Course Descriptions

 
PARA 125 Introduction to Paralegal (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
Provides an overview of the paralegal profession and the legal system to assist students in their career decision making process.


PARA 201 You and the Law [  9 ] (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
To acquaint students with basic information about how their lives will be impacted by the law in numerous areas including marriage, death, employment, retirement, property ownership, consumer status, personal injury and criminal law.


PARA 250 Legal Research and Writing I (3)
Fall: All Years       
A general introduction to recorded sources of the law and where and how it is to be found. Specific sources will be discussed and facilitated through practical writing exercises. Enrollment in this course requires the completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, PARA 125.


PARA 251 Legal Research and Writing II (3)
Spring: All Years       
Continuation of Legal Research and Writing sequence. Students will develop skills in legal issue identification, analysis and research through progressively more complex exercises, including preparation of legal memoranda.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 310 Civil Procedure I (3)
Fall: All Years       
The substantive and procedural law of civil litigation, with emphasis on the Rules of Civil Procedure, in both state and federal court systems.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 320 Family Law (3)
Fall: All Years       
The law of domestic relations, including marriage, separation, divorce, annulment, adoption, custody, and other topics.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 321 Employment Law (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years        Summer: All Years
An exploration of the legal nature of the employment relationship including contract and liability issues and major stages of the employment relationship, including hiring, evaluation and termination. Coverage includes antidiscrimination law and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Prerequisite:  ACCT 304 

PARA 325 Interviewing (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
Development of the skills necessary to elicit comprehensive factual information about legal issues and to assist the client in understanding the process and procedures of the legal system.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 331 Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy Law (3)
Fall: All Years       
The study of law relating to the extension of credit, collection of debts, debtors' and creditors' rights, and bankruptcy, including liquidation, business reorganizations, and adjustment of debts.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 340 Evidence (3)
Fall: All Years       
A study of the substantive and procedural law of evidence in civil and criminal litigation.
Prerequisite:  PARA 251 

PARA 346 Public Benefits (3)
Fall: All Years       
A study of the substantive and procedural law of government benefit programs, including Supplemental Security Income, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, and Social Security Retirement and Disability insurance.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 375 Legal Ethics (3)
Spring: All Years       
The study of law governing the professional ethics of attorneys with emphasis on the Rules of Professional Conduct and their implications for paralegals.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 380 Real Property Law (3)
Spring: All Years       
The law dealing with interests in, ownership and leasing of, and title to real estate. Emphasis is also placed on official descriptions, systems for recording, and procedures and documents used for the sale or transfer, lease, and zoning of real property.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 390 Topics in Paralegal Studies (1-3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand        Summer: On Demand
This is a topical course and topics covered may vary. The course is repeatable when the topic varies.


PARA 405 Probate and Estate Planning (3)
Spring: All Years       
A study of the procedures, documents and other techniques used in the planning for transfer of property after death, administration of estates and the preparation of federal and state gift, estate and income tax returns.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250  PARA 446 

PARA 410 Civil Procedure II (3)
Spring: All Years       
A study of the procedures, documents and other techniques used in a legal setting emphasizing trial practice. Topics included will be case intake, discovery, negotiations, trial preparation, trial practice and post judgment relief.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250  PARA 310 

PARA 416 Elder Law (3)
Spring: All Years       
A study of the various public benefits programs that provide economic maintenance and financing of health care for the elderly, including medical assistance and Medicare. Special concerns in legal representation of the elderly. An exploration of the laws regarding self-determination and planning for incapacity.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 420 Criminal Litigation (3)
Spring: All Years       
A practice-oriented study of the procedures, documents, and techniques in criminal law cases. Emphasis on the preparation, organization, and management of criminal litigation documents and materials; discovery; interviewing and investigation; trial preparation; assistance at trial and other proceedings; and post-conviction relief.
Prerequisite:  PARA 340  CJ 335 

PARA 425 Advanced Legal Research and Writing [  W ] (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
Integration and application of methods and techniques of legal research and writing, building on and supplementing skills acquired in PARA 250 and 251. Preparation of complex legal memoranda and briefs.
Prerequisite:  PARA 325  PARA 251  PARA 375 

PARA 430 Administrative Advocacy (3)
Spring: On Demand       
Techniques and procedural rules involved in the non-lawyer representation of clients before administrative hearing bodies. Overview of basic public benefit programs and procedures.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250  PARA 346 

PARA 435 Personal Injury (3)
Spring: All Years       
A study of the procedural and substantive law of personal injury, including negligence, products liability, strict liability, and insurance.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 446 Estate, Gift and Trust Taxation (3)
Fall: All Years       
Federal estate and gift tax; income taxation of estates and trusts; fundamentals of estate planning. Same as ACCT 446.
Prerequisite:  PARA 250 

PARA 469 Internship (1-12)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years        Summer: All Years
Internship experience under supervision of an attorney as approved by program internship coordinator. Students must complete the prerequisites and two courses from your area of emphasis prior to enrolling in PARA 469. A maximum of 12 internship credits may be applied to the degree.
Prerequisite:  PARA 251  PARA 325  PARA 375  PARA 310 

PARA 470 Government Benefits (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
This course will provide non-paralegal majors with a brief overview of a variety of federal and state public assistance health care and income maintenance programs including: Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Minnesota Family Investment Program, Medical Assistance, Medicare, and North Dakota's Training, Education, Employment and Management. (Non-paralegal majors only.)


PARA 497 Problems in Law (1-3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
Individual research or study under supervision of program director or other approved faculty. Students must have completed at least one methods course prior to enrolling in PARA 497.
Prerequisite:  PARA 251