Curriculum: Post-Associate Certificate in Law & Paralegal Studies

This course offers an introduction to the United States legal system, the concept of legal reasoning, and the ethical considerations arising in the practice of law. The course examines the structure and functions of the state and federal judicial systems, civil and criminal procedure andthe substantive areas of contractual law and tort law. The course will focus on the history of our judiciary and its impact on our society. Students will be encouraged to analyze legal theories and make applications of research findings to their lives. Critical analytical skills will be developed by focusing on concepts such as liberal or conservative bias, and judicial activism.

This course provides an understanding of the law library, including computer assisted legal research. Students will learn to use a variety of primary and secondary research material, as well as their organization, and inter-relationships. Skill in researching various legal problems will be developed and students will learn basic legal writing skills.

This course will provide the student with an overview of computer technology applicable to law office management, document production, scheduling(including docket control), litigation support and case management software (relational databases). This course includes hands-on computer assignments utilizing various legal software packages commonly used in the legal and business community. It is designed to train paralegals with the theoretical and practical skills to enable them to work in legal environments that utilize computers.

This course will provide an introduction to the civil litigation process from the initial investigation through its completion. Students will be introduced to the functions of the federaland state court systems and to the concepts of jurisdiction and venue. Students will gain experience reading and understanding the Ohio and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the local rules of several courts. Students will learn how, when, where, and why a civil lawsuit may be initiated. During the course, the role of paralegals in the civil litigation process and theskills needed by litigation paralegals will be discussed. Students will be introduced to pleadings and to motion practice, and will have the opportunity to draft pleadings used in civil litigation.

Students will learn the various components of the civil trial process, and the paralegal's role in that process, in a hands-on, skills-based approach. The course will focus on the traditional discovery process, electronic discovery, the evidentiary rules, trial preparation and process and the appellate process. The course will address the role of paralegals in the civil litigation process, the ethical considerations and skills needed by litigation paralegals.

This course presents concepts of administrative law and procedure in governmental agencies with emphasis on the paralegal's role in the process. Students will be introduced to the classifications of government agencies, how agencies get their authority to make and adjudicate rules, the limits of government agency authority, and the procedures for appealing agency decisions. Particular emphasis is placed on the following administrative agencies: Social Security, Immigration Ohio Workers Compensation, and the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.