11 courses with the subject PA, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
PA 1102Introduction to the Law and Paralegal Profession3
Introduces the student to the paralegal profession, the role paralegals play in the legal system, paralegal ethical obligations, and employment opportunities for paralegals. Students will learn about the elements of American law, state and federal court systems, civil and criminal law, including tort law, constitutional law, administrative law, and legal analysis. Pre-Requisites
Introduces the student to the law of contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code, specifically Article 2-Sales and Article 9-Secured Transactions. Students will also gain knowledge in the formation of business organizations in terms of partnerships, corporations and other business entities, which includes the preparation of related documents. Pre-Requisites PA 1102 Major Content Areas Sales 1. Formation of the Sales Contract 2. Warranties 3. Performance of Sales Contract 4. Title, Risk of Loss, and Insurable Interest 5. Remedies Secured Transactions, UCC Article 9 Agency Section E. Business Organization Formation 1. Sole Proprietorships 2. Franchises 3. Partnerships a. Limited Partnerships b. Limited Liability Partnerships 4. Corporations a. Nature and Formation b. Directors, Officers, and Shareholders c. Mergers d. Consolidation e. Termination f. Security Regulations g. Professional and B-Corporations h. Limited Liability Company Section F. Ethics Section A. Contracts 1. Contracts 2. Basic Concepts-Terminology 3. Offers and Acceptance 4. Consideration 5. Legality, Statute of Frauds, Construction 6. Defenses to the Formation and Enforcement of Contracts 7. Third Party Rights and Obligations8. Performance of Contract 9. Remedies Learning Outcomes Explain and illustrate the purpose and structure of the various forms of business entities.Create and draft basic business entity formation documents. Recall, interpret and analyze the basic ethical considerations of forming a business entity including applicable rules of legal professional responsibility and confidentiality. Demonstrate and apply a general understanding of the corporate financial structure including secured transactions, security agreements, corporate dividends, and other distributions. Explain and interpret the general procedures to conduct corporate meetings, prepare corporate minutes, and institute changes in the corporate structure. Demonstrate a general understanding and working knowledge of the law of contracts, sales, secured transactions, agency and the structure of various business organizations. Recognize, differentiate, and distinguish between common law contract and acontract formed under the Uniform Commercial Code. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of legal reasoning, legal analysis, and critical thinking skills. Summarize the facts of a case, explain the applicable law, apply the law to the facts, and rech a legal conclusion for more complex legal issues through analysis, discussion and evaluation.
Introduces the student to the criminal justice system with special emphasis given to Minnesota law and procedure. Topics covered include: the Minnesota Criminal Code, police, attorneys, judges, constitutional rights, rules of evidence, plea bargaining, trials, and sentencing. Recommended: Students should enroll in ENG 1108 concurrently with PA 1105. Pre-Requisites
Examines family legal issues involved in marriage, separation, dissolution of marriage, cohabitation, child custody, child and spousal support and non-support, property issues, paternity, adoption, and domestic abuse. Pre-Requisites Grade of C or higher in PA 1102 Major Content Areas Professional Responsibility and Ethics (4.16%) Child Custody (6.25%) Premarital Problems (6.25%) Electronic Document Assembly Training (2.08%) Name Change (2.08%) Legal Separation (4.16%) Domestic abuse (6.25%) Paternity (6.25%) Rights and Privileges of Married Persons (4.16%) Cohabitation and Legal Rights of Unmarried (6.25%) Threshold Concepts, Issues and Legal Analysis (6.30%) Adoption (4.16%) Property Division (6.25%) Annulment (2.08%) Marriage (6.25%) Special Matters relating to children ? Child Protection (6.25%) Spousal Maintenance (6.25%) Dissolution Court Documents (4.16%) Child Support (6.25%) Dissolution (4.16%) Learning Outcomes Identify and analyze general concepts which relate to prenuptial agreements, premarital issues and marriage requirements; separation, divorce and marriage dissolution, adoption, paternity, name change, domestic abuse, and other related issues. Demonstrate and analyze how the family law system works, what rules and procedures must be followed, and how to draft basic necessary litigation documents relating to the family law practice. Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethics and confidentiality as it relates to the family law area. Show how to gather intake information, organize discovery, and prepare for trial in the family law area. Show how the family law legal process works including the use of legal concepts, vocabulary, and legal analysis as it relates to the law of domestic relations. Explain the general concepts of the alternative dispute resolution process.
Examines selected aspects of the rules of evidence, principles of investigating and interviewing, practical applications of selected rules of civil procedure, discovery and preparation for trial and rules of professional responsibility. Particular emphasis is placed upon the role of the paralegal in the litigation process. Pre-Requisites Grade of C or higher in PA 1102 Major Content Areas Introduction, meaning of litigation, litigation overview, role of the paralegal, lawyers and client relationships, Ethics, court system review and rules overview. Evidence in general; Minnesota rules and Evidence.Investigation and interviewing clients. Understand lawsuits. Cause of Actions. Pleadings. Filings including electronic case filing. Venue and Jurisdiction. Discovery including e-discovery. Subpoena. Motions and Orders. Trial. File organization. Strategies. Notebooks. Electronic case management. Judgement. Post-Trial. Learning Outcomes Describe, interpret, analyze and evaluate the general litigation process. Demonstrate and illustrate a practical familiarity with selected rules of evidence and civil procedure. Use organizational techniques for investigation and interview of clients and/or witnesses .Prepare selected litigation documents, which include basic documents for a civil lawsuit. Summarize, interpret and analyze basic pretrial, trial and post-trial matters and procedures. Conduct legal reasoning and analysis as it relates to civil litigation. Gather and organize discovery, including e-discovery. Use an expanded legal vocabulary and understand legal concepts, especially as it pertains to civil litigation. Explain the basics of the alternative dispute resolution process. Conduct legal reasoning and analysis as it relates to civil litigation. Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethics and client confidentiality as it relates to civil litigation matters.
Examines wills, trusts, intestate succession, probate proceedings and estate administration under Minnesota Law. Provides an overview of relevant federal and state tax law as it pertains to estates. Provides practical experience in drafting estate, probate and tax documents. Pre-Requisites Grade of C or higher in PA 1102 Major Content Areas Health Care Directives (2.08%) Types of Property Ownership (4.16%) Electronic Document Assembly Training (2.08%) Introduction to Estate Planning Law (6.25%) Wills (16.66%) Guardianship and Conservatorship (6.25%) Ethics (6.25%) Probate (18.75%) Intestate Succession (8.35%) Trusts (10.42%) Taxation (18.75%) Learning Outcomes Develop, use and discuss probate and estate terminology. Know the differences between trusts and wills, and how to determine when one is appropriate. Summarize, interpret and analyze the general techniques and practices involved in a probate practice with working knowledge of estate planning as well as estate administration tools and procedures. Review and conduct basic estate administration including estate taxation. Draft probate documents. Discriminate between powers of attorney and conservatorship/guardianship proceedings. Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethical considerations and client confidentiality as it relates to probate.
Provides the student with a general understanding of real property laws, the common types of real estate, and how to prepare certain routine real estate documents. The topics of mortgage foreclosure, contract for deeds, mechanics liens, title examination, and closings are also covered. Pre-Requisites Grade of C or higher in PA 1102 Major Content Areas Title Examination (13.63%) Closing (12.5%) Legal Descriptions (3%) Estates and Ownership Interests (6.25%) Tax Lien (.5%) Title Insurance (1%) Electronic Document Assembly Training (2.08%) Multi-Unit Housing (1%) Ethics (6.25%) Easements (2%) Mechanics Liens (6.25%) Transfer of Title (3%) Purchase Agreements (3%) Judgments (.5%) Child Support Lien (.5%) Real Estate Taxes (1%) Special Assessments (1%) Introduction(3%) Contracts for Deeds and Cancellation (5.2%) Homestead Exemption (.5%) Recording Systems (6.25%) Covenants (1%) Leases (3.42%) Mortgages and Foreclosures (16.67%) Medical Assistance Liens (.5%) Learning Outcomes Explain and illustrate the concepts of title and ownership, title opinions and insurance, and how the recording system works which includes liens and financing statements. Differentiate between the types of deeds and how to draft them. Summarize and analyze the landlord/tenant relationships and eviction proceedings. Conduct written legal analysis as it pertains to real estate law. Interpret, use and discuss the terminology and forms used in real estate transactions by paralegals. Interpret and analyze the law of buying and selling real estate, mortgages, foreclosures, and other real estate actions. Review, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethical considerations and client confidentiality as it relates to real estate law.
Provides an overview of the state and federal rules and regulations that govern the employment relationship. The topics of employment at-will shall be addressed, along with exceptions to the at-will doctrine. The course will also address the creation of implied employment contracts, wrongful discharge, employee privacy interests, occupational safety and health, immigration, and wage and hour regulations. Discrimination and sexual harassment will also be discussed with an emphasis on the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Students will study the Federal Title VII Civil Rights Act and its impact on the employment relationship. Recent legislative developments in the employment law arena will also be reviewed. Pre-Requisites Grade of C or higher in PA 1102 Major Content Areas Introductory basic employment law vocabulary.Identifying employment environment, right to work statutes, discrimination problems, employer preemployment actions. Legal employment environment, right to work statutes, discrimination problems, employer preemployment actions, and immigration status. Legal concerns in employment relationship and discrimination. Pursuing and defending employment discrimination cases. Identifying occupational safety and health actions.Ethics and employment law issue. Learning Outcomes Demonstrate a command of the basic legal vocabulary in the area of employment law and Workers Compensation law. Summarize, apply, research, and analyze significant legal issues and substantive and procedural laws that govern employment law including terms and conditions of employment, discharge, and employment -at-will. Explain and Interpret the general concepts of the legal issues of sexual harassment and discrimination as they relate to the employment relationship. Interpret and analyze Title II and the Minnesota Human Rights Act Laws that impact the employment relationships. Demonstrate and illustrate a general understanding of the hiring and information gathering process. Recall, interpret and analyze the rules of client confidentiality and ethical considerations as they relate to employees and employers. Explain and interpret occupational safety and health legal standards. Describe and analyze current agencies and decision maker’s roles in the immigration system.
Provides an understanding of the law library and will assist the student in developing research skills through the use of digests, reporters, statutes, administrative materials and secondary materials. This course includes practice problems requiring legal research. The course also will include an introduction to computerized legal research. Pre-Requisites
Provides the student with experience in the development of analytical writing skills in the preparation of case and trial briefs, legal memoranda, and general legal correspondence. Pre-Requisites PA 2220 , ENG 1108 , Major Content Areas Legal Analysis Review Methods of Organizing Research Results Demand and Opinion Letters Framing Legal Issues Use of Legal Sources in Supporting and Distinguishing Arguments Office Memorandum Trial Court Brief Legal Drafting Ethics Learning Outcomes Conduct legal analysis; Use proper grammatical and legal vocabulary; and understand the unique form and style of writing required in the legal field through the preparation of legal documents, memoranda, letters, and/or briefs. Interpret and analyze court opinions, and understand the legal system and its terminology. Identify parties, theories, key facts and issues in a legal case. Cite legal research in legal writing. Draft, organize, and evaluate legal documents, memoranda letters, and trial briefs through one-on-one analysis and evaluation from the paralegal faculty. Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethics and confidentiality as it relates to legal writing.
Variable Credits Y All paralegal students engage in the preservice student practical work experience in the paralegal area. The internship provides the student with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills and abilities to understand law office’s operation, apply the law and legal procedures, conduct legal research, write letters and memorandums, draft documents, contact clients or individuals, and maintain confidentiality and professional ethics. All paralegal students must complete 150 internship hours or 2 credits or 195 hours for 3 credits, as required by the program. However, students who have worked as a paralegal for a minimum of one calendar year within five years prior to enrolling in the course may petition the Program Director to waive the internship hour requirement. To successfully pass this course, students must obtain a Legal Technology Certificate. This certification is mandatory and integral to the course, as it demonstrates proficiency in essential legal technology skills necessary for today’s legal environment. Failure to obtain the certificate will result in an incomplete or failing grade, regardless of other coursework completed. Pre-Requisites PA 2222 Major Content Areas Participate in 150 hours (2 credits) of paralegal work experience in a supervised legal environment. Topics covered are law office procedures, legal research and writing, document drafting, client or individual contact, legal and/or court functions and procedures, and observation of legal transactions or cases. Learning Outcomes Identify and apply legal terminology and describe the operation of the law office, governmental agency or corporation through practical paralegal experience. Evaluate student intern’s performance pertaining to legal research, writing and document preparation, client contact, oral communication skills, collection and management of legal information, and investigation of legal issues. Identify parties, theories, key facts and issues in cases as well as maintain client confidentiality, professional responsibility and ethical standards. Describe and illustrate the form, style and grammar as it pertains to legal drafting or writing. Describe and interpret and evaluate how an attorney conducts and interview of a client or other individual through observation. Draft and edit letters, memoranda and selected documents as well as collect information. Interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethics confidentiality, pro bono work and volunteer opportunities.
