Students
of the law are often initially
overwhelmed by the prevalence
of legal jargon known as
legalese. The legal profession,
perhaps more than any other,
uses a vocabulary that
is incomprehensible to
the uninitiated. This course
is designed to quickly
educate the student to
be familiar with the basic
terminology of the legal
profession. The course
is divided into modules,
each of which is dedicated
to one are of the law.
Modules include real estate,
probate, litigation, bankruptcy,
and criminal and tort law.
In each module, the student
learns the meaning and
use of the common legal
terms in that area of the
law. If you have ever wondered
what it means to move for
summary judgment, if you
don't know the difference
between a mortgagor and
a mortgagee, if a writ
of habeas corpus means
no more to you than res
judicata then this course
is for you!
WOL-122: Contracts
(4 weeks)
This
course presents a comprehensive,
well-organized, functional
approach to the law
of contracts. The students
learns to analyze agreements
and how to determine
whether or not a contract
has been formed, what
law applies, whether
the contract is enforceable,
whether or not a party
has breached, and,
if so, what remedies
are available to the
aggrieved party. The
approach is very practical,
and prepares the student
for contract work in
the legal, business,
or government environment.
An essential course.
WOL-301: Bankruptcy
(4 weeks)
Paralegals
are in high demand in the
field of debtor-creditor
law. This course acquaints
the student with the three
most common forms of bankruptcy:
Chapters 7, 11, and 13.
The student learns the
law of bankruptcy and develops
practical experience becoming
familiar with documents
commonly used in bankruptcy
practice. Students learn
about the valuable role
of paralegal professionals
in a successful bankruptcy
practice.
This
course includes a thorough
review of the new bankruptcy
laws, which came into effect
in 2005. Changes include
a requirement that the
debtor have counseling
before they can file a
bankruptcy case, and a "means
test" now requires
all debtors to meet a more
rigorous income and asset
standard before being qualified
to file. The new law also
imposes new requirements
on lawyers, and by extension,
the paralegals who do most
of the bankruptcy work.
These changes, and others,
are reviewed in this course.
Objectives:
- Understand
the nature, purpose and
history of bankruptcy
law.
- Define
the common terms and
concepts used in bankruptcy.
- Distinguish
between the different
chapters of bankruptcy
law.
- Understand
the time line and filing
procedure for a typical
consumer bankruptcy filing.
- Identify
issues and problems from
a fact pattern of a proposed
bankruptcy filing.
WOL-401: Criminal
Law (4 weeks)
The
student is introduced to
the basic concepts of criminal
law, and is presented with
some thought-provoking
examples from the annals
of the criminal justice
system. Crimes against
the person, crimes against
property, legal defenses
(such as the insanity defense),
as well as the theory and
history of criminal justice
are presented together
with a practical skills
exploration of the criminal
justice process. One of
our most popular courses.
Objectives:
- Understand
the nature and purpose
of substantive criminal
law.
- Distinguish
between criminal and
non-criminal offenses.
- Define
and differentiate among
classifications of crimes
- Understand
the different types of
accusatory instruments
- Assist
in pre-trial preparation
WOL-501: Ethics
(4 weeks)
Paralegals,
like attorneys, must be
knowledgeable of the rules
of ethics. This course
covers the basic principles
governing the ethical practice
of law for both lawyers
and paralegals. Subjects
explored include the unauthorized
practice of law, conflicts
of interest, confidentiality,
paralegal-client relations,
disciplinary procedures,
fee splitting, billing,
advertising, and misconduct
in the law office.
Objectives:
- Recognize
common ethical problems
confronting paralegals
- Understand
the universal concepts
of professional responsibility
- Explain
the differences between
the roles of paralegals
and attorneys
- Recognize
activities which, when
performed by a paralegal,
constitute the unauthorized
practice of law.
- Discuss
possible solutions to
ethical dilemmas
WOL-601: The
Law of Real Estate (4 weeks)
This
course explores the theory
and history of real estate
transactions. Students
gain a working knowledge
of contracts, deeds, mortgages
and title reports. The
student has the opportunity
to handle a theoretical
real estate transaction
from beginning to end.
Many paralegal professionals
are gainfully employed
in real estate offices
where they supervise closings
and financings. This course
is also valuable for brokers,
agents, managers and other
real estate professionals.
Objectives:
- Recognize,
define and correctly
use basic real estate
terms.
- Describe
the basic principles
of substantive real estate
law.
- Recognize
the basic instruments
used in common residential
real estate transactions
- Integrate
and apply the knowledge
gained in the course
to solve hypothetical
real estate related problems
that might be faced by
a client
- Assist
an attorney in each phased
of a residential real
estate closing.
WOL-701: Civil
Litigation (4 weeks)
The
student gains a thorough
understanding of the major
aspects of civil litigation,
managing a case from beginning
to end, from client interview,
through the drafting of
a summons and complaint,
motions, briefs, and trial
preparation. The instructor
takes the role of judge.
Students also learn about
the history and structure
of the major court systems.
Objectives:
- Conduct
an initial client interview
- Describe
the purposes of the summons
and complaint and other
pleadings
- Differentiate
the different civil discovery
methods
- Understand
the paralegal’s
involvement in motion
practice
- Assist
in trial preparation
and at the actual trial
- Draft
a demand letter or other
litigation correspondence
WOL-801: Personal
Injury Law (Torts) (4 weeks)
One
of the most important fields
of paralegal employment,
the law of torts and negligence,
is examined in detail.
The student is educated
to understand the basic
theory of tort law, and
the process by which negligence
cases are developed in
preparation for settlement
or trial. Subjects covered
include evaluating liability,
injuries and damages.
Objectives:
- Distinguish
tort liability from criminal
and contract liability.
- List
the elements of the causes
of action for various
types of torts and correctly
identify factual situations
where such tort actions
could successfully be
maintained.
- Research
and analyze cases involving
tort law.
- Identify
the facts and sources
of evidence which could
be used to establish
each element of a hypothetical
tort claim
- Recognize
affirmative defenses
to various types of tort
actions
WOL-901: Business Organizations
Law (4 weeks)
This
course provides the student
with a basic understanding
of business organizations. Corporations,
partnerships, sole proprietorships,
as well as LLP's
and LLC's,
are compared and contrasted.
Students form a theoretical
corporation, and prepare
a number of documents including
Articles of Incorporation,
Partnership Agreement,
By-laws, Minutes, and Shareholder's
Agreements.
Objectives:
- Describe
the advantages and disadvantages
of different forms of
business entities.
- Apply
knowledge of business
organizations to recommend
entity formation which
would be most advantageous
in hypothetical client
situations.
- Understand
the application of the
individual laws which
regulate the particular
business entities.
- Distinguish
the structure, management
and operation of different
business entities.
- Recognize
the documents needed
to create distinct business
entities
WOL-902: Family
Law (4 weeks)
With
more than 50% of all marriages
ending in divorce, the
field of family law provides
vast employment opportunities
for the paralegal professional.
This course acquaints the
student with the basic
areas of a family law practice:
marriage, divorce, property
rights, custody of children,
separation agreements,
and maintenance. A practical
hands-on course.
Objectives:
- Explain
the reasons for laws
governing spousal and
child support obligations
- Discuss
the mutual legal rights
and duties of married
couples
- Describe
the main principles of
the law governing child
custody
- Understand
the available methods
of legal adoption
- Recognize
the main principles of
laws governing equitable
distribution of marital
property as well as the
purpose of the prenuptial
agreement
WOL-903: Wills,
Trusts and Estates (4 weeks)
This
course provides a theoretical
and practical understanding
of the laws of inheritance
and estate planning. Students
prepare a will and trust,
and learn the procedure
for probate. Estate planning,
the role of the probate
courts, and basic inheritance
issues are explored and
discussed.
Objectives:
- Distinguish
the various ways of passing
property after death
- Describe
the purpose of the right
of spousal election
- Recognize
the fundamental components
of a formal will
- Define
the elements of a simple
trust
- Differentiate
the terminology of testate
and intestate succession
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