This document outlines topics to be covered in a training module for paralegal skills, including developmental legal aid and social justice, the role of paralegals, basic skills needed, popular education techniques, knowledge of the law, documentation like interviewing and creating affidavits and forms, and alternative dispute resolution. It discusses traditional versus non-traditional legal aid, the definition of social justice, the role and types of paralegals, how to conduct popular education, an overview of the Philippine legal system and procedures, techniques for documentation, and different methods of alternative dispute resolution. The training module aims to equip paralegals with essential skills through exploring these important basic concepts and areas of law.

1. DEVELOPMENT OF A
PARALEGAL TRAINING MODULE:
BASIC PARALEGAL SKILLS
NCMF PARALEGAL PROGRAM
25-26 February 2014
Atty. Ray Paolo J. Santiago
Executive Director

2. Topics to Consider
 Developmental Legal Aid and Social Justice
 Role of a Paralegal
 Basic Skills Needed
 Popular Education
 Knowledge of the Law
 Documentation (Interviewing Clients, Affidavit-Making,
Basic Legal Forms)
 Alternative Dispute Resolution

3. Traditional vs. Non-traditional
Legal Aid
 Seekers of justice first, secondarily lawyers
 Focus on social/structural justice
 Bias for the poor, towards their empowerment and
development
 Law not always equals justice
 Many roads to justice, and many actors

4. Social Justice
 Definition (includes equitable and fair access to
societal institutions, laws, resources,
opportunities, without discrimination)
 Link with Constitutional Basis (Sections 1 and 2, Article
13 of the Philippine Constitution)

5. Paralegals
 Who is a paralegal?
 What does a paralegal do?
 Different types of paralegal?
 What is the role of a paralegal?

6. Basic Skills: Popular Education
 “Popular” – its priority is to work among the poor who form
the vast majority of people in most Third World countries
 “Education” – collective or group process of education where
the teacher and students learn together beginning with the
concrete experience of the participants, leading to reflection
on that experience in order to effect positive change
 History
 Principles
 Characteristics

7. Basic Skills: Knowledge of the
Law
 Training and Needs Assessment
 Government Structure
 KatarungangPambarangay
 Pillars of the Criminal Justice System
 Basic Criminal Procedure (Arrests, Searches and
Seizures)

8. Basic Skills: Documentation
 Interviewing Clients
 Tips and Techniques
 Sensitivity
 Affidavit-Making
 Parts
 Steps in Making a Complaint-Affidavit
 Basic Legal Forms

9. Basic Skills: Alternative Dispute
Resolution
 Negotiation Skills
 Mediation
 Conciliation
 Arbitration
 Court-Annexed Mediation

10. Maramingsalamatpo!