Overview
Founded in 1890, Blackstone Career Institute is one of the oldest distance learning schools in the U.S. Over 125,000 people have changed their lives by taking a course with Blackstone. We have a long history of providing convenient and affordable education for prison inmates. Education is the cornerstone of success and has proven benefits for the incarcerated:
- a lower rate of recidivism
- increased employment prospects
- a higher self-esteem
- more marketable job skills
- a means to transition into society
Blackstone Career Institute makes every effort to accommodate the enrollment of incarcerated individuals in our Advanced Paralegal Courses. We use soft-covered books and materials for ease of entry into most state prisons, federal penitentiaries, county jails and other institutions.
Inmates can complete their entire course via correspondence using U.S. mail. We provide all of the necessary materials so students do not have to seek additional or outside resources in order to graduate. Inmates from 1,200 facilities across the U.S. have already turned to Blackstone to continue their education.
Blackstone offers courses in the following legal fields: Personal Injury/Torts; Family Law; Wills, Trusts, and Estates; Criminal Law; Civil Litigation; Business and Corporate Law; Real Estate Law; and Practical Bankruptcy Law.
Distance learning is an effective and convenient method for incarcerated individuals to meet their educational goals. You can help! Enroll your loved one online, or, if you prefer, download the enrollment form now and mail it to us with your first payment. To have an informational packet sent to your loved one or to enroll over the phone, call 800-826-9228 and speak to one of our student service representatives.
Advanced Paralegal Courses Curriculum
Personal Injury/Torts
Tort law is the arena of law primarily responsible for making citizens whole after they have been injured by the wrongs of others. The Personal Injury/Torts course introduces students to tort law by discussing the scope, definitions, elements, and purpose of torts. It also discusses specific torts such as battery, assault, negligence, strict liability, and torts within and against family members.
Family Law
The Family Law course uses articles, cases, and examples to describe a paralegal’s role in matters of family law. Paralegals will be able to assist attorneys as they draft premarital and cohabitation agreements, help clients start or end their marriages, set up a mutually agreeable child custody arrangement, clarify paternity, adopt a child, litigate tort cases, and more. This course includes up-to-date information on same-sex relationships, the enforcement of child support orders, the legal status of frozen embryos, and the confidentiality of adoption records.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates
The Wills, Trusts, and Estates course uses articles, cases, and examples to describe a paralegal’s role in the administration of wills, trusts, and estates. This course will prepare paralegals to assist attorneys as they plan estates, explain rights, draft wills, set up trusts, appoint personal representatives, probate wills, file estate taxes, and represent clients in probate court.
Criminal Law
The predominance of criminal law cases within the legal system has caused an increasingly high demand for paralegals trained in this field. This course prepares students to participate in trial preparations and procedures. The course also covers homicide, assault and battery, arson, burglary, embezzlement and extortion. Students are challenged to apply their legal reasoning skills to realistic case scenarios and analysis problems.
Civil Litigation
The Civil Litigation course offers paralegals specialized knowledge for a litigation firm. It discusses the paralegal’s role in assisting the attorney before, during, and after a trial, including: investigating and gathering evidence; participating in discovery; drafting the complaint; preparing witnesses for depositions; assisting in the completion of interrogatories; preparing the trial notebook; preparing witnesses for trial and post trial practice; and drafting appellate briefs.
Business and Corporate Law
The Business and Corporate Law course discusses important topics related to business law, including traditional and online dispute resolution, sales and leases, warranties, product liability, consumer law, e-contracts, negotiable instruments, corporations, financing, investor protection, online securities offerings, real and personal property, agency and employment, and international law in a global economy.
Real Estate Law
The Real Estate Law course discusses different forms of ownership of real property, aspects of real estate finance and title insurance, and special circumstances surrounding the ownership of condominiums and cooperatives. This course also explains the paralegal’s role in assisting the attorney with the reading and preparation of various real estate documents including encumbrances, easements, licenses, contracts, deeds, titles, closings, surveys, land descriptions, and leases.
Practical Bankruptcy Law
The Practical Bankruptcy Law course provides the building blocks of bankruptcy law by explaining cases from the perspective of the debtor, the trustee, and the creditor; and discusses the special rules and procedures that must be followed in each type of case. This course also explains how cases are commenced, converted, dismissed, and closed.
Course Materials
Blackstone makes it easy for incarcerated students to complete their course while incarcerated. All of the materials they need to successfully complete their course will be provided. Each course includes a soft-covered commercial textbook and an accompanying study guide. Textbooks for each course are listed below.
Personal Injury/Torts
Personal Injury and the Law of Torts, 2nd Edition, 2012, by Emily Lynch Morissette. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-7355-9877-5
Family Law
Family Law for Paralegals, 5th Edition, 2011, by J. Shoshanna Ehrlich. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-7355-8773-1
Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Basic Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Paralegals, 5th Edition, 2011, by Jeffrey A. Helewitz. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-7355-9873-7
Criminal Law
Fundamentals of Criminal Practice: Law and Procedure, 2012, by Thomas E. McClure and Thomas E. Eimermann. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-7355-7094-8
Civil Litigation
Fundamentals of Litigation for Paralegals, 7th Edition, 2012, by Marlene A. Maerowitz and Thomas A. Mauet. Custom-published paperback edition. ISBN 978-145481683-6
Business and Corporate Law
Fundamentals of Business Law, 2011, by Daniel V. Davidson, Lynn M. Forsythe and Brenda E. Knowles. Custom-published paperback edition. ISBN 978-145481682-9
Real Estate Law
Real Estate and Property Law for Paralegals, 2nd Edition, 2009, by Neal R. Bevans. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-7355-6944-7
Practical Bankruptcy Law
Basic Bankruptcy Law for Paralegals, 8th Edition, 2011, by David L. Buchbinder. Paperback edition. ISBN 978-0-73550786-9
In addition, Blackstone will also provide students with:
Thorough Testing
Each Advanced Paralegal Course has six graded examinations to assist Blackstone in assessing a student’s understanding of the concepts taught.
Documents
Students will receive an official transcript and a certificate upon successful completion of the Advanced Paralegal Course in which they are enrolled. A copy of their transcript will also be on permanent file with Blackstone and is available for a nominal fee.
Ample Time
Students have up to six months to complete an Advanced Paralegal Course. If additional time is needed, a six-month extension can be purchased for $75.00.
Grading by Mail
Students just mail their exams to us and we’ll send them a grade report within one business day of receiving their answer sheet! Blackstone provides pre-addressed envelopes for the expedient return of each exam.
Support
Each student’s success in his or her Advanced Paralegal Course is important to us! Blackstone has an excellent reputation for quality, reliability and service. Our highly trained staff is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST to assist with questions. Students may also send us their questions by mail using the consultation forms located in all study guides and we will send a prompt reply.
Affordable Tuition
Our low tuition cost covers the entire Advanced Paralegal Course selected, including: textbook, study guide, supplemental materials, teacher evaluations, record keeping, a certificate upon graduation, and more!
Financial Assistance
Blackstone’s financial assistance programs include sponsorship and interest-free financing with low monthly payments.
Student Tuition Protection Policy
We offer a generous student tuition protection policy that covers cancellations and refunds. Review our policy here.
Advanced Paralegal Course Tuition
Sponsoring a Student
Blackstone makes it easy for incarcerated students to pay for their Advanced Paralegal Course. With an interest-free payment plan and low monthly payments, inmates will find that the courses are very affordable. Many students receive help for paying for their course from a sponsor: an individual such as a spouse, parent, or other family member who wants to assist their loved one by making the monthly payments while the student earns his or her certificate. Sometimes community organizations, such as houses of worship, are also willing to sponsor an individual.
Easy Monthly Payment Plan
As any student knows, a quality education is an investment in the future. Blackstone’s distance learning certificate courses are designed to be affordable while providing excellence in education and student services.
The tuition fee for each Advanced Paralegal Course includes:
- All instruction, exam evaluation, and student support
- Brand new, latest edition textbook included with certificate course
- Comprehensive and up-to-date study guide prepared by faculty and reviewed by subject matter experts
- Exam grade reports with references for questions answered incorrectly
- Official BCI school transcript
- An embossed certificate upon completion of course requirements
Regular Tuition Price $396 per course
Payment Plan Option
We offer a Student Loan Program with a 100% approval rate for our certificate courses—you are already pre-approved for a low down payment and low monthly installments, making training from BCI easily affordable!
Student Tuition 0% Interest Free Program
I will pay a $160.00 down payment & 4 monthly payments of $59.00 for each Advanced Paralegal Course selected.
Methods of Payment
You may use your Visa, Discover, Master Card, or American Express Card to securely enroll online. You may also pay in full for an Advanced Paralegal Course by money order or personal check. A returned check fee of $35.00 will apply.
Resources
Paralegal resources include sites that specifically relate to the Advanced Paralegal Courses. Students may find organizations to join and increase networking abilities. Many of these organizations and associations have their own newsletters or magazines, job databases, and certification exams.
Explore online resources below in the following categories:
- Paralegal Associations
- Related Associations
- State Bar Associations
- Government Links
- Law-Related Sites and Resources
- Job Resources for Paralegals
- Books and Journals for the Paralegal Profession
Paralegal Associations
National Paralegal Association
National Association of Legal Assistants
Association of Legal Administrators
National Federation of Paralegal Associations
U.S Paralegal Organizations by State
Capitol Area Paralegal Association
The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.
Related Associations
NALS: The Association for Legal Professionals
International Paralegal Management Association
National Legal Aid & Defender Association • Resources for those seeking more information on equal justice
State Bar Associations
State and Local Bar Association Directory
North America Bar Associations
Government Links
Government Jobs • Search federal, state, and local government jobs, with links to job search articles and resources.
Government Job Bank • Search for jobs and post your resume
U.S. Department of State • Domestic and overseas employment in a wide variety of disciplines
Federal Government Resources: Civil Service • Employment opportunities, links to Internet job sources, news, current salary information, and federal resume writing
United States Department of Justice • Jobs, resources, DOJ agencies, and press releases
Office of the Attorney General
American Civil Liberties Union • Find information on all the latest civil rights issues
Federal Bar Association • Provides networking and leadership opportunities to law students, attorneys, and judges.
Law-Related Sites and Resources
U.S. Courts • Locate district courts, probation offices, court of appeals, bankruptcy courts, and pretrial services offices by city, state, county, zip or area codes.
The Supreme Court Historical Society • A history and heritage of the Supreme Court and how it works
Library of Congress • U.S. and overseas newspapers, current periodicals, and government publications
Attorneys in the Martindale Directory • Search for lawyers by name, location, area of practice, firm, or in U.S. Government agencies
Lawyer directory from LexisNexis • Search by practice area or location
Prison Legal News • Search articles and cases
Paralegal Today • Website for the trade magazine Paralegal Today; with online artiles, news briefs and events
LawCentral.com • Links to a variety of law-related sites
AllLaw.com • Great website for law-related journals, periodicals, state and federal resources, legal organizations, references and legal topics
FindLaw • News, cases and codes; a resource for students, legal professionals and the public
Law.com • Buy legal books and products, search for legal terms and verdicts, file legal documents and forms, links to legal magazines
Lawsource.com • Home of American Law Sources On-line, providing a comprehensive, uniform, and useful compilation of links to freely accessible on-line sources of law for the United States and Canada
LLRX.com • Law and technology resources for legal professionals, including sources for State and Federal court rules, forms, dockets and legislation and law-related articles
The Virtual Chase • Articles, guides, teaching materials, an alert service and more on Internet research strategies and resources
Westlaw • Online legal research service that provides access statutes, case law materials, public records, and other legal resources, along with current news articles and business information
Famous Trials • Famous American and international trials, including primary and secondary sources, maintained at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School
Federal Judicial Center • Reference to help students, the public, and federal court employees understand aspects of the federal courts
Law’s Order: What Economics Has to do with Law and Why it Matters • A web manuscript by David Friedman that covers several topics related to economics and subsequent laws
Legal Information Institute • An electronic library covering various law topics, court opinions, introduction to basic legal citation, state and federal laws
National Criminal Justice Reference Service • Federally funded resource offering justice and substance abuse information
Laguna Preparers Service • Legal document assistant services for all California counties
Legal Abbreviations and Terms • Westlaw glossary of terms used in legal research
lib.law.washington.edu • Acronyms and abbreviations that are used throughout Washington Legal Researcher’s Deskbook 3d
www.law.cornell.edu • Lexicon at Cornell’s Legal Information Institute offers definitions of legal terms
dictionary.lp.findlaw.com • Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law on Findlaw
dictionary.law.com • Law.com’s online Real Life Dictionary of the Law
Job Resources for Paralegals
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics • Occupational Outlook Handbook for paralegals
Monster.com Career Advice • Paralegal career profile
Paralegal Jobs from LexisNexis • Resource for job seekers and employers
Resume Center on Monster.com • View a sample paralegal resume and career advice
Exclusively Legal • Provides specialized staffing services to law firms and corporate legal departments, a job search engine, and ability to submit a resume
Vault • Find firms by region and search the law job board
Lawjobs • Search jobs, post your resume, submit career questions
Legal Career Center Network • Job search and recruiting services for legal community, search for Associations by state
Beacon Hill Legal • Provides interim and direct-hire staffing solutions to law firms and corporations: for paralegals, legal support staff, and those interested in specific and specialized practice areas
ParalegalPost.com • Jobs for the paralegal community, interview and resume tips
Kelly Law Registry • Legal placement firm specializing in permanent and temporary assignments
Paralegal Jobs • Search jobs and post your resume
Law Crossing • The largest collection of legal jobs in the world
IHireLegal • Search jobs, upload your resume, and receive live customer support and email notifications of new job postings athat match your qualifications
Pathways Personnel • Submit your resume and browse open positions; for Northern California only.
CollegeGrad.com • Entry level paralegal jobs and job seeker tools & resources
Filcro Personnel, Inc. • Recruits paralegals, legal assistants, and legal secretaries for New York Law Firms and Corporations
Books and Journals for the Paralegal Profession
NOLO • Legal books, software and forms
Amazon.com • Check out the various titles available and type “paralegal” into the search bar
Loc.gov • Find law and paralegal books at the Library of Congress
Paralegal Today • Subscribe to their bimonthly magazine for Paralegal Professionals, or join the PT Listserv to network with other paralegals
2010 Salary Guide • Request this FREE from Robert Half Legal…call 800.870.8367
