Paralegal 1.5 SCH

Paralegal (Focus) Courses (1.5 Semester Credit Hours)

Course Title:         Advanced Legal Research & Writing FRW-201

Course Description: This course will enable the skilled legal researcher to improve his/her methods of legal research and legal writing.  The student will develop his/her capacity to research more intricate issues of law in a more accurate and precise method.  The course will place an emphasis on the student’s ability to prepare complex legal documents such as the appellate brief.

Course Objective: The student will supplement and build on the skills acquired in Legal Research and Writing; write complex legal memoranda and briefs; effectively use electronic legal research, including WestLaw, CD-ROM, and Internet sources and learn effective writing in legal correspondence and intra-office memos.

Course Title:         Bankruptcy Law & Procedures for the Paralegal  FBL-101 

Course Description:  This course provides a basic understanding of the practical aspects of representation of debtors or creditors within the bankruptcy system.

Course Objective:  The student will study and apply in practical exercises the following skills: prepare a forms booklet for the most common bankruptcies – Chapter 7, 11, and 13; draft all pertinent documentation and forms necessary to file a voluntary petition for bankruptcy in Chapter 7; debtor/creditor interviews; and legal research methods and reference sources applicable to this field of study.

Course Title:         Business Law for the Paralegal: Organizations and Practices  FBS-102 

Course Description:  Through the use of general business law and case study, the student will learn the different types of business organizations, the laws and procedures regarding establishment of the various organizations, and the benefits and liabilities associated with each.  Additionally, the student will become familiar with the regulatory laws and agencies designed to protect our freedom to do business and prevent abuses in the system of free enterprise.

Course Objective:  The student will study and apply in practice exercises the following skills: legal research terminology, methods and reference sources applicable to this field of study; preparation of articles of incorporation and other documents relative to the formation and dissolution of a corporation; preparation of documents for the formation of a partnership; preparation of an application for reservation of trade name, an application to register trade name, and an assignment of trade name.

Course Title:         Business Law for the Paralegal: Sales and Contracts  FBS-103 

Course Description:  The business world is subjected to numerous laws and government regulations.  To be successful in this arena, the student must be familiar with the nature of business.  Of utmost importance is the backbone of any business – sales and contracts.  This course will provide an overview of the history and courts, as well as an in-depth discussion of the requirements surrounding contracts and the rights and remedies available in sales transactions.

Course Objective:  The student will study and apply in practical exercises the following skills: legal research methods and reference sources applicable to this field of study; the use of the UCC; draft a sample contract; draft a basic bill of sale.

Course Title:         Civil Rights for the Paralegal  FCR-101 

Course Description:  The role of the Constitutional Civil Rights in American law will be the primary focus of this course.  Students will study the history and development of various constitutional law concepts that affect personal freedoms as well as modern trends in constitutional law litigation.

Course Objective:  The student will learn the fundamentals of the constitutional civil rights from a historical and modern perspective.

Course Title:         Corporations for the Paralegal FCO-101

Course Description: This course offer the student a view of the corporate world, including but not limited to the organization and set up of a corporation, its stockholders and board of directors and how a corporation operates in the business world.

Course Title:         Discovery for the Paralegal   FDI-101

Course Description:  To familiarize the student with the fundamentals of discovery including, but not limited, to the discussion of evidence, the parties involved in litigation, interviewing techniques, and case investigation.

Course Objective:  The student will learn the fundamentals of discovery, including the discussion of evidence, the parties involved in litigation, interviewing techniques, and case investigation.

Course Title:         Employment Law for the Paralegal  FEL-101 

Course Description: This course is an overview of the management of the employment law case.  It will provide the student with the practical method of handling an employment law case.

Course Objective:   The student will gain an understanding of the employment law case from the initial client interview through the appeal process.

Course Title:         Environmental Law for the Paralegal  FEN-201 

Course Description:  This course will explore the basics of environmental law with emphasis on Louisiana law and regulations and enforcement.  It will explain terms and forms used in environmental law.  The Judicial Role in Environmental Law and Federalism will be discussed. Pollution control and risk management will be explored.  Louisiana’s law; the regulation of industry and the department of government that oversees the environmental quality of the state will be discussed.

Course Objective: The students will examine the basics of environmental law with emphasis on Louisiana law, enforcement and regulations.

Course Title:         Estate & Trust Law  FET-101

Course Description:  This course provides a theoretical foundation of the field of trust and estate law with a primary concern on the practical, everyday functions of the probate paralegal.  Relevant state statutes and local court rules will supplement the discussion.  The student will learn the basic of trust and estate law as well as estate planning concepts.

Course Objective:  The student will study and apply in practical exercises the following skills: legal research methods and reference sources applicable to this field of study, client interviewing, draft one or more of the various types of trusts recognized by the state, apply rules of succession in a hypothetical situation, draft a probate petition, and prepare an inventory of assets.

Course Title:         Evidence for the Paralegal   FEV-101

Course Description:  This course is designed to allow students to learn the principles of evidence.  An understanding of the subject is of great benefit to all students in that it provides the paralegal with knowledge and skills that will enable them to better assist attorneys in the gathering and presentation of a case at trial.   Students with little or no courtroom experience will become familiar with the various objections that can be raised regarding evidence as well as the conditions, exceptions, and defenses to the basic rules.  Students will learn to differentiate between relevance and prejudice, comprehend the nuances of hearsay, distinguish between lay witnesses and expert witnesses, and determine when information is privileged.  Students will learn to relate this information to the daily needs of the law office environment.

Course Objective:  The students will learn the principles of evidence.  Students will learn to differentiate between relevance and prejudice, comprehend the nuances of hearsay, distinguish between lay witnesses and expert witnesses, and determine when information is privileged.  Students will learn to relate this information to the daily needs of the law office environment and to assist an attorney in gathering case presentation materials.

Course Title:         Knowledge Management in a Law Firm  FKM-101 

Course Description: This course will provide the student with an introduction to the management of documents, conflict, records, marketing and cases.  The student will participate in the discussion of how to setup different systems in a firm so that attorneys and staff will have access to information that will make them more productive and their jobs easier.   The student will study how knowledge management is used for accessing, evaluating, managing, organizing, filtering, and distributing information in a manner that is useful to the attorney and staff of a firm.  The class will study that knowledge management involves blending a company’s internal and external information and turning it into actionable knowledge.

Course Objective: The student will learn to set up a knowledge management system in a law firm.  The importance of a knowledge management system will be learned.

Course Title:         Legal Research for the Paralegal  FLR-101 

Course Description:            This course will provide a comprehensive working knowledge of and an understanding of the research materials and research tools used in the legal environment.  Students will learn to develop basic research techniques.

Course Title:         Legal Writing for the Paralegal   FLW-101 

Course Description:  This course will provide the student with the basic tools and knowledge to effective master writing skills, structure, and style.  The student will learn strategy, legal reasoning, and proper form in legal writing.

Course Objective:   The student will learn the basic legal writing skills, structure, and style.  The student will learn strategy, legal reasoning, and proper form in legal writing.

Course Title:         Legal Research and Writing for the Paralegal   FRW-101 

Course Description:   This phase of the course will provide a comprehensive working knowledge of and an understanding of the research materials and research tools used in the legal environment.  Students will learn to develop research strategies.

The second phase of this course will provide the student with the basic tools and knowledge to perfect effective writing skills, structure, and style.  The student will learn strategy, legal reasoning, and proper form in legal writing.

Course Objective:  Research is often a paralegal’s most-used skill.  This course will teach the student how to identify and use primary and secondary sources of law, as well as encyclopedias and treatises.  The student will also have the opportunity to develop skills using computerized legal research sources.

Course Title:         Local Court Operations & Mock Trial  FLC-101 

Course Description for Local Court Operation Section:  This course is designed to allow students to learn about court organization and administrative structure in an interesting and educational manner. Students with little or no court experience should become familiar with the operation of the local district and city courts. They are introduced to court organization, administrative court structure, the role of the clerk of court’s office, court personnel, the various sections of court, allotment of cases, special hearing days, duty court, small claims court, and matters related to the organization and operation of the court system. Students will learn to relate this information to the daily needs of the law office environment.

Course Description for Mock Trial Section:  This course is designed to help students learn about trials and court proceedings in an interesting and educational manner. Students with little or no court experience should become familiar with the role of a trial court in resolving legal disputes.  They are introduced to court procedures, courtroom decorum, and learn about the various people in the courtroom, including the trial judge, the attorneys, the parties, the jury, the media, the public, the bailiff, the witnesses, and the court staff. Involvement in a mock trial allows students to practice communication and critical thinking skills as they prepare and present their case or play the role of one of the other courtroom characters.

Course Title:         Louisiana Oil and Gas Law for the Paralegal FOG-101

Course Description:  This course will examine Louisiana mineral law, landowner’s rights in minerals,  the mineral servitude, the mineral royalty, the executive right, the mineral lease, and other topics related to oil and gas in Louisiana that the class expresses an interest in exploring.  The course is designed to provide an understanding of oil and gas law. 

Course Objective: The student will learn the essentials of Louisiana oil and gas law.  The rudiments of royalty, servitude, executive rights, leasing will be learned by the student.

Course Title:         Preparing a Trial Notebook   FTN-101 

Course Description:  The first class of this Course will cover an explanation of a trial notebook.    The instructor will lecture on the importance of the trial notebook and how it should be organized.  The student will learn tips on how to coordinate with the attorney on how he or she would like the notebook organized and the information included to help in trial.  The second class will concentrate on the actual contents of the notebook.  The instructor will provide a sample of a notebook and will lecture on the separate sections and their importance.

Course Objective: The student will be introduced to the importance of a trial notebook and the paralegal’s role in preparing the notebook.  The student will learn important tips in organizing the notebook and how to be prepared for each aspect of trial.

Course Title:         Real Estate Law for the Paralegal  FRE-101 

Course Description:  This course focuses on the substantive law of real property, as well as the procedural aspects of deed and contract drafting, closing statements, and title searches.

Course Objective:  The student will study and apply in practical exercises the following skills: research and prepare an abstract of title, draft a warranty deed, and prepare a form book of all documents one might see at a closing for the purchase of residential property.

Course Title:         Wills for the Paralegal   FWI-101

Course Description:   To familiarize the student with successions, donations, and trusts.  This course will give the student an overview of  the law of successions and wills in a common law setting, as well as Louisiana specific information from the Louisiana Civil Code.

Course Objective:  The student will learn the fundamentals of successions and wills as practiced in Louisiana.

Course Title:         Wills and Estates for the Paralegal   FWE-101

Course Description:   To familiarize the student with successions, donations, and trusts.  This course will give the student an overview of the law of successions and wills in a common law setting, as well as Louisiana specific information from the Louisiana Civil Code.

Course Objective:  The student will learn the fundamentals of successions and wills as practiced in Louisiana