For more than 15 years, PDI has been a leader in quality and affordable paralegal training with its 8-week program. Whether you enroll in our blended live/on-line class in Dallas or take advantage of our online program, you'll get the tools and knowledge you need to work in the legal field.
How do you know a program is right for you? For more than 2,400 graduates over the past 15 years, the clear choice has been the Paralegal Certificate Program offered by the UNT/PDI Center for Paralegal Education. Outlining the details of the Paralegal Certificate Program in an informal environment is the reason PDI’s Center for Paralegal Education introduced the Paralegal Information Session more than a decade ago.
PDI’s Paralegal Information Session is held two weeks prior to every certificate program. You’ll have an opportunity to ask all your questions and view materials. It lasts no more than one hour.
The event is absolutely free and there is no obligation to enroll. You will receive $100 off the program price if you register and pay for the program prior to or during the Paralegal Information Session. The choice is yours.
The next free information session for the Spring 2010 class is 9am on Saturday, August 7 at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas.
The cost of the program is $1895. This includes all your materials- a $500 value. Compare this to other programs where you’ll spend thousands of dollars in tuition, along with additional costs for books and materials.
During the intensive, 8-weekend session, participants will cover topics such as:
·Introduction to the paralegal profession
·The role of the paralegal in law firms
·In-house legal departments and government agencies
·Legal terminology
·Overview of legal and legislative systems
·State and Federal court systems
·Alternative dispute resolution
·Ethics
·Contract Law
·Uniform Commercial Code
·Probate
·Estates
·Wills
·Trusts
·Taxes
·General Business Law
·Business organizations and entities
·Securities Law
·Real Estate and Property Law
·Family and Domestic Relations Law
·Tort Law, including Workers’ Comp
·Employment and Labor Law, including immigration
·Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, and Technology Law
·Criminal Law and procedure
·General Civil Procedure, including Discovery, trial prep, evidence
·Law office management
·Accounting and billing
·Document production and drafting
·Correspondence
·Interviewing
·Computers and office technology
·Legal research
·Analysis
·Writing
·Library
·Mock Trial
The program meets at the Crown Plaza North Dallas. The address is 14315 Midway Road, located on Midway between Spring Valley and Belt Line (north of 635/ LBJ Freeway)
Private Student loans are available from Sallie Mae. To apply, follow these steps:
Go to www.salliemae.com. Click on the orange "apply now" button. Select Texas and then Professional Development Institute from the drop down menus. Accept the terms and proceed with completing the application.
If you have any questions, please contact Tami Russell at 866.374.0876 or trussell@pdi.org.
The Advocate is a newsletter sent to all PDI alums about newsworthy paralegal information, highlighting graduating classes and general communications about PDI’s paralegal certificate program.
We’ve made it even more convenient to earn your paralegal certificate. Based on our successful classroom program, we offer an online version of the paralegal certificate program. Over a span of 8 weeks, earn your certificate online. The next session begins June 12, so register today.
New modules are released each week over the 8 weeks, with instructors available for feedback and guidance.
Have questions about the program or the profession? Go through our virtual information session to help you determine if this program is the right one for you. Call Tami Russell at 866.374.0876 or email her at trussell@pdi.org for access to the virtual session.
The cost of the program is $1,895. This includes all your materials- a $500 value. Compare this to other programs where you’ll spend thousands of dollars in tuition, along with additional costs for books and materials.
·During the sessions participants will cover topics such as:
·Introduction to the paralegal profession
·The role of the paralegal in law firms
·In-house legal departments and government agencies
·Legal terminology
·Overview of legal and legislative systems
·State and Federal court systems
·Alternative dispute resolution
·Ethics
·Contract Law
·Uniform Commercial Code
·Probate
·Estates
·Wills
·Trusts
·Taxes
·General Business Law
·Business organizations and entities
·Securities Law
·Real Estate and Property Law
·Family and Domestic Relations Law
·Tort Law, including Workers’ Comp
·Employment and Labor Law, including immigration
·Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, and Technology Law
·Criminal Law and procedure
·General Civil Procedure, including Discovery, trial prep, evidence
·Law office management
·Accounting and billing
·Document production and drafting
·Correspondence
·Interviewing
·Computers and office technology
·Legal research
·Analysis
·Writing
Private Student loans are available from Sallie Mae. To apply, follow these steps:
Go to www.salliemae.com. Click on the orange "apply now" button. Select Texas and then Professional Development Institute from the drop down menus. Accept the terms and proceed with completing the application.
If you have any questions, please contact Tami Russell at 866.374.0876 or trussell@pdi.org.
The Advocate is a newsletter sent to all PDI alums about newsworthy paralegal information, highlighting graduating classes and general communications about PDI’s paralegal certificate program.
The paralegal profession can be tricky and confusing to navigate at times. Following are the most common questions we get asked about the paralegal profession.
A paralegal, also called a legal assistant, is a person who assists an attorney in the practice of law. Responsibilities may include legal research, document analysis, cite checking, and investigational research. The paralegal may also aid the attorney in drafting pleadings, interrogatories and discovery, interviewing clients, administering trusts and estates, assisting with real estate transactions, drafting certificates and corporate documents needed by state law to form various business entities as well as assisting in client-related matters that do not require a law degree.
It is important to note that, in general, paralegals do not represent the public in the practice of law by either expressed or implied actions. The Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL statute) is a criminal offense in the State of Texas and in all other states within the United States.
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations defines a paralegal as “…a person qualified through education, training or work experience, to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work.”
There is no specific standard or set of qualifications one must achieve to become a legal assistant or a paralegal. The terms “legal assistant” and “paralegal” can be interchangeable.
Historically, paralegals have been referred to as paralegals or legal assistants depending upon their geographical location or employer’s preference; the terms are synonymous and used interchangeably. In November 1995, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) adopted the term Paralegal as the preferred term for the profession. NFPA members identified several recent trends in the paralegal profession including court decisions awarding higher fees to attorneys employing persons called paralegal instead of legal assistant, the ABA Commission on Non-Lawyer Practice’s latest report using paralegal almost exclusively, and several paralegal associations changing their names to paralegal from legal assistant.
Starting pay is dependent upon a variety of factors, including relevant work experience and location. According to industry surveys, a starting paralegal with little work experience can start at an average of $25,000 to $30,000 annually. This is about the national average for entry-level paralegals.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, the paralegal profession is solidly growing and a very secure occupation. The growth rate is estimated at 35% through the year 2014.
No. There are no requirements or procedures for licensing or registration of legal assistants or paralegals. They work under the supervision of a licensed attorney who assumes full responsibility for the work product.
This has become almost mandatory in the workplace because it is an economic issue for the law firm.
The courts, both the United State Supreme Court and a State of Texas Appellate Court, along with other state courts, have held that compensation for a paralegal’s work may be separately assessed and included in the award of attorneys’ fees. Proof of education or training in paralegal skills is required for the paralegal to be billed out for the hours spent working on the client’s case. The paralegal certificate is the proof.
In fact, one of PDI’s graduates has been a paralegal to the justices on the Texas Appellate Court sitting in Dallas, which is the very court that wrote the above-mentioned opinion regarding the recovery of fees.
Is an ABA approved certificate program important when looking at programs to attend?
ABA certifies program - not people. There is no such thing as an ABA-certified paralegal. For a complete list of paralegal courses in Texas see http://www.lad.org.
The ABA “approves“ paralegal programs. It does not “accredit.“ ABA approval is voluntary. There are only seven “ABA approved“ paralegal programs in Texas.
For information on the ABA, visit this web link: http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/legalassistants/directory/tx.html
There are two national recognized certification programs currently in existence. Both are voluntary. However, one can certainly work as a legal assistant/ paralegal in Texas without participating in either certification program. They are:
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). This organization administers an exam leading to the designation of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA).
The National Federal of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) administers an exam named Paralegal Advanced Compentency Exam leading to certification (PACE - Registered Paralegal or RP).
Texas provides an additional certification. The State Bar of Texas, Board of Legal Specialization, offers voluntary certification exams in specific areas of practice such as civil trial law, criminal trial law, probate and estates, real estate, and many others. The TBLS started doing this for attorneys many years ago, and expanded the program to paralegals, but it is voluntary for both paralegals and attorneys.
PDI's Paralegal Certificate Program is one of the most accelerated, cost-effective programs of its kind. Participants can earn a certificate of completion in eight weekends (Saturdays are live and Sundays following with on-line study), while other programs cost many thousands of dollars more and can take years to complete.
The format makes it easy to boost your career without spending time away from the office. Newcomers and those already working in the field BOTH benefit from the program.
PDI's Paralegal Certificate Program is part of the Center for Paralegal Education, a component of the Professional Development Institute of the University of North Texas. PDI is a not-for-profit foundation that has served more than 500,000 professionals over the past 30 years.
PDI has taken great care to provide only top-quality professional instructors with significant background in their teaching areas. We at PDI recognize that our success only comes with your success after graduation, so PDI is committed to providing its students with instructors that can make their learning experience valuable and maximize their job potential. This team of instructors includes Texas attorneys, paralegals and specialists with teaching experience.
Absolutely. Our students that have taken advantage of this opportunity to attend this program, have started working in the legal field and worked their way up to a $40,000 or $50,000 per year job. Some students have even landed jobs prior to graduation!
PDI does not have a job placement program. However, because of the outstanding reputation of the program and its long history, we often receive requests from prospective employers including attorneys, law firms, corporations and government agencies. We also have a number of placement agencies that are pleased with the caliber of our students in the past and continue to request them for their employer clients. We distribute these opportunities in class so everyone has the equal opportunity to pursue these options.
Students attending our class will also have an instant network into the legal community, since some students will already be working in the legal field and are attending because they need the certificate. These students bring job opportunities from their employers to share with the class. Students are often hired right out of class and go to work before graduation.
We continue to be available to all past and present students to share job leads, serve as a reference, to provide letters of recommendation and assist in resume preparation or critiquing. We are interested in helping you succeed.
A word of caution; we cannot guarantee jobs. No school or institution can guarantee employment. Beware of anyone who tells you a job is guaranteed when you graduate.
Yes, the Paralegal Certificate Program was designed to meet the needs of the legal community and the working student. When polled, the overwhelming response was for a program in a continuing education format, and the fast track or accelerated weekend schedule was preferred. This allows the students to finish quickly and still be able to maintain their work and family responsibilities.
As strange as it may seem, the truth is that the paralegal profession is not regulated in the State of Texas or most other states. Therefore, there is no absolute standard for education and thus answers the question as to the level of confusion and misinformation out there.
PDI has structured its program, both as to content and length, to accommodate recommendations made by the ABA as well as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Your certificate will read “The Professional Development Institute of the University of North Texas.“
Open House is something that we offer for all our programs. It is FREE with NO OBLIGATION and can be attended by anyone, registered or not. You will see the facility, meet the program director and staff, learn about the curriculum and the instructors, and get all of your questions answered. It is an informal meeting about 50 minutes long; however, we stay to assist students and answer questions as long as needed.
Students who attend Open House receive $100 off the total price of the program. PDI serves as the bookstore, and all books will be packaged for the student to pick up at Open House.
No. However, many employers do refer to a person with a certificate as being certified.
“Often confusing is the assumption that a certificate of completion from a paralegal program carries with it the status of being certified. It does not. It simply means that the legal assistant is certificated-that is, the individual has received a certificate, but is not certified.“ (SOURCE: Texas State Bar Journal)
People often have a misconception that they must be certified to work as a paralegal. While there are voluntary designations, there are no state licensing requirements for paralegals in most states.
Our instructors bring an incredibly diverse array of working knowledge into their respective classrooms. What sets them apart is their ability to merge the technical knowledge with real-world examples so that the knowledge and concepts taught are clear and understandable.
Bob Buckner has a general civil practice and is a former corporate attorney for the ENSERCH Corporation. He holds a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches topics related to tort and family law.
Bill Lamoreaux has a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He practices labor and employment law, commercial law, and probate and estate law, in addition to serving as an arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA", formerly the New Your Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers). He is also and adjunct professor at the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management. He is certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, formerly served as Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, rated "AV" by Martindale Hubbel, and served on the State Bar of Texas district 6a Grievance Committee from 1999 to 2005.
Sylvia Blake-Larson has a B.A. from Baylor University and a J.D. from Drake University. She is currently an Associate Professor of Government for Tarrant County College. Her background has been mainly in the role of Prosecutor; with positions within the offices of the District Attorney, Attorney General, and most recently, as Regional Counsel for the State Bar of Texas.
Kathryn McCauley is director of Student Legal Services at the University of North Texas. She is responsible for providing legal services to more than 30,000 graduate and undergraduates at UNT and has facilitated more than $464,000 worth of verdicts, settlements and recoveries in the last three years. She has a J.D. from the SMU Dedman School of Law and was Business Editor of the SMU Law Review.
John Repsis is a lecturer at UT Arlington. He has MPA from UTA, and both an MBA and J.D. from SMU. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate level students on taxation affecting individuals, real estate, and practice and procedure before the Internal Revenue Service.
Hear from several of the many graduates of the paralegal certificate program regarding their experience in PDI's paralegal certificate program.
"As a man making a career change late in life, choosing the right Paralegal school was a very different process. PDI-UNT exceeded all of my expectations. The instructors were extraordinary. The staff is top-notch. It was challenging, but I learned more in 8 weeks than I learned in years in college courses. I would pay twice what I did if I had to do it again. It was well worth the money. Thank you PDI." -Dennis R.
"My experience at PDI has been the most informative of my life. Of all the traditional schools and colleges I have attended, I have learned more in eight weeks than over several years. The hands-on knowledge and experiences of each instructor makes all the difference in my ability to understand and apply the abundance of information; I utilize it on my job and in my personal life as well. Thank you for this life changing experience." -Tish H.
"The Paralegal Certificate Program was an invaluable experience for me. I gained a wealth of information concerning so many areas of law. I encourage anyone who may be considering enrolling in this program to do so. Thank you PDI/UNT." -Rebecca M.
"For the cost and time this program is the best for anyone who is thinking of making a career change and becoming a paralegal. You will gain insight into the position and knowledge of a variety of legal areas to help you plan your future." -Lisa A.
"Just wanted to say thanks for everything you did to help our classes run smoothly! I truly enjoyed the program and have some exciting news: I got a job today!!! I never expected to get on o quickly.... The job is temp to hire, through Attorney Resources. WOW! Also, I volunteered at a Legal Aid clinic tonight. It was a great experience and I hope to continue this position. Once again, thank you!" -Susan T.
"As a twenty year IT professional looking for a career change this class affirmed my interest in the legal profession and community, and has inspired me to go on to law school. Thanks so much to the organization and especially to all the instructors for a great experience." -Phillip F.
"This course was very challenging yet it was still interesting and fun to complete." -Rachel L.
"The PDI@UNT Paralegal Certificate Program provides you with useful information not only the paralegal job, for also the everyday life. There was something good and useful to learn from each class. Great teachers, good professional environment." -Dana L.
"Thank you PDI! I got my first paralegal job (with no prior experience) the Friday before graduation. I will be getting a $10,000 raise! Hooray! I really enjoyed the program, and obviously, it helped me greatly in beginning my new career!" -Sara S.
"I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Paralegal Education Program through PDI. I feel that I obtained a wealth of legal education from many knowledgeable instructors, in addition to making some very good friends and prospective business contacts." -Kelly T.
