Just recently, I started a Paralegal Certification course at Emory University. Being an avid writer, I am always looking to expand my skillset to different industries and niches. The law was intriguing to me, so I decided to take the jump and get this certificate, while opening up new career opportunities and expanding my repertoire to legal writing. I am a huge advocate for learning and expanding your skillset. So, I always have my eye out for new learning opportunities.
I have a decent handle of writing and a knack for research and organization. Naturally, the paralegal route seemed worth a try. I will still be running my copywriting business, as I love creative writing above all other forms. This is just an interesting venture into an adjacent field. If I end up liking it, I hope to initiate a service offering legal writing, drafting, and legal research to lawyers. Let's see how it goes.
Georgia often heralds Emory as their version of "Harvard." So, I was definitely intrigued to see what it would be like enrolling and learning in a program at Emory. The application process was fairly simple. I filled out the application on Emory's website and included my personal statement. I was contacted back via email and told I was accepted into the program. I chatted back and forth a bit with my advisor, figuring out the program logistics. In August, I attended their informational webinar and I was ready to start.
The program itself is roughly 4-5 months long. It is definitely a fast-paced program. We were required to enroll for the program and then purchase four textbooks. Each month is roughly a whole course. The program offers: Introduction to Law, Contract Law, Legal Writing, and Civil Litigation. These are the main foundational components to practicing as a Paralegal. The rest depends on what niche you end up working in. For that, they have specialization electives that you can add on.
Our class materials are uploaded on Canvas and we have live classes on Zoom twice a week in the evenings. Between zoom classes, throughout the week, we are expected to do the textbook readings and complete assignments. We do have a final at the end of each class. We have to pass one class to be able to move on to the next. If someone fails, they only get one do over of the class.
I recently wrapped up my first class, Introduction to Law, with professor Ural Glanville, who is also a Fulton County judge. The classes are interesting, interactive, and we cover a lot of material in each class meeting. The professors thus far are all friendly and fun to talk to. They get to the point and teach you all the essentials you need.
So far I am having a good experience in this course. I am genuinely enjoying the readings and the material we are learning. Even though, I have not had my legal writing class yet, I have learned a bit about legal writing.
Legal writing often follows the IRAC structure: issue, ruling, analysis, conclusion. The writing is paired with highly technical citations of statutes and case laws. The whole idea is the take a client's scenario, conduct legal research, find the laws and statutes that are in their favor, and draft a legal notice using the IRAC structure.
All in all, it is a solid course. If you want to pursue the Paralegal profession, or you want a taste before committing to law school, or you are skilled in writing and want to try out legal writing, this course is a nice option! You can check it out on Emory's website. After this course, you will be eligible to sit for the national paralegal exams offered by NALA and NFPA, if you wish to be a certified paralegal.
Paralegals can go into many different areas. They can focus solely on freelance legal writing, they can work for the government, they can work for corporations, and obviously they can work for law firms. The point is that legal knowledge is required in every industry. Having a paralegal certificate can make you a competitive candidate in many different fields. There is a lot you can do with this certification course. It all depends on how you frame it and apply the skills learnt. In the meantime, I am both excited and intrigued to see where this new avenue leads me.
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