Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Studies

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ENG 101. College Composition I (3). ENG 1101. Composing expository and argumentative essays for specific audiences. Emphasis on the processes of writing, reading and critical thinking. Introduction to research and documentation. Prerequisite: Satisfactory score on the English skills assessment; or a grade of "C" or better in ENG 100. Reading Proficiency. Three lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Focus
2. Development strategies
3. Voice
4. Organization
5. Details
6. Sentence Structure
7. Language
8. Sources and Documentation
9. Surface Features
10. Critical Reading
11. Critical Thinking

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Write focus statements. (1)
2. Apply reasoned development strategies. (2, 11) (WC 2)
3. Select and apply voice. (3, 11)
4. Use organizational strategies. (1, 2, 4, 6, 11). (WC 2)
5. Use and select details. (5, 7, 11)
6. Apply sentence structure strategies. (4, 6, 7) (WC 3)
7. Incorporate purposeful, varied and appropriate vocabulary. (1, 3, 5, 7, 11) (WC 3)
8. Locate, evaluate, integrate, and document information. (2, 8, 10, 11) (WC 1)
9. Apply conventions of standard written English. (7, 9, 10) (WC 3)
10. Evaluate and analyze professional and student writing. (7, 8, 10, 11)
11. Use persuasive reasoning. (2,4,7,11) (WC 2)

REQUIRED ASSESSMENT:
1. A minimum of 4500 words of student writing.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ENG 103. College Composition I Honors (3). Composing expository and argumentative essays for specific audiences. Emphasis on the processes of writing, reading, and critical thinking. Advanced English 101 content and learning activities. Introduction to research and documentation. Prerequisite: Placement by English skills assessment. Reading Proficiency. Three lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Focus
2. Development strategies
3. Voice
4. Organization
5. Details
6. Sentence structure
7. Language
8. Sources and documentation
9. Surface features
10.Critical reading
11.Critical thinking

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Write focus statements. (1)
2. Apply reasoned development strategies. (2,11) (WC 2)
3. Select and apply voice. (3,11)
4. Use organizational strategies. (1,2,4,6,11) (WC 2)
5. Use and select details. (5,7,11)
6. Apply sentence structure strategies. (4,6,7). (WC 3)
7. Incorporate purposeful, varied and appropriate vocabulary. (1,3,5,7,11)
8. Locate, evaluate, integrate, and document information. (2,8,10,11) (WC 1)
9. Apply conventions of standard written English. (7,9,10) (WC 3)
10. Evaluate and analyze professional and student writing. (7,8,10,11)
11. Use persuasive reasoning. (2,3,7,11)

REQUIRED ASSESSMENT:
1. A minimum of 4500 words of student writing.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 100. Introduction to Paralegal Studies (3). Introduction to the role of the paralegal in the legal system, including the federal and state court systems, ethics, regulation and professional responsibility, legal analysis, research and basic legal concepts. Includes professional development and job search strategies. Three lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Introduction to the paralegal profession
a. History
b. Education
c. Skills
2. Careers in the legal community
3. The regulation of legal professionals
4. Ethics and professional responsibility
5. Introduction to law
a. Sources
b. Court system and alternative dispute resolution
c. Fundamental legal concepts
6. Civil and criminal litigation and procedures
7. Legal analysis and writing
8. Legal research

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Describe the American judicial system and the responsibilities of the various court systems.
2. Distinguish between civil and criminal litigation, and describe the stages of litigation.
3. Describe and explain basic concepts of law.
4. Apply legal analysis to the briefing of cases and problem solving.
5. Define the issues of the paralegal profession, and discuss professional development and job search strategies.
6. Apply principles of ethics and professional responsibility to specific scenarios.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 104. Wills, Trusts and Probate (3). Critical issues, roles, and legal requirements in estate administration and pleadings. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103. Three lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Terminology, definitions, and law associated with wills, trusts, estate administration
2. Wills and trusts
a. Requirements for validity
b. Formation
c. Modification
d. Revocation
e. Client objectives
f. Tax considerations
3. Estate administration
a. Intestate vs. testate proceedings
b. Formal probate
c. Informal probate
d. Supervised administration
e. Jurisdiction and related issues
4. Personal representatives, fiduciaries and trustees
a. Qualifications and methods for appointment
b. Powers and responsibilities
c. Liabilities
5. Arizona probate law
a. History
b. Statutes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Apply the law regarding will and trust drafting.
2. Identify the laws of intestate succession.
3. Identify the basic functions of the participants in estate administration.
4. Prepare the pleadings for an informal probate.
5. Compare the responsibilities and liabilities of personal representatives, fiduciaries and trustees.
6. Identify the required pleadings in a formal probate.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 106. Advanced Legal Computer Applications (2). Advanced application of computer software used in the law office and the business community. Includes time and billing, calendaring and docket control, case management, document management, litigation support, computer research tools, and ethical considerations. Prerequisite: LAW 105. Two lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Software programs for time and billing, calendaring and docket control, case management, document management, litigation support, general office management, and computer research tools
WESTLAW and Internet research
2. Ethical considerations

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Manage information by applying legal software applications packages to a law office situation, which may include:
a. Timeslips or Verdict software (time & billing). (1)
b. Amicus Attorney or Abacus software (calendaring & docket control). (1)
c. Summation Blaze or inData Director (litigation support). (1)
d. PCLAW (docket control, legal timekeeping, legal accounting). (1)
e. Standard Internet browser (Internet research). (2)
f. General office management software (ex: word processing, database management, spreadsheets, presentation software). (1)
g. Other legal-specific software as appropriate and available. (1)
2. Explain and prepare search strategies in the use of WESTLAW and the Internet. (2)
3. Summarize ethical concerns relating to technology and the use of software applications and suggest methods for preventing ethical violations. (3)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 203. Family Law (3). Legal aspects of domestic matters and family relationships. Emphasis on dissolution of marriage, community property, child custody, child support and support calculations, adoptions, guardianships, state involvement in family and parent-child relationships, and statutes relating to families and family relationships. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103. Three lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Legal terminology
2. Dissolution of marriage pleadings and procedure
3. Divorce process, statutes and forms applicable to dissolution of marriage
4. Annulment
5. Spousal support
6. Child custody, visitation and parenting time; child support and support calculations
7. Community property settlement
8. Adoption, termination of parent/child relationship, guardianship, conservatorship
9. Family Crimes
10. Family health/welfare issues
11. Children
a. Delinquent children and delinquency proceedings
b. Dependent children and dependency proceedings

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Define and use legal terminology related to domestic relations and family law.
2. Conduct initial client interviews.
3. Prepare dissolution pleadings from petition through decree.
4. Explain the procedural process of a dissolution from filing to judgement.
5. Differentiate between legal separation, dissolution and annulment.
6. Distinguish between community property and separate property.
7. Draft forms relating to conservatorship, guardianship, adoption and parental terminations, health care and powers of attorney.
8. Relate the role, activities, and process of state in family and family relationships.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 215. Legal Research & Writing I (4) (Fall). Principles and techniques for conducting legal research. Emphasis on sources of law, utilization of primary and secondary sources, and case briefing. Extensive practice in writing research memoranda. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103. Four lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Grammar and sentence structure
2. Role of the paralegal in conducting legal research
3. Techniques of legal research
4. Statutes, digests, reporters, legal periodicals, and other sources
5. Facts and issues in legal analysis

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Identify parts of a sentence and use correct grammar in legal writing. (1,8)
2. Describe the role of the paralegal in conducting legal research and in legal writing. (2)
3. Research the law using appropriate legal resources and techniques. (3,4)
4. Locate federal, state and local statutes, ordinances, acts, and cases. (3,4)
5. Summarize, outline and explain the relevant facts and legal issues involved in a legal problem. (5)
6. Cite cases using Blue Book and/or ALWD citation form. (6)
7. Apply legal analysis in the writing process. (7,8)
8. Write legal memoranda. (8)
9. Identify and explain ethical concerns relating to legal research and writing. (9)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 220. Civil Tort Litigation I (3) (Fall). Principles and procedures of civil litigation. Jurisdiction and venue, parties to action, and pleadings. Introduction to drafting of documents required from inception of civil action through the pleading stage, up to trial. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103 and either CSA 130 or CSA 140. Two lecture. Two lab.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Courts and court systems
2. Jurisdiction and venue
3. Parties to the actions
4. Client and witness interviewing
5. File organization and document control
6. Demand letters and settlement
7. Preparation of pleadings
a. Complaint
b. Summons
c. Certificate of Compulsory Arbitration
d. Answer
e. Disclosure statement
8. Elements of basic negligence actions
a. Duty and breach of duty
b. Causation
c. Damages
d. Defenses
e. Comparative negligence
f. Immunities
9. Terminology

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Outline the litigation process from client interview through the pleading stage.
2. Interview clients and witnesses.
3. Draft basic litigation documents.
4. Describe the role of the paralegal in the litigation process.
5. Define legal terminology related to personal injury litigation.
6. Describe the key components of Arizona law related to personal injury litigation.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

LAW 296. Internship: Paralegal Studies (3). Supervised field experience with businesses, corporations, government agencies, schools and community organizations to expand career interests and apply subject knowledge relevant to the workplace. Individualized internship placements to develop personal and professional skills, including professional ethics, leadership, and civic responsibility. Prerequisite: Student must have a GPA of 2.0; have completed specific degree requirements as required by the program; and have completed the internship application process. [Repeatable for a total of 6 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.] S/U grading only.

COURSE CONTENT:

1. Organizational overview of assigned placement
2. Integration of job description and organization's requirements
3. Elements of documentation of experience
4. Planning and time management
5. Professional, legal, and ethical issues
6. Communication, critical thinking, and problem solving
7. Specialized equipment, tools, and software required in the placement

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Exhibit appropriate workplace behaviors and professional ethics.
2. Apply discipline specific knowledge and skills in the professional workplace.
3. Define and utilize technical terms in written and oral communications.
4. Use critical thinking, problem solving, ethical awareness, and effective writing
5. Interpret written and oral instructions.
6. Initiate and complete assigned responsibilities.
7. Maintain documentation required to comply with government employer or nonprofit agency regulations.
8. Use specialized equipment, software, and tools as required.
9. Analyze and interpret data for specified reports.
10. Identify opportunities for improvement in process and documentation related to the workplace.
11. Articulate job description and position in assigned organization.

REQUIRED ASSESSMENT:
1. Record of Student Internship workplace hours.
2. Individual Education Plan (IEP) as approved by supervision faculty.
3. A daily journal, or work log of tasks, including dates, descriptive comments, problems and solutions.
4. A reflective paper or project as specified by the supervision faculty.
5. A minimum of two evaluations by the workplace employer or supervisor.
6. Student's self-evaluation of experience.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 206. Contracts (2). Legal requirements of corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103. Two lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Corporate law
2. Partnerships, limited partnerships, LLCs
3. Uniform Partnership Act, Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act
4. Sole proprietorships
5. Agency law
6. Ethical concerns

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Apply business organization information and legalities. (1,2,3,4,5)
2. Analyze cases, statutes and uniform acts incorporate, partnership, LLC, sole proprietorship, and other business organizational structures. (1,2,3,4,5)
3. Identify concepts of agency law. (5)
4. Identify and explain ethical concerns relating to different business organizational structures. (6)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAW 295. Special Legal Topics (2). Introduction to a special legal topic and the role of the paralegal in the critical issues and requirements of the legal specialty area. The legal topic will change each semester. Prerequisite: LAW 100 and either ENG 101 or ENG 103. Two lecture. [Repeatable for a total of 4 credit hours towards degree/certificate requirements.]

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Substantive law on the special legal topic
2. Role of paralegal in the specialized legal area
3. Pleadings, correspondence, documents in the specialized legal area
4. Research analysis of critical issues in the specialized legal area

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Identify the legal sources regarding the special legal topic.
2. Identify the duties required of a paralegal in the specialized legal area.
3. Analyze and apply current case law to the specialized legal area in pleadings and legal memoranda.
4. Conduct legal and factual research in the legal specialty area.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
CSA 140. Microsoft Word (2). Practical application of Microsoft Office Word. Practical application of Microsoft Office Word. Emphasis on creating and formatting content, working with visual content, and organizing documents. Two lecture.

COURSE CONTENT:
1. Text
2. Graphics and Watermarks
3. Headers and Footers
4. Merged Documents
5. Tables and Charts
6. Footnotes and Endnotes
7. Tables of Content and Figures
8. Citations
9. Outlines
10. Templates
11. Forms
12. Web Pages
13. Links and Embeds Between Applications
14. Text and Paragraph Formatting
15. Page Setup
16. Columns
17. Styles

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Create office documents using basic and advanced formatting features. (1-17)
2. Create templates. (10)
3. Create merged documents. (4)
4. Create forms. (11)
5. Create web pages. (12)
6. Create linked or embedded documents. (13)