Paralegal

Fall
This course will provide students with an understanding of the skills and the job demands required of a paralegal. Topics will cover such areas as paralegal careers, ethics, civil litigation, interviews and investigation, legal research and writing, and the structure of a law office.

Spring
This course provides students with the practical knowledge of the law, of professional responsibility, ethics, and how that law is applied to paralegals. In addition to the general ethical concepts presented in the course, students will research individual state professional responsibility rules. Upon completion of this course, the paralegal student will be able to recognize an ethical issue, categorize it, and research the possible solutions to the issue.

Spring
This course presents fundamental concepts of family law with emphasis on the paralegal's role including prenuptial agreements, valid and void marriages, annulments, separation agreements, custody and child support, divorce, spousal maintenance, paternity, adoption, family offenses, and child protection. Emphasis will be placed on the preparation of necessary documents, filing procedures, and interview techniques.

Fall
Legal Research is the cornerstone of the legal profession. The law is constantly changing and therefore those in the legal profession must be ever diligent in staying on top of these changes. This course will focus on finding, reading, analyzing and applying the law.

Fall
This course presents fundamental concepts and procedures of civil litigation with emphasis on the paralegal's role. Topics include pretrial, trial, and post-trial phases of litigation. Additional topics include issue identification in matters pertaining to pretrial civil litigation.

Spring
This course is designed to give the student an introduction to the principles of personal injury law and contract law. Topics to be covered include: negligence, assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, trespass to land, trespass to chattel, conversion, defamation, strict product liability, and professional malpractice. In addition, this course analyzes the criteria for determining whether or not a particular promise or voluntary agreement is legally enforceable and surveys the major legal issues affecting enforceable agreements; questions of when a contract becomes binding, what persons acquire rights under a contract, the conditions under which performance is required or excused, what constitutes breach of contract, and the remedies available for breach of contract. Emphasis will be placed on the role of a paralegal in personal injury litigation and contract issues with preparation and discussion of pertinent documents and filing issues.

As Needed
This course is a field experience which requires 135 contact hours in a law office or legal-related setting (or any business or government setting that utilizes paralegals in their work). Students are required to submit a resume and apply to an agency or organization willing to work with our interns prior to the semester in which they intend to be enrolled in this course. This may be a paid or unpaid position. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will NOT find you an internship; however, you may secure an internship with the assistance of faculty. The student will be supervised by an on-site agency or organizational supervisor. Interns are required, as per this syllabus and any attached addendum by faculty, to submit various assignments/assessments as outlined throughout the internship process. In addition, students will be required to fulfill all agency requirements and duties. Students are expected to exhibit ethical and professional behavior in their internship setting.