LAW 121

Introduction to Law (3 CR)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the major substantive and procedural aspects of law. This course provides an overview of the legal system and knowledge of specific legal topics, including torts, criminal law, contracts, family law, business law, real estate and probate. This course is a requirement for applying to the paralegal program and for completion of the legal nurse consultant program. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 123

Paralegal Professional Studies (1 CR)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the legal assistant profession. Topics will include paralegal licensing, certification, education, employment and professional ethics. The course is required for students seeking admission to the paralegal program. 1 hr. lecture/wk.

LAW 131

Legal Research (3 CR)

Prerequisite or corequisite: Legal nurse consultant students- LAW 225 and LAW 121 Paralegal program students - Admission to the program or division administrator approval

This course will familiarize the student with library organization and the types of informational resources used for performing legal research. The student will become acquainted with the major characteristics of these resources and usage techniques and will learn a systematic method for researching legal issues. Numerous opportunities will be provided for skill development in the use of these resources. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 132

Civil Litigation (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

This course will acquaint the student with the major characteristics of the civil litigation process. Students will become familiar with the various types of procedural rules regulating the civil litigation process and their application. Emphasis will be on the role of the legal assistant in a civil litigation practice and will include the drafting of pleadings. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 140

Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Legal nurse consultant students and paralegal program students - LAW 132 and selective admission approval

This course examines the various methods used by our legal system for dispute resolution and the role of the legal assistant in those methods. Upon successful completion of this course, the students should be able to explore the nature of conflict and the principles of negotiation and review the traditional litigation system. The course will concentrate on the major alternatives to litigation, including mediation and arbitration. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 142

Torts (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Legal nurse consultant students and paralegal program students - LAW 132 and selective admission approval

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the major principles of tort law and personal injury litigation. The student should be able to discuss and compare the elements of negligence torts, intentional torts and strict liability torts, as well as the types of damages available and defenses to each of these torts. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 148

Criminal Litigation (3 CR)

Prerequisite: Legal nurse consultant students and paralegal program students - LAW 132

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the objectives, substantive principles and procedural rules of the criminal process. The student will be able to explain the role of the paralegal in criminal litigation practice and draft documents used in the criminal litigation process. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 152

Real Estate Law (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - Admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to describe common types of real estate transactions and conveyances. The preparation of legal instruments, namely deeds, contracts, leases and mortgages will be studied. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 162

Family Law (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to paralegal program or assistant dean's approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to describe the substantive and procedural principles of family law, including issues related to adoption, divorce, custody, support and visitation. The student will also be able to draft pleadings including petition for divorce, petition for adoption, decrees, settlement agreements and motions for modification. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 171

Law Office Management (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

This course will acquaint the student with the general principles of law office management and will emphasize the unique characteristics of organizing and managing the law office or legal department. Projects will provide students with opportunities for practical application of law office management concepts. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 205

Legal Writing (3 CR)

Prerequisite: Paralegal program students - LAW 131 or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students: LAW 131 or division administrator approval

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to research complex legal problems, communicate the results of this research and other law-related information clearly and effectively and analyze legal problems using the skills of logic and reasoning. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 212

Business Organizations (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to describe the various forms of business ownership, including corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships. The emphasis in the course is on the role of the legal assistant in a business law practice and on the preparation of related documents. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 220

Computer-Assisted Legal Research (2 CR)

Prerequisite: Paralegal program students - LAW 131. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 131

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to access general and legal resources on the Internet and conduct electronic legal research using online and CD-ROM databases.

LAW 223

Law Office Computing (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program and either CIS 124 or CPCA 128 or three hours of CPCA 108 and CPCA 110 and CPCA 114

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to evaluate and use legal software to perform customary law office procedures including computer litigation support, drafting and editing of specific legal documents, document and file management, time-keeping and billing, docket control, and forms generation. 3 hrs. lecture/wk. LAW 223 and CIS 223 are the same course.

LAW 225

Legal Nurse Consultant Profession (1 CR)

Prerequisite: Admission to the legal nurse consultant program or assistant dean's approval

In this course, students will examine the functions of legal nurse consultants and available career opportunities, including relevant issues regarding employment and independent contracting. 1 hr. lecture/wk.

LAW 241

Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students -- LAW 225 and LAW 121

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to draft a will with testamentary powers. The use of trusts, probate procedures, techniques for fact gathering and mastery of estate tax principles are emphasized in this course. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 245

Elder Law (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain the legal aspects of aging. Topics include financial and estate planning, health care, personal planning and protection, taxation, housing and other legal matters affecting the elderly and people with special legal needs. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 247

Intellectual Property Law (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 225 and LAW 121

In this course, students will learn the various forms of intellectual property. The emphasis in the course is on the functions of the paralegal in an intellectual law practice and on the preparation of related documents. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 250

Medicolegal Research and Writing (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Admission to the legal nurse consultant program and LAW 131

This course emphasizes the role of the legal nurse consultant in the preparation of, and contribution to, various documents used in the context of a medicolegal-related law practice. Topics include the use of medical and science-related information resources and the preparation of such documents as legal memoranda; legal-related correspondence; summaries of medical/science literature; summaries of health-care records; and summaries of health-care expenses and settlement brochures, particularly in the context of intentional torts, negligence, product liability, strict liability, and medical-malpractice litigation. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 266

Employment Law (3 CR)

Prerequisites: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 121 and LAW 225

This course examines the relationship between employer and employee. Major federal and state employment laws will be examined, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 268

Bankruptcy (2 CR)

Prerequisite: Paralegal program students - admission to the paralegal program or division administrator approval. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 121 or LAW 225

This course will familiarize the student with the purpose and application of the federal Bankruptcy Code. Topics will include Bankruptcy Court procedures and the preparation of bankruptcy forms and documents. Emphasis will be on the role of the legal assistant in a bankruptcy practice. 2 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 270

Administrative Law (3 CR)

Prerequisite: Admission to the legal nurse consultant program and LAW 225 and LAW 121 or admission to the paralegal program

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to explain and apply substantive and procedural principles of administrative agencies. The course will concentrate on the basic principles of workers' compensation law, Social Security law; the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety Health Administration. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 271

Legal Ethics, Interviewing and Investigation (3 CR)

Prerequisite: Paralegal program students - LAW 132. Legal nurse consultant students - LAW 132 or LAW 260 Corequisite: Paralegal program students - LAW 205. Legal nurse consultant students: LAW 205 or LAW 250

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to explain ethical rules and standards governing the legal profession, interview clients and witnesses, and perform factual investigation pursuant to legal proceedings. The emphasis will be on recognition of ethical problems commonly encountered, as well as the development of interviewing and investigating skills. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

LAW 275

Paralegal Internship I (1 CR)

Prerequisite or Corequisite: Paralegal program students - LAW 271

This course provides the student with an opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney in day-to-day, on-site office work. The student must complete 120 hours of work at the internship site. In addition to on-site work, the student will meet with the internship instructor during the internship period four times and complete all requirements; keep an eight-week log; interview a practicing paralegal; draft a cover letter and resume; and submit final evaluations by the employer and student. Obtaining an internship is the responsibility of the individual student. 120 internship hours

LAW 276

Paralegal Internship II (1 CR)

Prerequisite: LAW 275

This course provides the student with an opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney in day-to-day, on-site office work. The student must complete 120 hours of work at the internship site. In addition to on-site work, the student will meet with the internship instructor during the internship period four times and complete all requirements; keep an eight-week log; interview a practicing paralegal manager; participate in a mock job interview; and submit final evaluations by the employer and the student. Obtaining an internship is the responsibility of the individual student.