An examination of relief available for individuals and businesses under the Bankruptcy Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) is the basis of this course. The rights and duties of debtors and creditors are presented. Special emphasis is placed on the responsibilities of the paralegal in interviewing the client and preparing documents to be filed.

The first course of a two-part litigation series. You will learn the fundamentals of civil and criminal litigation, initiation of lawsuits, how to draft a complaint, courts and jurisdiction, discovery, calendars, docket checks and depositions.

The second course in the two-part litigation series. You will learn how to assist counsel to prepare for litigation, including producing and organizing documents, interrogatories and pleadings, file summaries, and chronologies. Prerequisite: Civil Litigation I

Legal concepts, principles, and procedures behind contracts and corporations. Emphasis on interpretation, modification, and assignment of contracts, with instruction on breach, remedies, and damages. Includes incorporation procedures and regulations, business planning, structure and organization.

An introduction to substantive and constitutional law that includes search and seizure, arrest, confessions, citizens' rights, court functions, admissible evidence and investigative techniques. Emphasis is placed on the practical uses in assisting defense attorneys including procedural issues for arrest warrants, probable cause hearings, grand juries and trial issues.

Learn basic concepts and general procedures governing estates, trusts and wills. Instruction also covers federal estate and gift taxes, estate planning, administration and probate.

Learn the practical and procedural aspects of family law practice. Includes matrimonial law, divorce, alimony, child custody, adoption, paternity, abortion, and family violence.

Develop essential skills you will utilize throughout your legal career, including the parameters, policies, and the different types of programs you will be using as a paralegal. Focus on the nuts and bolts of a law office and the various legal management areas including legal fees, timekeeping, billing and financial management, ethics and professional responsibility. You will also be introduced to Microsoft Office Suite, document assembly software, trial presentation software and online legal research engines.

The first class in a two-part legal research and writing series. You will develop research skills and the ability to write legal documents. The focus is on techniques, methods and legal terminology.

The second course in the two-part legal research and writing series. You will develop research skills and the ability to write legal documents. The focus is on techniques, methods and legal terminology. Prerequisite for this course: Legal Research and Writing I.

Learn the principles of substantive and procedural law, and review functions of the judicial system, legislature, administrative agencies, law firms, and legal departments in other firms. An emphasis is given to the role of the paralegal, including history and development of the profession, job responsibilities, prospects, ethics and personal characteristics for success.

Principles of real estate law are covered, including terminology, documents, types of estate ownership, mortgages, real estate closings, title searches and courthouse records. You will understand the basic concepts and terms of real estate law; examine a title and prepare a title report; become familiar with the documents required in residential and commercial real estate closings.

This course deals with the law of torts - civil wrongs - and the claims and defenses available to the parties. Tort law includes automobile accidents, product liability, premises liability, professional malpractice, trespass, nuisance, defamation, negligence, strict liability, invasion of privacy and various factors that affect the right of a plaintiff to bring suit against a defendant. In this course students will learn the fundamentals of tort law including how to identify a tort and how tort claims are filed, investigated, pursued and defended.