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Quick Facts

Medium Of InstructionsMode Of LearningMode Of Delivery
EnglishSelf StudyVideo and Text Based

Course Overview

A US Bureau of Labor Statistics report states that the employment of legal and paralegal assistants is expected to increase by 12% by 2028. Paralegals play a significant role in professional legal contexts because they provide much-needed help to qualified lawyers. The Paralegal Practitioner online course aims to provide both practical skills and legal knowledge to perform this crucial role.

According to the Legal Aid South Africa report, In the 2017–2018 fiscal year, there were 426,617 new legal aid issues in South Africa. The Paralegal Practitioner Training helps candidates to obtain a complete grasp of the legal system of South Africa as well as teaches about the South African Constitution, Bill of Rights, and areas of criminal law, private law, and commercial law.

The Paralegal Practitioner syllabus culminates with many units on writing, legal reading, research, and interviews, which equips candidates with the necessary skills to take over a wide variety of administrative and technical tasks.

The Highlights

  • Course provider Getsmarter
  • Self-paced learning
  • Split option of payment
  • Projects and assessments
  • Online learning
  • Downloadable resources
  • 7 hours per week
  • Shareable certificate
  • University of Cape Town offering
  • 16 weeks duration

Programme Offerings

  • Self-paced learning
  • quizzes
  • Case Studies
  • video lectures
  • Offline resources
  • online learning
  • Infographics
  • Live polls.

Courses and Certificate Fees

Certificate AvailabilityCertificate Providing Authority
yesUCT Cape Town

The Paralegal Practitioner fees are Rs. 87,669. The total fee of training will be charged at the time of enrollment, or the applicant can choose the partial payment system, in which the complete payment is divided into four installments . If the applicant chooses the partial method of payment, a 3% administrative cost will be added to the total amount. Payment may be done by debit and credit card, as well as NEFT and bank transfer.

Fee type

Fee amount in INR

Paralegal Practitioner fees

Rs. 87,669


Installment Plan

1st installmentRequired before:

2025-01-17

Amount Due:

₹21,918.00 INR

2nd installmentRequired before:

2025-02-16

Amount Due:

₹21,917.00 INR

3rd installmentRequired before:

2025-03-18

Amount Due:

₹21,917.00 INR

4th installmentRequired before:

2025-04-17

Amount Due:

₹21,917.00 INR


Eligibility Criteria

Certification Qualifying Details

All assignments and practices contained in the course must be completed and weekly modules should be completed to qualify for the Paralegal Practitioner certification. The applicant must participate in live polls, questionnaires, case studies, and class events. All online practical examinations should be completed by the candidate because the evaluation is based on the sequence of online practice. All the preconditions mentioned in the course handbook must be fulfilled to qualify for certification.

What you will learn

Legal Knowledge

After completing the Paralegal Practitioner online training from UCT, candidates will learn about the South African legal procedures and laws on a broader scale. Candidates will learn how to do research work and comprehend laws and court documents and also gain knowledge of designing fundamental legal papers as well as composing an administrative memorandum.


Who it is for

  • Aspiring legal and paralegal assistants who desire to learn the skills needed to contribute successfully in a variety of legal circumstances.
  • Current paralegals who want to grow in their careers and have a thorough understanding of the legal system of South Africa to flourish in legal assistant professions.
  • Legal advisors and individuals working in a business setting or law firm, whose job involves legal procedures and intricacies, and who wish to get acquainted with components of the legal system of South Africa.

Admission Details

To get admission in the Paralegal Practitioner tutorial by UCT, follow the below-mentioned steps:

Step 1. Open the course webpage by following the URL below (https://www.getsmarter.com/products/uct-paralegal-practitioner-online-short-course)

Step 2. Locate the ‘Register Now’ button on the official course page, and click to start registration.

Step 3. Read and agree with the Getsmarter T&C and accept to continue

Step 4. Create a profile on the provider website by filling in personal details

Step 5. Fill in the billing address details and sponsor information if any

Step 6. Pay the fee amount and start the online class

The Syllabus

  • Explain how morality, religion, and community norms influence the law
  • Demonstrate the importance of applying the law even when it is perceived as unfair and unjust
  • Discuss the concept of ‘certainty’ as it pertains to law
  • Describe how the South African legal system has adapted to change
  • Explain how South African legal history relates to that of other countries
  • Show the difference between the three normative systems
  • Articulate the importance of understanding the development and history of South African law

  • Identify the primary sources from which the law originates
  • Demonstrate that some sources are more important than others
  • Explain how courts assist with applying and interpreting the law
  • Describe how legislation comes into force and how to interpret it
  • Describe the doctrine of judicial precedents
  • Identify the five components that comprise a citation or case reference
  • Locate cases through their citations or case references
  • Summarise a case by only providing the essential facts and legal issues
  • Describe other sources of law

  • Identify the different disciplines into which the law is classified
  • Analyse the main disciplines and divisions of the law
  • Show that national law is at times influenced by international law
  • Categorise divisions of law into either falling under adjective or substantive law
  • Investigate the supplementary disciplines that do not fall under the main classification of law
  • Illustrate how legal practitioners can be either generalists or specialists
  • Conclude that classification is not static as the law adapts to advancements in technology and science
  • Categorise scenarios into branches of South African law
  • Illustrate the relationship between elements of a case study and disciplines of South African law

  • Outline the traditional legal careers in the private and public sectors
  • Identify how legal aid can benefit those who cannot afford legal assistance
  • Identify the characteristics of the paralegal profession
  • Describe how ethical questions are an inherent part of the legal landscape

  • Differentiate between positive and subjective law
  • Analyse the different types of legal subjects and their capacities to act legally
  • Investigate how subjective rights govern the relationships between legal subjects and objects, and how subjective rights are protected
  • Apply the principles of civil justice
  • Illustrate how action and application proceedings work in practice
  • Interpret various scenarios in terms of subjective and civil law

  • Demonstrate how a criminal case differs from a civil case
  • Identify the sources of criminal law
  • Identify the types and elements of criminal offences
  • Identify the steps in the law of criminal procedure
  • Review the various forms of punishment

  • Explain how to enter into a contract and identify basic contract terms
  • Differentiate between business entities
  • Investigate the provisions of the new Consumer Protection Act and the impact it has on businesses and contract law
  • Deduce how an estate devolves on heirs and beneficiaries, and how this relates to succession planning
  • Identify elements of a basic contract of sale
  • Interpret a will in terms of the law of succession

  • Identify the basic principles that govern the law of evidence
  • Review the different types of evidence that can be provided to substantiate a case
  • Identify evidence that will be regarded as inadmissible
  • Explain how the rules of natural justice apply in legal forums like tribunals

  • Review South Africa’s hierarchy of courts
  • Illustrate how courts can act as courts of first instance and what happens when a case is under appeal or review
  • Show which matters the Constitutional Court has jurisdiction over
  • Identify the special courts that exist for specialist litigation
  • Illustrate the role and purpose of alternative dispute resolution procedures

  • Identify the different types of constitutions
  • Review the history of constitutionalism in South Africa
  • Identify the elements and nature of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
  • Discuss the legal responses to HIV/AIDS

  • Review the source and development of codified human rights
  • Show how the Bill of Rights is entrenched in the Constitution
  • Interpret who may claim these fundamental rights and how these rights can be limited
  • Use the provisions made by, and the limitations applicable to, the Bill of Rights to interpret practical scenarios
  • Show how the Constitutional Court interprets and applies fundamental rights in South Africa

  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of legal comparison
  • Review the division of legal systems globally
  • Demonstrate how comparative legal research was used when drafting the Bill of Rights
  • Demonstrate how different philosophical approaches to the law can result in different legal findings

  • Illustrate that legal language has certain distinct characteristics and the reasons therefore
  • Explain the universal movement towards plain language
  • Illustrate how translations in court cases can be problematic
  • Apply best practices for reading Acts of Parliament
  • Interpret legislation, court cases, and journal articles using reading skills
  • Explain why a legal practitioner should have a basic understanding of Latin, and foreign words and phrases
  • Apply reading skills to selected legal and court material

  • Explain the importance of plain language when drafting legal documents
  • Recognise how to complete a written task
  • Recall how to write an office memorandum and a letter to a client
  • Demonstrate how to draft heads of arguments, basic contracts, and a basic affidavit

  • Practise formulating a reliable argument
  • Illustrate how to set up and conduct an interview in order to obtain substantive evidence for a trial
  • Illustrate how a civil case is brought to court and argued, and what assistance a paralegal can provide at a trial
  • Apply argumentative and logical skills to interpret selected scenarios

  • Identify the basics of a legal problem
  • Locate both primary and secondary sources of law
  • Demonstrate how to integrate and organise legal source material
  • Identify how to present your findings in a meaningful and persuasive manner

Instructors

UCT Cape Town Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1: Do paralegals make good money?

Paralegals typically earn $50,940 per year, as per the statistics of the Bureau of Labor.

2: Is paralegal a good career?

A job as a paralegal, also called a legal assistant, can be a rewarding one, but it has drawbacks too, which range from high levels of stress to lack of respect.

3: Should I be a paralegal or a lawyer?

Paralegal training is less expensive and may be finished considerably more quickly.

4: Do paralegals take the bar exam?

To join the paralegal sector, no test is necessary, however certain jurisdictions may need a credential.

5: Which is the best paralegal course available online?

The Paralegal Practitioner course by UCT is the cheap and best paralegal course available online.

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