson, you'll examine the entire appellate process from start to finish with a straightforward guide on criminal appeals.

What you will learn

• Examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault
• Fully understand the trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you
• Explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures
• Gain experience with hands-on criminal justice exercises

How you will benefit

• Gain knowledge of common legal issues and terms and become more confident discussing legal matters
• Get a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and how it works to determine whether or not you'd like to pursue a career

Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of over 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (Order of the Barrister) and has been a college instructor for over 10 years. He has also presented numerous seminars to medical professionals about the legal field, including training seminars for legal nurse consultants and sexual assault nurse examiners. In addition to practicing real estate law, he also worked as a title examiner and bought and sold real estate investment properties. An author of fiction and nonfiction material, his textbook Criminal Law and Procedure for Paralegals, was published in 2002. His second textbook, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, was published in 2003. He has also published numerous magazine articles about many aspects of the legal and medical fields, including articles focusing on developing a legal nurse consulting practice. He is also a contributing columnist to Legal Assistant Today magazine.

Learn key skills for researching legal authorities and cases.

This course will teach you how to conduct research within the legal profession. Within law, legal professionals must be able to research and cite case law, and this course explains the authorities, the law library, and how to cite and Shepardize cases properly.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn key skills for researching legal authorities and cases.

1. Using FIRAC in legal research
2. Sources of law
3. Resources available for statutory research
4. How to cite case law research
5. Secondary authority resources
6. Using Shepard's citations in legal research
7. Referring to a case using case citation
8. Writing a case brief
9. Computerized legal research as a tool

What you will learn

• IRAC and Sources of Law
• Authorities of Law
• Statutory and Case Law Research
• Resources and Briefing
• Computerized Legal Research
• Shepardizing

How you will benefit

• Gain key skills needed to work as a paralegal

Self-Study

Learn key skills for researching legal authorities and cases.

This course will teach you how to conduct research within the legal profession. Within law, legal professionals must be able to research and cite case law, and this course explains the authorities, the law library, and how to cite and Shepardize cases properly.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn key skills for researching legal authorities and cases.

1. Using FIRAC in legal research
2. Sources of law
3. Resources available for statutory research
4. How to cite case law research
5. Secondary authority resources
6. Using Shepard's citations in legal research
7. Referring to a case using case citation
8. Writing a case brief
9. Computerized legal research as a tool

What you will learn

• IRAC and Sources of Law
• Authorities of Law
• Statutory and Case Law Research
• Resources and Briefing
• Computerized Legal Research
• Shepardizing

How you will benefit

• Gain key skills needed to work as a paralegal

Self-Study

This course will prepare you for a career as a legal transcriptionist. The legal transcriptionist has the important job of correctly transcribing and punctuating the spoken word in order to create a verbatim record for legal proceedings. This course will also give you an understanding of the legal system including relevant ethics, professional standards, and procedures, and prepare you to sit for and pass the AAERT Certified Electronic Transcriber exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 7 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome is preferred. Mozilla Firefox and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word: Preferably Microsoft Word 2016, 2019, and Office 365.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Express Scribe software. You will be provided with download instructions upon enrollment.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins, except for the Express Scribe software.
• Reliable Internet

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The supplies required for this course are included in enrollment. The following will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• AltoEdge USB foot pedal
• Transcriber Headphones

This course prepares you to enter the in-demand field of legal transcription. As litigation continues to rise nationwide and the technology used to capture testimony evolves, there is a tremendous need for legal transcribers. Most legal transcriptionists work from home, which presents a substantial opportunity for those looking to work remotely in a career with a secure future. Legal transcriptionists generally work remotely on contract or staff for court reporting agencies or court systems.

This course thoroughly prepares you for AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) national certification, CET (Certified Electronic Transcriber) exam. The AAERT certification is the leading certification for courts and businesses throughout the United States and is required by various court systems and agencies for employment.

Note: If taking the course to prepare for the exam, please research the locations you are interested in working to determine whether they use digital reporting methods. Then ask if they recognize AAERT certification.

1. Transcriptionist Software Setup
2. Professionalism and the Legal System
   1. Professionalism and Decorum
   2. Ethics
   3. Ethical Issues
   4. Maintain Confidentiality
   5. Transcription Equipment
3. The Legal System
   1. Court System
   2. Laws
   3. Life Cycle of a Case
   4. Proceedings
   5. Types of Court Reporters
4. English Language
   1. Parts of Speech
   2. Confusing Words
   3. Spelling Rules
   4. International English
5. Terminology
   1. Historic Terminology
   2. Legal Terminology
   3. Medical Terminology
   4. Business Terminology
6. Grammar and Punctuation
   1. Capitalization
   2. Numbers
   3. Introduction to Punctuation
   4. Sentence Punctuation
   5. More Punctuation and Formatting
7. Building the Transcript
   1. Annotations from Reporter
   2. Transcript Formatting
   3. Proofreading Assignments
   4. Researching
   5. Transcription Assignments
8. Transcription Assignments & Working Environment
   1. Working Environment
   2. Transcription Assignments
9. Transcription Assignments & Course Wrap Up
   1. Transcription Assignments
   2. Certification
   3. Final

What you will learn

• How to create an accurate legal transcript
• Transcript formatting, focusing on federal court systems
• Parts of speech, proper legal punctuation, and spelling
• Legal, medical, and industry terminology
• Professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• Fundamentals of the United States legal system

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills you need to become a successful legal transcriptionist who can work from home
• Be in a position to sit for and pass the AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) exam
• AAERT certification vastly improves your marketability when applying for work at freelance agencies or court systems, some of which require the certification by law or because of government contracts

Merritt Gilbert is a legal professional with over 10 years of industry experience. She is a Certified Electronic Reporter and holds a Certificate of Voice Writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Natalie Hartsfield is a court reporter with more than 10 years of experience in the legal field. She has taught court reporting since 2007. Natalie holds an Occupational Associate Degree in Court Reporting from Stenotype Institute.

This course will prepare you for a career as a legal transcriptionist. The legal transcriptionist has the important job of correctly transcribing and punctuating the spoken word in order to create a verbatim record for legal proceedings. This course will also give you an understanding of the legal system including relevant ethics, professional standards, and procedures, and prepare you to sit for and pass the AAERT Certified Electronic Transcriber exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 7 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome is preferred. Mozilla Firefox and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word: Preferably Microsoft Word 2016, 2019, and Office 365.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Express Scribe software. You will be provided with download instructions upon enrollment.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins, except for the Express Scribe software.
• Reliable Internet

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The supplies required for this course are included in enrollment. The following will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• AltoEdge USB foot pedal
• Transcriber Headphones

This course prepares you to enter the in-demand field of legal transcription. As litigation continues to rise nationwide and the technology used to capture testimony evolves, there is a tremendous need for legal transcribers. Most legal transcriptionists work from home, which presents a substantial opportunity for those looking to work remotely in a career with a secure future. Legal transcriptionists generally work remotely on contract or staff for court reporting agencies or court systems.

This course thoroughly prepares you for AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) national certification, CET (Certified Electronic Transcriber) exam. The AAERT certification is the leading certification for courts and businesses throughout the United States and is required by various court systems and agencies for employment.

Note: If taking the course to prepare for the exam, please research the locations you are interested in working to determine whether they use digital reporting methods. Then ask if they recognize AAERT certification.

1. Transcriptionist Software Setup
2. Professionalism and the Legal System
   1. Professionalism and Decorum
   2. Ethics
   3. Ethical Issues
   4. Maintain Confidentiality
   5. Transcription Equipment
3. The Legal System
   1. Court System
   2. Laws
   3. Life Cycle of a Case
   4. Proceedings
   5. Types of Court Reporters
4. English Language
   1. Parts of Speech
   2. Confusing Words
   3. Spelling Rules
   4. International English
5. Terminology
   1. Historic Terminology
   2. Legal Terminology
   3. Medical Terminology
   4. Business Terminology
6. Grammar and Punctuation
   1. Capitalization
   2. Numbers
   3. Introduction to Punctuation
   4. Sentence Punctuation
   5. More Punctuation and Formatting
7. Building the Transcript
   1. Annotations from Reporter
   2. Transcript Formatting
   3. Proofreading Assignments
   4. Researching
   5. Transcription Assignments
8. Transcription Assignments & Working Environment
   1. Working Environment
   2. Transcription Assignments
9. Transcription Assignments & Course Wrap Up
   1. Transcription Assignments
   2. Certification
   3. Final

What you will learn

• How to create an accurate legal transcript
• Transcript formatting, focusing on federal court systems
• Parts of speech, proper legal punctuation, and spelling
• Legal, medical, and industry terminology
• Professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• Fundamentals of the United States legal system

How you will benefit

• Develop the skills you need to become a successful legal transcriptionist who can work from home
• Be in a position to sit for and pass the AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) exam
• AAERT certification vastly improves your marketability when applying for work at freelance agencies or court systems, some of which require the certification by law or because of government contracts

Merritt Gilbert is a legal professional with over 10 years of industry experience. She is a Certified Electronic Reporter and holds a Certificate of Voice Writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Natalie Hartsfield is a court reporter with more than 10 years of experience in the legal field. She has taught court reporting since 2007. Natalie holds an Occupational Associate Degree in Court Reporting from Stenotype Institute.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

Learn to develop effective and accurate legal communications through the use of critical thinking and legal authorities to support conclusions.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
2. Goal of legal writing
3. Drafting documents in legal writing
4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   1. Precision and simplicity
   2. Sound structure
   3. Using active voice
5. Using defined terms in legal writing
6. Word usage in legal writing
7. Redundancies
8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
9. Reviewing legal documents
10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis

What you will learn

• Drafting written documents for legal purposes
• Construction of effective sentences
• Use of defined legal terms
• Word usage in legal writing

How you will benefit

• Anyone entering law school will benefit from the knowledge and principles provided by this course.

Self-Study

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

Learn to develop effective and accurate legal communications through the use of critical thinking and legal authorities to support conclusions.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
2. Goal of legal writing
3. Drafting documents in legal writing
4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   1. Precision and simplicity
   2. Sound structure
   3. Using active voice
5. Using defined terms in legal writing
6. Word usage in legal writing
7. Redundancies
8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
9. Reviewing legal documents
10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis

What you will learn

• Drafting written documents for legal purposes
• Construction of effective sentences
• Use of defined legal terms
• Word usage in legal writing

How you will benefit

• Anyone entering law school will benefit from the knowledge and principles provided by this course.

Self-Study

Learn all about the probate process and estate planning.

This course will help you navigate the laws of probate processes and estate planning. You'll learn how various types of ownership affect the passage of property at owner death, with or without a will. You will also learn about the administration and taxation of estates as well as basic requirements for trusts, wills and guardianships.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn all about the probate process and estate planning.

1. Introduction to Estate Planning
2. Components of a Will
3. Execution of a Will
4. Trusts in Estate Planning

What you will learn

• Components of a will
• Execution of a will
• Trusts in estate planning

How you will benefit

• Gain a new understanding of estate planning and wills and how to work with laws that impact these

Self-Study

Learn all about the probate process and estate planning.

This course will help you navigate the laws of probate processes and estate planning. You'll learn how various types of ownership affect the passage of property at owner death, with or without a will. You will also learn about the administration and taxation of estates as well as basic requirements for trusts, wills and guardianships.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn all about the probate process and estate planning.

1. Introduction to Estate Planning
2. Components of a Will
3. Execution of a Will
4. Trusts in Estate Planning

What you will learn

• Components of a will
• Execution of a will
• Trusts in estate planning

How you will benefit

• Gain a new understanding of estate planning and wills and how to work with laws that impact these

Self-Study

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees as a manager, supervisor, small business owner, human resource specialist, or corporate executive. This course will explain the difference between an employee and independent contractor: the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring; evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules.

You will gain an inside view of the law with court examples, real situations, and prevention strategies that prepare you to effectively resolve workplace issues. You will learn effective communication techniques, negotiation strategies, and what to expect if you do go to court. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
• This course is based on U.S. Employment Laws and is not suitable for other areas.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Are all workers employees? In this lesson, you'll learn to recognize the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. This will enable you to properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees. You'll take a look at a real court case to see how courts decide if someone is properly classified.

Employment Benefits

Do you wish you could retire to the beach with solid employment benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and vacation leave in place? In this lesson, you'll look at the legal requirements relating to employment benefits. You may be surprised to learn what the law does and doesn't require! The lesson will also talk about the reasons companies provide benefits for their employees.

Hiring Practices

Do you ever find yourself stuck with employees who aren't producing? This lesson will focus on ways to screen applicants for employment to keep poor employees out and find a good match between the job and skill level of an applicant. As the saying goes, it's better to have strong hiring practices than to deal with a problem employee later on.

Evaluating Employees

Ever wonder what to do with your employees and how to keep them effectively producing? This lesson will focus on evaluation, discipline, and termination processes. You'll learn how to tackle these tough issues without violating any laws in the process.

Employment Disputes

If you ever have to deal with upset people at work (employee outbursts, customer complaints, or vendor concerns) then this lesson is for you! This lesson will show you some dispute resolution tools that will help you turn conflicts into win-win situations.

Employment Disputes in Court

Do you ever wonder what happens behind courthouse doors? This lesson will talk about the litigation process from start to finish so that you'll know what to expect if you someday find yourself in court. It will also go over legal jargon—words like depositions and interrogatories—so that you really understand the words lawyers commonly use.

Discrimination and Title VII

While discrimination should be a thing of the past, prejudice still pops up in the workplace. This lesson will talk about how to comply with Title VII law, which prohibits discrimination at work. The examples and strategies discussed here will make this law easy to understand.

More Discrimination Laws

Has anyone ever requested a special accommodation from you? This lesson will explore what the laws are about this issue. You'll find out what your duty is regarding accommodation and learn to analyze your workplace to determine whether it's compliant.

Labor Unions

Suppose there's labor talk whispered in the halls of your workplace. What do you do? This lesson will discuss the legal rights of unions to organize. You'll also consider unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for.

Labor Negotiations

Collective bargaining, grievance and appeal, strikes—what do these things have in common? They're all processes that can occur in a union environment. This lesson will talk about how to prepare for and handle union bargaining and appeals.

Workplace Safety

What are your obligations when it comes to keeping employees safe on the job? This lesson will focus on employee safety and reporting. You'll get Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment.

Legal Compliance

Legal compliance requires an entire corporate strategy. The final lesson will focus on tools, tactics, and resources you can use to create an environment of compliance in your workplace.

What you will learn

• Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor and properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees
• Learn to screen applicants effectively
• Discover dispute resolution tools to handle disputes in the workplace
• Learn about the litigation process and laws that affect your workplace, such as discrimination laws and special accommodation laws
• Explore unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for
• Learn what your obligations are to keep your employees safe and discover Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment
• Discover tools, tactics, and resources to create an environment of compliance in your workplace

How you will benefit

• Know how to effectively screen applicants and develop strong hiring practices
• Be ready to resolve any type of conflict and turn it into a win-win situation
• Be familiar with laws that govern a safe, fair, and compliant workplace for your employees

Ann Nevers holds a law degree and a master's in health law. She works in dispute resolution for business, employment, and health care and regularly teaches courses in these areas. She has published numerous academic articles, edited legal manuals, and written chapters on employment, dispute resolution, and health care topics.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees as a manager, supervisor, small business owner, human resource specialist, or corporate executive. This course will explain the difference between an employee and independent contractor: the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring; evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules.

You will gain an inside view of the law with court examples, real situations, and prevention strategies that prepare you to effectively resolve workplace issues. You will learn effective communication techniques, negotiation strategies, and what to expect if you do go to court. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
• This course is based on U.S. Employment Laws and is not suitable for other areas.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate and manage employees. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Are all workers employees? In this lesson, you'll learn to recognize the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. This will enable you to properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees. You'll take a look at a real court case to see how courts decide if someone is properly classified.

Employment Benefits

Do you wish you could retire to the beach with solid employment benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and vacation leave in place? In this lesson, you'll look at the legal requirements relating to employment benefits. You may be surprised to learn what the law does and doesn't require! The lesson will also talk about the reasons companies provide benefits for their employees.

Hiring Practices

Do you ever find yourself stuck with employees who aren't producing? This lesson will focus on ways to screen applicants for employment to keep poor employees out and find a good match between the job and skill level of an applicant. As the saying goes, it's better to have strong hiring practices than to deal with a problem employee later on.

Evaluating Employees

Ever wonder what to do with your employees and how to keep them effectively producing? This lesson will focus on evaluation, discipline, and termination processes. You'll learn how to tackle these tough issues without violating any laws in the process.

Employment Disputes

If you ever have to deal with upset people at work (employee outbursts, customer complaints, or vendor concerns) then this lesson is for you! This lesson will show you some dispute resolution tools that will help you turn conflicts into win-win situations.

Employment Disputes in Court

Do you ever wonder what happens behind courthouse doors? This lesson will talk about the litigation process from start to finish so that you'll know what to expect if you someday find yourself in court. It will also go over legal jargon—words like depositions and interrogatories—so that you really understand the words lawyers commonly use.

Discrimination and Title VII

While discrimination should be a thing of the past, prejudice still pops up in the workplace. This lesson will talk about how to comply with Title VII law, which prohibits discrimination at work. The examples and strategies discussed here will make this law easy to understand.

More Discrimination Laws

Has anyone ever requested a special accommodation from you? This lesson will explore what the laws are about this issue. You'll find out what your duty is regarding accommodation and learn to analyze your workplace to determine whether it's compliant.

Labor Unions

Suppose there's labor talk whispered in the halls of your workplace. What do you do? This lesson will discuss the legal rights of unions to organize. You'll also consider unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for.

Labor Negotiations

Collective bargaining, grievance and appeal, strikes—what do these things have in common? They're all processes that can occur in a union environment. This lesson will talk about how to prepare for and handle union bargaining and appeals.

Workplace Safety

What are your obligations when it comes to keeping employees safe on the job? This lesson will focus on employee safety and reporting. You'll get Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment.

Legal Compliance

Legal compliance requires an entire corporate strategy. The final lesson will focus on tools, tactics, and resources you can use to create an environment of compliance in your workplace.

What you will learn

• Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor and properly classify workers so you can withhold taxes and provide benefits for true employees
• Learn to screen applicants effectively
• Discover dispute resolution tools to handle disputes in the workplace
• Learn about the litigation process and laws that affect your workplace, such as discrimination laws and special accommodation laws
• Explore unfair labor practices that both unions and management need to watch out for
• Learn what your obligations are to keep your employees safe and discover Internet resources where you can look up specifics about your particular work environment
• Discover tools, tactics, and resources to create an environment of compliance in your workplace

How you will benefit

• Know how to effectively screen applicants and develop strong hiring practices
• Be ready to resolve any type of conflict and turn it into a win-win situation
• Be familiar with laws that govern a safe, fair, and compliant workplace for your employees

Ann Nevers holds a law degree and a master's in health law. She works in dispute resolution for business, employment, and health care and regularly teaches courses in these areas. She has published numerous academic articles, edited legal manuals, and written chapters on employment, dispute resolution, and health care topics.

Learn how to comply with the duties, rights, and responsibilities of HIPAA, ARRA & HITECH.

Are you a health care professional or considering a career in the health care industry, or do you provide services to a health care organization? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is mandatory that you understand the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA. These laws require all health care professionals to take careful steps to protect protected health information. In this course you will examine the compliance process. You will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA. This course will give real world examples to explain the Privacy rule. You will examine what is meant by covered entities, business associates, and many other relationships within the health care industry impacted by HIPAA. You will understand how computers fit into the Security Rule and examine many types of safeguards, which are crucial components of the Security Rule. You will also learn about the Office for Civil Rights, HIPAA's watchdog organization.

By the time you finish this course, you will be confident and capable of implementing HIPAA's Administrative Simplification rules, and the laws impacting it, in your own organization. If you are just starting your career in the health care field, you will have a priceless addition to your resume.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you are just starting your career in the health care field, HIPAA Compliance training is a priceless addition to your resume. This course provides an understanding of the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA.

Introduction to HIPAA

The first lesson will lay out the foundation of HIPAA so that you'll understand the motivation behind the law. It will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA and give you a good idea of its goals. As with any law, noncompliance comes at a price, so you'll also take a look at the penalties involved for anyone who ignores HIPAA's requirements.

HIPAA's Major Players: Covered Entities, Business Associates, and Related Organizations

Are you interested in working in a medical or dental office, an insurance company, or a government agency like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Department of Health and Human Services? All of these organizations are subject to HIPAA, and all of them have to work together. In this lesson, you'll learn which groups must comply with HIPAA's rules and standards as they gather and transmit health-related information. By the time you're done with this lesson, you'll know the difference between a covered entity, a business associate, and a trading partner.

Transactions, Code Sets, and Identifiers

It's time to put your newfound lingo to use. The overriding goal of HIPAA is to protect personal health information. In this lesson, you'll identify the 12 types of electronic transactions that HIPAA covers. You'll also take a peek at the code sets and identifiers used in these transactions. Transactions, code sets, and identifiers are key to your understanding of HIPAA, and this lesson will put those pieces of the puzzle together.

Introduction to the Privacy Rule

What happens if you or your employer violates the Privacy Rule? Could a court fine you or even send you to jail? What if the privacy breach was unintentional, and you tried to fix it as soon as you found out? Would that have any effect on your punishment? In this lesson, you'll answer these questions and many others as you delve into the administrative requirements of the Privacy Rule. You'll find out about civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance and wrongful disclosure of protected health information.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information

Now that you understand the Privacy Rule, you'll take the next step and delve into the requirements for using and disclosing protected health information (PHI). HIPAA has two types of disclosures: required and permitted. At the end of this lesson, you'll understand the difference between the two. Another concept that figures heavily into the entire HIPAA picture is minimum necessary. You'll see how this concept fits neatly into the issue of PHI disclosures.

Patient Rights

Under HIPAA, patients have seven fundamental privacy rights. You'll examine those rights in this lesson and find out what procedures HIPAA requires to ensure that patients can access their own medical information and control how others disclose that information. You'll also see how state laws can expand on HIPAA's provisions.

Introduction to the Security Rule

The Security Rule is the companion to HIPAA's Privacy Rule. In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the concept of information security. Security has its own key terms, and you'll spend some time on them so that you'll be familiar with their meanings. If you don't know the difference between a hacker and a spoofer, you will by the time this lesson is done! The lesson will also address the various threats that can exist when you electronically handle and transmit protected health information.

Risk Management and the Security Rule Standards

How common are security breaches in the real world, and what effects can they have? As you continue to investigate HIPAA's Security Rule, you'll explore its fundamental approach to addressing security. You'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule, then go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also examine the frequency and costs of some real-life security breaches, which will help you understand why effective security practices matter so much.

Administrative Safeguards

The Security Rule covers three major areas: administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand what administrative safeguards are and how they could affect you at your job.

Physical and Technical Safeguards

Continuing the journey into HIPAA's Security Rule, in this lesson, you'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule. You'll go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also take a look at some real-life security breaches, which should emphasize the need for good security practices.

Compliance, Rules, and Agreements

The previous lessons emphasized how important it is for your organization to comply with HIPAA, but what if one of your business associates fails to comply and leaves your patients' data exposed? In recent years, the federal government has tightened up rules related to business associates and security breaches. In this lesson, you'll explore the rules and laws about compliance and business associates. By the time you're done, you'll understand the basics of a business associate agreement.

HIPAA: Wrapping It Up!

When it's time to begin creating your own policies and procedures to implement HIPAA, it helps to have a framework to follow. That's what this lesson will give you: a description of the most common frameworks available so that you can choose the one that best suits your organization. You'll also look at some healthcare trends so that you'll have an idea of what the future holds for HIPAA.

What you will learn

• Learn about the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA
• Learn about transactions, code sets, and identifiers, which are all key elements in the HIPAA-mandated electronic health care transmissions
• Discover the Privacy Rule, which governs patient rights and disclosure of protected health information
• Learn how computers fit into the Security Rule
• Learn about administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, technical safeguards, and policy and procedure creation
• Learn about the civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance

How you will benefit

• Understand and comply with the requirements of HIPAA
• Know how to best protect patient confidentiality
• Gain a priceless addition to your healthcare resume

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Learn how to comply with the duties, rights, and responsibilities of HIPAA, ARRA & HITECH.

Are you a health care professional or considering a career in the health care industry, or do you provide services to a health care organization? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is mandatory that you understand the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA. These laws require all health care professionals to take careful steps to protect protected health information. In this course you will examine the compliance process. You will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA. This course will give real world examples to explain the Privacy rule. You will examine what is meant by covered entities, business associates, and many other relationships within the health care industry impacted by HIPAA. You will understand how computers fit into the Security Rule and examine many types of safeguards, which are crucial components of the Security Rule. You will also learn about the Office for Civil Rights, HIPAA's watchdog organization.

By the time you finish this course, you will be confident and capable of implementing HIPAA's Administrative Simplification rules, and the laws impacting it, in your own organization. If you are just starting your career in the health care field, you will have a priceless addition to your resume.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you are just starting your career in the health care field, HIPAA Compliance training is a priceless addition to your resume. This course provides an understanding of the compliance requirements of HIPAA, and subsequent rules and laws that affect HIPAA.

Introduction to HIPAA

The first lesson will lay out the foundation of HIPAA so that you'll understand the motivation behind the law. It will focus specifically on the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA and give you a good idea of its goals. As with any law, noncompliance comes at a price, so you'll also take a look at the penalties involved for anyone who ignores HIPAA's requirements.

HIPAA's Major Players: Covered Entities, Business Associates, and Related Organizations

Are you interested in working in a medical or dental office, an insurance company, or a government agency like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Department of Health and Human Services? All of these organizations are subject to HIPAA, and all of them have to work together. In this lesson, you'll learn which groups must comply with HIPAA's rules and standards as they gather and transmit health-related information. By the time you're done with this lesson, you'll know the difference between a covered entity, a business associate, and a trading partner.

Transactions, Code Sets, and Identifiers

It's time to put your newfound lingo to use. The overriding goal of HIPAA is to protect personal health information. In this lesson, you'll identify the 12 types of electronic transactions that HIPAA covers. You'll also take a peek at the code sets and identifiers used in these transactions. Transactions, code sets, and identifiers are key to your understanding of HIPAA, and this lesson will put those pieces of the puzzle together.

Introduction to the Privacy Rule

What happens if you or your employer violates the Privacy Rule? Could a court fine you or even send you to jail? What if the privacy breach was unintentional, and you tried to fix it as soon as you found out? Would that have any effect on your punishment? In this lesson, you'll answer these questions and many others as you delve into the administrative requirements of the Privacy Rule. You'll find out about civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance and wrongful disclosure of protected health information.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information

Now that you understand the Privacy Rule, you'll take the next step and delve into the requirements for using and disclosing protected health information (PHI). HIPAA has two types of disclosures: required and permitted. At the end of this lesson, you'll understand the difference between the two. Another concept that figures heavily into the entire HIPAA picture is minimum necessary. You'll see how this concept fits neatly into the issue of PHI disclosures.

Patient Rights

Under HIPAA, patients have seven fundamental privacy rights. You'll examine those rights in this lesson and find out what procedures HIPAA requires to ensure that patients can access their own medical information and control how others disclose that information. You'll also see how state laws can expand on HIPAA's provisions.

Introduction to the Security Rule

The Security Rule is the companion to HIPAA's Privacy Rule. In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the concept of information security. Security has its own key terms, and you'll spend some time on them so that you'll be familiar with their meanings. If you don't know the difference between a hacker and a spoofer, you will by the time this lesson is done! The lesson will also address the various threats that can exist when you electronically handle and transmit protected health information.

Risk Management and the Security Rule Standards

How common are security breaches in the real world, and what effects can they have? As you continue to investigate HIPAA's Security Rule, you'll explore its fundamental approach to addressing security. You'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule, then go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also examine the frequency and costs of some real-life security breaches, which will help you understand why effective security practices matter so much.

Administrative Safeguards

The Security Rule covers three major areas: administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand what administrative safeguards are and how they could affect you at your job.

Physical and Technical Safeguards

Continuing the journey into HIPAA's Security Rule, in this lesson, you'll examine the philosophy and principles behind the Security Rule. You'll go over the standards for implementation and learn which ones are required and which are simply addressable. You'll also take a look at some real-life security breaches, which should emphasize the need for good security practices.

Compliance, Rules, and Agreements

The previous lessons emphasized how important it is for your organization to comply with HIPAA, but what if one of your business associates fails to comply and leaves your patients' data exposed? In recent years, the federal government has tightened up rules related to business associates and security breaches. In this lesson, you'll explore the rules and laws about compliance and business associates. By the time you're done, you'll understand the basics of a business associate agreement.

HIPAA: Wrapping It Up!

When it's time to begin creating your own policies and procedures to implement HIPAA, it helps to have a framework to follow. That's what this lesson will give you: a description of the most common frameworks available so that you can choose the one that best suits your organization. You'll also look at some healthcare trends so that you'll have an idea of what the future holds for HIPAA.

What you will learn

• Learn about the Administrative Simplification portion of HIPAA
• Learn about transactions, code sets, and identifiers, which are all key elements in the HIPAA-mandated electronic health care transmissions
• Discover the Privacy Rule, which governs patient rights and disclosure of protected health information
• Learn how computers fit into the Security Rule
• Learn about administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, technical safeguards, and policy and procedure creation
• Learn about the civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance

How you will benefit

• Understand and comply with the requirements of HIPAA
• Know how to best protect patient confidentiality
• Gain a priceless addition to your healthcare resume

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

An in-depth look at criminal law and the real world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Criminal law is one of the most fascinating areas of legal practice. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

You will examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault. The trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you. You'll also explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures. A variety of exercises based on the lessons will give you a hands-on experience. Each lesson will also feature A View from the Inside, which includes compelling information about the criminal justice system in the words of actual people who experience it every day.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an inside look at criminal law from a former major-felony prosecutor who has appeared on Court TV. This course gives a behind the scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Introduction to Criminal Law

This lesson will lay the foundation for the course by examining the basic features of criminal law, including how this area of law differs from every other. You'll find this first look at the important aspects of the American criminal justice system very valuable!

Murder by Degrees

In this lesson, you'll begin to examine crimes against people by reviewing the facts of a real murder case. Here's your chance to visit a real crime scene and examine the body just as it was found on a chilly January morning. From there, you'll examine the basic elements of a murder case, as well as other crimes against people.

More Crimes Against Persons

In this lesson, you'll continue your examination into crimes against people by exploring the world of assault and battery. You'll also take a close look at some of the most common myths people believe about prosecuting crimes of violence. Then, the lesson will address the crimes of stalking and kidnapping.

Principals, Accessories, and Attempt

How is a person accused of helping another person commit a crime sentenced? Does the driver of the getaway car receive the same sentence as the bank robber? What is a conspiracy? This lesson will answer those questions and many others. You'll examine the roles of principles and accessories, and how prosecutors charge gang members and others who conspire to commit a crime.

Sex Crimes

What is rape? This lesson will go behind the legal definition to use plain language to define exactly what the elements of rape are, and then you'll look at how prosecutors charge sexual offenders. You'll also examine child molestation and the impact that these crimes have on their victims.

Crimes Against Property

In this lesson, you'll explore the crimes of burglary and fraud. You'll learn not only how a person commits burglary, but also the most common techniques most burglars use. The lesson will also expose white-collar crime schemes, common games, and other frauds.

Drug Crimes

Drug dealers have become very sophisticated over the years. In this lesson, you'll learn how prosecutors and police investigate, charge, and convict people who sell narcotics. You'll then examine, in detail, the concepts of possession of illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine, and other illegal substances.

Crimes Against Justice

What is the legal definition of bribery? In this era of corporate scandals and obstruction of justice by millionaire businesspeople, you'll need to know the basic steps to follow to bring a bribery or obstruction of justice charge.

The Trial

It's time to step inside a real courtroom! In this lesson, you'll go beyond what television presents and see how a real trial proceeds from start to finish. Do trial attorneys really scream at witnesses? Can lawyers really get away with some of the tactics you see them using on nightly television? This lesson will answer those questions and many others.

Defenses

When a person is on trial, what types of defenses can they raise? What exactly is an alibi defense? What is the definition of legal insanity? How does a defendant actually present their defense? In this lesson, you'll examine the role of different defenses, and then the lesson will dispel some common myths about criminal defenses.

Insanity and Constitutional Defenses

From mothers who drown their own children to men who attempt to kill the president, the insanity defense has had a long and controversial history in the United States. In this lesson, you'll step behind the headlines and examine the real details—not only about how to raise an insanity defense, but also looking at what the statistics have to say about the success of this defense.

Sentencing and Appeal

The course will conclude with a look at the appeals process. How many convictions are reversed on appeal? Is the appellate process different in death penalty cases? In this last lesson, you'll examine the entire appellate process from start to finish with a straightforward guide on criminal appeals.

What you will learn

• Examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault
• Fully understand the trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you
• Explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures
• Gain experience with hands-on criminal justice exercises

How you will benefit

• Gain knowledge of common legal issues and terms and become more confident discussing legal matters
• Get a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and how it works to determine whether or not you'd like to pursue a career

Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of over 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (Order of the Barrister) and has been a college instructor for over 10 years. He has also presented numerous seminars to medical professionals about the legal field, including training seminars for legal nurse consultants and sexual assault nurse examiners. In addition to practicing real estate law, he also worked as a title examiner and bought and sold real estate investment properties. An author of fiction and nonfiction material, his textbook Criminal Law and Procedure for Paralegals, was published in 2002. His second textbook, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, was published in 2003. He has also published numerous magazine articles about many aspects of the legal and medical fields, including articles focusing on developing a legal nurse consulting practice. He is also a contributing columnist to Legal Assistant Today magazine.

An in-depth look at criminal law and the real world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Criminal law is one of the most fascinating areas of legal practice. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

You will examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault. The trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you. You'll also explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures. A variety of exercises based on the lessons will give you a hands-on experience. Each lesson will also feature A View from the Inside, which includes compelling information about the criminal justice system in the words of actual people who experience it every day.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Gain an inside look at criminal law from a former major-felony prosecutor who has appeared on Court TV. This course gives a behind the scenes look at criminal law by examining the world of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the paralegals who work closely with them.

Introduction to Criminal Law

This lesson will lay the foundation for the course by examining the basic features of criminal law, including how this area of law differs from every other. You'll find this first look at the important aspects of the American criminal justice system very valuable!

Murder by Degrees

In this lesson, you'll begin to examine crimes against people by reviewing the facts of a real murder case. Here's your chance to visit a real crime scene and examine the body just as it was found on a chilly January morning. From there, you'll examine the basic elements of a murder case, as well as other crimes against people.

More Crimes Against Persons

In this lesson, you'll continue your examination into crimes against people by exploring the world of assault and battery. You'll also take a close look at some of the most common myths people believe about prosecuting crimes of violence. Then, the lesson will address the crimes of stalking and kidnapping.

Principals, Accessories, and Attempt

How is a person accused of helping another person commit a crime sentenced? Does the driver of the getaway car receive the same sentence as the bank robber? What is a conspiracy? This lesson will answer those questions and many others. You'll examine the roles of principles and accessories, and how prosecutors charge gang members and others who conspire to commit a crime.

Sex Crimes

What is rape? This lesson will go behind the legal definition to use plain language to define exactly what the elements of rape are, and then you'll look at how prosecutors charge sexual offenders. You'll also examine child molestation and the impact that these crimes have on their victims.

Crimes Against Property

In this lesson, you'll explore the crimes of burglary and fraud. You'll learn not only how a person commits burglary, but also the most common techniques most burglars use. The lesson will also expose white-collar crime schemes, common games, and other frauds.

Drug Crimes

Drug dealers have become very sophisticated over the years. In this lesson, you'll learn how prosecutors and police investigate, charge, and convict people who sell narcotics. You'll then examine, in detail, the concepts of possession of illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine, and other illegal substances.

Crimes Against Justice

What is the legal definition of bribery? In this era of corporate scandals and obstruction of justice by millionaire businesspeople, you'll need to know the basic steps to follow to bring a bribery or obstruction of justice charge.

The Trial

It's time to step inside a real courtroom! In this lesson, you'll go beyond what television presents and see how a real trial proceeds from start to finish. Do trial attorneys really scream at witnesses? Can lawyers really get away with some of the tactics you see them using on nightly television? This lesson will answer those questions and many others.

Defenses

When a person is on trial, what types of defenses can they raise? What exactly is an alibi defense? What is the definition of legal insanity? How does a defendant actually present their defense? In this lesson, you'll examine the role of different defenses, and then the lesson will dispel some common myths about criminal defenses.

Insanity and Constitutional Defenses

From mothers who drown their own children to men who attempt to kill the president, the insanity defense has had a long and controversial history in the United States. In this lesson, you'll step behind the headlines and examine the real details—not only about how to raise an insanity defense, but also looking at what the statistics have to say about the success of this defense.

Sentencing and Appeal

The course will conclude with a look at the appeals process. How many convictions are reversed on appeal? Is the appellate process different in death penalty cases? In this last lesson, you'll examine the entire appellate process from start to finish with a straightforward guide on criminal appeals.

What you will learn

• Examine all major areas of crime: from theft to murder, conspiracy to sexual assault
• Fully understand the trial of a criminal case will be dissected and explained for you
• Explore the various types of criminal defenses, sentencing, and appeals procedures
• Gain experience with hands-on criminal justice exercises

How you will benefit

• Gain knowledge of common legal issues and terms and become more confident discussing legal matters
• Get a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and how it works to determine whether or not you'd like to pursue a career

Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of over 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (Order of the Barrister) and has been a college instructor for over 10 years. He has also presented numerous seminars to medical professionals about the legal field, including training seminars for legal nurse consultants and sexual assault nurse examiners. In addition to practicing real estate law, he also worked as a title examiner and bought and sold real estate investment properties. An author of fiction and nonfiction material, his textbook Criminal Law and Procedure for Paralegals, was published in 2002. His second textbook, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, was published in 2003. He has also published numerous magazine articles about many aspects of the legal and medical fields, including articles focusing on developing a legal nurse consulting practice. He is also a contributing columnist to Legal Assistant Today magazine.