What is Natural Health Massage?

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Want to learn more about natural health massage? Interested in helping clients relax through massage and earth-friendly massage products? The Massage and Natural Health Associate of Applied Science degree program at Gwinnett College is a comprehensive program that meets the requirements of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Who is the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)?

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. It is the most trusted and respected name in massage therapy.

What is Natural Health Massage?

During the massage, only natural products are used to alleviate different conditions through various massage techniques.

What are Natural Products?

A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism that is found in nature.

What are the Benefits of Natural Products?

#1 Earth-Friendly – Natural products are greener for the planet and biodegradable.

#2 Avoid Irritation – Natural products don’t have toxins or irritants that may be harmful to the body.

#3 No Strange Side Effects – Parabens are used in conventionally produced health and beauty products as a preservative to extend the shelf life of products. Parabens are synthetic and mimic a body’s natural hormones and may alter the function of the body’s endocrine system.

What are the Different Conditions that Natural Health Massage Can Help?

Natural Health Massage can be helpful in treating different conditions including:

  • Fibromyalgia – a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas of the body.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the rest, alongside the flexor tendons of the hand caused by repetitive movements over a long period.
  • Tennis Elbow – Only a small amount of those with Tennis Elbow got it from playing Tennis. Tennis Elbow is the inflammation of the tendons of the elbow caused by overuse of the muscles of the forearm.
  • Migraines – a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision.
  • Osteoarthritis – degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, most common from middle age onward. Osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in the hip, knee, and thumb joints.
  • Lower Back Pain – caused by injury to a muscle or ligament in the back. Common causes include improper lifting, poor posture, lack of regular exercise, facture, ruptured disk, or arthritis.
  • Sciatica – pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs down one or both legs from the lower back.

With proper training in natural massage therapy, a massage therapist can help alleviate the pain from these types of conditions. If you have one of these conditions, visit your local doctor before engaging in natural massage therapy.

What Will I Learn During the Massage and Natural Health Associate of Applied Science degree program?

Gwinnett College students will learn various massage techniques during the Massage and Natural Health Associate of Applied Science degree program. The techniques include:

  • Neuromuscular Therapy – a specialized form of deep tissue massage where pressure and friction are used to release areas of strain in the muscle (or trigger points).
  • Chair Massage – a short massage that focuses on the high-tension areas of the neck, back, shoulders, arms & hands.
  • Reflexology – a system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head linked to every part of the body.
  • Aromatherapy – the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage.
  • Sports Massage – used to treat injuries, maintain optimal conditioning and offer preventative care for athletes.
  • Fascial Release – applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.
  • Oriental Medicine – use of herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, including acupuncture and tai chi, to treat or prevent health problems.

What does a Natural Massage Therapist do on a Day-to-Day Basis?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Natural massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. With their touch, natural massage therapists relieve pain, help heal injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients. Natural massage therapists typically do the following:

  • Talk with clients about their symptoms, medical history, and desired results
  • Evaluate clients to locate painful or tense areas of the body
  • Manipulate muscles and other soft tissues of the body
  • Provide clients with guidance on stretching, strengthening, overall relaxation, and how to improve their posture
  • Document clients’ conditions and progress

Learn more about  helping people relax through natural massage therapy and the Natural Health Massage Program at Gwinnett College’s Sandy Springs campus? Upon graduation, Gwinnett College students will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Massage and Natural Health.  Graduates will be qualified to seek entry-level positions as clinical, medical, sports, or deep tissue massage therapists in wellness clinics and centers, spa environments including resorts and franchises, and self-employment.

Instructor Highlight – Dr. Marc Ellis, Massage Therapy program

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Dr. Marc Ellis is an instructor at Gwinnett College – Sandy Springs. Dr. Ellis has been teaching Clinical Pathology and Case Management/Assessment to our massage therapy students for over a decade. At the time he started, the College was named the Rising Spirit Institute of Natural Health. In addition to instructing at our campuses, Dr. Ellis has been successful in both education as well as a Chiropractic Doctor. He is a Fellow of the American College of Functional Neurology, a Diplomat of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, an Assistant Professor for the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and also founded the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center in Roswell, Georgia.

Recently, Dr. Ellis traveled to Ulm, Germany, to attend the Connective Tissues in Sports Medicine 2017 conference. He made a presentation at the conference titled, “Examination of Fascial Tension Concomitant with Movement Can Improve Myofascial Care in Athletes – A Case Study.” The study presented is as follows;

Background
Aberrant movement can cause decreased performance in athletes.  The central nervous system must always be involved in the modulation of movement.  This is done via the deformation of tissues in the body and their effects on the peripheral receptors which in turn send afferent information to the central nervous system (CNS).  The CNS will then integrate that information and change the depolarization rate of motor neurons.  The synchronization of this process determines effectiveness of the athlete’s movement.  Alterations in fascial pliability can cause inefficient movement patterns that can affect an athlete’s performance or induce pain during specific movements.

Case Report
A 57 year old, right handed male golfer presented to the office with complaints of left shoulder pain and limited range of motion for the past 2 years.  Examination revealed the patient had Adhesive Capsulitis with 20′ of abduction, 70′ of shoulder flexion, 15′ of extension and 10′ of internal and external rotation.  The patients’ primary goal was to be pain free and to be able to play golf again.  Myofascial treatments were performed over the course of 10 visits and full range of motion was restored to the shoulder.  Upon playing golf the patient continued to have pain and a “catch”in the posterior left shoulder during the backswing phase of his stroke. He pointed to an area around the axillary triangle at the site of pain and restriction.  Fascial treatments were performed on the muscular fascia of the Teres muscle group but there was no improvement in the fluidity of movement or pain.  As the patient replicated his backswing it was observed that the hypodermis lateral to the lower one third of the scapula did not move correctly.  There was a restriction in the tissues’ ability to slide anteriorly and superiorly as it should when the backswing is performed.  Light inferior and medial traction was placed on this tissue and the patient could then only abduct their shoulder 90′. Myofascial release was performed at the level of the hypodermis and the fascia profunda of the mid back approximately at the level of the scapula.  After the treatment, the patient could fully abduct his shoulder while the hypodermis was being tractioned.  He could perform his backswing more smoothly without pain and could golf.  During a one month follow up visit he reported that his backswing was still smooth and he did not have pain in the shoulder.

Conclusion
Patients often have numerous fascial adhesions which can contribute to the difficulty of determining which adhesions are contributing to the patient’s primary complaint.  Their problems can be so diffuse that it would be prohibitively time consuming to treat all the adhesions that are present.  The astute practitioner must be able to determine which adhesions are the primary contributors to the problem and treat them.  The evaluation of tensional forces on the fascia concomitant with movements can be an efficient method in determining the primary lesions, thus directing the practitioner to the most effective treatment.

 

A Career as a Medical Assistant

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Looking for a rewarding career in Medical Assisting? What are the skills you need to become a successful medical assistant? Are there specialties within the medical assisting career? What is the job growth outlook for medical assisting careers? Learn how to become a successful medical assistant in this growing field.

What does a Medical Assistant do on a Day-To-Day Basis?

Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants typically do the following

  • Record patient history and personal information
  • Measure vital signs, such as blood pressure
  • Help the physician with patient examinations
  • Give patients injections or medications as directed by the physician and as permitted by state law
  • Schedule patient appointments
  • Prepare blood samples for laboratory tests
  • Enter patient information into medical records

Skills of a Successful Medical Assistant

A medical assistant must have or train to gain the right set of skills to become a successful medical assistant. Some of the skills of a medical assistant include:

Analytical skills. Medical assistants must be able to understand and follow medical charts and diagnoses. Like a Medical Billing & Coding Specialist, they may be required to code a patient’s medical records for billing purposes.

Detail oriented. Medical assistants need to be precise when taking vital signs and recording patient information.

Interpersonal skills. Medical assistants need to be able to discuss patient information with other medical personnel, such as physicians. They often interact with patients who may be in pain or in distress, so they need to be able to act in a calm and professional manner.

Technical skills. Medical assistants should be able to use basic clinical instruments so they can take a patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Medical Assistant Specialties

In larger practices or hospitals, medical assistants may specialize in either administrative or clinical work.

Administrative medical assistants often fill out insurance forms or code patients’ medical information. They often answer telephones and schedule patient appointments.

Clinical medical assistants have different duties than administrative medical assistants. They may do basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. The clinical medical assistant may have additional responsibilities, such as instructing patients about medication or special diets, preparing patients for x rays, removing stitches, drawing blood, or changing dressings.

Some medical assistants specialize according to the type of medical office where they work. The following are examples of these specialized medical assistants:

Podiatric medical assistants work closely with podiatrists (foot doctors). They may make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and help podiatrists in surgery.

Ophthalmology medical assistant perform diagnostic testing, assist the physician in eye treatments and emergencies, and perform patient education. They may also administer eye medications and help in minor eye surgery.

How EHRs are Changing Medical Assisting

Electronic health records (EHRs) are changing some medical assistants’ jobs. More and more physicians are adopting EHRs, moving all their patient information from paper to electronic records. Medical assistants need to learn the Electronic Health Record software that their office uses. Some of the benefits of the EHRs:

  • Digital formatting enables information to be used and shared over secure networks
  • Track care (e.g. prescriptions) and outcomes (e.g. blood pressure)
  • Trigger warnings and reminders
  • Send and receive orders, reports, and results
  • Decrease billing processing time and create more accurate billing system
  • Better decipher physicians’ hand-writing minimizing mistakes

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHRs)?

An electronic health record is an official health record for an individual that is shared among multiple facilities and agencies. Electronic Health Records are shared through network-connected, enterprise-wide information systems or other information networks and exchanges. EHRs may include a range of data, including demographics, medical history, medication and allergies, immunization status, laboratory test results, radiology images, vital signs, personal statistics like age and weight, and billing information.

EHR systems are designed to store data accurately and to capture the state of a patient across time. It eliminates the need to track down a patient’s previous paper medical records and assists in ensuring data is accurate and legible. It can reduce risk of data replication as there is only one modifiable file, which means the file is more likely up to date, and decreases risk of lost paperwork.

Job Growth of Medical Assisting Field

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 23 percent from 2014 to 2024. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.

Interested in becoming a medical assistant? Gwinnett College and Institute Medical Assisting program core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills.

Monday class scheduled July 3, 2017

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Students, Faculty, and Staff –

In accordance with Financial Aid regulations, we will be holding classes for all programs on Monday, July 3, 2017.

Please plan accordingly. If you have any questions, please contact the administration of your primary campus.

What can I do with an Associate Degree in Business?

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What will I Learn During an Associate Degree in Business Program?

Training in the core associates degree in business courses include accounting concepts, management concepts, business concepts, business law, Microsoft office.

#1 Accounting Concepts

Rules of accounting that should be followed in preparation of all accounts and financial statements.

What are Some the Different Software Programs Used for Accounting?

The most widely used accounting software, and the program taught in the Associate of Science Degree in Business at Gwinnett College, is QuickBooks. In 2008 Intuit claimed that QuickBooks had 3.7 million users, representing 94.2% of the business accounting market.

QuickBooks – software solution designed to manage payroll, inventory and sales.

There are also a few other accounting software on the market that you can learn about outside the associate degree program:

Sage – helps invoice customers, pay bills, manage inventory and stay on top of banking.

Microsoft Dynamics – gives small and midsize businesses control over finances, inventory and business intelligence information within an enterprise resource planning software.

NetSuite – deployed cloud enterprise resource planning solution offering financial management capabilities.

#2 Management Concepts

The functions of management include planning, organizing, leading and controlling. These management concepts are typically focused on in the associate degree in business program.

Planning – the foundation of management. Requires administration to assess where the company presently is and where it would be in the coming years. During the planning phase goals are set, a plan is developed, limits are identified, a strategy is formulated, and the plan is reviewed.

Organizing – management must organize resources to follow the course of action decided during the planning process. During this phase jobs are defined, activities are organized, authority is distributed and responsibilities are balanced.

Leading – controlling and supervising the actions of the staff. To lead is to motivate employees toward the planned objectives and delegate tasks to subordinates.

Controlling – establishes performance standards, which are aligned to the company’s objectives and the evaluation and reporting of actual job performance.

#3 Business Concepts

An idea for a business that includes basic information about the service or product, the target market, and unique selling proposition. Business concepts are important to the associate degree in business and the business industry in general.

Basic Information about the Service or Product – First, create a description of the product or service that includes information specific to benefits from a customers’ perspective. This includes how the service or product will meet the consumer needs. Next, include details about the product life cycle including any factors that may influence its cycle in the future. Also, list any intellectual property. Finally outline any research and development activities planned and what results you expect.

Target Market – a particular group of consumers at which a product or service is aimed. The definition of the target market can include demographics (age, gender, etc.), geographic information (address, location, region) behavioral information (degree of loyalty) and psychographic information (attitudes, values, religion, and lifestyle).

Unique Selling Proposition – the factor or consideration presented by a seller as the reason that one product or service is different from and better than that of the competition.

#4 Business Law

The body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. The study of business law, during the associate degree in business, typically encompasses many different legal issues. Some of these legal issues may including:

  • Merchant shipping
  • Bills of exchange
  • Partnerships
  • Corporate practices
  • Hiring practices
  • Manufacturing of consumer goods
  • Distribution of consumer goods
  • Carriage by land and sea

#5 Microsoft Office

An office suite of applications, servers, and services developed by Microsoft. The basic Microsoft Office bundle that you typically learn about in an associate degree in business program includes Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.

  • Microsoft Word – a word processor used for viewing, editing and creating documents including reports, letters and brochures.
  • Microsoft Excel – a spreadsheet software that allows users to organize, format, and calculate data with formulas using a spreadsheet system.
  • Microsoft Access – a database creation program that is made up of tables, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint – a slide show presentation software that provides users with an interface to design multimedia slides to be displayed during a meeting or presentation. PowerPoint incorporates images, sounds, videos, text and charts to create an interactive presentation.
  • Microsoft Outlook – a personal information manager used mainly for email management however Microsoft Outlook also includes calendar, task manager, contact manager, note taking, journal and web browsing.

What Jobs Can I Get with an Associate Degree in Business?

Graduates awarded with an Associate of Science Degree in Business can seek entry-level positions based upon their areas of concentration. At Gwinnett College, students can select a concentration in computer information technology, medical office administration, or massage therapy.

Medical Office Administration Assistant – Medical office administration assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. The skills a successful medical office administration assistant needs include:

  • Medical Bookkeeping
  • Office Procedures
  • Medical Insurance and Coding
  • Medical Office Management
  • Medical Laboratory Procedures
  • Medical Law and Ethics

Computer Information Specialist – According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, computer information specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. They test and evaluate existing network systems, perform regular maintenance to ensure that networks operate correctly, and troubleshoot local area networks, wide area networks and Internet systems. The skills a successful computer information specialist needs include:

  • Advanced Bookkeeping Skills (Manual and Computerized)
  • End-user Computer Skills (Microsoft Office and Use of the Internet)
  • Computer Maintenance
  • Beginners Keyboarding
  • Business Math and English

Massage Therapist – According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. With their touch, massage therapists relieve pain, help heal injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients. The skills a successful massage therapist needs include:

  • Swedish Massage
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Neuromuscular Therapy
  • Chair Massage
  • Reflexology
  • Sports Massage
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Business and Success Techniques

These are the 5 concepts learned during an Associate of Science Degree in Business program and some of the jobs you will be able to find after graduating.

Ready to get into the business world and want to concentrate your efforts to get the career in the field of your choosing? Gwinnett College offers the Associate of Science Degree in Business with three concentrations including Medical Office Administration, Computer Information Systems and Massage Therapist. This unique Associate of Science Degree in Business program allows students to gain the technical knowledge important in the business field and select a concentration area that specifically addresses their areas of interest.

How To Become a Personal Trainer

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Enjoy helping others get in shape? Have a love for fitness? Learn how to become a personal trainer, the day-to-day tasks of a personal trainer, the specializations once you become a personal trainer, and the skills a successful personal trainer possess.

How To Become a Personal Trainer

To become a personal trainer, students should spend time planning, developing, and implementing fitness and nutrition programs. Personal training students should learn to document goals and successes during training. The student personal trainer needs to develop, prescribe, and oversee exercise routines and track the progress of clients over a specific period and document their results.

To become a personal trainer, students must prepare to sit for industry-recognized exams required for certification as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT).  The curriculum at Gwinnett College is specifically geared toward the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) exam.

What a Personal Trainer does on a Day-To-Day Basis

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal trainers lead, instruct, and motivate clients in exercise activities. Personal trainers typically do the following:

  • Demonstrate how to perform various exercises and routines
  • Watch clients do exercises
  • Demonstrate or explain correct exercise techniques to minimize injuries and improve fitness
  • Provide alternative exercises during workouts or classes for different levels of fitness and skill
  • Monitor clients’ progress and adapt programs as needed
  • Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations on sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment
  • Give clients information or resources about nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues
  • Give emergency first aid if needed

Personal Trainer Specializations

NASM offers 11 personal trainer specializations once you have become a personal trainer and completed your National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) exam.

Corrective Exercise Specialization (CES) – Corrective exercise is one of the most important components of a comprehensive exercise program. Almost every person has some degree of dysfunction that increases the chance of injury.

Performance Enhancement Specialization (PES) – Sports performance is one of the most demanding forms of training and allows you to help athletes perform at their highest level. Once you become a PES specialist, you can help improve clients’ athletic performance including their power, speed, agility and quickness.

Behavior Change Specialization (BCS) – The BCS specialist helps clients with motivation triggers to attain sustainable results in health and fitness related behaviors. The personal trainer will be able to assess and implement behavior change tactics.

Fitness Nutrition Specialization (FNS) – The go-to expert in nutrition and diet. As a personal trainer, you will be able to help clients with weight loss and weight management. Once you become a FNS specialist, you will understand metabolism and calorie needs, how to interpret nutritional labels and how to select appropriate portion sizes and eating healthy.

Group Personal Training Specialization (GPT) – Train more clients in less time and offer a group dynamic that will help motivate clients to achieve their goals.

Weight Loss Specialization (WLS) – An in-demand specialization that helps the personal trainer work with overweight clients to gain the knowledge they need to lose weight. The personal trainer will understand the secrets of diet, exercise and psychology to help their clients’ loss weight.

Women’s Fitness Specialization (WFS) – This specialization helps the personal trainer understand female specific training to help younger, pre-natal and post-natal techniques for their clients.

Youth Exercise Specialization (YES) – A focus on youth fitness and nutrition to show kids how to have fun while improving their sports skills, increasing their physical activity and losing weight.

Senior Fitness Specialization (SFS) –  This specialization helps personal trainers understand senior specific training to help them preserve their independence.

Golf Fitness Specialization (GFS) – The go-to expert on golf conditioning. This personal trainer specialization helps them work with clients to learn corrective exercise strategy, improve head speed, bolster shooting distance and prevent injuries.

MMA Conditioning Specialization – Learn to condition clients with training techniques and coaching strategies employed by top MMA fighters.

Where do Personal Trainers Work?

Personal Trainers work in facilities such as health clubs, fitness or recreation centers, gyms, yoga and Pilates studios and off-site at clients’ locations. Depending on the location a personal trainer may work nights and weekends to appease clients’ busy schedules.

What are the Skills of a Successful Personal Trainer?

Customer Service Skills – Many personal trainers must sell their services, motivating clients to hire them as personal trainers or to sign up for the classes they lead. Personal trainers must be polite, friendly, and encouraging, to maintain relationships with their clients. A personal trainer with good customer service skills is patient, attentive, uses clear communication and positive language, and has the ability to read customers.

Communication skills – Personal trainers must be able to clearly explain or demonstrate exercises to clients. A personal trainer with good communication skills is a good listener, keeps eye contact, is clear and concise, friendly, confident, open-minded and shows respect for their client.

Listening skills – Personal trainers must be able to listen carefully to what clients tell them in order to determine the clients’ fitness levels and desired fitness goals. A personal trainer with good listening skills maintains eye contact, is attentive but relaxed, keeps an open mind, and doesn’t interrupt the client.

Motivational skills – Getting fit and staying fit takes a lot of work for many clients. To keep clients coming back for more classes or to continue personal training, personal trainers must keep their clients motivated. A personal trainer with good motivation skills enables the client to become motivated to work toward achieving goals. A client will be highly motivated if they achieve their goals so a personal trainer should set short-term and long-term goals.

Physical fitness – Personal trainers need to be physically fit because their job requires a considerable amount of exercise. Group instructors often participate in classes, and personal trainers often need to demonstrate exercises to their clients. The personal trainer is the example of fitness and what the client can become so being physically fit shows the client that if they work hard they can look like the personal trainer.

Problem-solving skills – Personal trainers must evaluate each client’s level of fitness and create an appropriate fitness plan to meet the client’s individual needs. A personal trainer with good problem-solving skills has an analytical ability, can think laterally, is intuitive, has logical reasoning and is persistent.

What is the Job Outlook of a Personal Trainer?

According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment of personal trainers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

If you’re interested in helping people learn to live a healthier lifestyle, our Personal Training program at Gwinnett College could be ideal for you. Upon completion, students will be prepared to sit for industry-recognized exams required for certification as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT).  This curriculum is specifically geared toward the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) exam.

14 Legal Research Disciplines of a Successful Paralegal

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Worked in an office but want to become a paralegal? Enjoy the law and helping others? With the right training program from Gwinnett College, and these 14 research disciplines, you will be well on your way to being a successful paralegal.

What are the 14 Research Disciplines?

Analysis of case information and being able to track down records is key for a paralegal to master. There are 14 types of legal research discussed in this article and they include:

#1 Historical Legal Research

Finding out the previous law in order to understand the reasons behind the existing law and the course of its development. The research of statues and decided cases, supplemented where possible with lawyers’ literature expounding the rules and occasionally reflecting on them.

#2 Doctrinal Legal Research

The research into legal rules, principles, concepts or doctrines. The analysis of case law, arranging, ordering and systematizing legal propositions and study of legal institutions through legal reasoning and rational deduction.

What are the 3 types of reasoning?

Deductive Reasoning – the process of reasoning from one or more statements to reach a logically certain conclusion.

Inductive Reasoning – reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying strong evidence for the truth of the conclusion.

Abductive Reasoning – a form of logical inference which goes from an observation to a theory which accounts for the observation, seeking to find the simplest and most likely explanation.

#3 Non-Doctrinal Research

Non-Doctrinal Research, also called Empirical research, relies on experience or observation, often without a system or theory. It is data-based research where conclusions are made that can be verified by observation or experiment. The legal assistant tries to investigate through empirical data how law and legal institutions affect human attitudes and what impact on society they create.

#4 Comparative Research

Used to study legislative texts, Comparative legal research is the study of the relationship between legal systems, their differences and similarities. This comparison produces results relating to the different legal cultures being analyzed.

#5 Induction Research

Moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories, reasoning by analogy. Inductive legal research begins with specific observations and measures, then patterns are detected to formulate some tentative hypotheses that can be explored. After the hypotheses are explored the legal assistant can come up with general conclusions or theories.

#6 Deduction Research

A kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assume to be true. Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. A legal assistant or paralegal would start with a theory and then narrow it down into more specific hypotheses that can be tested. The next step in the research is to collect observations to address the hypotheses. This leads us to be able to test hypotheses with specific data and reach a confirmation or our original theory.

#7 Applied Research

Action research aimed at finding a solution for an immediate problem. Applied legal research accesses some part of the research communities’ accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, state-driven, business-driven or client-driven purpose. Applied legal research deals with solving practical problems and generally employs empirical methodologies.

#8 Fundamental Research

Generalization and the formulation of a theory in order to improved understanding or prediction of natural phenomena.

#9 Statistical Research

The collection and examination of statistics. The 6 Steps when planning and conducting statistical research include:

  • Ask a question
  • Decide what to measure and how
  • Choose a method of collecting data
  • Summarize the data
  • Analyze the data
  • Draw conclusions and interpret the results

#10 Normative Research

Gathered material is thoroughly examined and a common thread is ascertained which ultimately becomes the basic norm.

#11 Quantitative Research

The measurement of quantity or amount. To develop and employ mathematical models, theories and hypotheses pertaining to the phenomenon under inquiry. The systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena from a statistical, mathematical or computational technique.

#12 Quantitative Research

Concerned with phenomenon relating to or involving quality or kind and relies on reason behind various aspects of behavior. The examination, analysis and interpretation of observations for the purpose of discovering underlying meanings and patterns of relationships.

#13 Case Law Analysis

The research and analysis of case law. Case law consists of rules and principles stated and acted upon by the Judges in giving decisions. Case law analysis is the studying of cases and drawing essential conclusions on how courts apply certain norms and how they interpret them.

#14 Oral Advocacy

Use of personal argument to accomplish things not available in a written brief.

These are the 14 types of legal research a paralegal or legal assistant should learn to help them become successful in their legal career.

Ready to put the research skills to the test in a career as a paralegal? Want to learn more about the Paralegal Studies Program at Gwinnett College?  With the right training from Gwinnett College you will be well on your way to becoming a successful paralegal.

5 Reasons to Attend a Career College

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Ready for a career that you love? Thought about attending a career college but don’t know whether it is right for you? Here are 5 Reasons why choosing a career college can be the best decision you ever made.

What are the 5 Reasons to Attend a Career College?


#1 – Programs are Flexible
Many career colleges offer day and evening classes and students can start a program throughout the year, rather than 4-year colleges on a semester system. Career colleges also have multiple campuses so you can find a career college campus that has a small commute from work or home.

#2 – Small Class Sizes
At 4-year colleges you attend classes in an auditorium with hundreds of other students. At 4-year colleges you interface with the teacher’s assistant. At a career college, you have more time to talk with you teacher and smaller class sizes. Get personal attention in a more intimate atmosphere at a career college.

#3 – Focused Curriculum
Diploma programs can be completed within 9-12 months. Also, career college’s reach out to area businesses to help shape the curriculum so that career college graduates get the skills and training they need to get a job right out of college. Career college curriculum is designed to prepare you for entry-level employment in a timely manner so you don’t spend a lot of time attending elective classes and focus on the core curriculum.

#4 – Multiple Programs to Choose From
With a variety of vocational programs to choose from, you can find the career of your dreams at a career college. Whether you want to work in a doctor’s or dentist’s office, study to become a nurse, phlebotomist or massage therapist, become tech savvy as a computer network administrator, or help people as a legal assistant, career colleges offer the career that you want at a campus near you. Many careers even allow you to work from home or off-site including computer technician, massage therapist and medical billing and coding. Get a diploma or associates degree in the career field of your choice at your local career college.

#5 – Hands-On Experience
Career college usually has lab work and externships where students can get real world experience. This hands-on experience, at a career college, can help you when you are ready to get a job in your field. You are one step ahead of the competition and have real world experience.

Ready to start your dream career? Want to learn more about Gwinnett College?  Gwinnett College has 5 campuses in Georgia, Florida & North Carolina. With the right training from Gwinnett College you will be well on your way to a career you love.

Raleigh – Spring Graduation Ceremony

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Congratulations Medical Arts School Graduates!

Raleigh, North Carolina graduationCongratulations to The Medical Arts School’s Spring 2017 graduating class. The graduating class from Friday, April 21, 2017 officially marks the end of an era as it is the last graduating class of “The Medical Arts School” in Raleigh.  In the final Medical Arts School commencement, we had 45 total graduates.  Of these, 23 of these graduates were from our Massage Therapy program, 16 came from our Medical Assisting program, and 6 from our Medical Office Administration.  Congrats to all of you and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

Don’t be too sad about our last graduation, though.  The tradition of outstanding grads from our school won’t end, rather they’ll now be graduating as Gwinnett College graduates in Raleigh.  We expect to continue to produce fantastic graduates at our Capital B0ulevard/Spring Forest location for many years to come in our Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Massage Therapy, and Paralegal Studies programs.