Course Information
Duration:
7 weeks, 50 hours
Program Modality:
Online
Cost:
$1,405
Dates:
May 5 - June 20, 2025
Notes:
Students requiring accommodation should contact our office at pewd@utrgv.edu to learn about the process.
Personal Injury for Paralegals
This course provides specialized training in personal injury law, preparing you to play a key role in cases from intake to trial preparation and settlement. You will learn essential legal terms, causes of action, and remedies for personal injury accidents. The course includes a review of the negligence theory of torts, interviewing and investigating techniques, and case-building strategies.
Class discussions and lesson material will include the different kinds of personal injury claims, including (but not limited to) car accidents, slip and falls, medical negligence/malpractice, manufacturer product defects and class-action lawsuits. Discover the basic categories of damages recovery, statutes of limitations and schemes for liability.
This program is provided in partnership with Center for Legal Studies (CLS), a BARBRI company, a leading continuing education company.
Details:
• Interview clients with a narrative of the injury
• Review medical records and nurses’ notes
• Prepare summaries of depositions
• Interview medical witnesses
• Observe and identify possible areas of negligence
• Keep and organize a trial notebook
• Understand the concept of products liability
• Be familiar with the concept of duty toward the victim
• Distinguish personal injury from torts to property or reputation
• Distinguish private torts from governmental torts under the Federal Torts Claims Act
This is an accelerated course. Requiring an average of 12 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. This course is the equivalent of at least 50 clock hours of study. Extensions will not be granted. A minimum passing score of 70% is required on all tests and assignments.
Required textbooks for this course:
Personal Injury and the Law of Torts for Paralegals, most recent Edition, by Emily Lynch Morissette, Aspen Publishers.
Highly Recommended Legal Resources:
Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition. West Academic.
Your final grade will be figured as follows:
• The six exams comprise 70% of your grade.
• Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 10% of your grade.
• The writing assignment comprises 20% of your grade.
Note: If you are applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan to cover the registration fee for a non-credit continuing education program, then please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599. The loan amount you note in the application cannot exceed the open enrollment fee noted on our website. Books will NOT be included in the loan amount. The minimum for the loans must be $500.00. Some service charges may apply.
*The only loan provider PEWD accepts is Sallie Mae*
Please email pewd@utrgv.edu once you have been approved so we may certify your loan.
Submit a required written request via email three business days before the program start date. Weekends are not considered. Partial refunds are not allowed.
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