GAIN ACCESS TO THE

GROWING PARALEGAL FIELD

Online Paralegal Studies Program

paralegalonline.bu.edu
Practical Skills for
Expanding Careers
Boston University is dedicated to its mission of providing accessible programs that
encourage professional development and meet exacting standards of academic
excellence. As part of that goal, BU is proud to offer the online Paralegal Studies
Program—a focused, convenient way to develop the skills necessary to excel as a
paralegal and gain a competitive edge in your career search.

Offered by the Center for Professional Education, an established national leader in

career-focused academic programs, the online Paralegal Studies Program presents
students with a perfect blend of BU’s high standards of quality and the flexibility of
online learning. Through the program, you will participate in focused coursework
that examines the fundamental nuances of legal writing, research, and some of the
advanced technical tools used by paralegals in the field every day.

About the Program

The online Paralegal Studies Program examines
the essential professional competencies of the
paralegal field, including the effective use of
informational databases and other applications
that paralegals use on a regular basis. Over the
course of the program, you’ll be introduced to the
practices that form the backbone of the industry,
developing your knowledge of advanced research
techniques and the fundamentals of legal writing.
Additionally, the program specifically explores
certain areas of law to prepare students for a
variety of legal settings, including:
Beyond the advantages of earning a valuable
professional certificate from Boston University, the
program confers on its students a wide array of
additional benefits.
• Interaction with BU faculty—each of them
practicing attorneys who bring their expertise into
the classroom
• An all-inclusive, affordable price
• An intensive course of study that can be
completed in just 14 weeks

• Real Estate Law • A unique technology module that provides

hands-on experience in the latest software
• Business Law utilized by paralegals
• Litigation • Access to a community of peers in the field to
help you build your professional network
• Probate and Family Law
• The ability to complete coursework from
• Legal Research
anywhere in a convenient online format
• Legal Writing and Reasoning
• Technology and the Paralegal
Curriculum
The program’s coursework, a series of seven, two-week-long modules, closely examines the areas of the legal
support profession that are most essential to the daily functions of a paralegal. The fully online Paralegal
Studies Program can be earned in fourteen weeks upon the completion of the following modules. Modules
close at the end of each two-week period, which means all due dates for assignments, assessments, and
discussions must be met within the allotted time.
Legal Research
Students in the Legal Research course learn how to research both
online via WestlawNext and the old fashioned way in stacks and
in stacks of legal tomes. They will be taught to research in each
of the five primary sources of law: the Constitution; case law;
statutory law; regulatory law; and executive orders. Students
learn how to utilize each court’s respective reporter series, as
well as the Massachusetts Digest and the Federal Practice Digest.
Additionally, students are instructed on both federal and state
statutory and regulatory law, and they learn how to utilize the
respective legislative and administrative codes.
Legal Writing and Reasoning
The most important aspect of legal writing is to understand the
logic and rationale behind the writing. Through a series of writing
assignments, students will be introduced to the manner in which
lawyers reason. Students will be introduced to the distinction
between a factual issue and a legal issue, they will be taught to
write case briefs, and they will be instructed in the IRAC (Issue,
Rule, Application, Conclusion) style of legal writing analysis.
In addition, students will be introduced to the concepts of
precedential and persuasive authorities. In a final paper, students
must synthesize the facts in a hypothetical situation with four case
holdings and statutory law.
Technology and the Paralegal
This class covers both foundational and specialized software
programs. These include cornerstones such as Excel and Internet
research, as well as advanced tools such as CaseMap, a leading
case management program. Also covered are e-discovery,
the system of rules and techniques involving the gathering of
electronic information in law suits, as well as the use of PACER
for electronic filing of legal pleadings within the federal court
system. Students will also have an opportunity to learn and use
OmnibusLaw, a specialized legal software tool developed by their
instructor.
Real Estate Law
In this course you will learn real estate law in relation to how
property is held and how it is transferred. Students learn the
importance of the Offer to Purchase, its contents, how to read the
offer and incorporate it into the Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Other topics include pre-closing items--what they are, how to
obtain them, how to review them, and the specific role each plays
at the closing. All aspects of real estate closings are covered,
including how to prepare deeds and other documents, title
searches, title abstracts, certifications of title and title insurance,
run downs, payoffs, and recording requirements. Other topics
include categories of real property, ownership restrictions, legal
descriptions of property, liens on property, due diligence, leases
and environmental issues. In addition, you are encouraged to visit
a Registry of Deeds.
Business Law
Business Law is designed to provide students with an
introduction to the substantive area of corporate/business
law, and the practical skills necessary to serve as a corporate
paralegal. Students will learn about the legal formation and
functioning of various business entities, including business
corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies and
learn to distinguish the structure, liability, and taxation attributes
of different business entities. Students will also receive a
comprehensive introduction to corporate finance and securities
regulation, an overview of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial
Code and highlights of intellectual property law. Detailed analysis
of business law transactions will help students gain the requisite
legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to assist attorneys
with various corporate transactions.
Litigation
Students in the Litigation course will learn the most frequently
employed civil discovery devices and some strategic aspects of
discovery. This session begins with an overview of the litigation
process from investigation to filing a lawsuit, Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure (with related references to the Massachusetts Rules of
Civil Procedure) and various common law and statutory privileges
against disclosure, including marital privilege, the work product
doctrine, and the attorney-client privilege. The course will place an
emphasis on the use of interrogatories, requests for production of
documents, depositions, and independent medical examinations.
Students will also be given an overview of summary judgment and
the role of experts in preparing a case for trial.
Probate and Family Law
The Probate and Family Law module has three main areas of
concentration: Probate, Estate Planning, and Family Law. In the
probate section, students learn about wills and what happens if
one dies without a will. A case study illustrates a typical chain
of legal events that may unfold after a death. Estate planning
discusses wills, trusts, and advance directives which provide
clients the ability to legally express their desires if incapacitated
in the future. The basics of divorce law are also covered, including
child custody, alimony, and division of marital estates. Finally,
the class undertakes an exploration of the complex and rapidly
changing area of same-sex marriage.
Tuition &
Payment Options
At the Boston University Center for Professional Education, we
dedicate ourselves to providing accessible, affordable paths
to career development and continuing education for adult
learners. The online Paralegal Studies Program is designed to
achieve that goal, providing comprehensive coursework at a
low price. The program doesn’t require textbooks, and also
includes access to the WestlawNext database.
There are several affordable ways for students to pay for the
online Paralegal Studies Program. In addition to the payment
options detailed here, students may qualify for a Sallie Mae
loan to cover the full cost of the program. See below for the Digital Learning at BU
school code and further information. The office of Distance Education works with Boston
University schools and colleges to develop rigorous,
industry-relevant graduate programs that are fully
Pay in Full: $3,995 online. BU’s acclaimed online degree and certificate
programs are team-developed by full-time faculty,
One-time Payment instructional designers, and expert multimedia
professionals. Noted for groundbreaking innovation,
OR
individualized support services for each student, and
small-group learning, BU’s online programs are unique
PayPal Credit in developing a strong connection between students,
0% Interest for 6 Months
(Terms and conditions apply. Visit paralegalonline.bu.edu for more info.) course facilitators, and active faculty.
Recognized by the Sloan Consortium with the Award
for Excellence in Institution-wide Online Education,
Payment Plan: $3,995
Boston University is proud to stand by the positive
impact its programs have on the careers and lives
$2,525 Deposit (due at registration) of developing professionals around the globe. For
+ 3 additional payments of $490 information about other online programs at Boston
Payments will be 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks from the date of the initial deposit. University, visit www.bu.edu/online.
The monthly payment plan is not being offered or made by Boston University, but
rather by All Campus, LLC, which is a third party provider of enrollment and tuition
payment services. school code for the cpe : 02213099
Boston University Metropolitan College
Center for Professional Education

paralegalonline.bu.edu
(888) 700-3966 or (857) 366-9338