PA 2289 - Paralegal Internship
Variable Credits Y
All paralegal students engage in the preservice student practical work experience in the paralegal area. The internship provides the student with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills and abilities to understand law office’s operation, apply the law and legal procedures, conduct legal research, write letters and memorandums, draft documents, contact clients or individuals, and maintain confidentiality and professional ethics. All paralegal students must complete 150 internship hours or 2 credits or 195 hours for 3 credits, as required by the program. However, students who have worked as a paralegal for a minimum of one calendar year within five years prior to enrolling in the course may petition the Program Director to waive the internship hour requirement. To successfully pass this course, students must obtain a Legal Technology Certificate. This certification is mandatory and integral to the course, as it demonstrates proficiency in essential legal technology skills necessary for today’s legal environment. Failure to obtain the certificate will result in an incomplete or failing grade, regardless of other coursework completed.
Pre-Requisites PA 2222
Major Content Areas
Participate in 150 hours (2 credits) of paralegal work experience in a supervised legal environment. Topics covered are law office procedures, legal research and writing, document drafting, client or individual contact, legal and/or court functions and procedures, and observation of legal transactions or cases.
Learning Outcomes
Identify and apply legal terminology and describe the operation of the law office, governmental agency or corporation through practical paralegal experience. Evaluate student intern’s performance pertaining to legal research, writing and document preparation, client contact, oral communication skills, collection and management of legal information, and investigation of legal issues. Identify parties, theories, key facts and issues in cases as well as maintain client confidentiality, professional responsibility and ethical standards. Describe and illustrate the form, style and grammar as it pertains to legal drafting or writing. Describe and interpret and evaluate how an attorney conducts and interview of a client or other individual through observation. Draft and edit letters, memoranda and selected documents as well as collect information. Interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethics confidentiality, pro bono work and volunteer opportunities.
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