Learn To Social Slooth · By approval
Social Media Certification
From Research to Report
A structured certification created for attorneys, paralegals and legal support professionals: open-source research, social media profile confirmation, evidence preservation and court-ready reporting.
Admission by approval. Designed for legal professionals.
Program at a glance
- Format
- Self-paced online
- Curriculum
- 12 modules
- Level
- Beginner to Expert
- Assessment
- Reviewed reports & final assessment
- Outcome
- Certificate of completion
- Built for
- Legal professionals
- Admission
- By approval
Proven, not theoretical
The same system behind hundreds of high-profile matters, refined across thousands of delivered reports.
Easy to follow
Plain-language guides, checklists, and a simplified, practical methodology. No investigative background needed.
Beginner to Expert
A clear start-to-finish path built for paralegals and legal support professionals at any level.
The math is simple
One certification costs the same as one standard report.
Every case after that, the research is yours. Faster turnaround, full control over your evidence, and no third-party invoices.
Apply to build your skillsTypical vendor report
$495
every single case
Certification
$495
once, for a lifetime skill
Member licensing
$50/month
Members get ongoing course access, template updates and new tips, tricks and guides.
- Ongoing course access
- Template updates
- New tips, tricks & guides
About Social Slooth
The investigators behind the certification
This course isn't theory. It's the same system the Social Slooth team runs on live cases every week.
Social Slooth, Inc. is a licensed private investigations firm specializing in social media investigations and open-source intelligence (OSINT). We transform digital footprints into actionable intelligence for law firms, insurance companies, trial consultants and private investigators.
We combine the depth of human expertise with the speed of technology-assisted research. While technology accelerates discovery, our team of expert researchers ensures every investigation is thorough and insightful, uncovering the hidden connections and patterns that make all the difference.
That same methodology has been used on hundreds of high-profile legal matters, from political scandals and class actions to product defects, world-class athletes and top political leaders, and fine-tuned across thousands of delivered reports. The certification teaches you exactly how it works.
Learn more at socialslooth.com →
Colin Piazza
Founder & CEO, Social Slooth, Inc.
Colin is the founder of Social Slooth, Inc., a licensed private investigator and former homicide detective with over a decade of investigative experience.
He and his team have become the go-to resource behind hundreds of high-profile trials and complex cases, from political scandals and class actions to A-list celebrities, professional athletes, and product defect litigation.
Known for outside-the-box thinking, Colin turns messy, high-volume social media and open-source research into actionable intelligence that shapes case strategy and delivers winning results in litigation and insurance defense.
Why get certified
Social media investigations, start to finish
Everything you need to research plaintiffs, defendants and claimants with confidence.
Research
Proven OSINT and platform search methods to find what others miss.
Preservation
Capture and document evidence the right way, every time.
Templates
Report structures, checklists and style guides ready to use.
Identity Confirmation
Verify you have the right subject before it matters in court.
Built for Legal
Tailored to plaintiff, defense and insurance defense research.
Certification
Hands-on exercises, reviewed reports and a final assessment.
Show it off
A certification badge that follows you everywhere.
Graduates receive a shareable Social Media Investigations Certification badge. It sits next to your name and in the Licenses & Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, with the issuer and a verifiable credential ID, and it drops cleanly onto your resume.
One-click LinkedIn add
Add the certification straight to the Licenses & Certifications section of your profile.
Resume ready
Drop the badge and credential onto your resume so every application shows the skill.
Stand out to employers
Attorneys and hiring partners see verified training, not just a claim of experience.
Upskill with proof
Show you've moved beyond ad-hoc searching to a proven, court-ready methodology.
How the badge appears on your LinkedIn profile.
Curriculum
From first search to final report
Interactive lessons, hands-on exercises and real report reviews. Complete the final assessment and you're ready for live cases.
- Confirm subject identities through public records and social media
- Navigate complex or limited information effectively
- Use open-source tools and advanced search strategies
- Filter and prioritize relevant content in high-volume cases
- Write clear, professional reports backed by evidence
- Proof and finalize every report so it's polished and client-ready
Syllabus
12 modules
A high-level look. Full methods, templates and tools are inside the course.
01
Foundations of Investigative Reports
What a court-ready social media report is, what clients expect, and what “done” looks like.
02
Understanding the Client's Case
Personal injury, insurance defense, employment, criminal, asset searches and more: what each case type needs.
03
Public Records & Open-Source Tools
Navigating databases, decoding public records and matching the right tool to every clue.
04
Social Media Search Fundamentals
Safe, ethical research practices, usernames, aliases and discovering hidden accounts.
05
Platform-Specific Strategies
Targeted techniques for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube and beyond.
06
Social Media Profile Confirmation
Triangulating profiles and cross-verifying details so you always have the right person.
07
Hard-to-Find Subjects
Indirect strategies when the trail goes cold or information is limited.
08
Sifting & Prioritizing Content
Managing high-volume profiles and surfacing the posts that matter to the case.
09
Preservation, Screenshots & Evidence
Capturing and documenting findings so they hold up and tell the story.
10
Report Writing & Style
Neutral, professional narrative structure, plus responsible use of AI to refine language.
11
Going “One Step Further”
Pattern recognition, lifestyle vs. claims, and aligning findings with case goals.
12
Final Report & Certification
Hands-on sample reports, reviewed submissions and a final assessment.
Real cases
The case types you'll master
Every engagement is different. The course walks through what clients actually ask for in each one, and how to find it.
Personal Injury
Activity and timeline evidence that confirms or disputes injury claims.
Criminal
Impeachment material: past conduct, aggression and substance patterns.
Employment
Hidden income, unreported work and workplace red flags.
Asset Searches
Property, vehicles, businesses and transfers that contradict the story.
General Background
A full sweep of character, reputation, relationships and lifestyle.
Assault & Gang-Related
Patterns of behavior, affiliations and prior incidents.
Business Research
Ownership, reviews, litigation history and liability exposure.
Pre-Hiring Screeners
Vetting candidates well beyond a traditional background check.
Subject Tracking
Tracking subjects who disappeared, often with money or assets.
Custom Research
Anonymous account attribution, connection-mapping and complex litigation.
Your next step
Ready to take your research further?
Created for the legal community. Every application is personally reviewed.
Pricing
Build the skill. Stay ahead.
Certification builds a lifetime skill. Member licensing keeps your course materials, templates and research methods within reach as you keep learning.
Individual
Social Media Investigations Certification
$495
Single seat · small firms & individuals
One-time certification fee. Ongoing member licensing is priced separately.
- Full 12-module certification course
- Templates, checklists & style guide
- Hands-on sample report exercises
- Reviewed report submissions
- Final assessment & certificate
+$50/month member licensingOngoing course access, template updates and guides exclusive to members.
Admission by approval.
Apply for admissionMembers only
Member Licensing
$50/month
Ongoing access. Continuing value.
Keep your resources close and your research skills current with exclusive member updates.
Ongoing course access
Revisit course materials whenever you need a refresher.
Template updates
Keep your reporting resources up to date.
New tips, tricks & guides
Continue learning with resources exclusive to members.
Admission by approval
Apply to Learn To Social Slooth
A professional program created for attorneys, paralegals and legal support professionals. Every application is reviewed before admission.
Tell us a little about your background. Your LinkedIn profile is welcome, but optional.
Applying does not enroll you or grant course access. Admission is subject to approval.