Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, is a career and test prep expert who has taught paralegals and other legal professionals through universities worldwide. She and her late husband, Scott A. Hatch, JD, have coauthored numerous law and standardized test prep texts, including GMAT Prep For Dummies, LSAT Prep For Dummies, and ACT Prep For Dummies.

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• Introduction 1Part 1: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession 5Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession 7Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams 21Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position 27Part 2: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know 37Chapter 4: “All Rise”: The American Judicial System 39Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law 57Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process 79Chapter 7: How It’s Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence 101Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority 119Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals 127Part 3: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process 147Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents 149Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation 179Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing 191Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research 205Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance 225Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals 241Part 4: Identifying the Skills Paralegals Need to Soar 255Chapter 16: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style 257Chapter 17: Using Technology in Law 275Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101 291Part 5: The Part of Tens 305Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics 307Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know 311Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment 315Appendix: What You’ll Find Online 319Index 327

Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, is a career and test prep expert who has taught paralegals and other legal professionals through universities worldwide. She and her late husband, Scott A. Hatch, JD, have coauthored numerous law and standardized test prep texts, including GMAT Prep For Dummies, LSAT Prep For Dummies, and ACT Prep For Dummies.

Select Guide Rating

• Introduction 1Part 1: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession 5Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession 7Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams 21Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position 27Part 2: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know 37Chapter 4: “All Rise”: The American Judicial System 39Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law 57Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process 79Chapter 7: How It’s Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence 101Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority 119Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals 127Part 3: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process 147Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents 149Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation 179Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing 191Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research 205Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance 225Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals 241Part 4: Identifying the Skills Paralegals Need to Soar 255Chapter 16: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style 257Chapter 17: Using Technology in Law 275Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101 291Part 5: The Part of Tens 305Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics 307Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know 311Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment 315Appendix: What You’ll Find Online 319Index 327

Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, is a career and test prep expert who has taught paralegals and other legal professionals through universities worldwide. She and her late husband, Scott A. Hatch, JD, have coauthored numerous law and standardized test prep texts, including GMAT Prep For Dummies, LSAT Prep For Dummies, and ACT Prep For Dummies.

Select Guide Rating

• Introduction 1Part 1: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession 5Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession 7Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams 21Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position 27Part 2: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know 37Chapter 4: “All Rise”: The American Judicial System 39Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law 57Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process 79Chapter 7: How It’s Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence 101Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority 119Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals 127Part 3: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process 147Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents 149Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation 179Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing 191Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research 205Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance 225Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals 241Part 4: Identifying the Skills Paralegals Need to Soar 255Chapter 16: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style 257Chapter 17: Using Technology in Law 275Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101 291Part 5: The Part of Tens 305Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics 307Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know 311Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment 315Appendix: What You’ll Find Online 319Index 327