Certified Paralegal

LMU Extension’s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program prepares students with the foundational knowledge, ethical responsibilities, and legal principles to become a paralegal. In less than one year, students will learn current legal processes, best practices in research and analysis, and gain practical and technical skills and competencies relevant to a range of legal fields. This streamlined program provides education in the most employable and demanding areas of the law and the changing needs of the legal community. Our program prepares students for a career as a professional paralegal in a law firm, businesses, government, or nonprofit organizations. The program fulfills educational requirements to work as a paralegal in California and prepares students for certification processes from professional groups and state agencies including The National Paralegal Association (NALA), The National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA), the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI), the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS) and the state of California.

Who Should Take This Certificate Program

Individuals seeking paralegal training and skills necessary for a career as a paralegal
Professionals with transferable skills seeking a career change
Current paralegals wanting to increase their office's efficiency, productivity, and billable hours as well as learn new marketable job skills

SPRING 2025

Tuesdays

1/14/2025 - 7/22/2025

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Instructor Led - Via Zoom

REGISTER HERE
Sylvia Johnson

Sylvia Johnson is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She graduated from UCLA with Departmental Honors. She obtained her law degree from the University Of Southern California Gould School Of Law. She has been practicing as a lawyer for twenty-two years working with the County of Los Angeles. She is active with the Beverly Hills Bar Association and is a member of the California Lawyers Association. She volunteers her time in the community with several different local organizations seeking to support opportunities for youth, families and seniors. She recently served four years on the Westchester Playa Neighborhood Council as a District Director.
Through a combination of instructor-led lectures, assignments, projects, and exams, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the following legal concepts:
1. Introduction to Paralegal Studies
2. Paralegals in the Legal System
3. The American Judicial System/ California Court Structure
4. Regulation of Paralegals
5. Attorney and Paralegal Ethics
6. Introduction to Legal Analysis
7. Legal Interviewing
8. Investigation in a Law Office
9. Introduction to the Use of Computers in a Legal Office and for Legal Research
10. Legal Research 101
11. Legal Writing
12. Citation Writing and Citing Authority
13. Informal and Formal Administrative Advocacy
14. Administrative Law: Workers Compensation Law / Benefits Law*
15. Civil Law: Family Law, Probate/Estate Law
16. Discovery, Civil Litigation in Practice for Paralegals
17. Criminal Law
18. Criminal Law in Practice for Paralegals
19. Advanced Legal Research
20. Paralegal Employment
21. On-the Job Realities
22. Law Office Administration
23. Litigation Management
Contact us at extension@lmu.edu to get started!