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• Cover
• Introduction
• About This Book
• Foolish Assumptions
• Icons Used in This Book
• Where to Go from Here
• Part 1: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession
• Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession
• Almost a Lawyer: What a Paralegal Does
• On the Job: Where Paralegals Work
• What It Takes: The Skills, Knowledge, and Training You Need
• Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams
• To Join or Not to Join
• Deciding Whether to Get Certified
• Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position
• Finding the Perfect Job
• Creating the Documentation
• Setting Up Shop: Starting a Freelance Paralegal Business
• Part 2: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know
• Chapter 4: “All Rise”: The American Judicial System
• Everything Old Is New Again: The Importance of Legal Precedence
• Checks and Balances: Branches of U.S. Government
• Playing Fair: Levels of the U.S. Judicial System
• Judge and Jury: The U.S. Jury System
• Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law
• Cutting Through the Red Tape: Administrative Law
• Eliminating Any Reasonable Doubt: The Nature of Criminal Law
• Maintaining Polite Society: Civil Law
• Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process
• Constructing the Criminal Case
• Carrying Through a Civil Case
• Chapter 7: How It’s Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence
• Distinguishing Between Procedural Law and Substantive Law
• Following the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
• Sticking to State Procedural Rules
• Figuring Out Federal Rules of Evidence
• Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority
• Déjà Vu All Over Again: Review of Stare Decisis
• Who’s the Boss? The Premises of Primary and Secondary Authority
• Applying the Law: Mandatory and Persuasive Authority
• Helpful But You Can’t Rely On It: Nonauthority
• Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals
• Facing the Family: Domestic Law and Estate Planning
• Building the Boom and Blanketing the Bust: Business and Bankruptcy Law
• Compensating for Pain and Suffering: Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
• Getting It in Writing: Entertainment and Real Estate Law
• Protecting Assets: Tax and Intellectual Property Law
• Part 3: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process
• Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents
• Communicating in Writing: Types of Legal Documents
• Making the Case: Effective Document Drafting
• Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation
• Searching for Clues: Gathering Evidence
• Keeping Track: Identifying and Protecting Evidence
• Keeping Order: Organizing the Evidence
• Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing
• Gauging Whether the Case Is Valid: Initial Client Interviews
• Completing the Story: Witness Interviews
• Preparing Clients and Witnesses for Testimony
• Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research
• Conducting Legal Research
• Relying On Tools of the Trade
• Getting Technological: Computerized Legal Research
• Citing Cases Properly: Citation Format
• Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance
• Creating the Ultimate Source of Information: The Trial Notebook
• Selecting the Jury: The Paralegal and Voir Dire
• Keeping Track of Witnesses
• Weighing Testimony: The Paralegal’s Take on the Jury’s Reaction
• Preparing Questions for the Attorney
• Settling Up: Preparing the Cost Bill
• Blood from a Turnip: Collecting a Difficult Judgment
• Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals
• Doing What’s Right: The Importance of Ethics
• Abiding by the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Sorting through the Codes of Paralegal Associations
• Part 4: Identifying the Skills Paralegals Need to Soar
• Chapter 16: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style
• Corresponding Carefully
• Grammar: Grasping the Foundation of an Effective Writing Style
• Sentence Structure: Positioning the Sentence’s Elements
• Punctuation and Mechanics: Mastering the Rules
• Organization: Structuring the Finished Product
• Proofreading: Polishing the Finished Product
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Chapter 17: Using Technology in Law
• Operating Computer Hardware and Networks in the Law Office
• Getting Savvy on Software Applications for the Law Office
• Surfing the Net: Online Resources for Legal Professionals
• Carting Computers into the Courtroom
• Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101
• Buying Time: Management Systems
• Keeping Account: Billing Systems
• A Place for Everything: File Management
• Part 5: The Part of Tens
• Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics
• Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Maintaining Client Confidentiality
• Disclosing Your Paralegal Status
• Reporting Ethics Violations of Other Legal Professionals
• Disclosing Information to Prevent Death or Serious Bodily Harm
• Sharing Information with Your Supervising Attorney
• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
• Obeying All Applicable Attorneys’ Ethics Rules
• Giving Something to the Community: Pro Bono Services
• Making Your Voice Heard: Supporting Efforts to Improve the Legal System
• Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know
• How to Ask for Help
• Your Role
• How to Communicate Effectively
• The Value of Being Organized
• Your Limitations
• How to Research
• How to Use Technology
• The Rules of Professional Responsibility
• How to Draft Fundamental Legal Documents
• How to Weigh the Value of Paralegal Organizations
• Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment
• Continue Your Education
• Keep a Good Legal Dictionary Nearby
• Maintain the Integrity of Your Profession
• Be Polite and Patient with Court Clerks
• Take a Mind Reading Course
• Enjoy Problem Solving
• Refrain from Badmouthing Other Paralegals and Attorneys
• Never Act as though You’re Irreplaceable
• Don’t Count on a Normal Work Schedule
• Resist the Urge to Gossip about Clients
• Part 6: Appendixes
• Appendix A: Glossary of Important Legal Terms: A Mini Legal Dictionary
• Appendix B: What You’ll Find Online
• Documents Online
• Links to Websites
• Index
• About the Authors
• Advertisement Page
• Connect with Dummies
• End User License Agreement