LGL - Legal and Paralegal Studies

(Formerly PLG 100) This course provides an overview of the American legal system. It focuses on the sources of our laws, the court systems, substantive laws, and legal terminologies. A key component of teaching includes the difference between model documents and plagiarism. Statutory and ethical rules pertaining to unauthorized practice of law, legal professionals’ responsibility in maintaining honesty, integrity, and candidness with the courts are weaved throughout student learning. While developing critical thinking and legal reasoning skills, students will be introduced to such concepts as the constitutional foundation of the American legal system, federalism, differences between the federal and state legislative and judicial jurisdiction, and hierarchy of court systems.

(Formerly PLG 110) This course introduces basic legal research and writing skills. Students are taught the basics of researching issues of substantive and procedural law as well as how to draft basic legal documents. This course also introduces students to traditional law library resources, such as Black’s Law Dictionary, U.S. Code, the Pennsylvania Code, Federal Reporter, Pennsylvania Reporter, Atlantic Reporter, and legal treatises. In addition, students will learn about online research sources including Lexis® and the official federal and Pennsylvania State Courts websites. Note: A grade of C or higher is required in this course (LGL 110) in order to take courses that list LGL 110 as a prerequisite.

(Formerly PLG 120) This course is the advanced component of the legal research and writing sequence students must complete to proceed in the program. It continues development of students’ research and writing skills required for the legal profession. Introduction of intricate and compound fact patterns necessitates in-depth research, an understanding of complex substantive/procedural law issues, and the mastering of advanced legal writing skills. This course includes assignments that teach the transition from objective analysis taught in Legal Research and Writing I to persuasive advocacy, which is essential for representing a client's position. Notes: A grade of C or higher is required in this course (LGL 120) in order to take courses that list LGL 120 as a prerequisite. LGL 120 is the advanced part of the two-semester Legal Research and Writing sequence.

(Formerly PLG 130) This course is a general introduction to the use and the application of legal specialty software programs in the modern practice of law. The course covers law office applications of client management software, billing software, LexisNexis® Academic, and various state and federal websites. Students will use appropriate software to perform client conflicts checks, for timekeeping and file management, to prepare and maintain a database for each client, to organize and safeguard documentary evidence, and to assist during trial preparation and trial. Ethical use of technology is a key component of this course.

College Academic Learning Goal Designation: Information Technology (TC)

Prerequisite: Successful Placement Test Scores or (ENG 050 and REA 050) or ENG 099* or REA 075 or REA 100* (*may be taken concurrently).

(Formerly PLG 140) This course introduces students to contract law, covering common law and statutory principles that apply in commercial and non-commercial contexts. The course introduces students to the key elements of contract formation: offer, acceptance, consideration, intention, capacity, legality. From there, students learn the criteria for a contract breach and its defenses and remedies, implied contracts, and contract drafting. Through case law and statutory law, Article 2, Uniform Commercial Code, and Division 2, Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code, the course prepares students to analyze contract issues across various legal subjects such as personal and real property, business, and family law. Students engage in practical legal research using government and public internet resources and private databases to access and customize model contracts and draft contract language. Throughout the course, readings and discussions address ethical responsibilities in contract law practice, including honesty, competence, and confidentiality.

(Formerly PLG 197) This course is designed for students who work full time in other than a legal field and need to satisfy the internship requirement to complete the Legal Paralegal Studies Program. As with the traditional internship, there are two components to this course. The first component involves a practicum where students work directly under the direction and supervision of an attorney or experienced paralegal in a traditional classroom setting. In a controlled environment, students will learn how to interview clients, prepare and monitor client files, set up interview schedules, and perform various administrative duties relating to practical work operations in a legal office. The second component covers the fundamental principles governing the ethical practice of law for both lawyers and paraprofessional legal staff, including paralegals and interns. In addition, this segment of the course provides students with the necessary tools to identify and resolve ethical problems as well as provide practical tips to implement in everyday practice. Students will also examine the rules of ethics peculiar to the practice of law and the crucial role they play in the legal profession. This course covers the regulation of the legal profession, the unauthorized practice of law, client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, advertising and solicitation, client fees and fee sharing, and specific examples of Pennsylvania's Rules of Professional Conduct. NOTE: Need to obtain Director of Paralegal Studies approval.

(Formerly PLG 199) This course is designed for the day or full-time students that need to satisfy the internship requirement for the Legal Studies and Paralegal Program. There are two components to this course. The first component involves an internship with a local law firm, corporate law department, government agency, or non-profit. With the assistance of the Director of Paralegal Studies and the Office of Student Employment Services and Co-ops, students will need to secure an internship. Students are required to intern a minimum of 180 hours in the paralegal field. The second component requires students to meet one hour per week to discuss job related issues and cover the fundamental principles governing the ethical practice of law for both lawyers and paraprofessional legal staff, including paralegals and interns. In addition, this segment of the course provides students with the necessary tools to identify and resolve ethical problems as well as provide practical tips to implement in everyday practice. Students will also examine the rules of ethics peculiar to the practice of law and the crucial role they play in the legal profession. This course covers the regulation of the legal profession, the unauthorized practice of law, client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, advertising and solicitation, client fees and fee sharing, and specific examples of Pennsylvania's Rules of Professional Conduct.

(Formerly PLG 200) This course introduces students to the procedural and substantive law affecting the family and domestic relations. The law affecting prenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, separation, divorce, spousal support, alimony, spousal abuse, custody, child support, and adoption is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the preparation of relevant legal documents and procedures for filing.

(Formerly PLG 210) This course focuses on the applications of the principles of tort law and civil litigation, and emphasizes the paralegal's role in the civil and litigation process. Students will receive a thorough overview of the applicable constitutional issues that arise in tort law, rules of civil procedure, and rules of evidence as well as an introduction to different resolution methods available through the state and federal court systems, in particular, alternative dispute resolution methods applicable to negligence cases. Lastly, this course provides students with the necessary foundation to prepare and write pleadings and other applicable court documents, prepare for discovery, and assemble proper documentation for trial.

(Formerly PLG 211) This course focuses on the application of the principles and laws learned in Civil Litigation and Tort Principles course. Emphasis is placed on providing an overview of the entire civil litigation process and the different professional roles in that process. Students will learn to do legal research, analyze and think critically, draft cohesive legal documents, and write briefs necessary to the trial and appellate process. Additionally, all PLG courses are being changed to LGL as a result of changing the program name to Legal and Paralegal Studies (LGL). This change is being made because the courses taught in this program are relevant not only to teach students who wish to pursue a paralegal career path, but also to address the needs of students who wish to pursue higher education in the law. The new program will allow students to either chose an immediate career as a paraprofessional or transfer seamlessly to a four-year institution for further studies.

(Formerly PLG 220) This course provides an introduction to real-property law. Emphasis is placed on real estate fundamentals, material devoted to the legal concepts of ownership, the laws that govern real estate transactions, and material that discusses brokerage and related activities. In addition, this course examines the tasks performed by lawyers and their representatives in representing buyers and sellers in the transfer of real property interest and the relationships between landlords and tenants. Discussion and analysis of real-property law includes possession, ownership and transfer of real property, land-use controls, environmental issues, contracts, agreements and financing, federal and state laws and regulations, taxes and liens, land title issues, ethics, and the business of real estate.

(Formerly PLG 230) This course is designed to provide students with an overview of wills, trust, estate planning and administration, with a focus on rules pertaining to each practice area under Pennsylvania and Federal laws. The purpose of this course is to educate and raise awareness of the importance of estate planning and the resulting impact upon death. Students will learn to communicate professionally and draft documents accurately.

(Formerly PLG 240) This course introduces students to the foundations of criminal law and rules of criminal procedure. The course emphasizes the nature of the criminal process as a legal framework that consists of rules designed to ensure proper and fair enforcement of substantive and procedural criminal law and the adjudication of criminal cases. Students are introduced to crimes against persons and property as well as legal defenses to criminal prosecution. Students are introduced to forms and documents required in the criminal system from discovery of a crime to appeal. This course covers evidentiary issues and constitutional concerns. Students also learn about the procedural protections afforded by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. An emphasis is placed on the preparation of legal documents relevant to criminal cases and the preparation of cases for trial and appeal. Students will learn about the ethical issues that arise in criminal law practice.

(Formerly PLG 241) This course introduces students to basic principles of administrative law and how government is administered by various departments, agencies, boards and commissions. Emphasis is on obtaining an understanding of the role of administrative agencies in the federal system, how the agencies are created, function and administer government rules, regulations, and policies. The class will also examine the influence of administrative agencies on legislative policies and businesses.

(Formerly PLG 242) This course focuses on the law of business organizations. It introduces various business entities, such as, sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. Each business entity is discussed using a logical life cycle approach; what documents are required to form such an organization, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, operation, dissolution and tax consequences. Emphasis in the course is on corporations from formation to dissolution. What necessitates the change of a corporate structure and how to implement such change are part of the discussion. The importance of working within the realm of ethical practice in business is impressed upon the students.

(Formerly PLG 243) This basic introduction to Bankruptcy Law course provides legal studies and paralegal students with a comprehensive overview of bankruptcy law in the United States. The course covers the fundamental principles of bankruptcy law, the procedural and substantive aspects of bankruptcy cases through introduction to the basic statutory and procedural requirements of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, including local rules of bankruptcy procedure. The course introduces the different types of bankruptcy filings and roles of the parties, the debtors, creditors and bankruptcy trustees. The course emphasizes the ethical duties of competence, confidentiality, and conflict of interest issues.

(Formerly PLG 244) This course provides students with a foundational understanding of both labor and employment law. It examines the roles, responsibilities, and interactions among employers, employees, and labor unions in the Collective Bargaining process as well as the non-union employer-employee relationship and the proliferation of the various state and federal laws that govern those relationships. Topics of discussion include the statutory foundation for the formation of labor unions, labor and management contract negotiation, unfair labor practices, and alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration and mediation. This course will also focus on Title VII legislation and its legislative progeny which safeguards both union and non-union employee rights by prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation. It further includes the civil litigation processes that arise from such disputes in both federal, state, and the administrative courts.

(Formerly PLG 246) This course will cover various aspects of law that have particular application to the elderly client. As more and more Americans age, legislators, jurists, and other legal professionals have to address the social and legal needs of the elderly including healthcare, employment, housing, guardianship, and elder abuse problems.