Introduction

Do you want to make a name for yourself in the legal profession and secure decent earnings to support yourself and your family?

Are you stuck in a situation where you are not getting enough practical legal learning from your law college?

Does it feel like the law firms or legal opportunities in your city/town have shut their doors on you?

Are you feeling confused about how to secure the right kind of practical legal training that can actually help you to handle an assignment independently?

Are you feeling lost about how to find the right network or the right way to approach potential clients (without soliciting)?

Do you believe that your communication methods for getting a legal job/clients may not be up to the mark and may need sharpening?

We have some bad news for you. And some good news.

If you are looking to secure work in the traditional areas for lawyers like civil litigation and using the standard method of applying to jobs to look for employment in these areas, it can be very difficult for you. 

This is because these areas have been in existence for many years and there are a lot of people looking for opportunities in these areas in exactly the same manner. 

You will not be able to secure legal opportunities in the same way that you used to, before. It means that the understanding that you grew up with, as regards the work of a lawyer will have to be challenged.

But the good news is that a different kind of lawyering is now gradually gaining acceptance and will prevail in the coming years. This may not be the lawyering that you have traditionally seen, but it isn’t something that your seniors have seen either!

The new normal has forced lawyers to adopt the ways of the virtual world, learn to function in a virtual workplace, understand how the physical file storages have now been compressed into google drives, dropbox folders or other record management softwares, how the physical signatures have now been changed to digital, and how your market now extends not only beyond your city, but beyond your country.

The rewards of this new type of lawyering can be beyond your wildest dreams. 

Imagine this: At one point of time, you can be struggling to find even the lowest paid jobs in your own city.

In a very short span of time, you can be calling people from the world over your clients.

Seems too good to be true?

Have a look at the reviews of assignments carried out by one of our students here:

https://www.fiverr.com/smazumdar_

She has 66 great reviews from clients from the United States, Germany, Australia, Philippines, UAE, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, UK, Hongkong, Singapore, Lithuania, China and India.

This is what the new type of lawyering can yield. 

The only thing that you need in order to achieve these results is to develop your skill and then act on generating value for an employer and client. Just that the skills should be the ones that the industry needs. 

Why did we make a paralegal associate course?

We realised that there were some specific skills which are very useful for law firms, but which are never taught as a subject in any of the law schools or colleges. These skills have become very relevant post the pandemic, since more people are working and hanging out online than ever before.

These skills include website and blog management, social media management, research, online form filling and submissions, managing video conferencing meetings over different platforms and community groups over WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media.

We have included these highly relevant skills in this course, which can result in you getting an entry into working with law firms not only in India, but also in other countries.

We are focusing on teaching the relevant legal skills for the US in this course since the market for law firms in the US in 2021 is USD329.7bn. This is the largest market in the world and something you should look forward to entering as someone who wants to provide paralegal services.

Diligently completing this course and acting with the support of our placement and freelancing teams can result in generating incomes in dollars of amounts you had never thought you could achieve.

What are the different types of opportunities available as a paralegal?

Here is an opportunity listed on LinkedIn by an Indian recruiter, recruiting for a law firm in Denver, Colorado.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/legal-assistant-at-grow-your-staff-2659895196/?originalSubdomain=in

The jobs with location “Anywhere” are consistently increasing in number.

Check out the number of jobs here - there are close to 500 remote paralegal jobs listed just on one site - indeed.com. 

The different types of positions you can work in are:

• Virtual legal assistant
• Virtual paralegal
• Blog and content writer
• Social media manager for a law firm
• Remote litigation paralegal
• Proofreader 
• Remote contract specialist

How much can you earn as a paralegal / virtual assistant?

You can earn really well, if you understand how talent arbitrage works and can take the benefit of it. 

Here is a salary survey from salary.com, which states that as of July 28, 2021, paralegals made between USD 51,970 and USD 102,380 in a year in the US. 

https://www.salary.com/research/salary/general/paralegal-salary

Just to give you an idea, even if you earn half of the beginning salary stated here i.e. USD25000 in a year either through a remote paralegal job or through different freelance assignments, it amounts to approximately Rupees 18,56,520. This is an amount that second or third year associates get as an annual salary, even in the top law firms in India. And there is significant competition to get hired in these firms. 

In India on the other hand, there is significant competition even for qualified lawyers, making it extremely difficult for someone to get a job at a paralegal level. But if you have certain skills for example - social media management, you can get hired. This is because traditional lawyers are not skilled in these areas. We will teach you such skills which can give you an edge, because any company or firm needs these skills.

How this course adheres to the skilling standards approved by the Government of India

This course is based on and adheres to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) which have been adopted by the Government of India 

The National Occupational Standards specify the standards of performance which an individual must achieve, in order to carry out a function in the workplace. It also specifies the knowledge and understanding that they need to meet this performance standard consistently.

Who should take this course?

• If you're passionate about law and justice, this course provides an essential stepping stone towards a rewarding legal career.
• Are you seeking a dynamic career shift? This course equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to transition into the legal field with confidence.
• If precision and attention to detail are your strengths, the Paralegal Associate Diploma harnesses these qualities to excel in legal research, documentation, and case management.
• Are you a problem solver who enjoys analyzing complex situations? This course nurtures your analytical abilities to assist attorneys in building strong cases.
• Communication is key in law. Enhance your verbal and written skills to draft legal documents, communicate with clients, and contribute to courtroom proceedings.
• A legal team thrives on collaboration. This course trains you to work harmoniously with attorneys, clients, and fellow paralegals, fostering a productive work environment.
• Legal cases involve numerous deadlines and documents. Develop organizational prowess to manage case files, schedules, and legal resources efficiently.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards. This course instills a deep understanding of legal ethics, ensuring your actions align with professional and moral guidelines.
• The legal landscape evolves constantly. If you enjoy continuous learning and staying updated, this course aligns with your thirst for knowledge.
• Pursue an impactful legal career without the lengthy commitment of a law degree. The Paralegal Associate Diploma offers a shorter, cost-effective route to a fulfilling profession.
• In the digital age, technology shapes the legal world. Acquire skills in legal software and research tools, enhancing your efficiency and relevance in the field.
• Law embraces diversity. This course welcomes individuals from various educational and cultural backgrounds, enriching legal perspectives and approaches.

What will you learn from this course?

• You will learn about communication in a structured manner. You will learn what kind of language should be used in formal and informal communications, one to one and one to many communications, use of appropriate words to convey your thoughts etc. This is the kind of practical guidance not available in legal courses anywhere else.
• You will learn how to send effective emails which can make someone take action. 
• You will learn how to assist a lawyer with their work on a daily basis and contribute in increasing the lawyers efficiency and productivity.
• You will learn managing documents in detail, right from understanding the background for a document, drafting it, reviewing it, arranging for execution, storage and renewals.
• You will learn exactly what you should review in a contract and how to find clauses which are favourable for or against your client
• You will learn to draft different clauses in the contract structure for technology contracts, limitations of their enforceability and negotiation mechanism.
• You will learn to advise on the applicability of different legislations in the domain of cybersecurity, data protection and privacy, electronic payments, records and signature.
• You will also learn how to advise on the applicability of different data protection laws in the United States including  state laws like California Consumer Privacy Act and Federal laws such as the Privacy Act among others.
• You will learn the required skills to be able to successfully handle US IP paralegal work from India. 
• You shall learn to undertake pre-registration work with respect to trademarks in the US such as conducting classification searches for your client’s goods/services as well as conducting availability and conflict searches for your client's trademark on the WIPO global brand database, United States Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) search portal as well as the Global Brand Database of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 
• You will learn how to overcome the objections raised by the USPTO on absolute and relative grounds laid down under the Lanham Act, 1946, after the trademark application has been filed. 
• You shall be able to help US startups and small businesses in safeguarding their IP by advising them about the means of IP protection, registering their intellectual property, as well as assist them with the means of further monetization of their IP. 
• You will learn how to draft takedown notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and will also learn how to deal with frivolous notices along with the suitable actions to be taken if the intermediaries fail to comply with the takedown notice or the counter notice thereof. 
• You will learn how to deal with domain name infringement and cybersquatting through the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy of WIPO; 
• You will get to understand the US legal system and the different types of lawyer roles, which can help you to better understand the work of the lawyer you are supporting.
• You will learn in-depth how to support US lawyers in litigation matters, covering documentation for discoveries, managing depositions, preparation of case files and e-filing related to litigation.
• You will learn how to manage the billing for a law firm, maintaining excel sheets and creating MIS reports for a lawyer’s office.
• You will learn how to manage and develop the social media presence of a law firm which can help a lot in gaining clients
• You will learn how to ensure knowledge management for a lawyer’s office
• Finally, you also learn how to use various freelancing platforms to get work and assignments as a legal assistant.

Training Methodology

Online 24/7 access

Access to basic study material through online learning management system, Android and iOS app. Recordings of all classroom sessions will be available.

Hard Copy Study Material

Hard copy study material having only certain important modules to be couriered to your address in India.

Practical Exercises

2 practical exercises every week, followed by written feedback and evaluation of the submissions.

Live Online Classes to Teach Paralegal Assignments Specific Work

There will be a live video-based online class to teach you specific US intellectual property work performed by paralegals.

Convenient Class timings

Classes are held after regular work hours. Typically classes are kept on Sundays or 8-9 pm on other days.

What is the career potential after doing this course?

• Startups in India and the US: The program equips paralegals to cater to the legal needs of startups that face budget constraints but require consistent legal guidance. These startups often seek cost-effective solutions and may rely on paralegals for contract drafting, compliance, and basic legal research.
• Virtual Legal Assistants for Large Companies: Graduates can target large companies with in-house legal departments that occasionally need extra hands for specific projects or document management during complex transactions. Virtual legal assistants can provide valuable support without the need for full-time hires.
• SME Law Firms: Small and medium-sized law firms can greatly benefit from paralegal graduates who can handle administrative tasks and enhance the firm's online presence. This assistance allows lawyers to focus on core legal work while paralegals manage client outreach and administrative efficiency.
• Temporary Support for Large Law Firms: Large law firms often encounter sudden surges in workload due to mergers, acquisitions, or complex litigation. Paralegal graduates can offer temporary assistance, contributing to document review, research, and other tasks during peak periods.
• Global Small Business Clients: Small businesses across the globe seek affordable legal assistance for specific contracts and transactions. Paralegal graduates can play a vital role in reviewing contracts, ensuring compliance, and providing legal insights tailored to the unique needs of each business.
• Specialized Legal Consultancies: Specialized legal consultancies focusing on areas such as intellectual property, real estate, or immigration law might require paralegal support. Graduates can aid in case management, data organization, and preliminary research.
• Legal Aid Organizations: Paralegals can also find meaningful opportunities with legal aid organizations that serve underprivileged communities. Assisting with legal documentation, client interviews, and research, graduates can contribute to promoting equal access to justice.

Potential Employers

• Law Firms: Paralegal graduates can find opportunities in various law firms, ranging from small boutique practices to large corporate law firms. They assist attorneys in legal research, document preparation, client communication, and other essential tasks.
• Corporate Legal Departments: Many corporations have in-house legal teams that require paralegal support. Graduates can work on contract management, compliance, intellectual property, and other legal matters specific to the company's operations.
• Government Agencies: Local, state, and federal government agencies employ paralegals to assist in legal research, drafting documents, and supporting cases in administrative, criminal, and civil matters.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofits often require legal assistance for issues such as advocacy, compliance, and charitable activities. Paralegal graduates can help navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding nonprofit operations.
• Legal Aid Organizations: These organizations provide free legal services to individuals who cannot afford representation. Paralegals play a crucial role in assisting attorneys with cases related to social justice, family law, immigration, and more.
• Real Estate Firms: Paralegals in real estate firms help with property transactions, title searches, zoning issues, and other legal aspects of real estate transactions.
• Insurance Companies: Insurance companies hire paralegals to assist with claims, litigation, policy analysis, and regulatory compliance in the insurance industry.
• Banking and Financial Institutions: Paralegals can work in legal departments within banks and financial institutions, dealing with regulatory compliance, contracts, and litigation related to financial matters.
• Courts and Judicial Offices: Paralegals can find employment in court offices, assisting judges, clerks, and other legal professionals with case management, legal research, and document preparation.
• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Firms: Paralegals can assist in resolving disputes outside of the courtroom, working in mediation and alternative dispute resolution settings.
• Compliance Departments: Many industries, such as healthcare and finance, have compliance departments that require paralegal support to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
• Estate Planning and Elder Law Practices: Paralegals can assist attorneys in drafting wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents, as well as dealing with legal issues affecting the elderly.
• Immigration Law Firms: Paralegals in immigration law firms help clients with visa applications, green card petitions, asylum cases, and other immigration-related matters.
• Criminal Defense and Prosecution Teams: Paralegals working in criminal law support defense attorneys or prosecutors in preparing cases, conducting legal research, and organizing trial materials.

What kind of recruitment and placement support will I get?

We are the only organisation in India with such a comprehensive and exercise-based training methodology for courses. Many employers, law firms and companies are happy to recruit our high performing students.

If you do well in your exercises and classes, we can help you to get jobs, internships and assessment internships in good law firms, with renowned lawyers as well as in various companies.

We believe in empowering our learners not just with knowledge and skills, but also with real-world opportunities. That's why we have a dedicated team in place to support you with placements, internships, and freelance opportunities.

Our placement team has a proven track record of success. Between April 2021 and June 2023, we have helped over 21000 students secure job and internship opportunities. Our achievements have been recognized by leading media outlets, including The Hindu, Business World, and India Education Diary.

We are proud to say that total value of work secured amounts to over Rs. 2.7 Crore or USD 3,30,000 by Lawsikho for its students. Our Student has record of securing Highest Domestic Earning of INR 30 LPA. (USD 37,500) & International INR 50 LPA (USD 62,500)

From the moment you enroll in our course, our placement team will be by your side. They will help you set goals and identify actionable steps to achieve them. Our support includes exercises to create a standout CV, mock interviews to enhance your confidence, and valuable assistance during your critical first month at an internship or job.

We have established collaborations with numerous recruiters who trust and prefer to hire through our platform. They recognize the caliber of our students and the comprehensive training they receive. By aligning with us, you gain an advantage in the job market and open doors to exciting career prospects.

Here are a few examples of some students who secured jobs in the last 6 months:

• Advocate Sneha from Saveetha University, Anna Malai University secured legal freelancing work and earned around 6000 USD.
• Meghna from Manikchand Pahade Law College, Auranagabad secured an opportunity for Proofreading legal documents in an organisation named Surbhi and earned a minimum of  500 USD.
• Riya Ghosh from Adamas University, Kolkata secured an opportunity for content creation on various legal topics and started her journey towards developing a career in the written field

What is unique about this course?

• This course will arm you with skills which are actually not taught to lawyers but are very helpful in managing a law firm such as managing the social media presence of the law firm and the billing and financial MIS.
• Good communication skills are a rarity - even experienced lawyers can have difficulty in using the right kind of language for different methods of communication and this course will provide a structured training for communication modes which are in use in the current times.
• Often lawyers struggle with documentation management for their clients because of lack of time to organise and store these at the right place. This is something that a paralegal can take care of, very well.
• This course aims to impart a wide range of corporate and technology law  compliance skills to students as well as to law graduates to work using online mediums  which would enable them to take up remote freelance work directly or through various freelancing websites on the internet and will instil in them the required confidence to generate global clientele over the internet.
• Litigators in the US can often need the help of paralegals for completing routine forms. If you know exactly how to complete which form, it can fetch you a lot of freelance assignments. This is a very high value skill being taught by this course.
• Even experienced lawyers struggle with maintaining their presence on social media because of lack of time. This course helps to provide this highly in demand skill.
• The course is tough and intensive, you will not be awarded the certificate unless you complete the required number of assignments. You will have to invest 5-6 hours per week in developing your skills, in addition to the classes on this course.
• This is an intensive course that demands your commitment. Successful completion of required assignments is necessary to earn the certificate. You should plan to invest 4-5 hours per week in skill development, along with attending classes.
• Our expert instructors will lead interactive classes with high-quality discussions. These discussions will not only clarify your doubts during classes but also outside through course groups and email.
• You'll receive personalized attention and coaching from assigned trainers. Additionally, a dedicated course anchor will assist you with submissions, guidance, and any issues you encounter as you progress through the course.
• Expect detailed feedback on your assignments, which will greatly enhance your performance.
• For doubt clarification, you'll have access to mechanisms beyond online classes, like a discussion forum where queries receive responses within 48 hours. A WhatsApp group will connect you with peers, batchmates, the course anchor, evaluator, and LawSikho's support team.
• Throughout the course, you'll develop your writing skills through six assignments. Exceptional pieces may even be published on the iPleaders blog, which attracts over a million monthly visitors. This opportunity can significantly boost your portfolio.

Can I get remote freelance work after doing this course?

• At LawSikho, we have two types of students: those who already possess good legal skills and those who are in the process of learning. We believe in enabling our learners to start earning from their knowledge without delay.
• For students with professional-level legal skills, we offer opportunities in contract drafting, data & privacy, international business law, US immigration law, litigation support, and international IP law work.
• However, we understand that acquiring professional-level skills takes time. For those who are still developing their legal skills, we provide alternative work opportunities such as writing articles, conducting research, legal transcription, data entry, law firm administration, social media management, and more. Some students even engage in tasks like voice-over work, data compilation, translation, and virtual assistance.
• We have established a dedicated team that actively pitches to organizations in the US to help LawSikho students find remote work.
• We have set up a US entity to bridge the trust gap between US legal professionals and an organization operating from India.
• We focus on getting learners their first three clients, guiding them in crafting impressive proposals. By the time they secure these initial clients, learners become well-adjusted to the process and can independently attract more clients.
• They build their CVs and profiles with real work experience and testimonials, opening doors to numerous opportunities.
• Getting started is often the hardest part, but at LawSikho, we make the process frictionless. We have witnessed law students earning well over $1000 per month.
• Some students have earned $500 in their first month as a side gig. We have students who, after a year, now earn $10,000 per month. While some may start with $300, they make progress by learning new skills, improving their profiles, and pitching for higher-paying work.
• Between April 2021 and June 2023, we created over 21000+ opportunities for our learners, resulting in thousands of students securing freelance work. The total value of work secured amounts to over $3,30,000 (Aprox INR 2.7 Crore). Additionally, hundreds of individuals found employment, and secured internships.
• Please note that these numbers represent the initial gigs facilitated directly by us or those on which we actively collaborated with the learners. Students have also secured additional work beyond our tracking.

Here are a few examples of learners who secured remote freelance work

• Ankit Bhargava, A law graduate from B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra, 2016, was a struggling criminal lawyer, but he also started performing remote work for US clients through multiple platforms such as People per Hour and UpWork, Freelancer.com, etc. in January 2021, after enrolling in the course on US IP Prosecution, Enforcement and Licensing. In 3 months, he worked on 150 projects for more than 50 clients, across 35 countries, including US, Canada, most of the European Union, UK, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, earning USD 100 or more per project.
• Saumen Chakraborty - Saumen joined the course in May, 2022 and since then, have worked on various freelance opportunities such as drafting an Influencer Agreement between a Singapore based Brand and an Influencer Agency, Reviewing a Term Sheet for a Canadian based Investor LLC intended to invest in a Bangalore Based Software Company, Blog Writing on “Terms of Service of an Website”, translation of a 260 page Book “Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People Version 8”, translation of 13 No. word files on “Personal-Cards-Debit Cards-Visa Classic Debit Card-Features'' project, legal Internship under Dr. Pradeep Kr. Rai, Vice-President, Supreme Court Bar Council, Legal Writing Internship with Jus Corpus Law Journal, etc.
• Muraleedharan R - A lawyer with 33 years of legal experience and a practice in Kerala, was doing service law matters, and his practice was impacted during the pandemic. Our team helped him create a freelance profile that was accepted, and he soon got projects for over USD 1200

How will you clear my doubts and help me if I am struggling to understand or learn a concept?

• Inside our learning management platform, you will have a dedicated space to ask any doubts you may have. Our team of experts is committed to addressing your queries and concerns within one working day, providing you with the support you need to progress in your learning journey.
• If you require further clarification on the feedback received for an exercise or seek career guidance, you will have the option to schedule a one-on-one call. Our evaluators and mentors are ready to assist you, ensuring you receive valuable insights tailored to your specific needs.
• Our platform offers a discussion forum where you can initiate discussions, share insights, and collaborate with others. Engage in meaningful conversations, gain diverse perspectives, and build a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

Money back guarantee

If you take this course, follow it diligently for a month, attend all classes and do all the exercises but still do not find value in it, or are not able to understand or follow it or not find it good for any reason, we will refund the entire course fee to you. It is a 100% money back guarantee with only one condition, you must pursue it properly for a month. If you don’t find it valuable after that, get your entire money back.

View Refund Policy

Certification

This course is recognized by the National Skill Development Corporation, a PPP under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of India. You will receive a certificate cobranded by NSDC and Skill India on successful completion.

This is how the certificate from NSDC and Skill India will look as per the current applicable format (may change as per the approval authorities):

Specific learning objectives

• Learn about the general organisation and hierarchy in a law firm 
• Learn about the common policies and procedures which law firms use for hiring
• Learn about how the different kinds of documents used by law firms such as notices, contracts, complaints, petitions, responses, cover memos etc. are structured
• Learn how to format documents properly
• Learn how to help a lawyer with basic company and tax registration
• Learn about the rules of professional conduct applicable to lawyers and know identify ethical / unethical conduct for a law firm
• Learn how to use the right modes of formal and informal communication and how to use appropriate language to communicate your thoughts
• Learn email etiquette - how to draft and write emails to prospective clients, employers, regulators, colleagues etc.
• Learn how to assist senior lawyers with organising their work such as setting up meetings using calendars, conducting basic and specific research for them and arranging the execution of documents for them such as engagement letters.
• Learn how to use document cloud systems such as Google Suite and Microsoft 365, which enable access to your documents anywhere and editing by multiple people at the same time
• Learn how to create great presentation slides for any presentations to be made by the lawyers
• Learn how to use different kinds of software for managing time, storing documents, customer relationship management and finance and billing
• Learn how to proofread legal documents
• Learn how to redline different types of legal documents and track the changes in the document
• Learn how to update and maintain databases storing client information and ensuring appropriate backup of the data
• Learn how to understand and draft various clauses of a business contract
• Learn about the US legal system, court system and different types of lawyer roles in the US, which can help you in providing paralegal services to US lawyers
• Learn about the types of services that you can provide to global businesses around contracts,, data protection and privacy, cryptocurrency, and e-commerce  related work.
• Learn to do advisory and compliance related work for Indian and multinational businesses across jurisdictions.
• Learn how to conduct a trademark classification search according to the international NICE classification;
• Learn how to file a Trademark application at the USPTO and the UKIPO 
• Learn how to draft and send a DMCA notice to a user generated content platform located in the US; 
• Learn about the online privacy legislations in the US;
• Learn about the procedures for different types of courts and help with the documentation for filing suits
• Learn how to secure the required information, complete the necessary forms and ensure maintenance of submission of documents to the court as well as sending documents to the opposing counsel and party.
• Learn how to help with organising meetings with different parties involved in the litigation and gathering evidence and information for the lawyer to support his case and present the information in an understandable manner
• Learn how to prepare a timeline of events and good case summaries for the lawyer
• Learn how to draft discovery requests, record responses received to such requests and send follow up letters
• Learn how to draft subpoenas and motions to compel discovery
• Learn how to retrieve information from records maintained by various statutory authorities and regulators
• Learn how to work with witnesses and explain them the process as well as prepare them for a deposition
• Learn how to coordinate with expert witnesses
• Learn how to research issues which the attorney can use to frame questions during a deposition
• Learn how to conduct a background check on the witnesses
• Learn how to prepare transcripts of a deposition and prepare a summary of the same
• Learn how to manage the attorney’s timesheets and their billing
• Learn how to maintain the spreadsheets for maintaining revenues and expenses from a client and maintaining records of costs and fee receipts
• Learn how to manage and maintain a repository of document templates, making best practice checklists and maintain various playbooks and training materials
• Learn about how to prepare a social media strategy for the law firm keeping in mind their algorithms
• Learn how to get the lawyers and firms included in various lawyer related listings
• Learn how to manage websites and blogs for a law firm to land maximum traffic.

Toppers’ Testimonials

Udit Bhakla

“The Paralegal Associate Diploma Course has been instrumental in helping me develop my knowledge and skills in the legal field. Through the course, I learned about drafting legal documents, drafting contracts, trademark filling procedures, and other important paralegal duties, which have helped me tremendously. Additionally, the course provided ample networking opportunities that have helped me to connect with other professionals in the field. This course also helped to secure internship opportunities, like jus Corpus. “

Chaitali

“Hello everyone, my name is Chaitali. Being a non-legal background advocate, I had to take many ladders to make my own path to reach my goals. Thus, to make my journey competent and remarkable I joined one of the well-recognized and advantageous course of India ‘Paralegal Associate Diploma’. Although, I am still in progress to reach my goal but this course is actually helping and improving my confidence level to take responsive steps. Day by day my goals are becoming more clearer than ever before.

With the help of team’s support, I got the push to connect with attorneys of big firms and this helped my actual scope and networking. I am sure this networking would give me opportunities in near future with my maintained consistency towards my visions. Clearly, where experience comes with time, I understand that success not only comes with additional ladders of struggles but with greediness of your passion, and then your conquest will taste virtuous.”

Nandan S Nimbkar

“Lawsikho is a great platform to gain an immense practical oriented knowledge beyond Statutes and Rules Books on Courses chosen by Students. It is also a great platform to know about and grab the best possible freelancing and/or other work opportunities from the ocean of work opportunities.

What kind of assignments will you get?

• You’re working as a paralegal with Adrian Goldberg, a lawyer in Denver, Colorado. Adrian largely deals with litigation in the area of intellectual property. About six months before, Adrian had represented a company in an intellectual property infringement suit. The client has now sent an email to the firm looking for certain documents related to the lawsuit which were very confidential. You need to be certain that the documents are not being sent to someone not authorised to receive them. Write an appropriate response to the email.
• The attorney with whom you are working requires the business address and names of officers of five companies in different states of the US. Find these details and present them in a tabular format.
• You are working with Martha Garcia, a corporate lawyer working in California. Martha is about to give a presentation to a client on managing their stock options. She has given you some content in a document. Create a presentation for her using Google slides.
• Proofread a distribution agreement provided to you and mark the errors as well as put the correct language in comments.
• You are working as a paralegal with Ratna Sharma, a lawyer who practises before the Federal court in the US . She has sent across some judgements to you, which she needs to use for her case. Prepare summaries of  the judgements for her to use.
• You are working as a paralegal in the in-house legal department of Supernova Technologies Limited and Daniel Richards, the Deputy in-house counsel has just given you two Agreements and asked you to review and redline the breach and enforcement related clauses in these agreements. Redline these for him.
• Technocures LLC is a California based healthcare services provider. The company is now looking to start another business of providing telemedicine, since it believes that it can use its existing network of doctors - general practitioners and specialists to increase this business. The management is, however, unsure of the applicability of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 (HIPAA) to telemedicine business and the compliance required under it. Create a report on the requirements that Technocures would need to take care of, under the HIPAA.
• Gearstop, a company facilitating luggage storage at verified hotels and hostels in California is now in the process of setting up its website. It has requested you to draft terms and conditions of use of the website as well as a privacy policy in accordance with the laws applicable in California. Accordingly, draft the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
• A US national wishes to start the business of manufacturing and selling high quality toys. He wants to open various outlets across the US which will not only sell toys but will also serve confectionaries such as cake pops, donuts and beverages such as hot chocolates. He has come up with the name ‘Toys-R-Us’ for his business and wants to register the trademark for the same. For the purpose of filing the application, you need to conduct a classification search as well as an availability search for the selected trademark. Thereafter, you are required to present a search report to the client along with your opinion on the chances of success on the basis of the search conducted as well as the general principles of the trademark law. 
• In continuation of the abovementioned situation, you are required to file the trademark application for your client through the Trademark Electronic Application System of the USPTO. Had your client been using the trademark prior to applying for registration, would he be required to file any additional document? Draft the relevant document to be filed along with the application. 
• A graphic illustrator who applies the classic design principles of color, form, shapes, and layouts to organize and showcase original artwork has a page on Instagram where she posts her work. People interested in buying her prints directly message her and she sends the prints to their address. she recently came across this website called Printstock.com, which is a User Generated Content (UGC) platform, and was shocked to see that someone had made her illustrations available on the website for sale. Brief the illustrator about the takedown mechanism available for removal of infringing content from UGC platforms under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Draft the complaint fulfilling all the requirements laid down under the DMCA and send it to the UGC platform. 
• Jack Welch is a personal injury lawyer working in Florida, US. He is representing the plaintiff in an injury case where a road roller on a construction site could not be stopped and ran over the legs of a young man who was measuring the road at that time, leading to permanent disability. List out whom you will reach out to for information in this matter, who can be potential witnesses and how you will present the information gathered.
• Draft a discovery request on behalf of Legal Realms LLP, a law firm working in the area of life insurance policy denials to get the details of the evaluation of the claim of Sandra Hayes, on the death of her husband Joseph Hayes. 
• Prepare a good LinkedIn profile page for Dreamcatchers LLP, a law firm with 5 partners and 12 Associates

Syllabus

Part 1: Theory Based Studies

Introduction to the Job Role of Paralegal Associate - Legal Documentation

- Role and responsibilities of a ‘Paralegal Associate - Legal Documentation’
- Identify the sub-sectors in the management  and entrepreneurship sector 
- Describe the common organisational  structures and various functions in a law firm
- Describe the common policies and  procedures followed in various law firms  relevant to employment and performance conditions
- Describe the general hierarchy of  communication in a law firm

Document design and structure

- Describe the functions and particulars of  pleading, signing and verification 
- Describe the process of civil and criminal pleading 
- Prepare legal documents by modifying approved existing precedent documents 
- Common document designs for complaints, petitions and responses and cover memos for registration of entities
- Drafting basic contracts
- Drafting legal briefs 
- Interpret information from dictated notes, notes provided and audio recordings and use  as instructed 
- Use a range of software commonly used in legal firms for drafting and to ensure accurate completion of the task
- Formatting, placing appropriate pagination and footnotes as well as legal references
- Perform proofreading of documents for accuracy of content and consistency of layout  and style 
- Perform printing of documents, back-up copies, save and store the document in the  appropriate folder

Maintenance of records and documentation in a law firm

- Identify the information systems used for  recording and managing data and  information 
- Describe the use of various software  applications used for the storage, retrieval  and communication of data and information 
- Maintain filing system for essential  correspondences, contracts, case-related  documents and specific documentation given by the authorised persons for filing 
- Describe the archiving procedures and  appropriate file retention periods 
- Maintain a catalogue of the  files/documentation in the office and take  inventory periodically
- Taking care of data security and confidentiality protocols in managing client data
- Describe the relevant court processes,  current legislation, legal processes and the  required documentation
- Describe the protocol with reference to  retrieval of legal documents 
- Establish that safety and security measures  are in place as per the organisational  procedure
- How to help a lawyer with basic company and tax registration
- How to help lawyers and resolution professionals with insolvency recoveries

Workplace safety, rescue and first aid

- Explain possible causes of “hazards” and “risks” present in the work environment and  related precautions that need to be taken 
- Explain hygiene related concerns to  superiors 
- List the causes of fire and other accidents  and ways to prevent them 
- Describes the various fire extinguishers for different types of fires 
- Demonstrate appropriate first aid in different  situations 
- Describe the emergency procedures during  accidents or hazardous situations 
- Explain the types of safety signs and their significance
- How to assist with installing processes of energy conservation at the workplace
- How to assist with instilling values of gender sensitivity and inclusion at the workplace

Principles of  Professional Practice and knowledge management

- Explain what personal and professional goals  are and how to develop them. 
- Discuss the importance of continuous  learning and developing a professional  development plan. 
- Explain the importance of displaying  professional appearance and behaviour at all  times. 
- Demonstrate ways of communicating with  team members and different stakeholders in  a professional manner. 
- Discuss the importance of completing duties  accurately, systematically and within required  timeframes for professional and  organisational success. 
- Explain guidelines on confidentiality of data  and documents collected.
- Discuss the importance of policies related to  non-discrimination and rights of the clients.
- Explain the ethical and unethical conduct in a  workplace. 
- Identify inappropriate workplace behaviour  and ways to manage them. 
- Identify conflict of interest and how to resolve  it.
- Making process manuals for the law firm
- Ensure implementation of productivity tracking

Part 2: Practical Modules 

Module 1: Formal and informal communication

Basic essentials in any type of communication

- Understanding the difference between formal and informal communication
- Communicating informally with colleagues in English
- Communicating formally - what kind of language should and should not be used
- One to one and one to many communications
- Use of slangs and short forms - where is it not appropriate to use
- Use of emojis, GIFs, forwards etc.
- Gender sensitivity in communication
- How to put across your thoughts - in speech and writing
- Answering questions
- Presenting an argument
- Communication for persuasion
- Presenting data and information for better and easy comprehension

E-mail communication

- E-mail addresses, replying, copying and blind copying etiquette
- How to write emails to different people - prospective employers, clients, opposite parties in litigation, government or regulators, colleagues
- Writing follow up emails
- Managing attachments, sorting inbox into folders and tracking responses
- Email signatures and auto responses

Communicating on telephone calls, audio conference calls and WhatsApp

- How to initiate and end a telephone conversation
- General courtesy on conference calls
- WhatsApp dos and don’ts - individual communication and group communication
- Managing WhatsApp groups as an admin

Communicating in video conferencing meetings

- Commonly used video conferencing platforms and how to use these
- Handling mic and camera during video conference meetings
- Hosting video conferencing meetings, muting and unmuting participants
- Screen sharing and using whiteboard

Module 2: How to assist lawyers with their work

Calendar Management

- Monitoring calendars and fixing meetings
- Reminders and Deadline management
- Making travel arrangements if required

Conducting basic research

- Finding contact information
- Researching basic statistical data for something
- Researching relevant blogs and articles and marking them up for reading 

Conducting advanced research and drafting summary

- Researching entity information
- Researching case related information
- Writing great case summaries
- Background research
- Business development related research

Execution related work

- Arranging execution with Docusign and storing signed copies
- Arranging for stamping and notarisation of documents
- Managing Folders in Microsoft Office and Google Drive and also managing access to these

Module 3: Document Management

Using Microsoft Office and Google Suite

- Documents, Spreadsheets and Slides - what are they best used for
- Sharing files
- Using images and drawings
- Creating slides for presentations
- Managing databases - different types of data entry roles
- Introduction to different types of commonly used software

Review and proofread legal documents

- Examine the text for spelling, grammatical and terminology errors and apply corrections. 
- Describe how to flag errors and track changes. 
- Compare the proofs against the original copy to identify errors or omissions. 
- State the syntax and citation protocols  Identify accepted and unaccepted copying and mark unaccepted for rectification. 
- Use the defined legal terms consistently throughout the text, giving proper definition of the terms. 
- Inspect all titles, headings, the case caption,  and the client’s name and correct any errors or omissions identified.
- Preparing transcripts where required and also redacting the documents using proper manner

Reviewing, Summarising and organising documents

- Examine and summarise documents for lawyers
- What kind of documents will you come across and what do you need to review in these
- How to prepare excellent document summaries
- How to present the relevant information in flowcharts, tables etc.
- Why and how of document review
- How to use checklists for document review
- What do you need to be careful about while transcribing depositions, meetings or hearings into a written document 

Records Management Work

- Maintaining client information files and updating databases relating to client entities
- Maintaining and storing all communication received from and sent to clients in a physical and / or electronic form
- Ensuring that a backup of the data is taken periodically to take care of system failures
- Confidentiality and privilege management, database management, data security and access control
- Managing confidential shredding and coordinating with firms providing confidential shredding

Module 4: Overview of the US Legal System

Sources of US Law

- Constitution
- Legislation - Acts, Rules, Regulations,
- Case law
- Common law
- Contract and administrative law
- How are statutes enacted in the US?

US Court system and hierarchy of courts at federal and state level

- US Federal Court System
- US State Court System
- District Courts, Trial Courts and Courts of Appeals
- The US Supreme Court
- The Jury System
- The US Department of Justice
- The Attorneys General

Different types of Lawyer roles in the US

- Attorney 
- Counsellor 
- Investigator 
- Negotiator - Mediator

Module 5: Paralegal skills associated with Drafting and vetting various Specific Agreements and Contracts

Introduction to Parts of a Contract 

- The different parts of a contract, and the sequence in which different clauses customarily appear in a contract
- How to draft Title, recitals, definition and interpretation clauses
- Drafting Representations and Warranties clauses and covenants
- Conditions Precedent, Conditions Subsequent and Completion
- How to Draft Obligations and Payment Clauses for Contracts
- Term, termination, renewal and survival clauses
- Assignment and Change of Control Clauses
- Confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicit and exclusivity clauses
- Waiver, Variation and Severability clauses
- Notice and communication clauses
- Governing law, Jurisdiction, Arbitration and Dispute resolution clauses 

How to draft some of the essential clauses in various specific contracts/ Agreements 

- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- Non-Disclosure of Agreements (NDA)
- Lease Agreements
- Employment Agreements
- Master Service Agreement
- Trademark Licencing Agreements 

Breach and Enforcement related clauses 

- The concept of breach and what kinds of scenarios amount to a breach
- Legally permissible remedies in the event of a breach
- Contract enforcement in the USA including the hierarchy and jurisdiction of courts along with the reliefs sought.

Module 6: Paralegal skills associated with Intellectual Property Rights 

Introduction to Intellectual Property Protection in the US and UKIPO

- What are the different types of intellectual property rights recognised by US and UK  laws
- How to conduct a trademark classification search through the UKIPO and the USPTO portals
- How to file a trademark application in the US and UK?
- How to deal with USPTO and UKIPO office action received against a trademark application

An overview of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act

- Implementation of the two WIPO treaties through DMCA
- Limited liability to the internet service providers 
- Penalties under the DMCA
- How to draft a DMCA compliant takedown notice and counter notice thereof

How to draft a cease and desist notice for infringement of intellectual property

- What is a cease and desist notice?
- When should one send a cease and desist notice?
- How should a cease and desist notice be drafted? 
- Responding to a cease and desist letter. 

Module 7: Paralegal work in Technology laws 

Technology laws, Data Protection and Privacy

- Federal data protection laws in the US 
- State level data protection laws in the US
- Legislations in the US dealing with cybercrimes and cybersecurity and compliance required

Different types of electronic signatures and their uses

- E-tokens
- Em-signer / DocuSign / other software
- Scanned or Pdf signatures
- Managing E-signed contracts

Introduction to Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

- How are cryptocurrency regulated in the United States?
- How do laws and compliances vary at state and federal level?
- What are the different kind of compliances to be undertaken by businesses
- How to assist businesses setting up a crypto exchange, crypto wallets or offering coins or tokens

Module 8: Paralegal work in Business and corporate laws 

How to choose the right form of business organization

- What are the factors to consider while choosing the right form
- How to choose the right state for forming a company if you are a non-resident
- Entity types depending upon sectors

How to register a corporate entity

- LLCs, C-Corporations, S-Corporations
- Requirement to hire a registered agent
- Reserving a name
- Submitting incorporation documents
- Which officers do you need to identify

What are the constitutional documents and how to draft them

- Operating Agreement
- By-laws

Obtaining EINs and Overview of Taxation

Module 9: Paralegal work relating to litigation

Preparation of legal case files for submission and case management

- Identify various types of courts and their submission procedures related to the case documentation and court etiquettes. 
- Access relevant information in the client file. 
- Access precedent from the firm’s existing documentation and library. 
- Prepare files and clusters of documents and the right number of copies as per the requirements of the court procedures. 
- Identify the authorised signing parties.
- Choose the appropriate delivery and payment method. 
- Plan for secure transport and submission of the documents to the court/tribunal. 
- Record information regarding deficiency from court officials if documents are deficient and cannot be lodged. 
- Collect and file proof of lodgements and any associated documents appropriately. 
- Apply the appropriate manner of entering into and departing from the courts/tribunals. 
- Court and court website management

Trial and litigation management

- Assistance in collecting evidence, getting information,organizing meetings by maintaining contact with people involved in the case
- Preparing case summaries and notes or transcription from client conferences, mediation sessions, etc
- Preparing pleadings and organizing research materials for review by attorneys
- Organizing evidence, preparing exhibits, scheduling witnesses, ensuring that witnesses are ready when needed, taking notes in courtroom
- Preparing and forwarding summons and subpoenas
- Prepare chronologies and timelines
- Editing of documents using Adobe Pro and other pdf editing software 
- Keep a running agenda of tasks that need to be performed during a case
- Gather enough data or information for the case and present it in an easily digestible manner

Discovery related services (for US lawyers)

- Drafting appropriate discovery requests to the opposing party
- Calendaring the due dates associated with the outgoing discovery on your own and the attorney’s calendar 
- Recording on the case file accordingly if no responses are received
- Preparing follow-up letters to opposing counsel and parties regarding non-receipt of information
- Assist in drafting and filing a “Motion to Compel Discovery” 
- Review discovery responses in-depth and prepare a summary for the perusal of your attorney
- Review, log (date-stamp) and organize the incoming documents and make a list of deficiencies in the response received. 
- Assemble documents to be produced for courts and opposing counsel as a part of discovery and prepare necessary indexes and charts
- Assist in drafting subpoenas duces tecum (subpoenas for documents) to be directed to non-party persons or entities as may be appropriate 
- Keep track of due dates for subpoenas duces tecum, put the same in the calendar and receive, log and review any documents received in response to the same 
- Assist with medical records requests, review, organization, and summary - this may be required for insurance cases, personal insurance cases, divorce cases and a lot of different matters
- Retrieve information from public records by conducting a search
- Drafting interrogatories, requests for production and requests for admissions during the discovery phase of a lawsuit

Managing Depositions (for US lawyers)

- Preparation of witnesses before they appear in a deposition before an opposing counsel by telling them what to expect and how to respond to questions so that they do not jeopardize their own case out of nervousness or are not taken advantage of 
- Explain the process to witnesses and opposing parties who show up at the deposition, especially when they are not accompanied by their own lawyers
- Coordinate with expert witnesses, explain to clients and deponents about how to respond to objections, rules of deposition and consequences of breaking those rules and when to let attorneys sort things out before opening their mouth
- Research issues to find information that the attorney can use to frame questions during the deposition
- Conduct case law research that helps the lawyers to choose certain legal strategies and frame certain questions accordingly
- Arrange the evidence already collected, including the evidence that disputes the testimony of the witnesses from the other side, to assist lawyers during questioning in a deposition 
- Conduct background search on the witnesses
- Organise mock depositions mock trials at times
- Schedule depositions, put the same on the calendar of their attorneys and prepare deposition digests that would be used later
- Prepare accurate deposition transcripts, and prepare a summary of the same

Module 10: Financial Administration and MIS for a Lawyer’s Office

Managing billing

- Managing legal billing software, sending invoices, collection, sending reminders to clients for payment
- Preparing the attorney’s timesheets

Managing MIS for revenues and expenses

- Maintaining spreadsheets that track costs for a client or profitability of a practice area or a monthly information system (MIS)
- Maintaining records of costs and fee receipts by verifying outstanding balances with attorneys, clients, and service providers

Module 11: Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management for a lawyer’s office

- Organizing and managing templates and standard form precedents for future use;
- Making best practice checklists;
- Designing workbooks, playbooks, training manuals and study material;
- Creating slides and pitch decks;
- Organizing webinars and sending regular industry relevant updates to clients.
- Connecting with potential clients on social media on behalf of the lawyer
- How to maintain and manage an email list 

Module 12: Contact listings and Social Media Management

About Social Media Platforms and their Algorithms 

- LinkedIn
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram

Preparing a Social Media Strategy

- Developing a good social media profile 
- Target audience
- Content Strategy
- Social Listening - building mass trust and one to one communication
- Measuring the results from your social media strategy

Listings and other mechanisms

- Including yourself in contact listings and identifying the right ones
- Lawyer specific listings
- Coordinating and managing webinars

Module 13: Navigating and using freelancing platforms

- Creation of Fiverr account- Video
- Optimization of Fiverr account- Video 
- How to register on People Per Hour and UpWork- Video 
- Optimization of People Per Hour account- Video 
- Optimization of Upwork Account- Video 
- How to use Linked In and Facebook for freelancing opportunities- Video
- How to build your web page for freelancing- Video
- How to create proposals and pitch for work on freelancing platforms - Video
- How to approach US law firms / companies for remote freelancing work - Video.