Advanced Paralegal: Criminal Law

About this course

Learning objectives

Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:

• Explain the concept of punishment.
• Define the concepts of mens rea and actus rea
• Explain what is meant by “reasonable doubt”.
• Differentiate “inference,” “mandatory presumption requiring some evidence in rebuttal,” “mandatory presumption shifting the burden of proof,” and “conclusive presumption”
• Discuss some of the limitations of criminal law.
• List the elements of the insanity defense.
• Discuss the defenses of infancy, intoxication, duress, necessity, entrapment, and excessive government involvement.
• Explain the elements of self-defense and related defenses.
• Explain the concept of “attempt”.
• Examine the scope of one’s accountability for the criminal acts of others.
• Discuss the crime of conspiracy.
• Discuss how criminal law applies to corporations.
• Explain know the elements of the crime of homicide.
• Examine the concept of causation in criminal law.
• List the elements of the crime of rape.
• List the elements of the crimes of battery, assault, aggravated assault and battery, mayhem, and kidnapping.
• List the elements of the crime of larceny.
• Explain the types of larceny.
• Discuss the elements of the crime of obtaining property by false pretenses.
• Explain the elements of the crimes of forgery, receiving stolen goods, robbery, extortion, burglary, and arson.

Continuing Education Information

This is an accelerated course. Students will be expected to spend an average of 8 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this online course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time. Coursework in Criminal Law is equivalent to 45 clock hours of study.