CLE Course Descriptions

A PARALEGAL'S ROLE IN DISCOVERY

This CLE seminar is intended to provide a review of some of the requirements imposed by the Federal Court in the discovery phase of civil litigation including some of the new changes. Navigating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure can be a bit cumbersome, especially in terms of discovery.  An understanding of the streamlined procedures for discovery envisioned by the Rules can help the paralegal to become a key member of the litigation team.  This seminar is intended to help define the paralegal's role by exploring the discovery process, especially the mandatory disclosure requirements set forth in Rule 26, the role of experts and the impact of the Daubert Trilogy, managing discovery disputes and preserving privilege. 

ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING

This advanced legal writing seminar is designed for paralegals who successfully completed a legal writing module. If one of the following applies, this course is for you:

You felt that your legal writing course just skimmed the surface;
You want more practice at some of the concepts you were exposed to in legal writing; You want to learn more about the "plain English"movement.

This is a fourteen day seminar which is designed to give students an advanced look at legal writing. We will reinforce some of the concepts that are covered in a basic legal writing module and focus more intensely on some areas that will be of practical use to you as practicing paralegals. We will cover 2 units per week during the fourteen days.

CONTRACT LAW

An engagement is broken and the jilted party wants to sue.  A person signs a mortgage document without reading the contents and argues that he never agreed to its terms.  A person files an insurance claim only to be told the loss is not covered in the policy. A person refuses to pay a bill claiming the merchandise was never received.  What is the issue these fact patterns have in common?  The answer is:  Was there an enforceable contract? 

This is a seminar that will expose you to contract law. Contract law often defines the scope and parameters of many of our relationships with other human beings and with our governmental bodies.  Like a dictionary that standardizes the definitions of words, contract law standardizes the expectations and consequences of our interactions.  As such contract law permeates our lives. 

After this seminar you should have a better understanding of: the elements necessary to create a valid contract, the different types of contracts, the limitations of a valid contract, the most common causes of contract disputes, some of the most common methods and procedures used to enforce contracts, and some preventative measures that can be incorporated into a contract to minimize litigation.

E-DISCOVERY

This is a fourteen-day seminar intended to provide the litigation paralegal with a basic understanding of e-Discovery and the processes involved in the preservation, collection, and production of electronic data so they can make informed decisions when assigned to a case involving computer forensics or eDocs. Unit One will provide an introduction to e-Discovery and discuss what effects the recent "explosion" of e-Discovery will have on the litigation paralegal's duties and what skills they should acquire. Unit Two will discuss the duty to preserve (evidentiary) electronic data and how the paralegal can assist their supervising attorney and the client with the process of preservation. Unit Three will discuss the collection and production of electronic data, some common pitfalls to avoid during each procedure, and the preparation of deposition and trial exhibits from electronic files. Unit Four will discuss the "Dark Side" of e-Discovery such as spoliation and sanctions, and the best ways to avoid inadvertently ruining the client's case.

EMERGING ISSUES IN FAMILY LAW

The seminar will cover recent changes to laws in the areas of domestic partnerships, civil unions, and other non-traditional relationships.  Students will research, learn and discuss how the laws have changed in many jurisdictions and how those laws may affect family law practitioners.

The seminar will also discuss the trends in dissolutions, specifically as they relate to child custody and visitation.  A growing group of legislators, attorneys, courts, and others are advocating for sweeping changes in the ability to obtain a "no fault" divorce when there are minor children involved.  These same groups are also promoting custody and visitation arrangements which vary from the "best interests" standards to the "status quo or allocation standards."

ENTERTAINMENT LAW

Have you ever watched the credits roll after a movie and wondered, " Who are these people and what were their roles in creating and getting this film to your neighborhood screen?"  Have you ever wondered, "Why would anyone hire a sports agent?"  Have you ever wondered, "What can an artist do if a bootlegged copy appears immediately after a concert?"  Have you ever wondered, "Why do the same writers always seem to get their books on the shelves of the major bookstore chains?" Have you ever wondered, "What do entertainment lawyers actually do for a living?"

There are six major forms of media: movies, television, live theater, music, sports and publishing.  There are three major activities of the entertainment industry: creation, distribution, and retailing.  These are the major areas covered in this seminar.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

This seminar will bring you into the intriguing world of Intellectual  Property Law (IP). Intellectual Property impacts our lives daily. If you  browse through any store, you will see hundreds of trademarks being  displayed on products. If you walk through an art gallery, listen to the radio, watch television, or just wander into a library, you will see thousands of examples of copyrighted works. If you ever work with sensitive materials, start up a business and then sell it, or become employed at many of the major corporations, you may be asked to sign confidentiality agreements to protect trade secrets. If you operate a machine, work on a computer, take medication, or just admire the hybrid roses at the local nursery, you will encounter numerous patented inventions.

This seminar will provide a brief overview of the intellectual property subject areas of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents. The goal of this seminar is to expose the paralegal to some of the fundamentals of intellectual property law. This practice area of law is expected to increase the number of jobs available for paralegals due to the explosion in the ever changing world of technology.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

International law issues permeate our daily lives.  The products we use, the food we eat, the fuel we consume, the countries we are free to visit, and the quality of our environment are all dependant upon the existence and quality of our international agreements.  Whether we are at war or living in peace often is a result of the effectiveness of our international organizations. The enforcement of human rights is often conducted via international tribunals.

This seminar will introduce you to what is broadly termed "international law".  It will expose you to some of its history, issues, organizations, and agreements. So, if you have ever been interested in multiculturalism, world history, politics, contract law, natural law, or sociology, you should enjoy this seminar.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

This seminar is designed to provide students with an opportunity to hone their skills in legal analysis. We will focus specifically on the IRAC method of organizing a legal issue and exploring each aspect of that method: Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. 

The seminar provides a very focused look at each of the components of the IRAC method of organizing legal analysis.  The discussion questions and exercises provide students the opportunity to first discuss each component, and then practice what has been covered in the discussion. One fact pattern will be used  throughout the assignments so that students can build on each topic. We will review each of the components of the IRAC process: Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion.

MEDIATION PRACTICE FOR PARALEGALS

Mediation is a fascinating form of Alternative Dispute Resolution. It is a process that allows the disputants to resolve their issues in ways they are most comfortable. It empowers people to take control of their dispute, and with the help of a Mediator, resolve that dispute in a fair and legal manner.

This fourteen-day seminar will focus on the process of mediation from start to finish and provide an in-depth look at the role a mediator plays in that process. The class will cover the history of mediation, the role of the mediator, an overview of the steps involved in the mediation process, and will provide sample mediation cases and their resolutions. Additionally, we will discuss mediation as a viable career choice for the paralegal.

Whether you are planning to choose mediation as your profession, or would simply like to incorporate the principles of mediation into your current job, this class will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of how mediation can assist clients in resolving their issues without litigation.

There is an optional text we will be using for this course is The Mediator's Handbook written by Jennifer E. Beer with Eileen Stief. You can purchase this book at a local bookstore, or you can purchase it online by pasting the link into your browser. Note: this book is optional and not necessary to purchase.

PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR THE LITIGATION PARALEGAL

This seminar provides a brief overview of some of the practical, technical, and daily activities performed by the litigation paralegal. The goal of this seminar is to expose the participant interested in litigation to some of the skills necessary to work in this type of environment.

Wanted: Litigation Paralegal. Duties include docketing, deadlines, maintaining litigation database, preparation of trial exhibits, and other presentations, and supporting the litigation team. Must have strong organizational and multi-tasking skills. Working knowledge of trial support computer programs is a plus.

What does all that really mean?  Attorneys rely on paralegals to manage documents and information as well as provide invaluable support throughout all stages of a lawsuit. Working as an integral part of the team , the litigation paralegal must be highly organized, technically savvy, and must be able to handle a multitude of job responsibilities, all while staying a few steps ahead of the supervising attorney. This seminar will discuss docketing techniques, organization of files and time, presentation devices, and basic communication skills and interviewing techniques for the paralegal.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SKILLS FOR THE PARALEGAL

This seminar is designed to provide the paralegal with a working and practical introduction of what to expect while working in an office environment as a paralegal. The goal of this seminar is to give realistic examples of different scenarios that may be encountered in the legal environment while also providing an introduction to things that do not involve legal concepts but are necessary to the legal world such as time sheets.

The paramount goal of the seminar is provide the paralegal with information which will assist them in their positions as paralegals. The seminar is designed to put job functions and the general law firm environment in a realistic perspective.

Tax Law

In a world where there are only two sure things - death and taxes - legal professionals should understand at least one of the two. This two-week seminar provides a comprehensive overview by dividing the topic into several areas. The first area will cover the legal authority - code and judicial - of the tax law . The seminar will also review the concept of income for tax purposes.  The third area will deal with deductions, credits, and tax computations for individuals. Lastly, the seminar will survey income tax on corporations and pass-through entities, plus transfer taxes (estates and gifts) and employment taxes. With no pre-requisites, this seminar will be an excellent introduction for paralegals across all sub-specialties to understand the function, structure, and consequence of taxes.

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE LITIGATION PARALEGAL

Litigation attorneys are increasing the utilization of computer technology in their every day practice. However, the preparation and organization of trial exhibits, databases, and electronic discovery has become an integral responsibility of the litigation paralegal.  Knowledge of the basic software packages (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Access) is an essential function of the paralegal.  In addition, a paralegal may be assigned the task of finding specialized software/hardware for the entire law firm/legal department to utilize.  Technology could be utilized in every area of practice to increase efficiency and improve service to clients.  However, the majority of legal technology products support the litigation process. 

The seminar will cover four units, which are:

Unit One:          Pros and Cons of Technology (including Ethics)
Unit Two:         Variety of Technology
Unit Three:       Software Designed for the Legal Environment
Unit Four:         Courtroom Technology

UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW

As the paralegal profession continues to mature and paralegals' roles expand and develop, paralegals have begun to assume more and more responsibilities. When accepting those responsibilities, paralegals and supervising attorneys must be aware of the increasing likelihood of ethical dilemmas. Luckily for paralegals, attorneys have guidelines, rules, regulations and statutes that all attorneys are obligated to abide by. Additionally, national paralegal organizations have created model rules and guidelines for paralegals to follow. This CLE seminar covers a brief overview of the model rules for paralegals and also discusses the obligations of the supervising attorneys. Discussions will cover situational dilemmas that paralegals face on a daily basis and how to handle those situations.

Renee Revall Sova
Director of Advanced Specialty Programs
American Institute for Paralegal Studies
1-888-233-2019 ( office)
1-419-791-7802 ( fax)
renee.sova@americanparalegal.edu

Stretch. Specialize. Succeed.