Course Descriptions

PLS 250 - Paralegal Communication Skills

1 Credit

This course provides basic communications skills needed by paralegals as perceived by both paralegals and the lawyers with whom they work. These skills include: listening, writing, speaking, conflict resolution, assertiveness, and nonverbal communications. Listening activities include: exercises which develop active listening strategies and notetaking. Writing activities include exercises to construct clear sentences, compose letters which obtain and transmit information, and summarize facts. Speaking activities include exercises to fully, clearly and effectively obtain and relay information. Nonverbal activities include strategies and tactics for effective law office communications. Students learn to identify their own communication styles and methods for improving their communication effectiveness. Must be matriculated into the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program.

Prerequisite(s): PLS 260 or permission of program director.

PLS 260 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies

2 Credits

Introduces the student to the paralegal profession and the common core of legal knowledge and skills that all paralegals should possess. Areas covered include: what paralegals do, a history of the profession, the significance of paralegal professional associations, personal attributes of the professional paralegal, employment of paralegals, paralegal specialized practice areas, paralegal compensation, the organizational structure of law firms, the regulation of legal professionals, unauthorized practice of law, and contemporary issues. Aspects of these topics are also included in subsequent courses. This course also introduces students to sources of American law, the court system, and alternative dispute resolution. Emphasis is on the paralegal's participation on the legal team.

PLS 263 - Contract Law for Paralegals

2 Credits

Provides paralegal students with the basic theory of contract law, sample contracts from a variety of specialized practice areas, supplemental cases, and the opportunity to draft simple contracts. Included in the course are the basic contract requirements, contract provisions in selected specialized practice areas, the Statute of Frauds, and the Uniform Commercial Code. Students learn key contract terms, sample clauses, perform exercises, draft simple contracts, and conduct case analysis. Since the substantive area of contract law underlies many other specialty areas it is important that the well trained paralegal can analyze the needs of the client both short term and long range. This class will also explore how paralegals can apply the elements of reasoning and thereby increase the effectiveness of the legal entity. In this area this course will draw on concepts from the domains of critical thinking and analysis, total quality management and closely allied philosophy of continuing quality improvement, communications which build trust, conflict management and resolution, and decision making.

Prerequisite: PLS 260

PLS 264 - Administrative Law

1 Credit

This course introduces students to a rapidly expanding area of law. Students learn how and why administrative agencies are created, how they establish rules, and how they investigate and enforce those rules. Students will also learn how to assist clients to obtain benefits under some administrative agencies, how to fill out administrative agencies' forms, and how to challenge administrative agencies' decisions. Some administrative agencies, Social Security Administration, for one, permits paralegals to represent clients. Federal and New York administrative agencies are covered.

PLS 265 - Fact-Finding Research

1 Credit

Provides students with strategies for fact-finding and investigation. Included in the courses are interviewing techniques for gathering information from clients, witnesses and agencies. Also included are investigative techniques for determining what information is needed and finding, organizing, verifying and documenting the information. Fact-finding research is an important aspect of paralegal responsibility. Students will learn to develop critical thinking skills, communicate effectively while in pursuit of information, and apply good judgement and common sense when encountering ethical problems.

PLS 266 - Legal Research and Writing

3 Credits

Students develop legal research and analysis strategies through lecture, library exercises, and computerized research. Understanding the structure of the sources of law and utilizing critical thinking skills equip students to undertake legal research systematically. Students use federal and New York State CD-ROM and law books consisting of substantive and procedural documents, digests, reporters, statutes, rules and regulations of administrative agencies, and the Internet to research databases and communicate with others. Writing exercises involve analyzing, summarizing, and synthesizing research in a clear, concise, accurate and timely manner based upon the procedural requirements of the law.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 260, or permission of program director.

PLS 267 - Litigation and the Federal and NYS Procedural Laws

3 Credits

Provides students with the knowledge, skills and practice performing the duties of the litigation paralegal. Through the use of case simulations, students learn to gather, review, index and summarize documents, and to work with the lawyer and legal secretary to manage case files through pretrial, trial and post-trial stages. Guided by federal and New York State procedural laws, and rules and regulations of New York and local court rules, students learn to draft common litigation correspondence, notices and legal documents. These include summons, complaints, answers, motions, affidavits, subpoena, discovery documents, and orders. Students are introduced to the tools used in litigation: manual and computer-based document control systems, deposition exhibitions cross-reference mechanisms, trial notebook categories, trial witness coordinating forms, and trial exhibits tracking forms. Litigation tasks in this course form the foundation for paralegal litigation responsibilities in family law, real estate, debtor/creditor law, criminal law, and personal injury law. Also introduced in this course are automated litigation support systems and an overview of the potential areas for paralegal participation on document production.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 260.

PLS 268 - Personal Injury Law

2 Credits

Students learn the basic principles of personal injury law, the application of the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) to personal injury cases, New York automobile insurance law, worker's compensation, and procedures for suing municipalities and the State of New York. Students learn to manage document production and organization, including investigating, researching, and drafting the most commonly used forms in personal injury resulting from negligence, vehicular negligence, medical malpractice, strict liability, and product liability.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 266, or permission of program director.

PLS 269 - Domestic Relations and Family Law

2 Credits

Introduces students to the paralegal responsibilities in family law practice including New York Domestic Relations Law and the Family Court Act as they govern family situations. Students will draft a complaint and answer for a contested matrimonial action, and other documents related to contemporary family matters.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 266 and 267, or permission of program director.

PLS 270 - Debtor/Creditor Law

3 Credits

This course introduces students to debtor/creditor law. Students learn collection procedures, including, but not limited to, "skip-tracing," enforcing money judgments, effecting special rights of creditors, mortgage foreclosure and mechanics' liens, working with prejudgement or provisional remedies, and guaranteeing debtors' procedural due process rights. Students also learn two forms of bankruptcy relief - liquidation and rehabilitation. Emphasis on the law regarding, and performing selected tasks and responsibilities listed in "MCC'S Survey Results for Paralegal Competency Expectations" is specialized practice areas relating to debtor/creditor law, under the supervision of an attorney.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 266 and PLS 267, or permission of program director.

PLS 271 - Corporate Law and Business Organizations

2 Credits

Introduces students to corporate law and the formation, operation, dissolution, and buying and selling various kinds of business organizations. Subjects include sole proprietorships, corporations, partnerships, professional associations, franchises, and the law of agency and employment agreements. Also included in this course is a section on business closings. The role of the paralegal in a corporate law department or in the corporate section of a law firm is to implement the decisions of the attorneys and clients. Once the business evaluation has occurred, the paralegal is responsible for the details of drafting, filing and assembling the relevant documents and making the deal happen on a predetermined timetable.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 266 and PLS 267, or permission of program director.

PLS 272 - Real Estate Law

2 Credits

Introduces students to real estate law and practice. Topics of study include: property rights, principles of land ownership, sale, financing and conveyance, contracts, mortgage loans, mortgages, deeds, recording, settlement concepts, condominiums, leasing, landlord/tenant summary proceedings, and other property concepts. Students focus on managing multiple participant relationships, and opening, controlling, and closing the real estate file. Emphasis on the law regarding, and performing selected tasks and responsibilities listed in the "MCC's Survey Results for Paralegal Competency Expectations" in the specialized practice area of real estate under the supervision of an attorney.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 260 and PLS 266, or permission of program director.

PLS 273 - Computer Support Systems

1 Credit

Provides students with the tools to manage litigation. Students learn to determine the criteria for selecting litigation management systems by comparing software demo disks, critiquing systems used in local litigation practices, and bearing in mind the wisdom gained from guest experts. The systems include filing, indexing, and organizing cases involving large numbers of documents, manual and automated litigation support systems, litigation plan and budget worksheets, and court and responsible attorney schedules. Emphasis is on systems and teamwork with the attorney, the law office administrator, computer specialists, other paralegals, and the legal secretary to assure continuing quality effort to manage litigation cases. THIS COURSE FOR PARALEGAL STUDENTS ONLY.

Prerequisites: PLS 260 or permission of program director.

PLS 274 - Estate Planning, Estates and Trust Administration

3 Credits

Introduces students to the concepts and forms necessary for estate planning and estate and trust administration. Students learn to assist the attorney with a variety of tasks, from opening the estate and appointment of a fiduciary to filing of final account and distribution of assets. Forms, checklists, and deadlines for Federal and New York income, estate, and gift taxation laws and regulations are emphasized. Probate practice is an important area of employability of paralegals. A basic foundation in New York Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law, Uniform Court Rules, and the procedures and forms used in Surrogate's Court Practice will increase a paralegal's value to the firm.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 260 and PLS 266, or permission of program director.

PLS 275 - Law Practice Management

1 Credit

Covers the fundamentals of law office organization and management. Subjects covered include basic principles and structure of the management of legal services, personnel and human resources, marketing issues, and management information systems topics such as timekeeping, accounting, administration, and cost-benefit analysis of specialized practice areas of the law. Emphasis on efficient and effective law practice organization through the optimum use of human and technical resources.

Prerequisites: PLS 260 or permission of program director.

PLS 276 - Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

1 Credit

Builds upon ethical situations and professional responsibilities. Students are provided with additional frameworks with which to undertake ethical analysis. Students will study paralegals as an emerging professional and efforts directed toward paralegal credentialing and regulation. Included are discussions concerning conclusions reached in the final report of the NYS Bar Association on Non-Lawyer Practice, and recommendations contained in the final report of the American Bar Association Non-Lawyer Activity in Law-Related Situations. Other areas covered include employment discrimination, substance abuse and continuing education requirements.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of PLS 260, or permission of program director.

PLS 290 - Independent Study

Variable Credit

See the Department Chairperson.

PLS 299 - Paralegal Internship

3 Credits

Designed to give students the opportunity to apply their formal education to actual work situations. The student intern will work either under the direct supervision of a practicing attorney or under the direct supervision of a practicing paralegal while under the overall supervision of a practicing attorney. Students must work a minimum of 75 hours in a law office or other legal entity and 7.5 of these hours must be for a not-for-profit legal entity. Additionally the students must meet with the internship faculty member 15 hours to receive three semester credit hours. The significance of student interns adhering to flawless ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality, being meticulous and reliable cannot be overemphasized.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of 6 credit hours in the PLS program.