LAWS240 Tort Law for the Paralegal
Department of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies: Paralegal/Legal Studies
- I. Course Number and Title
- LAWS240 Tort Law for the Paralegal
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- LAWS100 (C or better) AND LAWS140 (C or better)
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
- This course utilizes a learning management space to supplement course materials.
- VI. Catalog Course Description
- This course provides an overview of tort law including intentional torts, personal injury, negligence law and strict liability. Students learn how to prepare legal pleadings and discovery materials. Other topics include ethics, and trial preparation.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of civil procedure and practice as they relate to personal injury claims in local state and federal courts from both the claimant and defendant standpoint;
- Examine the role of the paralegal in assisting a lawyer to litigate personal injury claims including the preparation of pleadings and pursuit of pretrial discovery;
- Understand and discuss the function and operation of local, state and federal courts and the role of the paralegal in the preparation for and representation of clients at trial;
- Recognize the unique ethical and legal rules that apply to the negligence practice; and
- Summarize the basic principles of negligence practice from investigation of claims through trial.
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
The following topics are presented:- Negligence law
- Personal injury investigation
- Preparation of legal pleadings
- Preparation of analysis of discovery materials
- Preparation for trial
- Principles and practices of law office management
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Exams, quizzes, classroom exercises, class or online participation, and/or projects as specified by the area faculty and described in the individual instructors' course syllabus are utilized. -
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
See course syllabus.
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Review/Approval Date - 9/02; New Core 8/2015; Revised 12/2015