The Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies offers a unique mix of legal theory and practical skills applications. One special feature of specific interest in the program is the Paralegal Practicum, which can provide students with real-world experience in research, drafting, ethics, and client interaction.

All of the courses in the certificate program may be applied to the B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, Paralegal Option. You can now earn the Certificate in Paralegal Studies on campus or online!

Required Courses: (4)
41.103 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
41.370 Real Estate Law
41.387 Legal Research Methods
41.390 Litigation

Electives - Choose 2:
41.363 Corporate and Property Law
41.366 International Law
41.367 Environmental Law
41.376 Family Law
41.381 Women and the Law
41.383 Alternative Dispute Resolution
41.392 Wills, Trusts, and Estates
41.497 The Paralegal Practicum

Course Descriptions

41.103 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Familiarizes students with the role of a paralegal in both the public and private sector. Other topics will include principles of jurisprudence and basic legal concepts and terminology.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.370 Real Estate Law
Examines contracts for the sale of real estate, deeds, title examinations, security for real estate transactions, methods and problems of co-ownership, zoning ordinances, brokerage contracts, leases and landlord and tenant rights and liabilities.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.387 Legal Research Methods
Designed to introduce the student to the fundamentals of legal research and writing. The student will gain hands-on experience in legal research and in the reporting of such research in case briefs and memoranda. Emphasis will be placed on the case law and statutory law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.390 Litigation
Examines the practices and procedures involved in the litigation process. Topics include: legal research, courts and jurisdictions, evidence and discovery, pleadings, motions, depositions, trials and appeals, and federal rules of procedure.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.363 Corporate and Property Law
Studies the law and its impact on the business world. Partnerships, limited partnerships, and joint ventures are studied at the outset of the course. The main emphasis is on elements of the corporate structure. The last part of the course deals with personal and real property with coverage of wills and trusts. This course is highly recommended for pre-law students, CPA's, and paralegals.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.367 Environmental Law
Examines the legal and administrative problems of protecting the quality of the human environment. Federal and state legislation on environmental policy is studied. Public interest litigation as a supplement to the enforcement of environmental law is discussed. Places emphasis on the law as a means of protecting the environment.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.376 Family Law
Studies the critical family law issues facing society today. Subject matter examined includes the law of marriage, custody, adoption, divorce, child support, juveniles, right to die, fetal tissue transfer to prolong the life of another, reproduction control, and surrogate parenting. This course is taught from a legal and human values perspective.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.383 Alternative Dispute Resolution
The traditional trial is becoming increasingly rare in modern civil litigation; the large majority of disputes are resolved by other techniques. This course will examine alternative methods of dispute resolution such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and the mini trial.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.381 Women and the Law
Presents issues that particularly affect women. Topics include: sex discrimination, sexual harassment, marriage, divorce, reproductive control, surrogate motherhood, and custody.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

41.497 The Paralegal Practicum
Assigned fieldwork under the supervision and with the permission of the coordinator. This course is designed to broaden the educational experience of paralegal students by providing exposure to selected legal environments such as corporate legal departments, financial institutions, law firms, real estate departments, banks, and government agencies. This course is intended to provide a correlation of theoretical knowledge with practical experience in an area of particular interest to students.
Prerequisite: P: Minimum of 3 paralegal courses and permission of William Burke, Coordinator, Legal Studies; call 978-934-2765
Credits: 3

41.392 Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Encompasses the law of wills, intestacy, trusts, and gifts. Federal and state gift and estate taxes will be examined. Students will learn and practice the tasks and skills needed for estate administration and probate forms, petitions and inventories, and complete federal, state and gift tax returns. This is a hands-on course where students will complete an entire estate administration from will drafting to final inventory.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete the indicated series of certificate program courses, generally consisting of both required courses and electives. Students may complete the certificate programs at their own pace, enrolling in one or two courses per semester (which is the average recommended course load). Students should anticipate at least two hours of preparation for every hour of classroom instruction and they are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better to receive the certificate.

Courses held on campus typically meet one night per week, three hours each night, for 14 weeks during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (Summer courses are also offered over two 6-week condensed sessions). Call for a course bulletin or check our website course listings for specific course scheduling information.

Application into the Program
Those who wish to enroll in a certificate program should submit a completed application form and arrange to have their official high school transcript or GED sent to Continuing Studies and Corporate Education. Applications, transcripts, and other correspondence should be sent to: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Admissions/Continuing Studies and Corporate Education, Dugan Hall, Room 110, 883 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA 01854-5104. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and there is no fee to apply. Upon acceptance, notification will be sent to students.

Registering for Courses
Continuing Studies and Corporate Education offers courses during the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Information about current course offerings, schedules, and registration procedures is published regularly on our website at http://continuinged.uml.edu. If you would like to receive a printed Course Bulletin, please contact our Faculty and Student Support Center at (978) 934-2474.

You may take courses without being officially enrolled in a certificate or degree program, but you must meet the particular course prerequisites. Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Class size is limited. We recommend that you register early to reserve your place in class.

Transfer Policy
With the program coordinator's approval, one course may be transferred from another accredited institution to satisfy certificate program requirements. The course should be equivalent to UMass Lowell instruction, applicable to the intended program, and the student must have received a grade equivalent to a C- (1.70 on a 4.00 scale) or better.

Academic Advising
Program coordinators and general Faculty and Student Support Specialists are available by appointment to help students determine appropriate course loads, discuss admission requirements, and review the transferability of courses. To schedule an appointment with a program coordinator or Faculty and Student Support Specialist, please call Continuing Studies and Corporate Education at (978) 934-2480 or (978) 934-2474. General walk-in advising is available Monday through Thursday from 8:30am-8:00pm and Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm at the Continuing Studies Faculty and Student Support Center located in Southwick Hall, Room 202 on UMass Lowell North. For online advising, email our Faculty and Student Support Specialists at Continuing_Education@uml.edu.

Awarding of Certificates
Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students must submit a completed Certificate Petition Form to Continuing Studies and Corporate Education. Upon verification, students will be mailed their certificates. Receipt of the certificate will be noted formally on the student's transcript with an award date of October, February, or June.

Tuition
Please refer to our website course listings or our current printed course bulletin for the latest information on tuition and fees.

For More Information
For additional information on any of our programs, call Continuing Studies and Corporate Education at (978) 934-2480 or email Continuing_Education@uml.edu.

For information on Financial Aid, call the University's Financial Aid Office at (978) 934-4220.