Paralegal Studies Courses: Fall 2015
Paralegal Studies
PAR 201: Introduction to Paralegal Studies
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course will introduce students to the complexities of the legal system and legal reasoning, and will focus on helping students develop critical analysis abilities. Students will learn about the legal system, the role of paralegals, and the basics of legal argument. Offered each Semester. (UG)
PAR 301: Legal Research and Writing
(4) Credit Hour(s)
Writing Intensive. This course is designed to teach paralegal students to use a law library and a variety of electronic legal sources, perform legal research, analyze legal problems, and write legal documents, primarily case briefs and legal memos. Students are taught to locate and use both primary and secondary legal research sources to solve legal problems, including federal and state cases, digests, statutes, treatises, encyclopedias, law reviews, citators and practice works. Prerequisites: PAR 201, minimum grade B in CMP 101 and upper division status in program, or declared Pre Law minor and minimum grade of B in CMP 101, or permission of instructor. Offered Each Semester. (UG)
PAR 302: Law Office Computer Technology
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course is designed to teach the student commonly-used software in the law office and to apply the knowledge of computer hardware and software applications in legal work such as development and maintenance of hypothetical case files. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 303: Litigation
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course introduces students to the principles of civil litigation in federal and state courts. All phases of the litigation process will be reviewed in detail, with special emphasis upon rules of procedure, discovery, and pre-trial, trial and post-trial practices, as these are areas in which paralegals are most extensively used. Ethical considerations as applied to litigation will also be covered. The principles learned will be applied to practical exercises and legal writing projects. Some legal research will be required. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 304: Contract Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as BA304. This course provides an introduction to the law of contracts, including analysis of the basic elements of contract formation, defenses to contract performance, breach of contract and remedies, drafting and interpretation of contracts. Pratical projects will require legal research and writing. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 305: Real Property Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as BA305. This course is an introduction to real estate law and practice. Topics include property rights, types of land ownership/estates, easements and rights-of-way effect on title and use of real estate, agreements for sale, financing, conveyancing, title insurance, settlement procedures, recording and post-closing matters that deal with residential, commercial, condominiums and planned communities types of real estate. The course will also cover real estate leasing agreements. Ethics will be discussed throughout the semester relating to specific scenarios that may occur during the practice of real estate law. Prerequisites: PAR201 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 306: Tort Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course will provide an introduction to the broad area of civil wrongs, and their appropriate remedies, as well as Tort Law principles in the traditional areas of intentional torts, negligence, absolute liability, product liability, nuisance and commonly employed defenses. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 307: Criminal Law and Procedure
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This Criminal Law and Procedure course is designed to provide student paralegals with an overview of the criminal justice process and apply this knowledge to practical writing projects such as motions and memos. This course covers the substantive aspects of criminal law and includes the general principles of criminal liability, specific analysis of particular crimes, parties to crimes, and the substantive defenses to crimes. Constitutional safeguards and procedures from arrest through trial, sentencing, punishment, and appeal are also studied. Prerequisites: PAR 201, PSC 117 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 308: Family Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course presents fundamental common law and statutory concepts of family law with emphasis on the paralegal's role in this area. Topics include formal and informal marriages, separation, divorce, annulment, marital property, the parent-child relationship, child custody and support, adoption, guardianship, domestic relations court procedures, public records research, and the paralegal's role in alternative dispute resolution/mediation processes. Ethical obligations, family law terminology and emerging computer applications in domestic relations practice are also presented. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status in program. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 320: Paralegal Issues With Refugees
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills Service Learning requirement. This course requires Paralegal Studies students to develop their practical law office skills at the same time as they are exposed to refugees from different parts of the world. The students will be working with refugees under the supervision of an attorney and will be responsible for clear and effective communication in order to accomplish and effectively resolve problems encountered by refugees. Practical skills may include assistance with client interviews, record maintenance, problem solving, document organization, factual investigation, and other general legal services. Prerequisites: PSC 230 or PAR 201 and permission of Instructor. Offered as Needed. (UG)
PAR 401: Elder & Estates Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Students will be introduced to topics in the law affecting older persons. Topics including ethical and communications issues, advance directives and guardianships, financial and estate planning, health care, personal planning and protection, and consumer protection will be covered in the course. (UG)
PAR 402: Environmental Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Students will develop a broad understanding of the roles of federal, state, and local environmental laws in a highly industrialized society and be introduced to relevant concepts in administrative, tort, and real estate law. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 403: Business and Corporate Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as BA403. This course will cover the formation, operation, and dissolution of various kinds of business organizations. Subjects covered include: sole proprietorships, corporations, partnerships, the law of agency and employment agreements Prerequisites: PAR201 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 404: Intellectual Property
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course is intended to provide the student with an in-depth analysis of the law pertaining to the fields of intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and unfair competition. The methods by which each is created and protected will also be explored. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 405: Immigration Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course will provide an overview of immigration law in the United States, with an emphasis on the practical application of that law in a law firm or corporate environment. Students will learn the skills needed to deal with a deadline-oriented caseload for a diverse clientele. Topics will include the basics of immigration and education, employment, family based immigration, refugee law and the procedures for applying for citizenship and asylum. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 406: Bankruptcy Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Cross-listed as BA406. An overview of the laws of bankruptcy and its application, including voluntary and involuntary liquidations, discharge of debts, exemptions, creditor claims, trustee functions, reorganizations, Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 plans and alternative insolvency proceedings. Prerequisites: PAR 201 and upper division status. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 408: Administrative Law
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This course introduces students to basic concepts of administrative law in federal and state agencies, with emphasis on the paralegal's role in the administrative process. Students will learn both formal and informal advocacy techniques, including representing clients before administrative bodies. Substantive topics will include administrative delegation of power, rule making, agency discretionary powers, remedies, and judicial review. Procedural topics include agency operation, adjudication, hearing preparation, and administrative and judicial appeals. Practical projects which require legal research and writing will be required. Prerequisites: PAR 201, PAR 301 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 409: Advanced Litigation
(3) Credit Hour(s)
This class is an extension of Litigation, and builds upon the knowledge and skills learned in that class. Students will have legal writing projects that may include responses to discovery demands, deposition summaries, trial evidence logs, compiling an appellate record, settlement documents, and mediation/arbitration documents. Prerequisites: PAR 301, PAR 303, and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 410: Advanced Research and Writing
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Writing Intensive. This course is designed to build upon the research and writing skills introduced in Legal Research & Writing. Development of electronic research skills and analytical skills will be emphasized, and students will be assigned research and writing projects in various areas of the law. Prerequisite: PAR 301 and upper division status in program, or permission of instructor. Offered As Needed. (UG)
PAR 450: Paralegal Internship
(3) Credit Hour(s)
The paralegal internship is a wonderful means of experiential learning. This is a required course for Paralegal Studies majors which includes course work in professionalism skills and job search skills. Placements will be arranged with the assistance of the Program Director according to availability and interests of the student. Prerequisite: PAR 301, upper division status, and permission of instructor required. Offered As Needed, including summer sessions. (UG)
PAR 460: Paralegal Studies Senior Project
(3) Credit Hour(s)
Fulfills core competencies: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Information Literacy. Fulfills Research and Presentation requirement. Writing Intensive. This course will require Paralegal Studies students to use the legal analysis skills they have acquired, and the writing skills they have acquired, to develop an original argument on a legal topic. Students will identify a legal issue that interests them, formulate a specific question, and answer that question with an argument based on their independent research. Constructing the argument will require sustained and in-depth research - both legal research using primary and secondary sources, and research into other disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to consult with an appropriate advisor in the Daemen (or other academic) community, as well as a legal practitioner (such as an attorney, a judge, a legislator, or a legal scholar). Students will also present their research and argument at the Academic Festival. Prerequisites: PAR301, PAR410. Offered as Needed. (UG)