Center For Advanced Legal Studies RSS Feed

New Student Orientation for March 29, 2010 Class Start

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

New Student Orientation for March 29, 2010 Class Start
Start Date: 27-Mar-10 10:00 AM
End Time: 27-Mar-10 12:00 PM

Eve & Online Class Start

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Eve & Online Class Start
Start Date: 29-Mar-10 6:00 AM
End Time: 29-Mar-10 10:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Day Class Start

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Day Class Start
Start Date: 26-Apr-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 26-Apr-10 12:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Eve & Online Class Start

Mon, 24 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Eve & Online Class Start
Start Date: 24-May-10 6:00 PM
End Time: 24-May-10 10:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Day Class Start

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Day Class Start
Start Date: 7-Jun-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 7-Jun-10 12:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Day Class Start

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Day Class Start
Start Date: 26-Jul-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 26-Jul-10 12:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Eve & Online Class Start

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Eve & Online Class Start
Start Date: 26-Jul-10 6:00 PM
End Time: 26-Jul-10 10:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Day Class Start

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Day Class Start
Start Date: 6-Sep-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 6-Sep-10 12:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Eve & Online Class Start

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Eve & Online Class Start
Start Date: 20-Sep-10 6:00 PM
End Time: 20-Sep-10 10:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Day Class Start

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Day Class Start
Start Date: 18-Oct-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 18-Oct-10 12:00 PM
Location: Center For Advanced Legal Studies, Houston, TX 77098

Center For Advanced Legal Studies

3910 Kirby Drive, Ste. 200

Houston, TX US 77098

Paralegal Occupation is Still a Rising Star!

Gail Armatys — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Here it is. Bad news/good news.

The bad news is, the nation is still in a recession. The good news is, the paralegal field is still growing.

Since you are on this website and reading this article, then you or someone you know is probably interested in a legal career. As indicated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, this profession is "projected to grow 28 percent through 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations".

The Handbook states that the demand for paralegals is growing because employers want to reduce costs and increase the "availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services".

If you are interested in the law or have thought about going to law school but just aren't sure or aren't ready, you need to check into getting a high quality, formal education that will provide you with the best employment opportunities in the field.

To find out more about the paralegal job outlook go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm.

To find out more about the Center and how we can help you begin your legal career call 800-446-6931 or email us at info@paralegal.edu.

21-Jan-10 12:00 PM

How I Became a Paralegal.

Gail Armatys — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Written by
James Scheffer

Admissions Director at the Center

I began my paralegal career onboard the aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). Prior to enlisting in the Navy, I had never heard of the term paralegal, much less have any desire to become a paralegal. That all changed.

I arrived onboard the USS CARL VINSON as an undesignated Airman, which basically means I would be placed in a position that required little more than a warm body. My first assignment was to V-2 Division, catapults and arresting gear. The mission of the Division was to operate the ship’s equipment that launched an aircraft into the air from a runway at sea. This also includes the retrieval of the aircraft upon landing in a manner that is best described as a controlled crash. Life in V-2 Division was grueling. “Flight quarters! Flight quarters!” would be the call through the 1MC, an all hands intercom system onboard Navy ships. I would gear up and make my way swiftly to my post. My job was to take a big bar that looked and felt like those that you add weights to at the gym, run up under an aircraft with jet engines in full roar, duck (so as to not be sucked in by the intake), attach one end of the bar to the catapult and the other to the aircraft (there was a little dumbbell-looking piece you attached that breaks away at a specific pressure point as the aircraft launches). I would then scurry back to the “catwalk” on the side of the ship high above the ocean where I would duck again. The jet propelled to the end of the flight deck with a loud “boom!” A large tank of water below deck stopped a piston propelling the aircraft forward, the little dumbbell broke away, and the aircraft launched into the air with all its force. After all the aircraft were safely launched, the next task was to perform preventative maintenance on this massive piece of machinery. After this, we would conduct a “field day,” however, not the kind you may have experienced in elementary school. Our field day involved thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny of our assigned work spaces. The complete evolution would often take 15 to 18 hours and we were allowed to eat, rest, and get cleaned up during the remaining 6 to 9 hours, if you weren’t assigned to a security watch.

One day, when the ship was in homeport, the catapults were lifted from their troughs and my job was to climb down into the trough and clean grease. I was young, full of energy, and quite happy to be there. I proudly announced who I was and where I was from to a shipmate angrily cleaning the grease next to me. He did not respond and was in a pretty foul mood. I later discovered he had been disciplined for misconduct and was performing extra duties as a part of his punishment. This made me stop and think, “This is my job which others are required to perform as punishment?” I was suddenly aware and looking for another path for my naval career. Shortly after that experience, I was visiting the Division tool shop when I encountered another shipmate working on a course book for Navy Legalman, an administrative position. I asked why he was working on the qualifications and he proudly announced he was planning on becoming a Navy Legalman. “Navy Legalman? What is that?” I asked. He informed me that there was an announcement in the ship’s Plan of the Day (a daily publication) seeking sailors who may be interested in transferring to the Ship’s Legal Office and converting to Legalman. The Legal Office is where they prepare discipline cases for non-judicial punishment and courts-martial; conduct JAG Manual Investigations into serious incidents; provided legal assistance; and perform a whole host of other legal services. I wasn’t sure what all it entailed, but knew it didn’t involve the flight deck, 18 hour workdays, or completing tasks that others were assigned as a form of punishment!

I vigorously began completing my qualifications for conversion to Navy Legalman and submitted a request to transfer to the Legal Department. Approval of my request required that I complete “on-the-job training” in the legal office during my off-duty time (of which I had little while at sea). I was therefore resigned to performing on-the-job training while in homeport, where we only worked eight to twelve hours days because you obviously don’t launch aircraft unless you are at sea. However, while in homeport, the legal office was in full swing since sailors on liberty tend to get in a little trouble now and again.

My first assignment in the legal office was filing a huge tray of papers, which I did with pride, again and again until I had the Chief all caught up on his filing. I was then assigned a “real” Legalman task to perform. I was “allowed” to type a tray full of about 50 of powers of attorney. I was excited. I sat down, turned on the typewriter, rolled a form into the carriage and then suddenly realized… “I don’t know how to type!” All I could hear was the sudden and extremely loud humming of the Selectric III typewriter before me. Up until that very moment I hadn’t realized that the typewriter made any noise at all if someone wasn’t typing. Not one to give up and desperate to succeed, I began to type the information onto the forms, slowly but surely, so I thought. I had wasted about ten forms when the Chief showed up to ask how things were going and why I had so many forms in the trashcan. I sheepishly admitted that I had made some typing errors and needed to keep starting over. He informed me that the typewriter came equipped with correction tape to fix mistakes. Wow! Correction tape! I went through a roll of that in no time and had to find ways to obtain correction tape from friends in the supply department so it wouldn’t be known how much I was actually using. Nevertheless, I persisted and got through that stack only to be rewarded with another. My speed and accuracy began to increase, but I secretly purchased a manual (that means no electricity required) Mexican typewriter at a local pawn shop and began practicing and practicing my typing every evening. Things progressed, and in time, I was given more and more opportunities while completing my on-the-job training.

After 90 days, my time in the Legal Office became routine. Whenever a sailor has “duty” he is required to stay onboard the ship for a full 24-hour period and stand various watches or participate in working parties to load/unload stores and materials. During my duty days, I spent every available hour performing my on-the-job training. One evening, I was supposed to meet the Chief outside his office at 1800. I got off watch, cleaned up, and hustled to the Legal Office so as not to be late. No one was there when I arrived, so I awaited the Chief’s entrance in the passageway. At around 2100, he arrived with sleep in his eyes and appeared to have been napping before coming to the office. He asked me why I was standing in the passageway outside the office, and I reminded him that he instructed me to be there at 1800. He asked why I was still standing there, and I told him I was waiting on him so I could get in and get some work done. The very next day my request for transfer to the Legal Office was approved! After two years in the ship’s Legal Office I was transferred to attend Navy Justice School in Newport Rhode Island, where I graduated with honors and was approved for conversion to Navy Legalman or “paralegal.” My four year enlistment in the Navy turned into a 20 year career in which I promoted through the ranks and retired as a Senior Chief Legalman. However, lessons I learned during that 90 day on- the-job training period have carried me ever since, and can certainly be useful to all aspiring paralegals:

be persistent in pursing your trade,

learn new skill sets and continually seek to improve them;

take initiative;

be resourceful; and

most importantly, be reliable.

19-Jan-10 3:00 PM

ABA Student Membership & Social Networking Site

Gail Armatys — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:00:00 GMT

The ABA recently adopted a "Student Associate" Category. Membership for this category is open to students in college or university level post-secondary educational studies who have an interest in the work of the American Bar Association. Dues are $25.00/year. Student Associates may be able to join certain sections as well. Additional information is available at:

https://www.abanet.org/ome/front/form/ome_main.cfm?JoinType=t&sc=RMM9IBE

The ABA also has a new social networking site. Legally Minded is for lawyers, paralegals, educators and others with similar interests. You do not need to be an ABA member to belong but will be restricted from ABA "members-only" content. Users can establish groups, contribute to group discussion boards, share files, etc. There are also wikis. Here's the link : www.legallyminded.com

25-Aug-09 2:00 PM

Paralegals May Be Replacing First Year Associates, According to CEO of ParalegalGateway.com

Gail Armatys — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Wed. Aug 19, 2009

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB)

First year associates may be taking a back seat to paralegal professionals. That's the word from Jeannie S. Johnston, paralegal expert and CEO of Paralegal Gateway.com on the subject.

Johnston, who consults with many large firm paralegal managers, goes on to explain that the inside word from some of the nation's top law firms is that they actually lose money on first year associates. These firms spend big money on recruiting top candidates and offer large starting salaries only to have them begin work without any applicable experience.

"It takes about another year to train the first year associates. Secondary to this, they are not able to bill out as much time and the firms are actully losing profits." Johnston goes on to say, "The existing paralegals, on the other hand, can do the exact same work much more efficiently and end up billling almost three times as much in the same day. It just makes more sense to increase the hourly rate of the paralegals and reduce the first year salary of the incoming associates."

Johnston believes that if this trend catches on, paralegals should see an increase in their paychecks. "This has been a long time in coming and paralegals deserve not only the respect for the caliber of work product they are producing, but also an across-the-board increase in their salaries. Bottom line is that we are profit centers for the firms that we work for and should be compensated accordingly. In some areas of the country, firms are only offering $25,000 salary to mid-level paralegals and I don't know of many people who can live comfortagly on that abount of income!"

For more information please visit ParalegalGateway.com.

Jeannie S. Johnston is the founder and CEO of ParalegalGateway.com and has been a Paralegal for over 16 years. She has written for Legal Assistant Today, The Paralegal Reporter, and has spoken at conferences nationwide. She recently appointed as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Legal Assistant Today.

24-Aug-09 11:00 AM

Interested in a Paralegal Career?

Gail Armatys — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Author: Gail L. Armatys, M.S. is Administrator and Co-Founder of the Center. Gail has nearly 30 years of experience in the private school industry and is a trained Mediator, and Christian Life Coach. As a partner in the development of the Center and its programs, she is most interested in delivering opportunity through education to students interested in the law and in helping them find their career, success and satisfaction in the legal profession.

After reviewing hundreds of ads and online commentaries about the various paralegal programs coming available to the public, I feel a need to write. As co-founder and administrator at a private paralegal school I find it disconcerting to read some of the information now available about the paralegal profession.

Although it is great to read all the articles about the growth of the paralegal profession and the opportunity found in the career field, it is unsettling to also read daily how paralegal programs seem to be popping up all over the country to take advantage of this growth. Being an entrepreneur myself, I don’t have a problem with educators and business people seizing the moment to open doors of opportunity to others. But I have to ask myself if that is what they are really doing.

We opened the Center and began our programs over twenty years ago. Over the years, we have gone through all the rigors of state approval, accreditation, and ABA approval. The purpose of all of this is to: provide high quality, specialized paralegal programs, teach them in the shortest time that seems feasible without having to take more-than-enough electives, ensure understanding and skill development, provide successful lifetime placement assistance to graduates, and do it all with oversight to ensure the integrity of the programs and the institution. Our ultimate goal is and always has been to serve students honestly and with excellence and serve the legal community and its clients by providing quality paralegals.

Now, I find that paralegal programs seem to sprout up everywhere. This includes short-term programs taught in continuing education departments of well-known universities so as to appear to be a part of the university curriculum, appear to be accredited, are stretched out over time to appear to be longer, and appear to cost very little because potential students often do not calculate how much they are actually spending per class hour and investing in the lack of student services and curriculum content.

I also find that there are online paralegal courses popping up all over the place taking advantage of the growth market. Again, this causes me concern for the students who attend these classes, for their employers, and for the clients they will serve. Are these online programs providing the depth of study necessary to relay understanding? I am not in any way saying that online education is not a wonderful educational vehicle. In fact, we offer our classes online as well. However, we do not do this without scrutiny by the state, our accrediting body and limitations of the ABA.

To go a step further, I will tell you that the non-ABA approved paralegal programs may indicate to you that there aren’t necessarily any advantages to ABA approval. What they don’t tell you is that just as accrediting bodies review, research and scrutinize the details of an educational institution and its curriculum, ABA reviews, researches and scrutinizes paralegal programs in specific, thus ensuring the quality of the legal courses offered.

So while there are many varieties of paralegal programs now available offering an assortment of curriculum options, methods of instruction, and a vast range of tuition and fees it is in your best interest to ask the hard questions. Make sure the program you attend, in-house or online, is one of integrity in-and-of-itself rather than by association, and that it provides you the opportunity for and personal assistance in acquiring the employment and job satisfaction that you seek.

27-Jul-09 12:00 PM

Technology Is Reinforcing and Expanding the Role and Professional Nature of the Paralegal Profession

Gail Armatys — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:45:00 GMT

"Paralegals are becoming more accessible to attorneys as the cost of new hardware decreases," says Gary Melhuish, former president of The International Paralegal Managers Association. With new software constantly being created and its use updated in almost every area of law, paralegals are able to perform their tasks with increased speed and accuracy.

Law libraries in law firms are literally discarding their books in favor of online services for legal research. Paralegals who keep current with technology become invaluable to the firm, especially because they tend to stay with the firm, while associates and attorneys tend to rise up through the ranks or change firms. They become the institutional memory of the firm.

Taken from Paralegals.USLegal.com. Written by Carole Bruno

Paralegals.USLegal.com is maintained by Carole Bruno, a Paralegal for over 35 years.

24-Jul-09 2:45 PM

Profile: Center For Advanced Legal Studies - The Paralegal People

Gail Armatys — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

by Sami Hartsfield; Houston Legal Issues Examiner

Center For Advanced Legal Studies is no doubt a staple of the large Houston-area legal community. For 22 years, the Center has been providing top-notch paralegal graduates to local attorneys, law firms, corporate legal departments, and governmental entities. And the flexibility of the Center’s course delivery options ensures that future paralegal students can find a program that fits their busy schedules.

Interested candidates may take their paralegal classes in a traditional on-campus environment; via the Center’s Online Interactive Instruction™; or in a blended format.

Staff at the Center for Advanced Legal Studies.

Perhaps more importantly, the Center for Advanced Legal Studies is one of just four ABA-Approved paralegal programs in the Houston area, and the only one focusing solely on paralegal education, hence their nickname “The Paralegal People.” Why is that important? For starters, most states (including Texas) require all attorneys to graduate from an ABA-approved law school in order to sit for their bar exams (please see Texas Board of Law Examiners Rule I(a)(3), regarding eligibility to sit for the Texas bar exam: “'Approved law school' shall mean a law school approved by the American Bar Association"). It follows, then, that attorneys would hold in high esteem the paralegal programs that have met these stringent requirements promulgated by the American Bar Association.

But that’s not all, the Center is fully-accredited and approved. You can find out more about the Center’s approvals and Accreditation here.

(For helpful background information on the paralegal profession, please see “Thinking about becoming a paralegal? Part I” and “Conclusion.”)

For those of you who already possess a bachelor’s degree in any field, you’ll want information on the Center’s certificate program (30 college semester credit hours). This Paralegal Certificate (not to be confused with certification) can be earned in just 7 months via traditional in-person classroom instruction held on campus in the mornings; or in 10 months via blended or Online Interactive Instruction™ classes. Courses included in the Paralegal Certificate Program:

Introduction to Law & Ethics	Computers and the Law
Interviewing and Investigation	Corporate and Business Law
Legal Research & Writing	Family Law
Civil Procedure	Real Estate
Personal Injury	Intellectual Property

If you do not yet have a college degree, you’ll want to know about their Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Paralegal Studies (62 college semester credit hours). You can earn this AAS Degree in just 15 months of full-time, traditional morning classes; or in 19 months via the blended or Online Interactive Instruction™ classes. Courses in the AAS Degree Program include all of the above, plus:

Criminal Law

English Composition I & II

American Government I

Introduction to Speech Communications

Anatomy & Physiology I

Wills, Trusts, & Probate

Business Math

Immigration Law

and an Externship

Furthermore, once you graduate the Center, you’re eligible for their lifetime placement assistance program. The Center’s web-site lists the following “small but representative cross-section of some of the hundreds of companies that have hired [their] graduates”:

Baker & Associates L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Bracewell & Giuliani L.L.P.
Centerpoint Energy
City of Houston
Cooper Industries
Crown Castle International
Cruse, Scott, Henderson & Allen L.L.P.
Devon Energy
Federal Wage and Law Labor Institute
Fizer, Beck,Webster, Bently & Scoggins
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Holt & Young P.C.
Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere L.L.P.
Jenkins & Kamin L.L.P.
Lambright & Associates P.C.
Lohmann, Glazer & Irwin L.L.P.

See more of this list here.

The knowledgeable faculty at the Center consists of attorneys, judges, and those with a Master’s Degree at minimum. You can read more about their faculty here.

Furthermore, Doyle Happe (pronounced “happy”), co-founder of the Center, has over 40 years’ experience in the educational field. The Center’s web-site asserts that he is “passionate about providing quality educational programs that permit graduates to perform at a high level.” Having known this man personally for the last several years, I can unequivocally attest to this fact. The same can be said of his co-founder Gail Armatys.

2009 CALS graduate Susan Castleman-Berrera

Additionally, successful graduates of the Center are eligible to sit for NALA’s Certified Paralegal exam, a grueling two-day exam which is arguably the benchmark national certification in the paralegal field.

Best of all, Financial assistance is available at the Center.

Susan Castleman-Berrera, seen in the photo at left, is a 2009 graduate. When asked about the Center, she responded: “I loved going to Center for Advanced Legal Studies. I changed careers and if I can do it, you can do it, too!” I second that sentiment!

For more info: Next in this series, I'll profile the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association. Stay tuned, or sign up for instant email alerts here.

You may submit a contact form to the Center for Advanced Legal Studies here, or email them at info@paralegal.edu.

You can find the Center on the Web at http://paralegal.edu/, or

On Facebook

On LinkedIn

On MySpace

RSS Feed

* This author should note that while I plan profiles on all reputable, legitimate Houston-area paralegal programs, she is a 4.0 graduate of CALS. Additionally, should you wish to continue your post-secondary education, CALS has matriculation agreements with several universities.

Likewise, I was able to transfer nearly all of my CALS’ credits to university.

As always, if you have a school, legal career, or legal organization/association you’d like to see profiled here, feel free to email the author at samihartsfield@gmail.com, or leave a comment in the comments section below.

Author: Sami Hartsfield

Sami Hartsfield is an Examiner from Houston. You can see Sami's articles on Sami's Home Page.

Find out more about Sami:

Sami Hartsfield is a freelance writer and paralegal who works in civil law in Houston. She is currently completing her bachelor's degree in political science with a 3.9 GPA, and is preparing to enter law school. She interned with the 14th Court of Appeals under Chief Justice Adele Hedges, completed the University of Houston Law Center's Summer 2008 Prelaw Institute, and is currently assisting a local legal aid organization in the public benefits department. Sami holds a national advanced paralegal certification, as well as four specialty certifications: Discovery; Trial Practice; Contracts Management; and Social Security Disability Law. You can e-mail her with questions, comments, or ideas at samihartsfield@gmail.com.

More About: Legal Professions/Schools/Organizations

13-Jul-09 4:00 PM

Stimulus package to help with tuition

Eric Happe — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT

By Kim Clark, U.S. News & World Report

Millions of students and parents struggling to raise cash for college this fall could have a happy surprise early next year: a tax credit of up to $2,500.

The new higher-education tax credit, which was part of the stimulus bill signed into law in February, is expected to put hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars into the pockets of millions of Americans who write tuition checks this year. Better yet, students don't have to fill out any extra financial-aid applications to get the new money. They just file their tax returns. Read More

24-Jun-09 10:00 AM

What Does It Really Take To Work as a Paralegal?

Doyle Happe — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Author: Doyle Happe. Doyle Happe has over 40 years experience in the field of education. He is director and co-founder of the Center for Advanced Legal Studies and is passionate about providing quality educational programs that permit graduates to perform at a high level. The focus of this article is on substandard paralegal programs that restrict success through limited curricula and preparedness.

Attorneys completed an undergraduate degree, earned a high enough score on their LSAT to be accepted into law school, entered and graduated from law school, studied for and passed the bar exam. All of this to become eligible to practice law.

Then, as time goes on, they need someone to organize their files, interview clients, conduct research and perform the many other legal duties that would free up their time to take on more clients, litigate more cases and allow the firm grow and prosper. They need a paralegal! This is where you come in.

Paralegals legally perform all the duties of an attorney with the exception of representing clients in court, setting legal fees, and giving legal advice. They work under the supervision of an attorney and their time is often billed to the client, so if you want to be a paralegal, it would be a good idea if you knew what you are doing.

You probably have come across some paralegal training programs suggesting that after a few short weeks, you too can be a paralegal. Some even claim a few weekends will do the trick! These programs are often presented at prestigious universities that have a long tradition of academic excellence. You usually would not question these institutions, but the inherent inquisitive nature of legal professionals causes you to start wondering why it would take an attorney three years of law school to grasp what you learned last weekend!

This starts your search for a more responsible path to becoming a paralegal and you find educational standards already established. Your search leads you to AAfPE, the largest paralegal educators' association in America. They state, "These short-term programs are doing a disservice to the students who enroll in them, to those who employ paralegals, and to the legal profession."
There's more, but I'm trying to be nice here.

In retrospect, it's not reasonable to believe that after a few weeks of training you could be much help to someone who spent all those years preparing to practice law. Instead of freeing up their time, the opposite happens.

So, what does it really take to work as a paralegal? Getting properly prepared is a good way to start. Perhaps your first legal research assignment should be to discover the most appropriate educational path for you to take to arrive at your destination. Your success as a paralegal may depend on how you do on this project.

5-Jun-09 11:00 AM

Paralegal Trends Defy Unemployment Rate

Tami Riggs — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Written by Tami Riggs, a Training and Career Placement Specialist. Focus is on Employment Development with specialty in paralegal and law-related professions. Tami is a speaker, event organizer, and career coordinator and has assisted hundreds of the Center's graduates in beginning their careers. 5.26.2009

Students and Graduates have Reasons to be Optimistic

Students and graduates want to know one thing: Will I find a job?

Unemployment rates are soaring. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the national unemployment rate at 8.9%. Every news medium has facts and figures to support the decline of our economy. And yet, in the midst of this unwelcome recession we continue to see trends that give our students and graduates several reasons to be optimistic.

First, the paralegal profession continues to be recognized as one of the fastest growing occupations. In many ways it is a recession-proof career. Legal demands, and in turn legal jobs, tend to increase in a diminished economy. As bankruptcies, foreclosures and lawsuits rise, so does the need for qualified paralegals. While other professions look to outsource positions, the roles of paralegals are becoming more defined and more important.

Second, law firms of all sizes are seeking more efficient and economical alternatives to hiring new associates. This trend has opened doors for paralegals who, with proper training and education, can assume the same responsibilities formerly handled by lawyers.

Third, graduates of the Center For Advanced Legal Studies leave this institution with complete and specialized training and lifetime placement assistance. The Texas Workforce Commission has documented our employment rates above 80% for four consecutive years. This is possible, in part, because we have a designated Placement Director whose primary role is to network within the legal community and maintain close contact with prospective employers.

Even in a weak market, the number of available positions has continued to rise and there remains a great demand for paralegals within the profession. This means increased opportunities and job security. While it is impossible to predict the future, it is a sure bet that our graduates will continue to be successful!

27-May-09 10:00 AM

Registration for Upcoming Classes Ends January 21st.

noemail@paralegal.edu — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT

New classes begin Monday, January 25th at the Center.

Traditional Day Classes, Evening Classes and Online classes are ready to begin for both the AAS Degree students and the Certificate Students.

Call 800-446-6931 to set you appointment to register soon.

Register Now for CLA Review Seminar

noemail@paralegal.edu — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Judge Ana M. Otero, J.D.

The CLA Review Seminar prepared and Conducted by Judge Ana M. Otero , J.D. in conjunction with the Center For Advanced Legal Studies begins January 30th.

This review course will help you achieve your goal of passing the CLA exam and advancing your career.

Class is interesting and informative. "Ms. Otero sincerely wants us to learn and encourages us to succeed throughout the entire length of the seminar. I recommend the seminar to anyone who plans on taking the CLA Exam."

Call 800-446-6931. Register to attend this review seminar today.

Learn More at Special Information Session

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:00 GMT

The Center is conducting a free Special Information Session for those interested in finding out more about the paralegal profession, advantages of the Center's program, successful job placement and more. This is an opportunity for people to ask questions and get answers, states Doyle Happe, Director of the Center's programs. The Center has been providing necessary paralegal skills to students for 23 years and has a reputation for providing well-prepared graduates to the legal community. We were the first to offer Special Information Sessions some twenty years ago and we continue to provide accurate information to those interested in advancing or beginning a new legal career. The Center's paralegal programs are attended by a variety of students, some already in the legal profession wishing to advance their careers and others wishing to gain comprehensive legal skills and knowledge for the first time. Students range in age from 18 to 70 years old. It's exciting to know that at...

I Really Enjoy the Online Interactive Experience!

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:30:00 GMT

The Center's Online Interactive Instruction™ classes were recently reveiwed by students attending paralegal courses using this unique and highly effective format. Here are a few of their comments.

Continue the good work!
No suggestions. I like class very much.
I thought the material was presented very well and questions were answered as they came up in class.
The campus has some very well trained and knowledgeable instructors.
The IT Director was extremely kind, patient, prompt, and helpful with technical issues.

If you are interested in a new career... a legal career and want a high quality paralegal education contact us today. New classes begin January 25th, 2010.

Now you can attend the college that specializes exclusively in paralegal education, no matter where you live.

1-800-446-6931

Attend the Center's Special Information Session

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:00:00 GMT

If you have questions about:

responsibilities of a paralegal
paralegal job outlook
the difference between various paralegal programs
curriculum, student services, and tuition
course format options (traditional, blended or online)
and more.....

plan to attend the Center's Special Information Session.

Call or email us today to reserve your seat at either of two sessions.

Saturday, January 9th at 10:30 AM

Monday, January 11th at 6:30 PM

1-800-446-6931

info@paralegal.edu

New Employment

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

New placement information. Paralegals continue to go to work in spite of the recession!

Jennifer Ellis - Aurthur S. Feldman & Associates, PC

Hilary Sealy - Westmoreland, Hall, Maines & Lugrin

Nancy Youens - Jones & Smith, LLP

Zurya Peralta-Cataneda - Gregory & Gregory, PLLC

Crystal Thanos - Sufian Passamano

Mireya Govea - Cheryl Coleman, Attorney at Law

Erika Gonzalez - Christian, Smith & Jewel

Tiffany Jones - Preis, Kraft & Roy

Kay Sellers - Vernier Law Firm

Sasha Pfardresher - Holt & Young

Austin Parker - Dunn, Neal & Gerger

Angelica Maria Ramirez - The Reyna Group

Diana Barron - Michael A. Lamson, P.C.

Lawanna Reed - The Law Office of Tanika Solomon

Salik Shaikh - Fong & Associates

Christine Sliney-Bock - Holt & Young

Susan Holmes - The Woodlands Development Company

NaShadrian Vaughn - Harvey Law Group

Brenda Brooks - Vinson & Elkins

Debra Dunn - Loanstar Delivery & Process

Center Celebrates Texas Paralegal Day.

noemail@paralegal.edu — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Texas Paralegal Day. October 23rd. We honor the work and progress of Paralegals across the great state of Texas and throughout the country.

Staff and students of the Center have been invited to attend the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division in celebrating Texas Paralegal Day on October 22, 2009. Here is a brief history of the day taken from www.alamoparalegals.org to help celebrate and inform.

The State Bar of Texas is the first bar association in the United States to create a separate division for paralegals. What was originally "the Legal Assistants Division" and is now "The Paralegal Divison" of the State Bar of Texas (the"Division") was created on October 23, 1981.

On April 5, 1993, Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution 69 was signed by the President of the Senate, Bob Bullock, and the Speaker of the House, Pete Laney, commending the Division and the legal assistants of the State of Texas, and resolving that the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas had declared October 23 as Texas Legal Assistants Day.

Beginning in 2005, the Texas House of Representatives signed proclamations acknowledging October 23rd as "Paralegal Day" (as a result of the Paralegal Divison's formal name change), for one or two years at a time. However, on Januaryy 22, 2009 the Texas Senate issued Proclamation No. 1144, declaring October 23 to be Texas Paralegal Day indefinitely.

Legal Writing Seminar

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

A Legal Writing Seminar will be conducted by Judge Ana Otero on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Center For Advanced Legal Studies.

This seminar is for you if you are interested in gaining knowledge about legal writing or would like to prepare for the memo portion of the CLA exam.

Total fee for the seminar and materials is $75.00.* To register, contact Elaine at 713-529-2778 or 800-446-6931 or email at elaine@paralegal.edu. Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

*Discounts are available to Alumni of the Center.

Notary Public Seminar

noemail@paralegal.edu — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Offering an additional service to your employer is always a good idea. Attending the upcoming Notary Public Seminar can help you build your resume and further assist your attorney!

This seminar will be conducted by Academic Dean, Tom Swanson, on Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

The seminar fee is $155.00 and includes the Notary application and bond fee. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, November 4, 2009.

Please contact Elaine at 713-529-2778, 800-446-6931 or email at elaine@paralegal.edu for more information or to register.

I Loved the Delivery Method of this Course

noemail@paralegal.edu — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Across the board, students pass along positive comments about their learning experiences while taking online paralegal classes using the Center's Online Interactive Instruction™ course delivery option.

Students report finding paralegal classes challenging and instructors encouraging. Live online discussions where students see and hear the instructor and each other add to the enjoyment and satisfaction of taking classes in this way.

Here are just a couple of their comments:

"I loved the delivery method of this course. The online interactive method is ideal for a working mother/wife. I get the convenience of being at home with the feel of a live classroom. I was very pleased to be a guinea pig for this new method at CALS."

"I definitely learned more when we discussed legal issues in class. It kept me engaged and interested. Plus, I felt I learned more than just from a straight lecture."

**Home Page - Video Area

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:16 GMT

Please Note: ABA approves rather than

accredits Paralegal Programs.

**Home Page - Top Paralegal Programs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:55:16 GMT

"I have chosen to apply to this program because from what I have read and others have confirmed, it is one of the best programs of its kind in the country."

Home Page - FAQ Column

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:08:50 GMT

How do I know if the paralegal profession is right for me?
What about these short term programs I've seen advertised?
What are my prospects for employment after I graduate from the Center?
More FAQs

Students & Alumni: Resume Writing/Interviewing Seminar

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:15:22 GMT

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You!

This free, two hour mini-seminar is designed to provide attendeees with an

Resume Writing / Interviewing Seminar - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You!

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:46:24 GMT

This free, two hour mini-seminar is designed to provide attendees with an opportunity to fine tune thier resume and interviewing skills in a friendly and fun environment. The seminar is presented by Robin Thomson the current VP of Operations for Donovan and Watkins in charge of business development.

Robin is the recipient of numerous awards for her work in legal education. She speaks regularly to corporate and private law firm associations regarding “putting the passion back in your profession” and is a frequent presenter on “putting your best foot forward.” She is the founder of the Houston Association of Corporate Legal Professionals and National Association of Corporate Legal Professionals.

Sign up at the front desk!

Resume Policy and Terms of Service

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:15:53 GMT

Center will create and add the resume policy here.

To post resume you agree to keep your contact information private. If you click to make your contact information public your resume will be removed.

Financing Your Future

Mon, 04 May 2009 15:48:36 GMT

You can reach your goal of beginning, completing, and paying for your paralegal education by taking one step at a time. First step: Utilize our Services As an entering student at Center For Advanced Legal Studies, you have several options and a staff trained specifically to help you answer the question of how you’re going to invest in your future. Step Two: Gather Information One of the single most important things you can do is to be informed. So here we go. The options for tuition payment include: 1) Your tuition may be paid in monthly installments at no interest. The Center offers students who have already set aside money for education the opportunity to make monthly tuition payments. This allows you to keep the rest of your savings in tact, continuing to earn interest. 2) If you’re like most Americans, you may not have enough savings or your circumstances have changed so you can’t...

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@paralegal.edu — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:59:18 GMT

Objectives:

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Release Date: 12-Feb-09 8:59 AM
Expiration Date: 12-May-09 8:59 AM

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

How do I log into Blackboard?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:44:10 GMT

To log into Blackboard, first click the link at the upper right of any page on this site titled 'Blackboard Login'. You can also access the site directly by typing http://distance.paralegal.edu into the address bar of your Internet browser. Once you are at the Blackboard login page, enter your username, which is typically your last name followed by the last 4 digits of your social security number, i.e. smith1234. Your initial password will be the last 4 digits of your social security number. Blackboard will require you to change your password at your initial login.

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:34:38 GMT