90 - Paralegal Studies

This course provides an overview of the role of a paralegal and procedures common to most law offices.  It includes an introduction to the sources of law, the court system, basic legal terminology, legal research, discovery, rules of evidence, select legal specialty areas, and ethical guidelines for the profession.

This course includes steps in litigation from the initial client conference to enforcement of judgments. It includes jurisdiction, legal duty, cause of action, proximate cause and damages, pleadings, motions, pretrial conferences investigation, discovery and trials. It explains development of a legal theory of the case, analysis of claims and defenses, and developing trial strategies.

This course covers practical day-to-day law office management topics, focusing on such issues as client relations and communication skills; legal fees, timekeeping, and billing; client trust funds and law office accounting; calendaring, docket control, and case management; legal marketing; and file and law library management.

This course covers fundamentals of legal analysis and writing, including basic legal principles and tools, statutory and case law analysis, and writing briefs legal memoranda and correspondence.

This course will teach basic interviewing skills.  Students will learn how to develop and ask questions and probe responses from clients, expert witnesses, and others.  They will also learn basics investigating skills common among paralegals.

This course covers guidelines for professional conduct in the paralegal profession. It includes professional responsibility, and ethical rules governing the field, and real world examples likely to confront working paralegals.

This course includes an overview of tort law, with focus on torts to the person, property, and reputation; malpractice civil rights torts. It also includes defenses and remedies and focuses on the role of the paralegal in handling tort cases.

This course includes an overview of contract law, including basic contract requirements and various types of contracts. It includes the drafting of contracts and typical contract clauses. Focus is on tasks typically assigned to paralegals in drafting and enforcing contracts.

This course covers estate planning, including managing and disposing of real and personal property during life and after death. Focus of the course is on the role of the paralegal in working with clients, drafting wills, trusts, living wills and powers of attorney, executing estates, and facilitating related court actions.

This course covers real estate and property law, focusing on practical aspects likely to involve paralegals.  It includes both residential and commercial real estate transactions, including sales, closings and mortgages.

This course considers issues related to cohabitation and domestic partnerships, as well as marriage, divorce, annulment, and separation. It covers adoption, child abuse, dependency and neglect, as well as paternity, child custody. Focus is on the role of the paralegal in drafting documents, investigating legal issues and working with clients experiencing family-related problems.

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop real world experience as a paralegal directed by an onsite supervisor along with a Lewis practicum coordinator.  Work during the practicum must emphasize paralegal skills and competencies.  135 clock hours of experience are required. (Guidelines, 18)