The advancement of one’s own profession is a pretty big goal for many people, and getting the right experience and training will help you attain that. As you spend time working as a paralegal it will come to your attention that there are various facets of the law that you can specialize in. By doing this you can increase your worth to your potential employers, or simply add to your already extensive repertoire. By taking advanced paralegal certificate programs you can get the training you need to recertify in a new type of law. One of the popular choices for many paralegals is criminal law.
An Outline of a the Course
This kind of program usually takes anywhere between 4 to 6 months, and you can use this time in any way you see fit. If you need more time, then it may be possible to get up to an additional 6 months to complete this course. The following is a basic outline about what this class will cover. It will begin with a basic overview of the justice system and how it interacts with the legal system. You will learn about criminal behavior, and the process by which crimes are investigated. It will then go on to explain how the defense of the accused works and what your role in that endeavor is. The various facets of discovery, pretrial motions and techniques used in the defense of an accused person and their trials will take up most of your study time. You will finally finish by learning about the sentencing and appeals process.
This is Not Television!
Some people go into criminal law expecting it to be like it is on television and it’s nothing like that at all. Trials are much more technical and slow paced. The work is hard, and it can get pretty complicated if you aren’t prepared properly. That is why it is so important that you get as much information and training as you can. There is a good chance you’ll be in a courtroom at some point during your tenure, and having a solid foundation of knowledge to draw upon when under the stress of litigation will come in useful. Don’t think for a minute that just because it looks easy on television that real life is anything like that.
Be prepared, take an online course and get a good working knowledge of how the court system works. You’ll be glad you did.
