Abstracting Techniques 3 cr. A review of Louisiana substantive law relating to residential real estate and mineral law, its applications in the preparation of abstracts, compilation of information necessary for closing a sale of real estate, and preparation of preliminary abstracts of title. Students are required to conduct a title search and prepare the necessary documents for closing a sale of real estate. An introduction to federal and state taxation, including income, estate, gift, sales, and use taxes. An overview of contracts, commercial paper, security rights, and laws and regulations governing financial institutions.
Emphasis is on federal and Louisiana statutes and regulations governing lenders and loan terms.
The course requires drafting a variety of agreements, letters, contracts, and other financing documents. The characteristics of sole proprietorship, general and limited partnerships, and corporations is combined with a study of specific tasks such as inter-viewing business clients, drafting agreements, articles of incorporation, etc. Emphasis in on the role of the paralegal. The rules of criminal procedure as developed by the United States Constitution and the State of Louisiana's Constitution, including arrest, interrogation, search and seizure, constitutional rules in the courtroom, grand juries, right to counsel, and order of criminal trials. Rules regarding hearsay, character evidence, evidence of other crimes, expert testimony and types of evidence admissible and non-admissible in federal and state court systems, with special emphasis on paralegal trial preparation.