Plan of Study – Nurse Paralegal

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Nurse Paralegal Post-BSN: Cert Achieve

Nurse Paralegal Post-BSN: Certificate of Achievement

Certificate Courses (Minimum of 31* semester hours required. *10 semester hours of legal specialty courses must be in traditional classroom format.)

LAW 1000 Introduction to Paralegal Studies (3 s.h.)

Introduction to the various roles of the paralegal, with an emphasis upon job functions, ethics, and skills, legal terminology, the court system.

LAW 1010 Legal Research and Writing I (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the law library and the use of legal references; the techniques of legal research as used in writing letters, instruments, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda. Emphasis on State law. Prerequisite: WRT 1020.

LAW 2560 Legal Research on the Internet (3 s.h.)

Introduction to concepts for performing legal and factual research on the Internet (except Westlaw and Lexis) for use in legal applications. Students analyze information retrieved using information literacy principles. Federal legal research as well as factual research is undertaken. Corequisite: LAW 1010.

LAW 2570 Litigation (3 s.h.)

Pre-trial, trial, appeal, and enforcement/compliance procedures for civil cases. Data collection and analysis; calendar control and scheduling; organization and coordination of exhibits; drafting of interrogatories, complaint, answer, and other pleadings.

LAW 2580 Electronic Discovery (3 s.h.)

This course will explore the rapidly developing role of software in the area of legal data, eDiscovery, and information governance. We will take an in-depth look at the role of software in the litigation lifecycle from data collection and document review to production and presentation at trial. Exploration of technology used in the litigation support department and by litigation teams in the acquisition of data and eDiscovery processing.

LAW 3210 Legal Research and Writing II (3 s.h.)

Further development of research and writing skills, including analyzing a fact situation and following the evolution of a typical lawsuit. Emphasis on Federal law. Prerequisites: LAW 1010, LAW 2570.

LAW 4220 Torts: An Overview of Negligence (3 s.h.)

The fundamentals of tort law with emphasis on application to fact situations encountered in legal practice. Areas covered are intentional interferences and defenses, negligence and defenses, strict liability, product liability, misrepresentation, defamation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and auto negligence.

LAW 4230 Medical-Legal Concepts and Medical Records (3 s.h.)

Practical applications of legal concepts to medical-legal records. Medical terminology and review of medical records are covered.

LAW 4270 Evidence (3 s.h.)

Practical use of evidentiary rules in terms of case development and the trial process, including pre-trial discovery plans, trial preparation, and trial assistance.

LAW 4930/4940 Option (Minimum of 1 semester hours required. Choose from: LAW 4930 or LAW 4940.)

LAW 4930 Internship (1 s.h. (Not To Exceed 3 s.h.))

Demonstration of professional paralegal skills in an employment situation (arranged by the student). Permission of department required. 1 s.h.= 180 hours of work experience; 2 s.h. = 225 hours of work experience; 3 s.h. = 270 hours of work experience. Prerequisite: completion of 24 s.h. of Paralegal classes. (Note: registration for an unpaid situation is LAW 4930; and for a paid situation is LAW 4940.) Corequisite: LAW 4950.

LAW 4940 Internship (1 s.h. (Not To Exceed 3 s.h.))

LAW 4950 Legal Seminar (3 s.h.)

Capstone course for students with a paralegal or nurse paralegal program. Typically taken the last semester of a student’s course of study. Students conduct a legal research and writing assignment, take a pre- and post- ethics quiz, self-assess their current paralegal skills, provide an evaluation of personal and program curriculum, and develop a strategy for continuing legal education. Prerequisite: completion of 24 s.h. of Paralegal classes. Corequisite: LAW 4930 or LAW 4940.