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Legal Skills Training Class -- Bankruptcy Paralegal

Introduction

This class will provide you with a basic set of legal skills that will allow you to market yourself as a Bankruptcy Paralegal, charging $35.00 an hour to fill out forms under the Bankruptcy Code.

In addition to the core, the class has two additional modules. The first is general legal skills, to help you learn and understand general legal concepts and the general skills necessary to be an independent paralegal.

The second is alternative dispute resolution, with a focus on Mediation. This module will train you with the skills necessary to be a peacemaker and a mediator.

You should expect that the useful skill, that you can market and use to build a business, will be the Bankruptcy Paralegal skill. The general legal skills class is intended to help you with the necessary background to be successful using those skills. The alternative dispute resolution skills class, with a forty hour focus on mediation, will teach you useful life and other skills.

You will learn the same skills being taught in commercial seminars on mediation and that have been responsible for some substantially successful careers. Be warned that opportunities in the mediation field may be limited, but also be aware that the skills are useful and positive.

Textbooks

The following textbooks will be used for your classes:

Bankruptcy:

1. *Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Repay Your Debts, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($29.95)

2. *How to File for Bankruptcy, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($25.95).

3. *Nolo Form Kit: Personal Bankruptcy, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($14.95).

General Legal Skills:

4. *Independent Paralegal Handbook, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($29.95).

5. How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, John Wiley & Sons ($14.95).

6. Marketing Without Advertising, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($14.00).

7. *Legal Research: How to Find & Understand the Law, Nolo Press, 1-800-992-6656 ($19.95).

Mediation:

8. The Art of Mediation, NITA, 1-800-225-6482 ($29.99 each, plus shipping).

9. Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual, MCS, 1-717-859-3889 ($28.00, includes shipping).

Course Outline and Structure

This course extends for a four month period. The first two modules, the paralegal skills and how to use them, will take the first four months and need to be taken together. The last module, the mediation skills training, will take a month and is optional.

Bankruptcy Paralegal

Week One

What is bankruptcy?

What is a paralegal?

Visit to the bankruptcy court building. Observe proceedings.

Week one is not intended to introduce the students to the goal that they will have -- handling matters in bankruptcy as a paralegal.

Week Two

Introduction to the Independent Paralegal concept. (Book 4, chapters 1-4).

Week Three

Continue with Independent Paralegal concept (Book 4, finish book. This book will be returned to, so that the "once over" approach to finishing the book will be revisited).

Week Four

Introduction to Bankruptcy (Book 2, chapters 1-3)

Week Five

More on Bankruptcy (Book 2, chapters 4-6, review Book 3 -- form kit).

Week Six

Finish Bankruptcy overview (finish Book 2).

Practice with forms (teach how to photocopy forms, work through filling out forms).

Week Seven

Revisit the Independent Paralegal.

Go through additional form work.

Week Eight

Marketing Without Advertising (chapters 2, 3, 4 -- the personal recommendation method, the importance of physical appearance, setting and explaining pricing).

Week Nine

Introduction to Legal Research. (Book 7). Visit Small Business Administration with class.

Marketing Without Advertising (chapters 9, 8, 11 -- helping customers find you, how to let customers know your business is excellent, designing and implementing your marketing plan).

Week Ten