This course is designed to acquaint the beginning paralegal student with the functions of lawyer and paralegal and with issues confronting the legal and paralegal professions. Students learn basic legal concepts, legal ethics, legal analysis, and client interviewing skills. Students learn to read and brief cases. This course teaches the legal research and writing skills fundamental to successful paralegal practice.
Students learn how to research statutes, case law, and secondary sources.
Students use digests and other finding aids and Shepard's Citations. Students learn the basics of Westlaw. Research instruction is accompanied by legal writing instruction. Students learn to prepare memos of law. This course introduces students to fundamentals of tort law.