Discipline: Legal Assisting (Paralegal Studies) Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Paralegal Studies 70


COURSE DESCRIPTION
70 Law Office Policies, Procedures and Ethics Units: 1.50
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
Theoretical and practical aspects of policies and procedures in a law office as they relate to the role of the paralegal with emphasis on ethics, in each topic covered. Law office timekeeping, fee arrangements and calendaring will be studied using application software. 27 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
The policies and procedures in a law office as they relate to the role of the paralegal with emphasis on ethics.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Explore how law-related offices are organized.

2.   Evaluate the types of attorney’s fee and costs agreements, various
      timekeeping and billing systems and review software available to
      handle these applications.

3.   Prepare and conduct mock client interviews and develop an intake
      memo.

4.   Demonstrate familiarity with ethical issues confronting the legal
      assistant’s role in a law-related environment.

5.   Evaluate the process for maintaining law library.

6.   Produce legal documents using subject-related application software.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Overview of Law-related Organizations
    Legal Fees, Costs, and Retainer Agreements
  2. Attorney and Paralegal Compensation
  3. Client and Witness Interview Techniques
  4. Ethics
  5. Administrative Systems Including Timekeeping
  6. Law Office Equipment and Computer Systems
  7. Docket Control Systems
  8. Records Management
  9. Final Exam
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Lecture
  • Demonstration
  • Discussion
  • Multimedia
  • Case Studies
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Essays
  • Problem solving exercises
  • Discussion/mock interviews
  • Objective-type examinations
  • Term project/course specific computer applications
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Possible texts include:

    1. Fundamentals of Law Office Management Systems, Procedures & Ethics,
    2. Everett, West Publishing Co.
    3. STUDY GUIDE: optional
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