INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES AND ETHICS

Catalog description

This course explores the dynamic of working as a paralegal, career opportunities in the legal environment, and the skills necessary to succeed in the field. Focus is on rules of ethics and the ethical guidelines that paralegals must follow. Topics include identifying career opportunities, performing legal investigations, evaluating sources, investigating facts and applying rules to facts, interviewing clients, witnesses, and experts, understanding discovery documents, providing litigation assistance, researching the law, drafting legal documents using computer software to conduct research and prepare documents, representing clients at administrative agencies where authorized by law, and understanding legal/ethical issues.