Professional Development
Paralegal Certificate Program Curriculum
Six areas of law are covered in approximately 100 class hours that include two evenings per week and six Saturdays over 12 weeks. To earn a certificate, participants must successfully complete all of the requirements of the content listed below.
Business Organizations
- Partnerships, limited liability companies, Massachusetts business trusts, business corporations, and nonprofit corporations
- Organizational meetings, corporate name requirements, name reservation, and initial tax considerations
- Articles of organization, bylaws, stockholders/directors/officers: functions, powers, rights, and liabilities
Probate
- Intestacy, wills, and trusts
- Estate administration
- Federal and state estate tax preparation
- Closing the estate
Legal Ethics
- Situational analysis of ethical dilemmas
- Confidentiality, conflict of interest, moral vs. legal obligation, insider information
Real Estate
- How property is held
- Acquisition of real property
- Leases of property
- Deeds, mortgages, and easements
- Condominium practice
- Real estate closings
Litigation
- The court system
- Litigation procedure: summonses and complaints, service of process
- Answers, motions to dismiss, and counterclaims
- Motions for summary judgment
- Interrogatories
- Depositions and other discovery pleadings
Legal Research
- Fact-finding and data retrieval
- Local, state, and federal agencies
- Registries and courthouses
- Municipal records
- Research on the Internet and World Wide Web
- Exposure to web-based legal research system
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