CORE COURSES
The following nine courses are required for all students in the Paralegal Program.

Below each course's brief summary, you may find a link to a SAMPLE syllabus for that course. Actual course syllabi and instructors may be subject to change.

2500 INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW
Overview of governmental organization (including Michigan and federal court systems) and sources of law (including statutory law, common law and administrative law).   Includes an introduction to various specific substantive law and procedural law topics and some basic legal vocabulary.

Sample Syllabus #LAP2500 Palmiere updated for Spring 2009

2506 SUBSTANTIVE LAW – CONTRACTS
Provides a comprehensive view of those major areas of contract law likely to be encountered by the paralegal; the formation, modification, assignment, interpretation, enforcement and breach of contracts; and U.C.C./-Sales. The remedies for breach of contract and discharge of contract are discussed. Students read and brief cases.

Sample Syllabus  #LAP2506 Gordon

2507 SUBSTANTIVE LAW – TORTS
A study of basic law relating to the civil wrong as applied to personal and property damage. Topics studied include intentional torts, negligence and defenses to negligence, strict liability, products liability, nuisance, liability of owners and occupiers of land, defamation, invasion of privacy, fraud, interference with contractual relations and torts in the family. Includes discussion of property law.

Sample Syllabus #LAP2507 Mester

2510 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING I
Provides knowledge of primary and secondary legal resources: statutes, annotated law reports, statutory indexes, court reports, court rules, digests, treatises, legal encyclopedias, the Index to legal Periodical, Words and Phrases, Shepard’s Citations, restatements and related law finders. Students prepare a legal memorandum, emphasizing analysis of a fact situation, organization and use of plain English. Extensive use of the law library is involved. Assignment deadline is post-term. Prerequisites: 2506 Substantive Law – Contracts and 2507 Substantive Law – Torts.

Sample Syllabus #LAP2510 Gantz

2511 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING II
A sequel to Research and Writing I dealing with specialized legal research including federal law.  Students complete a summary judgment based on research. Extensive use of the law library is required. Prerequisite: 2510 Legal Research and Writing I.

Sample Syllabus LAP2511 Garrison

2516 LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Law Practice Management is designed to give students a comprehensive view of law office administration; focusing on the structure of firms/corporate legal departments, use of technology in administering a law office and the various administrative and support roles performed by lawyers and non-lawyers in a law office setting.

Sample Syllabus for LAP2516 (10 week course)

2540 LITIGATION I: CASE PREPARATION BEFORE TRIAL
Detailed study of pretrial case preparation: alternate dispute resolution; review of court structure; causes of action; gathering and organization of materials; legal investigation; client interviewing; complaint, answer and affirmative defenses; and introduction to motions.

Syllabus #LAP2540

2541 LITIGATION II: CASE PREPARATION BEFORE TRIAL
A continuation of Litigation I emphasizing motions, discovery and investigation, interrogatories, depositions, mediation, expert witnesses and preparation for trial. Prerequisite: 2540 Litigation I

Syllabus #LAP2541

2575 CALR
Paralegals are increasingly called upon to do research that goes beyond traditional law library resources and into more varied areas of law than ever before.  Learn how to use electronic resources for solving advanced research problems in such areas as business; bankruptcy; patent, trademark, and copyright law; medical research; employment/labor law; wills and estates; government publication/legislative history; environmental law; and criminal law.  This a hands-on course with enrollment limited to 15 students.   Prerequisites: 2510 Legal Research and Writing I and basic computer skills.

Syllabus #LAP2575

2520 REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
Overview of real property transactions, emphasizing the residential process: the listing agreement; preparing and recording documents for transfer of title, emphasizing deed and land contracts; the closing process, including agreements of sale, closing and RESPA statements; basic financial computations attendant with the real estate transactions process.

Syllabus #LAP2520

2521 CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE
Every person arrested in the United States is entitled to certain constitutional protections and due process under the law. These protections and the criminal justice process in Michigan are examined: investigation; arrest, detention, and booking; obtaining a warrant, preliminary examination, and bind over; arraignment and pretrial motions; trial procedures, plea negotiations, and sentencing; post-trial motions and procedures; appeal; extradition; and double jeopardy.

Syllabus #LAP2521

2530 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
A study of various forms of business organizations, including the sole proprietorship, several types of partnerships, the limited liability company and the different types of corporations. The course will focus on documents required to start, govern and terminate the existence of each form of business. Students will prepare a representative sample of these documents.

Syllabus #LAP2530

2531 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
Provides an understanding of and experience with drafting, negotiating, and managing various types of contracts encountered in a business environment.  Students will prepare and negotiate non-disclosure agreements, license agreements and alliance agreements.  Students will also gain an understanding of how to track responsibilities and obligations under contracts.

Syllabus #LAP2531

2532 IMMIGRATION LAW AND PROCEDURE
Provides an understanding of the structure of immigration law, practice and procedure. Students will learn how to recognize the legal issues, prepare petitions and applications, and learn when, why, and where filings should be made.

Syllabus #LAP2532

2535 EMPLOYMENT LAW
Course covers areas of the law that deal with the employment relationship (hiring; wages, hours, and benefits; working conditions; termination) and includes discrimination and other matters addressed by legislation.

Syllabus #LAP2535

2547 LITIGATION III: ANATOMY OF A LAWSUIT
Working with an actual case, students prepare the documents for each step of a civil suit. Emphasis will be on real-world considerations: managing clients and witnesses, investigating creatively, locating expert witnesses and identifying resources for trial exhibit preparation. Post judgment and appellate procedures and documents are covered. Prerequisite: 2541 Litigation II.

Syllabus #LAP2547

2550 PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
An examination of substantive, procedural and practical aspects of probate practice under EPIC (Michigan's Estate and Protected Individuals Code).  The course focuses on petitions to commence Informal, Formal and Supervised probate proceedings, including preparation of inventory and accountings, the claims process, sale and distribution of assets and closing of the estate.

Syllabus #LAP2550

2570 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

This course will  explain and clarify some of  the major legal principles found in the Constitution and in the Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution. It will show how those principles affect both the practice of law and the daily lives of Americans. The course will help the student grasp the legal concepts surrounding Constitutional law and relate those concepts to law practice and to day-to-day living.

Syllabus #LAP2570

2576 PATENT, COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAW
Covers the basics of patent, copyright, and trademark law. Qualifies enrollees to prepare and file state and federal trademark applications and applications to register copyrights.

Syllabus #LAP2576

2578 AUTO ACCIDENT LAW AND CASES
Provides a basic understanding of no-fault concepts, auto insurance, and terminology. Students learn how to prepare an auto accident case: identification of who can be sued; what benefits and damages are collectible; first and third party cases; case work-up; medical and settlement statements; and duties at trial.

Syllabus #LAP2578

2579 FAMILY LAW
Review of substantive law related to dissolution of marriage, separation , annulment, guardianship and adoption, including: preparation of papers for preliminary and emergency relief; jurisdiction and service of process; preparation of cases for trial; supervision of case progress; drafting of property settlements and tracing of assets; tax consequences of support; and division of property.

Syllabus #LAP2579

2581 BANKRUPTCY AND COLLECTIONS
A study of the various rights and remedies available through statutory and case law to assist the debtor and creditor in resolving their legal disputes. Topics include the Bankruptcy Reform Acts, systems for administering claims outside of bankruptcy, consumer credit and debt collection practices including garnishment, judgment, lien and repossession.

Syllabus #LAP2581

2599 INTERNSHIP
An orientation to widen understanding of ethical considerations and professional responsibilities of legal assistants and an introduction to the requirements of the internship. Effective resume writing and job hunting techniques are discussed. Includes 5 weeks of class meetings and 80 hours legal or law office experience.
*A required course. The program director will arrange for or assist the legal experience field work after all program coursework has been completed.

Syllabus #LAP2599

COMPUTER BASED OFFICE SKILLS COURSES - Level 1 and Level 2

These two courses will cover computer office skills using Microsoft Word and Excel software at the beginning and advanced levels.  Students are required to complete through Level 2 to achieve the computer requirement and to achieve a certificate of achievement.

Beginning in Fall 2009 all newly admitted  students and those students who have not previously provided evidence of formal computer training must complete our pass/fail Office Skills Course placement assessment test prior to graduation.  Students that pass the exam will be required to take the Level 2 course only.  All others will take both Level 1 and Level 2 courses.

The courses will provide Word modules covering topics such as navigation, multi-level lists, margins and columns, table formatting, graphics, charts and importing techniques at the beginning or advanced level.  The Excel workshops will include topics such as using Excel in the workplace, creating formulas, approaching complex functions, and creating charts at the beginning or advanced level.

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