Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/31/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Merchant has a deceptive advertisement that they are a legal education program proving legal clinic training (like in law school) and a certified paralegal program. However, this educational institute has no license or certification from the government to provide such service.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/15/2023

  COMPLAINT DETAILS:  Merchant has a deceptive advertisement that they are a legal education program proving legal clinic training (like in law school) and a certified paralegal program. However, this educational institute has no license or certification from the government to provide such service.

  RESPONSE: Our advertising does not expressly or impliedly state that our academic program is "certified." No license or certification is required to offer the training that we offer. The complainant does not offer any evidence, documentary, digital or otherwise, that we are advertising a "certified" academic program. ******* state law does not require a state certification or a license to offer and conduct these training courses. Our training programs offer a Certificate of Completion and Attendance that in no manner states, expressly or impliedly, that the attendee is state certified or otherwise licensed by the ****************. 

  The ******* ********** of ********* lists those academic disciplines that require certifications at ***************************;

  The *************************** (*********************************************) lists those academic areas and disciplines that require a certification. The program that PARALEGAL INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS offers is not an academic area or discipline that requires certification. Certification guidelines and requirements for education and training in the **************** can be accessed at **********************************************************;

  Certification is optional, but not required to offer the training courses that we provide.

  The *************************** designs, develops and manages programs for 32 health and human services professions and certifies more than ****** professionals statewide, including those in the child welfare, addiction, mental health, and health fields, ensuring that they meet education, training, experience and testing criteria. In keeping with its mission, FCB has implemented a system to assure that only qualified ********************* are approved to offer Continuing ********* Credits. (See *********************************************************************************************.)  

  PARALEGAL INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS does not offer continuing education credits or academic credits of any sort, and therefore certification is not required. (See ************************************************************************************.) 

  Certification is generally required to teach in elementary, middle and high school and for professional service areas such as counseling, psychology and social work. 

  The Career & Technical ********* (CTE) Programs section of the ******* Certification Board is responsible for developing and maintaining educational programs that prepare individuals for occupations important to ******** economic development. These programs are organized into 17 different career clusters and are geared toward middle school, high school, district technical school, and ******* College System students throughout the state. (See *****************************************************************.) 

  Paralegal and document preparation training do not require state certification.  (See *****************************************************************.) Certain training and education courses may be certified as per the ***************************, but, again, certification is not required. The ********* & Training Career Cluster [of the ******* Certification Board] offers students educational opportunities, training services, and related learning support with an emphasis on improving public education services. The ********* & Training Career Cluster is divided into three pathways: Teaching and Training; ******************** Services; and Administration and Administrative Support. Participation in these certification programs is optional, not mandatory. 

  At no time and in no manner does PARALEGAL INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS state or imply that our courses are certified or that we offer certification to our students. The Complainant is unfairly and falsely mischaracterizing our business model. Nowhere in our advertising or in our teaching materials do we reference "certification" or "certified." Complainant's reference to certification in our advertising is patently false and without merit. 

  If additional information is required, please reach me at ********************* or at **************.

  Sincerely,

   

  *******************************

  President and Director for PARALEGAL INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS.

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/15/2023

   
  Complaint: 18956977
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I disagree with the company's response. On their link, **************************************************************************************, they mention in Spanish, Este programa incluye dos certificados que se otorgan como; paralegal en inmigracion y ********** clnica migratory (in English: This program includes two certificates that are awarded as;  paralegal in immigration and the second immigration clinic.) In no place it mentions these are merely Certificates of Completion or Attendance and offer no recognized educational value, therefore, deceiving customers. Additionally, any legal clinic must be under a law school, see ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ a Paralegal program is meant to be provided by an educational institution, see **************************************************************************************************************************************. Finally, when I contacted this company they said, in Spanish estamos avalados por la BBB, in English the BBB endorses **. It is important to note that the BBB does not endorse any business, product, or service as detailed on their website, ***********************************************************************. For those reasons, I do not accept the companys response and urge them to stop and desist misleading advertisement and make the proper corrections before I seek further legal action.

  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 18956977
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Although I disagree with multiple statements made by the business comparing their product to actual Universities such as ******************* and ********************* which actually have an educational value.
  

  Additionally comparing their product to the *************************** which program is meant for states where the immigration preparer profession is regulated. And the business fails to mentiom that a preparer and independent paralegal is not allowed to submit any forms to the Immigration Court EOIR, ************************************************, nor give legal advice, including saying what forms a client should submit or what benefit they qualify for and an independent paralegal or legal assistant are unauthorized to work independently, meaning only under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney.

  I am mostly concerned about their statement mentioning the BBB endorses them, therefore I ask for a formal response from the BBB noting if they in fact endorse this company.

  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************