Goals and Objectives

Goals

UNDERSTAND LEGAL CONCEPTS AND THEIR PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Objectives

  • Identify legal issues in cases
  • Apply legal issue to facts
  • Understand the core concepts of the primary areas of legal specialties including Family Law, Real Estate, Debtor/Creditor, Contracts, Trusts and Estates, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Corporations, Criminal Law
  • Understand the structure and function of state and federal court systems

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY ORALLY AND IN WRITING

Objectives

  • Draft a legal memorandum
  • Use proper grammar and punctuation
  • Create client correspondence
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate orally
  • Develop client interviewing skills

PROFICIENT IN USING LEGAL TECHNOLOGY

Objectives

  • Students will be familiar with how to use an online legal research software such as LexisNexis or Westlaw
  • Students will be familiar with litigation support software programs
  • Students will be familiar with law office management technology
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing local websites to obtain forms and perform electronic filing for various court proceedings in surrogate practice, real estate, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law and civil litigation

EXHIBIT ANALYTICAL THINKING SKILLS

Objectives

  • Able to identify issues in legal writings
  • Able to prioritize issues of interest to the case at hand
  • Able to apply the appropriate law to given fact patterns

DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS

Objectives

  • Recognize the ethical obligations of a paralegal
  • Be familiar with the local professional code of ethical responsibility along with the New York State Professional Code and the ethical standards of major paralegal professional associations

STUDENTS WILL SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN PRO BONO ACTIVITIES

Objectives

  • Students will provide pro bono assistance to agencies such as Volunteer Legal Services Project that provide low cost or free legal services to low-income residents