Legal Studies

Course features advanced and specialized approaches to utilize the legal resources available in a law library, and elsewhere. The conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research will be taught. Students will also learn how to formulate WESTLAW search queries and effectively and efficiently use WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and legal writing.

This course is designed to examine more thoroughly advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal sources available in the law library and online sources available on the law library and online

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Legal Authorities and Citations

Legal Analysis

WESTLAW® Online Legal Research

Legal Memoranda

Legal Research – The Process

Types of Legal Writing

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Advanced Legal Research & Writing Certificate Online Course Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 
2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4

2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

The course is available online in 7-week sessions / 6 times per year. This course is entirely separate from the ALR advanced topic that is part of the Advanced Paralegal Course. Students should have already completed the core paralegal course or have worked as a paralegal for at least a year to take this course.

Course Tuition: Online $995 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This intensive, nationally acclaimed program is designed for beginning as well as advanced legal workers. Training includes instruction on how to assist trial attorneys, interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. The instruction is practice-oriented and relates to those areas of the law in which paralegals are most in demand. The Paralegal Certificate Course offers instruction on how to work as a full-time or part-time paralegal, or how to open your own freelance business. Students in this certificate program are given 14 weeks to complete Paralegal I and II, divided into 7 weeks for each portion. 

There are no prerequisites to take the course, but students will be expected to complete a significant amount of homework for each session. This program will help students increase their office's efficiency, productivity, and billable hours as well as learn new marketable job skills.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Paralegal I

Legal Terminology, Legal Process, and Rules of Civil Procedure

Ethics, Torts, and Contracts

Legal Documents and Legal Analysis

Discovery Documents and Legal Interviewing

Evidence

Legal Investigation

Paralegal II

Legal Authority

Introduction to Legal Research, Secondary Sources, and Finding Tools

Citation Format and Appellate Procedure

Computerized Legal Research

Legal Writing and Analysis

Law Office Administration & Informal and Formal Advocacy, Job-Hunting Techniques & Course Wrap-up

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Paralegal Online Course Schedule 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

The online course is completed in two consecutive 7-week sessions and both sessions must be successfully completed in order to receive a Certificate.

Course Tuition: Online $1895, Text-Only $1895 (excludes textbooks) 

Register: Online www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

Florida Gulf Coast University features online the same topical law classes that have been offered since 1980 at colleges and universities throughout the nation. These specialized classes have been attended by thousands of professionals who seek a concentrated study of specific paralegal practice areas.

These classes are available to students who wish to extensively build upon their knowledge of law and paralegal studies with classes in specialized facets of contemporary law. These classes build upon the nationally acclaimed Paralegal Certificate Course© offered by Florida Gulf Coast University and over 1000 colleges and universities nationwide. Students can interact through an online forum, and assignments and exams are emailed to your instructor for critique and grading. Each of these topics is completed in one 7-week online session, and due to significant homework requirements, student can take a maximum of 3 topics per session.

The Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course can greatly enhance your understanding of many of the substantive law areas that you have discussed during the Paralegal Certificate Course©. The additional training gained through participation in these advanced classes can embellish your legal knowledge and skills, which should in turn increase your salary and marketability, and enable you to gain a strong competitive edge over other paralegals. Those who successfully complete at least six advanced topics will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Course Topics:

Advanced Legal Research

Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation)

Bankruptcy Law

Business Law

Constitutional Law

Criminal Law

Criminal Procedure

Education Law

Estate Planning

Family Law

Immigration Law

Intellectual Property

Real Property Law

Victim Advocacy

Water Law

There are no certificates issued for individual Advanced topics. Students who successfully complete at least six Advanced topics will receive a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore.

Advanced Paralegal Certificate Online Course Schedule:
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Each Advanced topic is completed in one 7-week online session, and you may begin your course with any session offered throughout the year. Students can take a maximum of 3 topics per online session and must complete at least 6 topics to earn a certificate. 

Tuition: Online $550 per topic or $3,300 for 6 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

The eDiscovery for Paralegals course is an introductory course for persons entering the eDiscovery field, as well as professionals wanting to broaden their knowledge of the eDiscovery process. This 6 week course covers the entire eDiscovery process, from preparation, to collection, to review of Electronically Stored Information (ESI). Throughout the 17 online modules and tests, learners will progress through the basics of eDiscovery preparation, best practices for ESI collection, and finally, the review process. The course is supplemented with a comprehensive textbook that covers most relevant eDiscovery topics.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments. 

Topics of Study:
Introduction and Legal Framework

Organizing

eDiscovery Case

Technology & Processing 

Review

Production & Ethics 

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

eDiscovery for Paralegals Course Online Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Course Tuition: $995 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This course is designed to train and qualify students to develop or participate in conflict mediation processes. Participants will review the growth and application of settlement options in the United States. The course focuses on both traditional and non-traditional dispute resolution options. Specific attention will be given to mediation, arbitration, summary jury trials, mini-trials and moderated settlement conferences. Students can benefit from taped live lectures or take the course online with the added advantage of reviewing the materials as many times as necessary for full retention of the information. ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) is geared to all professionals who are focused on "interest-based bargaining." This course takes the mystery out of settlement processes and focuses on reaching reasonable solutions. Successful graduates of this non-credit course will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. Students will be expected to complete reading and homework assignments and will choose or be assigned project reports that deal with ADR topics. Independent project development is encouraged. Final projects will be presented for critique to The Center for Legal Studies as a prerequisite of course completion.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

ADR: History, Origins, and Growth

The Art Of Negotiation.

The Mediation Process

Arbitration

Other Forms Of ADR

Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Course Online Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Course Tuition: Online $995 or Text-Only $995 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This course is designed to teach legal investigation skills to those interested in pursuing a new career and those presently working in the legal field. At the end of the course, students will be qualified to assist attorneys, paralegals, insurance companies and private businesses, as well as state and federal government agencies, in the process of civil and criminal investigation. Students will also be taught how to create a freelance investigation business.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Introduction to the American Legal System

An Overview of Civil Procedure, Contract Law, and Tort Law

The Rules of Evidence and Hearsay

Fact and Evidence Gathering Techniques

Handling Evidence and Interviewing Techniques

Legal Research, Ethical Considerations, and the Job Search

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Legal Investigation Course Online Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Course Tuition: Online $995, Text-Only $995 (excludes textbook) 

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This program prepares medical professionals for a career in the legal field as legal nurse consultants. Building on your medical education and possible clinical experience, this course provides you with the fundamental skills necessary to advise law firms, health care providers, insurance companies, and governmental agencies regarding medical issues, and provide testimony in court as an expert witness. The course teaches legal concepts related to the health care industry, as well as the role a legal nurse consultant might play in litigation areas such as medical malpractice, toxic torts, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, criminal law, and workers’ compensation.

Any medical professional interested in entering the legal field can benefit from the education provided by this course. The course is also open to anyone interested in the field of forensic testimony and medical-legal issues, but participants without a Registered Nurse background might not be able to take the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) exam after graduation. LNCC is a discretionary test separate from this training course that experienced registered nurses graduating from this class may decide to sit for. LNCC test eligibility requirements are discussed during this training course; however, RNs graduating from this course need not take the LNCC in order to practice as legal nurse consultants.

The curriculum of this course is designed to comply with the educational guidelines specified by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). Students will receive 42 hours of instruction and will be required to prepare assignments and pass weekly quizzes.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments. This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Topics of Study:

Introduction to Law and LNC

Ethics, Standards of Care and the Profession of Legal Nurse Consulting

Medical Malpractice, Licensure, Case Analysis & Legal Practice Areas

Criminal Law, Complex Litigation, Medical Records and Informed Consent

The Role of the LNC in the Litigation Process

Other Roles and Work Environments for the LNC

Textbook: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Legal Nurse Consultant Online Course Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

The Online course is completed in one 7-week session, and may be taken during any available session.

Course Tuition: $1195 (excludes textbook)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This program is designed for both beginning and experienced secretaries who are interested in improving their skills and working more efficiently within the law office. This course will provide those interested in a career change with new, marketable job skills and help those already working as legal secretaries to increase efficiency and productivity in their offices. 

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Introduction to the American Legal System & Ethics

Reception Duties, Correspondence, File Management & Filing Systems

Calendar & Docketing, Fees, Billing & Accounting Practices

Word Processing & Legal Document Preparation

E-discovery, Computers in a Law Office

Legal Secretary Practicum

Textbooks: Order books online through the Center for Legal Studies Bookstore. 

Legal Secretary Online Course Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Each of these courses is completed in one 7-week online session, and can be taken during any session offered.

Course Tuition: Online $995, Text-Only $995 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com or by phone at 1-800-522-7737

This program is designed to train and qualify students to provide assistance to crime victims, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Participants will be prepared to work with state and county governments as advocates for crime victims, assisting them in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery.

Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Florida Gulf Coast University. To receive a Certificate, students must pass numerous quizzes and successfully complete several legal document writing assignments.

Topics of Study:

Introduction Victim Advocacy and Legislation regarding Victim Rights

Introduction to the Legal Process and Effects of Victimization on the Victim

Victim Advocate Skills and “ISMs” (a look at bias in victim advocacy)

Assault, Battery, and Robbery and Homicide & Suicide

Domestic Violence

Sexual Assault/Rape and Child Abuse

Job Hunting Techniques

Textbooks: No required textbook.

Online Schedule: 
New sessions begin every 8 weeks. 

2024 Session 2: March 4 - April 19
2024 Session 3: April 29 - June 14
2024 Session 4: June 24 - August 9
2024 Session 5: August 19 - October 4
2024 Session 6: October 21 - December 6
2025 Session 1: January 13 - February 28

Course Tuition: Online $995, Text-Only $995 (excludes textbooks)

Register: Online at www.legalstudies.com by phone at 1-800-522-7737