About The Course...NJ Paralegal Course Description... The Objective of the Paralegal School and the topics offered by the Institute both train the student in the basic mechanics of the law office and enable the student to assist the attorney with many phases of the practice. The overall objective is to prepare the student for a challenging career and educational opportunity. After graduation, students can keep updated on the most current laws through FREE continuing education. Retake a course or the entire course to refresh you knowledge and skills at anytime in the future for FREE. Graduates may retake any course or the entire course at any time for FREE The topics to be covered during the course program include the following: Ethics and Professional Responsibility... This lecture course is designed to familiarize the student with the ethical responsibilities of paralegals working within the legal profession. The student will be introduced to the Codes and Regulations governing the legal and paralegal practice. Emphasis will be placed on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Confidentiality, and Conflicts of Interest. Advertising and Solicitation, Fees and Handling of Funds, and Competence will also be discussed. At the conclusion of the paralegal course , Professionalism and General Issues will be covered and the student will recognize the certain responsibilities expected of them as part of the legal community. Approximate Hours: 10 The Contract in the Law... This topic is a basic study in the law of contracts with emphasis given to the elements which give rise to the creation of legally binding obligations between parties. Some of the areas to be discussed will include the offer, the acceptance, what constitutes consideration, review of some of the early Common Law case decisions, as well as the current statutory laws of NJ governing contracts. Since contract law is an essential element of most areas of the legal field, this topic will have as its objective the training of the student to recognize contractual obligations and the legal implications of these obligations. Approximate Hours: 12 The Court System in New Jersey... The purpose of this topic is to familiarize the paralegal student with the structure of the court system in NJ, and it will be taught primarily by using the lecture approach. Approximate Hours: 8 Legal Research and Methods... For a paralegal student and legal assistant, the Legal Research and Methods topic provides one of the basic educational building blocks. The student will be totally familiarized with the "tools" used by the attorney in researching legal issues, as well as emphasis given to the preparation of legal memoranda. Students will be given the opportunity to work in teams with regard to legal research projects. Approximate Hours: 14 Basic Will Draftsmanship and Probate Procedures... The Will and Probate topic is designed to help the student to become familiarized with basic language in the area of will and estate matters, as well as teaching the student the mechanical procedures in handling the estate with the assistance of the attorney. Emphasis will be given to the mechanics of the probate procedure, marshaling of assets, familiarization with the NJ Transfer Inheritance and Federal Estate Tax Returns, as well as the actual preparation of these particular tax returns. Actual and mock case studies will be used to illustrate the materials being taught. Approximate Hours: 12 Modern Real Estate Transactions Theory... Here the student will be taught the fundamentals of land ownership through ultimately being able to assist the attorney with the handling of title conveyances from the time the contract is negotiated and executed until the closing of title, as well as post closing procedures. The student will become familiar with the legal documents involved in a real estate transaction, which includes, but are not limited to, the Bond, Note, Mortgage, Deed, Closing Statements and Affidavit of Title. At the conclusion, the student will be able to assist the attorney with all phases of a real estate transaction, as well as mortgage financing transactions. In addition, the lecture will discuss the various aspects of leaseholds and lease agreements, as well as basic landlord - tenant rights under our present law. A discussion on zoning with emphasis on the variance and subdivision application will also be included. Approximate Hours: 8 Modern Real Estate Workshop... Modern Real Estate workshop is a study of the mechanical aspects of closing a title on a step-by-step approach commencing with the preparation of the contract of purchase and sale; title examination; preparation of title closing documents; including the Federal RESPA form. In addition, the various types of Deeds, Bonds, Notes, Mortgages and other closing documents will be discussed and prepared in detail. Approximate Hours: 12 New Jersey Practice and Procedure... The vocational objectives of this course are to designate and familiarize the student with the basic nomenclature and understanding of the Court Rules and Rules of Evidence. Emphasis will be given to preparing the student with regard to assisting the attorney in drafting legal pleadings and the time period allowed for each. The student will become familiar with the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. Approximate Hours: 20 Pleadings... The pleadings course is geared to familiarizing the student with the various forms of documents used to initiate a law suit as well as the documentation involved during the discovery period and trial period. Students will be given an opportunity to prepare various pleadings such as complaints in civil actions, and matrimonial actions, as well as the various types of negligence cases, including, but not limited to, automobile accidents and products liability. Materials will be distributed to the students to familiarize them with the form and content of the various types of pleadings and the rules requiring certain language to be incorporated in these documents. A workshop will then be undertaken where the students will be given hypothetical case situations and asked to draft the various forms of pleadings involved in those case studies. Approximate Hours: 10 Criminal Litigation... Here the student will be exposed to and become familiarized with the procedures involved with the attorney in criminal and quasi criminal matters. The work involved in preparing the case for criminal trial from municipal through trial court, will be discussed, and areas such as client interviews, investigation, obtaining reports from the appropriate police authorities, and legal research involving the issues raised during the course of trial will be emphasized. The student will also be taught the mechanics involved in setting up a criminal file for the attorney and collating same. Actual case studies will be used to highlight the areas discussed by the lecturer. Approximate Hours: 10 Negligence Litigation... Here the paralegal will be exposed to negligence work with emphasis being given to automobile accident cases and product liability. The student will be taught the fundamentals of client interviews involving negligence cases, the type of investigation to be undertaken, the obtaining of expert and non-expert reports and the procedures involved in discovery. Case studies will be used to highlight the materials being taught. Approximate Hours: 12 Matrimonial Matters... All phases of matrimonial work, including support matters, actions for annulment and divorce will be lectured upon. Here the paralegal will be exposed to the client interview, and explanation of the grounds for divorce and annulment. Questions of custody, property distribution and separation agreements will also be closely studied. Approximate Hours: 12 Bankruptcy... This course will entail a description of what Bankruptcy is, when it becomes available, and the consequences thereof. There will be instruction in the various types of bankruptcy, who can and who should not go bankrupt. The safeguard that bankruptcy provides and the effect or lack of effect on certain classes of creditors. How does bankruptcy effect credit? What assets are exempt from the procedure? How often bankruptcy can occur and the discharge in bankruptcy. This section gives students a working knowledge of the material enabling them to assist a bankruptcy attorney. Approximate Hours: 10 Legal Writing... This course will consist of instruction first in the clear use of language, then intermingling this with legal terminology. Instruction in the writing of legal letters, legal memos, research findings, and trial motions and briefs. The course will be taught by an attorney in five two-hour sessions. This section develops skills to help students think and write concisely in legal terms and in the proper format. Approximate Hours: 10 Employment Law... Includes establishment of the Employee relationship; the various statutes invloved; discussion of discrimination in the workplace; workplace conditions; employees rights and wrongful action claims against Employers. Approximate Hours: 10 Paralegal Practice... Paralegal Practice - Practical instruction as to the duties of a Paralegal in the normal course of a business day. Approximate Hours: 6 Seeking Employment ... Q: Seeking Employment - One session discussion with students as to how they can most efficiently pursue job search. Approximate Hours: 3
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 06:54:59 +0000