“The Premier Paralegal Studies Program in the Nation”
Curriculum for Aspiring Paralegals
Curriculum for Aspiring Paralegals
The Pro Se Legal Studies Institute - Paralegal Program in Houston, Texas, is dedicated to providing quality legal instructions to all students. In this 9-month program, we teach you everything you need to know in order to thrive as a legal professional.
The Pro Se Legal Studies Institute - Paralegal Program’s curriculum introduces you to the legal system and teaches you the information and skills you’ll need to successfully support an attorney, including the preparation for legal research, drafting legal documents, and assembling the strategies needed for trial. You will graduate with an understanding of substantive law as well as procedural practices that will enable you to better understand the structure of the federal and state court systems. The Program is designed into 8 separate parts over a 9-month period as follows:
The Week Number & the Class Period for the Week: Example, Second Week / First Class is (02-01)
Topic Covered During the Class Period ("Continued" means that the same topic takes 2 class periods)
Part I – The Court System (4 weeks)
01-01 Bad Conduct v. Criminal Conduct
01-02 Continued
02-01 The Federal Court System: Diversity & Federal Question
02-02 Bankruptcy Courts
03-01 The State Court System: District & County Courts At Law (Courts of General Jurisdiction)
03-02 Continued
04-01 The State Court System: Probate Courts, Justice of the Peace & Other Specialty Courts
04-02
Part II – Sources of Law (4 weeks)
05-01 Primary Sources of Law – Constitutions
05-02 Continued
06-01 Primary Sources of Law – Case law
06-02 Continued
07-01 Primary Sources of Law – Statutes & Agency Law
07-02 Continued
08-01 Secondary Sources of Law
08-02 Continued
Part III – The Law (5 weeks)
09-01 Civil Lawsuits: Torts (Intentional & Negligence)
09-02 Continued
10-01 Civil Lawsuits: Contracts
10-02 Continued
11-01 Probate & Guardianship Cases
11-02 Continued
12-01 Domestic (Family Law) Cases
12-02 Continued
13-01 Criminal & Immigration Cases
13-02 Continued
Part IV – Plaintiff & Defendant’s Petition & Answers (5 weeks)
14-01 Components of the Plaintiff’s Petition
14-02 Continued
15-01 Service of Process
15-02 Continued
16-01 Defendant’s Original Answer & Other Claims (Counterclaim & Cross claim)
16-02 Continued
17-01 Third Party Actions
17-02 Interventions & Impleaders
18-01 Amended & Supplemental Pleadings
18-02 Continued
Part V – Legal Research (5 weeks)
19-01 Burden of Proof: Beyond Reasonable Doubt & Preponderance
19-02 Clear & Convincing; Plus standard for Police stop & detention
20-01 Legal Research I – Citations for Locating Cases
20-02 Continued
21-01 Analysis of a Court’s Opinion: Majority, Concurrent & Dissenting
21-02 Continued
22-01 Legal Research II – Citations for Locating Statutes
22-02 Continued
23-01 Legal Writing I – Memorandums & Appellate Briefs
23-02 Continued
Part VI – Motions Practice & Discovery (4 weeks)
24-01 Dispositive Motions: Summary, Default and No Legal Cause of Action (2020-024)
24-02 Continued
25-01 Non-Dispositive Motions
25-02 Continued
26-01 Discovery (Written): Interrogatories, Request for Production, Requests for Admissions & Requests for Disclosures
26-02 Continued
27-01 Discovery (Oral): Depositions
27-02 Continued
Part VII – Trial (5 weeks)
28-01 Parties’ Opening Arguments & Jury Selection & Charge
28-02 Continued
29-01 Witness Testimony: Expert & Lay Persons
29-02 Continued
30-01 Exhibits Introduction & Exclusion:
30-02 Continued
31-01 Courtroom Personnel & Use of Courtroom Equipment:
31-02 Continued
32-01 Damages: Compensatory & Punitive
32-02 Continued
Part VIII – Post Trial Actions (4 weeks)
33-01 Jury Deliberations & Verdict: Guilty, Not Guilty
33-02 Continued
34-01 Losing Party’s Right to Appeal: Timelines & Appellate Briefs
34-02 Appeal Courts & Supreme Court’s
35-01 Legal Career Strategies:
35-02 Continued
36-01 The Rules: Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP)
36-02 Final Examination
Our legal clinic provides cases for the paralegal student to work on to get real life legal experience producing legal documents and researching legal issues, while interacting with actual court personnel and opposing counsel.