Legal Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Legal Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PARALGL PBC)

27 Credits

POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE • 27 CREDITS MINIMUM • PARALGL PBC

The American Bar Association (ABA) approved Legal Studies Certificate is designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to pursue a career in the law. The certificate will prepare students to successfully transition to law school or to immediately perform the duties required of a paralegal, through studies that focus on effective communication skills, critical thinking, litigation procedures, computer applications for the law offices, ethics, and various legal specialties. Although the paralegal plays a key role in providing legal services to clients, only attorneys may accept cases, give legal advice, represent clients in court, or provide other direct legal services to clients. The courses of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Legal Studies is an excellent pre-law degree and provides valuable preparation for careers in law firms, corporations, government agencies, the judiciary, non-profits and other law-related settings.

Prerequisites: The following prerequisite courses are required and must be completed before taking the major courses for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Legal Studies.
• ENGL109 Composition (3 cr)
• ENGL110 Advanced Composition (3 cr)

Which class should I take? When should I take it?

See our Recommended Program Sequences:

See Full Course List

Major		27-33 Credits
LEGL101	Introduction to Legal Studies	3
LEGL215	Litigation This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic requirements of the Michigan Rules of Court and the litigation process. The purpose is to enable them to assist the attorney in preparation of legal papers and documents in a timely and comprehensive manner. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL216	Legal Research Students are introduced to the published sources of law and research strategies utilized to efficiently analyze legal issues and determine the current state of the law. Students learn to use print resources, as well as computer assisted research tools to access primary and secondary sources of law. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Co-requisite(s): ENGL110 Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL220	Technology in the Law Office This course provides an opportunity for students to use computer technology and its application within law firms and other entities engaged in the practice of law. It covers the use of technology in, e-discovery, office management, case management, litigation presentation and billing. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Co-requisite(s): LEGL101 for students seeking the Post-Baccalaureate only Prerequisite(s): BITS211 (required for associate’s and bachelor’s degree seeking students) and LEGL101.	3
LEGL415	Advanced Litigation This is an advanced course in trial practice. Particular emphasis will be given to discovery and trial preparation. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL215 and LEGL218 are the required prerequisites for bachelor’s degree seeking students. LEGL215 and LEGL216 are the required prerequisites for the students in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.	3
LEGL490	Legal Studies BS & Cert Intern Registration Internship/Practicum Note: Attend Mandatory Internship Workshop at least two semesters prior to your desired internship course semester. The required internship workshop and approval process can be found at:https://my.davenport.edu/internships This bachelor-level internship is the integration of previous classroom instruction with new learning acquired through on-the-job work experience. This course will provide an on-the-job experience in the day-to-day routine and operation of a law office or other legal setting. 150 hours of career-related work time shall be required for the 3 credit course and 200 hours for 4 credits pursued. Internship hours will be scheduled in partnership between the student and the site and reported via weekly reports filed by the student in the academic course. Students will be supported to identify site possibilities; however, responsibility for selection by the internship employer rests with the student. The internship may be either paid or unpa	3

Choose 9 credits from the following courses:		(9) Credits
LEGL204	Family Law Students are introduced to the practical skills required in divorce, paternity, child protection, guardianship, and other proceedings. Special emphasis is placed on interviewing, investigation, file organization, and drafting documents in preparation for litigation in each of these subject areas. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL211	Criminal Law This course examines Criminal Law in the United States, with an emphasis upon its basic functions and principal components. The substantive elements of crimes and defenses are explored along with an examination of the impact of crime on society. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Co-requisite(s): ENGL110 Prerequisite(s): LEGL101 or LEGL210	3
LEGL213	Torts Students are introduced to areas of legal liability commonly encountered by individuals and business as well as to the methods of liability avoidance. Topics covered include intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, product liability, malpractice, premises liability, dramshop, consumer protection, and other areas of tort liability. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL218	Legal Writing	3
LEGL300	Evidence & Criminal Procedures This application-based course examines procedural and evidentiary rules and cases relating to admissibility of criminal evidence. Students are introduced to preparing and filing documents involved in criminal litigation from initial client contact through sentencing and appeal. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101 or IAAS256	3
LEGL301	Business Organizations Students are introduced to legal problems encountered in business formation, operation, and acquisition, including the law concerning sole proprietorships, general and limited partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies. They are also introduced to related business law concepts. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL303	Bankruptcy Law	3
LEGL305	Real Estate Law EL	3
LEGL308	Estate Plan & Probate Law EL Students are introduced to the process of estate planning, from initial client contact to asset identification and appraisal through drafting of estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and medical advanced directives. Students also learn about estate administration, guardianships and conservatorship through the drafting of petitions and other court documents. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL384	Comp Lgl Analy/Study Abroad EL	3
LEGL386	Study Abroad-Spec Lgl Topic EL In this class the Legal Studies study abroad participant, in cooperation with the study abroad program director and the course instructor, will select a legal topic and compare, analyze and apply the substantive and procedural law in the United States to the substantive and procedural law in the host country. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): LEGL101	3
LEGL401	Employment and Labor Law This case study course focuses on the managing of employer/employee employment related issues through an examination of the major federal laws governing the employment relationship such as: National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Emphasis is placed on the critical thinking and problem solving skills required of business managers responsible for the hiring, directing and terminating of workers in both non-union and union environments. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): BUSN210, ENGL311, LEGL210, and MGMT211	3
LEGL496	Legal Ethics & Cert Review This class provides an extensive review of all previous course work in order to prepare the student for the National Association of Legal Professionals or NALS, ALS examination, the basic certification for legal professionals. At the completion of the course work, the ALS examination will be administered. In addition to standard tuition fees for this course, there is an additional examination fee and NALS membership fee that must be paid to NALS prior to taking the examination. These additional fees are set by NALS and may be subject to change by NALS. Applicable Course Fees can be found at https://my.davenport.edu/financial-aid/how-much-does-du-cost/tuition-and-fees. Prerequisite(s): All required law classes completed or taken concurrently.	3

Legal Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PARALGL PBC)

Which class should I take? When should I take it?

Major

Choose 9 credits from the following courses: