Paralegal Studies Archive 2020-2021

4.00

Introduces the student to the responsibilities of paralegals and to the culture of the legal profession. Topics include the development of paralegalism as a profession, the definition of the practice of law, ethical considerations, interviewing techniques, legal research, law office management, and client relationships. Normally offered each semester.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

The existence and validity of a contract is determined by specific rules. Students will learn about formation through offer and acceptance, contract enforceability, the necessity of consideration, and breach of contract and will draft contract provisions as a paralegal might in a law office. Normally offered each semester. Sophomore status required.

Certificate or Junior status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

Examines how to locate and identify relevant primary and secondary legal authority using efficient research strategies. Enables students to critically evaluate legal sources and use them effectively. Students also learn how to draft basic legal citations. Introduces foundational principles of objective legal analysis. Pre-requisites: Certificate of Junior Status

ALS-361 OR LAWU-301

4.00

Advances students' skills in researching and analyzing a legal problem. Students conduct legal research, apply law to a client's problem, and present their work in in a formal, objective legal memorandum. Students learn advanced citation skills. Pre-requisite: LAWU 301

4.00

Introduces the student to the responsibilities of paralegals and to the culture of the legal profession. Topics include the development of paralegalism as a profession, the definition of the practice of law, ethical considerations, interviewing techniques, legal research, law office management, and client relationships. Normally offered each semester.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

The existence and validity of a contract is determined by specific rules. Students will learn about formation through offer and acceptance, contract enforceability, the necessity of consideration, and breach of contract and will draft contract provisions as a paralegal might in a law office. Normally offered each semester. Sophomore status required.

Certificate or Junior status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

Examines how to locate and identify relevant primary and secondary legal authority using efficient research strategies. Enables students to critically evaluate legal sources and use them effectively. Students also learn how to draft basic legal citations. Introduces foundational principles of objective legal analysis. Pre-requisites: Certificate of Junior Status

ALS-361 OR LAWU-301

4.00

Advances students' skills in researching and analyzing a legal problem. Students conduct legal research, apply law to a client's problem, and present their work in in a formal, objective legal memorandum. Students learn advanced citation skills. Pre-requisite: LAWU 301

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

The role of computers and software in the law office as it affects the paralegal Lectures and hands-on applications will focus on the changing technology of computer hardware through fact scenarios that students will use to track changes from introduction to resolution in litigation. Focus on software applications involving word processing, spreadsheets, billing, diary and scheduling, research, and use of the Internet.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

An opportunity to learn the history of domestic violence including battering, child abuse and child neglect, and the legal response to it. Focus will be on Massachusetts Law and its response, especially the Abuse Prevention Act, its application and enforcement, and on laws protecting children from abuse and neglect. Filings, law office issues and special issues in dealing with battered women and abused and neglected children will be included with the psychological issues, cultural issues, and advocacy possibilities. Normally offered yearly. Sophomore status required.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

State laws affect the disposition of an individual's estate at death, and upon death, the estate must be probated in court. Focus on estate information gathering, drafting of wills, and the probate of estates for those with and without wills. Emphasis on the role of the paralegal in a law office handling wills and probate.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

This course will provides the basic elements of real estate law, including the rights associated with real estate ownership, deeds, easements, transfers of title, and financial transactions. Students will become familiar with researching documents at the Registry of Deeds and evaluating their content. Classroom instruction will be through detailed lectures while evaluating core property law concepts and legal documentation. 4 credits. Normally offered alternate years.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

Family law includes marriage, divorce, support, custody, property division, and abuse prevention petitions. Essentially an area of state law, it is often the backbone of general practice law firms. The role of paralegals in a family law office will be studied.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

This course provides a basic overview of key issues in contemporary education law and policy. Relevant local, state, and federal laws will be reviewed as well as education policy issues, including civil rights, student safety and discipline. This course covers the core educational entitlements granted to all students with disabilities in the public education system. The course covers major federal legislation such as the IDEA, ADA and Section 504, as well as major Supreme Court and other important cases.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

A survey of the law of the protection of ideas, trade secrets, inventions, artistic creations, and reputation. The course will briefly review the bases for patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection, the distinction among the various forms of intellectual property, and the statutory and common law methods of enforcing rights.

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

Corporations, arguably the dominant institution of our times, are unique business entities deigned to protect investors from personal liability for the business's failures or wrongdoing. Corporations also take on aspects of personhood. This course examines the laws related to the creation, maintenance, activities, and proper regulation of corporations. Additionally, this course will look at other business entities such as partnerships and sole proprietorships in relation to corporations.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

The nature of the employment relationship and and overview of constitutional and federal statutory provisions which affect the employment relationship will be studied. Particular emphasis on the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Statutory provisions regarding benefits and employment-related entitlements will also be studied

Certificate or Sophomore status, or Instructor's consent

4.00

Study of the immigration and nationality laws of the United States focusing on the interplay of the administrative agencies which administer those laws: Justice Department, Labor Department, and State Department. Topics include the immigrant selection system; the issuance of non-immigrant visas; grounds for excluding aliens and waiver of excludability; grounds for removal; change of status, and refugee and asylum status. Special emphasis on the paralegal's role in representing and communicating sensitively with aliens.

Take LAWU-101

4.00

With the globalization of the world economy, legal professional and business people require knowledge of international law more than ever. This course offers students a survey of selected materials in public international law. Covered will be the practical and theoretical issues of international law, from the Law of the Sea to business implications to definitions of war and international concepts of justice.

LAWU-211 or permission of instructor

4.00

Building on the skills introduced in LAW 211, Litigation, this course will provide a thorough study of the rules of evidence, the process of discovery, and the preparation of a case for a trial, as well as the roles of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation in litigation and other legal disputes. Theory will be combined with practical applications for prospective paralegals, such as deposition abstracting, gathering and preserving evidence, and techniques on how to prepare a case for ADR.

Paralegal Certificate or Senior standing and at least 15 hours of paralegal courses.

4.00

A one-semester internship in either a law office, a governmental agency, insurance company, or a for-profit or non-profit corporation, depending on the positions available during each semester. Once a week seminars will discuss such topics as ethical considerations in a law office, experiences gained as a paralegal interns, and seeking paralegal employment. Prerequisites: Senior status and at least 15 hours of Paralegal Studies or permission of instructor.