The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Many paralegal professionals are employed as part of litigation teams specializing in personal injury law. Indeed, personal injury and medical malpractice law comprises fully 25% of all the active cases in United States courts. It is a HUGE field. This program is designed to provide a comprehensive legal background for paralegal professionals who often handle the most important parts of preparation and prosecution of a personal injury claim, or defense. This specialized program reviews the field of personal injury law, the nuts and bolts of civil litigation, and then investigation and legal reasoning, often the area where personal injury cases succeed or fail. A paralegal with the background provided by these three courses can expect to attain the very highest level of professional achievement working in an exciting personal injury or medical malpractice legal department.

Textbooks: All textbooks are included in the tuition for this specialized certificate program.

Module 1: Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Law
One of the most important fields of paralegal employment, the law of torts and negligence, is examined in detail. The student is educated to understand the basic theory of tort law, and the process by which negligence cases are developed in preparation for settlement or trial. Subjects covered include evaluating liability, injuries and damages.

Module 2: Civil Litigation
The student gains a thorough understanding of the major aspects of civil litigation, managing a case from beginning to end, from client interview, through the drafting of a summons and complaint, motions, briefs, and trial preparation. The instructor takes the role of judge. Students also learn about the history and structure of the major court systems.

Module 3: Investigation and Legal Reasoning
As a practicing paralegal, you will be involved daily with clients who have come to your firm for legal representation and guidance. You will be involved in real-life cases throughout your career. This course is dedicated to developing the skills you will need to work with clients and investigating and analyze their situations. Topics covered include:

• The fundamentals of working with clients and attorneys in "real life" cases.
• How to analyze fact patterns, identify elements, present issues, and apply legal principles to the facts of the case.
• How to interview clients, "selling" the firm, and drafting intake memos.
• How to take a witness statement and how to "read" your witnesses and clients.
• The importance of evidence, the concept of admissibility, and the distinction between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence.
• How to read and analyze court opinions.

Other subjects covered include: The nature and context of investigation, sources of evidence, sources of leads, gaining access to records, evaluating evidence, interviewing witnesses, taking witness statement and settlement workups.

In short, this very important course will prepare you to become an indispensable part of your law firm's case investigation team.