The following three courses comprise the UTSA Paralegal Certificate Program:

Please refer to the registration page for application and registration details. For more information, please contact Arianna Duggan, Program Coordinator, at 458-7420 or by email at arianna.duggan@utsa.edu.

Spring 2012 Course dates

Orientation and Syllabus: January 21, 2012
Session 1: January 21, 2012 - January 27, 2012
Session 2: January 28, 2012 - February 3, 2012
Session 3: Feruary 4, 2012 - February 10, 2012
Session 4: February 11, 2012- February 17, 2012
Session 5: February 18, 2012 - February 24, 2012
Session 6: February 25, 2012 - March 2, 2012
Session 7: March 3, 2012 - March 9, 2012
Session 8: March 10, 2012 - March 16, 2012
OFF: Spring Break - March 17, 2012 - March 23, 2012
Session 9: March 24, 2012 -March 30 2012
Session 10: March 31, 2012 - April 6, 2012
OFF: Easter- April 7, 2012 - April 13, 2012
Session 11: April 14, 2012 -April 20, 2012
Session 12: April 21, 2012 - April 27, 2012

Summer 2012 Course dates

Orientation and Syllabus: May 19, 2012
Session 1: May 19, 2012 - May 25, 2012
Off: Memorial Weekend May 26, 2012 - June 1, 2012
Session 2: June 2, 2012 - June 8, 2012
Session 3: June 9, 2012 - June 15, 2012
Session 4: June 16, 2012 - June 22, 2012
Session 5: June 23, 2012 - June 29, 2012
Session 6: June 30, 2012 - July 6, 2012
Session 7: July 7, 2012 - July 13, 2012
Session 8: July 14, 2012 - July, 20, 2012
Session 9: July 21, 2012 - July 27, 2012
Session 10: July 28, 2012 - August 3, 2012
Session 11:  August 4, 2012, - August 10, 2012
Session 12: August 11, 2012 - August 17, 2012


Fall 2012 Course dates

Orientation and Syllabus: September 8, 2012
Session 1: September 8, 2012 - September 14, 2012
Session 2: September 15, 2012 - September 21, 2012
Session 3: September 22, 2012 - September 28, 2012
Session 4: September 29, 2012 - October 5, 2012
Session 5: October 6, 2012 - October 12, 2012
Session 6: October 13, 2012 - October 19, 2012
Session 7: October 20, 2012 - October 26, 2012
Session 8: October 27, 2012 - November 2, 2012
Session 9: November 3, 2012 - November 9, 2012
Session 10: November 10, 2012 - November 16, 2012
Session 11: November 17, 2012, - November 30, 2012
Off: Thanksgiving Weekend November 24, 2012
Session 12: December 1, 2012 - December 7, 2012





 

Paralegal 1: Foundational Skills (7.5 Continuing Education Units.)
Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of college credit including freshman English or a waiver, and familiarity with the Internet and Microsoft Word. Books and additional course Information

• INTRODUCTION TO LAW: Orientation to the Paralegal Profession; Ethics, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct; Basic Legal Concepts; Our Texas and Federal Court Systems.
  
  
• LEGAL RESEARCH: Hands-on Use of Digests, Case Reporters, Statutory Codes, and Secondary Sources to Locate Law Relevant to the Client's Case; Introduction to Legal Analysis and Legal Writing.
  
  
• CIVIL LITIGATION I: Introduction to the Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence Governing Civil Litigation; Study of the Paralegal's Role during Case Investigation, Preparation & Trial with Emphasis on Civil Litigation in the Texas State Courts.

Paralegal 2: Torts, Business Law, and Contracts (7.5 Continuing Education Units.)

Prerequisite: Paralegal 1 and familiarity with the Internet and Microsoft Word. Books and additional course information

• CIVIL LITIGATION II: Interviewing Clients and Witnesses; Recognizing Causes of Action Underlying Civil Litigation including Intentional Torts, Negligence, and Professional Malpractice; Continued Study of Applicable Procedural Rules and Refinement of the Paralegal's Role in Civil Litigation; Drafting Projects.
  
  
• LEXIS-NEXIS AND PRODOC: Using the Computer to Complement Traditional Legal Research Methods and Streamline Legal Document Drafting.
  
  
• LEGAL WRITING: Drafting Litigation Documents, Legal Correspondence, Research Memoranda and other Legal Documents for Attorney Review.
  
  
• CONTRACTS AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS: The Paralegal's Role in a Business Law Practice including the Substantive Law of Contracts and Remedies for Breach; Types of Business Ownership; State of Texas Incorporation Procedure; Legal Research and Drafting Projects.
  

Prerequisite: Paralegal 1 and 2. Books and additional course information

• FAMILY LAW: The Paralegal's Role in a Family Law Practice including the Substantive Law and Procedures Relating to Divorce, Community Property, Conservatorship, and Child Support, with Emphasis on the Texas Family Code. Legal Research and Drafting Projects.
  
  
• WILLS AND PROBATE: The Paralegal's Role in a Wills & Probate Practice including Preparation of Basic Wills and other Estate Planning Documents, the Law of Interstate Succession, and Probate Procedures with Emphasis on the Texas Probate Code. Legal Research and Drafting Projects.
  
  
• CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE: The Paralegal's Role in the Criminal Justice System with Emphasis on the Texas Penal Code and Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Legal Research and Drafting Projects.
  

Program Coordinator and Participating Institution

Ms. Arianna Duggan
Paralegal Program Coordinator
Center for Professional Excellence

The University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, Texas 78249-0634
Phone: 210-458-7420
Fax: 210-458-6575
Email: arianna.duggan@utsa.edu