Legal Studies: Paralegal - Associate Degree

Students gain skills that lead to success in college and employment. This course encourages students to develop a growth mindset and make wise choices. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)

Introduction to and exploration of the paralegal profession and paralegal roles; legal ethics, state and federal court systems; civil and criminal procedure; overview of substantive areas of law; locating and interpreting statutes and cases; drafting legal correspondence.

This course focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory course-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

Course provides an overview of the interconnectedness among careers within Business. Learn how various fields within the broader industry each play an integral role and how a personal brand fits into preparing you for your career choice. (Corequisite: 10-890-101, College 101)

Learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: High school GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 260; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

Basic understanding of theoretical foundations of ethical thought; analyze/compare relevant issues using diverse ethical perspectives; critically evaluate individual, social/professional standards of behavior--applying a systematic decision-making process. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)

Exploration of law office infrastructure including organization systems and file management; the legal marketplace and roles of lawyers, paralegals and other members of the legal team; personnel relations, leadership styles and employment laws; docketing and calendaring; law office financial concerns including timekeeping, legal fees, costs, billing and client trust accounts; ethical considerations in law office management. (Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Exploration of estate planning and probate practice; classification of property and property ownership; intestate succession; introduction to trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents; drafting, modifying, revoking and contesting wills; drafting probate documents; ethical issues and the paralegal's role in estate planning and probate practice. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Exploration of technology used in a law office including hardware, and general applications software, MS Office, and legal applications software for calendaring, docketing, timekeeping and billing, case/matter management; Wisconsin e-filing and electronic courtrooms; ethical issues and the paralegal's role with respect to technology in a law office. (Corequisite 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Explore contract formation, breach of contract, defenses to contract, parol evidence rule, statue of frauds, and warranties. Examine insurance law including insurable interests, insurer's duty to defend, subrogation, and bad faith claims. (Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better)

This course provides the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the accounting cycle, recording business transactions, preparations of the financial statements, financial statement analysis, accrual accounting, accounting for cash and internal controls, and payroll.

Learn and apply skills related to research terminology; sources of law; primary/secondary authority; mandatory/persuasive authority; citation form; factual/legal issues; effective research strategies; validating and updating results; computer-assisted legal research; Internet research. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Create professional resume and cover letter, prepare for interviews, understand interviewing techniques, participate in a mock interview, evaluate outcomes of interview, and prepare for Career Experience. (Prerequisites: 10-105-100, Careers in Business OR 10-107-117, Careers in IT OR 10-201-100, Careers In Digital Arts)

Exploration of family law practice; marriages and other domestic relationships; contracts affecting marriage; legal actions affecting the family including annulment, divorce, legal separation, paternity, adoption; laws relating to children and reproduction; drafting pleadings and documents relevant to family law practice; ethical issues and the paralegal's role in family law practice. (Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better.)

Exploration of legal rights of creditors and debtors, collection of outstanding debts, execution of judgments, small claims court, bankruptcy procedures, and filing bankruptcy petitions and schedules. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Exploration of the paralegal's role in preparation and representation of cases before administrative agencies, structure and authority of administrative agencies, procedures, and substantive state and federal administrative law. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Exploration of the civil litigation process; jurisdiction and venue; evaluating facts, causes of action and defenses; statutory requirements and considerations for drafting pleadings, motions and supporting documents and discovery; service of process; ethical issues and the paralegal's role in civil litigation practice. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Exploration of substantive and procedural criminal law, the role of paralegals in both the prosecution and defense of criminal actions, emphasis on investigations and preparation of legal documents. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

All college students, regardless of their college major, need to be able to make reasonable decisions about fiscal, environmental, and health issues that require quantitative reasoning skills. An activity based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course may be used as the first of a two part sequence that ends with Quantitative Reasoning as the capstone general education math requirement. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Arith score greater/equal to 250 AND Rdg score greater/equal to 250; OR TABE A 9/10 Math greater/equal to 12.7 AND Rdg greater/equal to 8.8; OR TABE 11/12 Math greater/equal to 780 AND Rdg greater/equal to 567; OR ACT Math score greater/equal to 15 AND ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16; OR prep courses-contact an academic advisor 920-498-5444)

Apply skills introduced in Civil Litigation 10-110-102, including organizing and managing a civil litigation matter; drafting pleadings, discovery requests and responses; summarizing and abstracting discovery responses and evidence; and compiling a trial notebook. (Prerequisites: 10-801-136, English Composition 1; 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; 10-110-102, Civil Litigation)

Develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of international law and immigration including international organizations, treaties and courts; student and worker visas; citizenship, residency and removal; and legal systems throughout the world. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Survey of theoretical foundations of human behavior such as sensation and perception, motivation, emotions, learning, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, and human diversity in personal, social and vocational settings. (Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 2.6 or greater OR satisfactory reading and writing assessment scores OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing 1 with "B" or better OR Corequisite: 10-831-102, English Comp Prep)

Exploration of formation, operation, and dissolution of types of business organizations, and substantive and procedural law involving business organizations. (Associate Degree Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; Technical Diploma Corequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics)

Basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)

Students can select any hands on experience related to: Internship, Field Research, Service Learning, Simulations, Capstone, Industry Related or Study Abroad. Instructor approval required. (Prerequisite: 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; 10-801-136, English Composition 1; 10-105-100, Careers in Business; 10-105-103, Career Fundamentals)

Develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of: legal writing fundamentals; micro-synthesis of legal authorities; case briefing; macro-synthesis of legal authorities; analytical writing; legal research memos. (Prerequisites: 10-801-136, English Composition 1; 10-110-101, Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics with a "C" or better; 10-110-104, Legal Research)