Paralegals assist lawyers in the completion of legal paperwork. Though they do not participate in the trying of a case, paralegals do participate in nearly every other element of a law firm's operation. A fast-growing industry, paralegal courses focus on ACT and GMAT test preparation, legal writing and research, as well as various law subject courses such as property law, intellectual property and tax law.
Legal secretaries aid in the preparation of specific legal documents such as appeals, motions and, occasionally, elements of legal briefs. Though legal secretaries do not legally require specialized certification to work in a law office, course work in legal history, legal writing and research, as well as general coursework in administrative assisting compromise the curriculum for a certificate, which greatly improves your chances of securing a job in a firm.
Legal investigators cover a range of occupations from private investigator to police detective. Acting as supplemental coursework often required of officers in law enforcement, legal investigation courses include focuses on legal and ethical considerations of crime scene analysis, investigatory techniques and accident investigation and reconstruction.
Dispute resolution courses aid those working in a conflict mediation, be they parole officers, case workers or institutional counselors. Coursework focuses on the psychology of understanding conflicts and working to diffuse them. This includes specific courses on the role and expectations of a mediator, techniques of mediation and types of dispute (business, employment). As with legal investigation courses, dispute resolution courses often don't work to a specific certification, but rather a certificate of completion.
Victim advocacy coursework enables certified counselors to work with people seeking assistance inside domestic violence shelters and other similar crisis centers. Victim advocacy courses include trauma response, victim situation assessment, crimes against children and women and sexual assault. Victim advocacy courses grant counselors the ability to work with special clientele.