Nikki Mehrpoo Jacobson, Professor of Law & Attorney at Law

Transcription

1 A B A A p p r v e d P a r a l e g a l P r g r a m F a l l P L S 4 P A R A L E G A L I N T E R N S H I P Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. - AT-A214 Sectin 4638 Instructr: Telephne: Office Hurs: Office: Nikki Mehrp Jacbsn, Prfessr f Law & Attrney at Law (cell) I require that yu cntact me n my cell phne and nt my campus phne. Yu may als text me. If yu text me, please include yur full name and class, fr example: Jane De, PLS 14, Sectin 4638 nikki@jacbsnhan.cm I require that yu cntact me n my persnal address and nt my schl address. If yu me, yu must include the fllwing infrmatin in the subject: full name and class, fr example: Jane De, PLS 1, Sectin 4638 Tuesdays 4:30 5:30 p.m., 8:15-9:15 p.m. Wednesdays 5:30 6:30 p.m AND By Appintment Althugh my ffice is in A9 (the Paralegal Office), THIS SEMESTER I WILL HOLD OFFICE HOURS IN AT-A214 PARAELGAL: A paralegal is a persn, qualified by educatin, training r wrk experience wh is emplyed r retained by a lawyer, law ffice, crpratin, gvernmental agency r ther entity and wh perfrms specifically delegated substantive legal wrk fr which a lawyer is respnsible. REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS: YOU MUST BRING A RED, THREE-RING VIEWBINDER, AT LEAST 2 INCHES THICK, ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. THIS FOLDER WILL BE YOUR INTERNSHIP FOLDER. EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CLASS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS FOLDER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOLDER I TURN IN TO MY INTERNSHIP INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO ME AND THAT I WILL KEEP A SECOND COPY FOR MYSELF. COURSE DESCRIPTION COURSE DESCRIPTION 150 hurs f vlunteer r wrk experience in a law ffice r under the supervisin f an attrney is required during the semester. Yu must be in yur last semester f the Paralegal Studies Prgram r have the prgram directr s permissin. This wrk-study curse reinfrces educatin and prfessinal grwth in a student s academic majr thrugh crdinated field experiences. The student, instructr, and wrk site supervisr wrk tgether t determine specific learning bjectives fr each student. The student is then evaluated based n dcumentatin f satisfactry cmpletin f the learning bjectives and wrk assignments.

2 Paralegal Prgram Objectives 1. The Paralegal Studies Prgram is designed t prepare the student t assist the attrney in bth private and public sectrs in all phases f legal wrk and t equip the student with the knwledge necessary t enter the legal service fields as an entry-level paralegal. 2. T insure quality paralegal educatin at the cmmunity cllege level. 3. T familiarize students with the legal system and the rle f the paralegal in the delivery f legal services in the public and private sectrs. 4. T train students t be prepared t use and apply the mst current paralegal skills. 5. T educate students t intelligently and ethically serve the legal cmmunity. 6. T train students in critical paralegal skills such as investigatin, legal research, interviewing, written and ral cmmunicatins. 7. T educate, train and prvide students with the theretical backgrund t perfrm the paralegal's tasks in substantive areas f law and legal specialties. 8. T educate and train students in areas f prcedural law emphasizing the paralegals rle in litigatin, mediatin and arbitratin. 9. T educate students abut the general principles f ethical legal practice as defined by the American Bar Assciatin's Standing Cmmittee n Ethics and Prfessinal Respnsibility, and Califrnia's Business & Prfessins Cde T encurage students t cntribute t the advancement f the legal prfessin. 11. T prvide cunseling during the prgram and t assist students in preparing fr and btaining meaningful careers in the paralegal field. Paralegals may nt prvide legal services directly t the public except as permitted by law. COURSE TEXTS INTERNSHIPS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT By BOUHOUX ISBN: OPTIONAL There will be MANY, VARIOUS handuts fr this class. Yu will be respnsible t be in class and btain these handuts. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs) This curse will help students achieve the fllwing institutinal Student Learning Outcmes: A. Critical Thinking: Analyze prblems by differentiating fact frm pinins, using evidence, and using sund reasning t specify multiple slutins and their cnsequences. Assessment: The student will determine and prepare necessary frms and dcuments fr each case apprpriately. B. Ethics: Practice and demnstrate standards f persnal and prfessinal integrity, hnesty and fairness; apply ethical principles in submissin f all cllege wrk. Assessment: The student will read articles and handuts abut legal ethics and prepare utlines and summaries t gain knwledge f necessary legal ethics. C. Cmmunicatin: Effectively cmmunicate thught in a clear, well-rganized manner t persuade, infrm, and cnvey ideas in academic, wrk, family and cmmunity settings. Assessment: The student will cmmunicate via letters, and telephne with internship site clients. D. Civic Respnsibility: Apply the principles f civility t situatins in the cntexts f wrk, family, cmmunity and the glbal wrld. Assessment: The student will attend a lcal curt f law and give a written accunt f what yu learned frm the experience. 2

3 COURSE OBJECTIVES The student, at the successful cmpletin f this curse, shuld be able t: 1. Have experience in cmmn law ffice duties and prcedures. 2. Understand and recgnize standard law ffice frms, bks, manuals, filing systems, crrespndence frms, and accunting prcedures 3. Have the ability t begin wrk in a law ffice with knwledge and experience in cmmn law ffice duties and prcedures. 4. Have knwledge f and practice in using machinery, hardware, and sftware cmmn t law ffices. 5. Demnstrate the ability t fllw a cntracted learning experience 6. Demnstrate the ability t cmmunicate with instructr and the site supervisr t develp a functinal student cntract. 7. Demnstrate the ability t fllw schedules and instructins. 8. Plan and cmplete a summary reprt f prgress made in all cntract areas. 9. Plan and cmplete a summary reprt f prgress made n bjectives assigned. 10. Recrd events and transactins in jurnal frm. 11. Demnstrate prfessinalism by fllwing a schedule, attending required meetings and submitting timely, cmpleted assignments. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION Yur attendance will be recrded fr each class. It is yur respnsibility t make sure that yu sign the attendance rster. The instructr has the discretin t drp any student wh has mre than 5 absences (excused r unexcused) in the semester. Attendance and Participatin will be 10% f yur verall grade. Attendance means mre than simply being in class. It includes bth preparatin and participatin. Incrrect participatin answers will nt affect yur grade; Nn-participatin r lack f preparatin will. Ask questins, be prepared t answer questins, participate in class activities and always respect ther students and instructrs. GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS 1500 pints This curse is graded n participatin in an internship, supervisr evaluatins, jurnal and term paper, and varius miscellaneus assignments. Grading is A-F based n cllege perfrmance standards. Internship Flder 600 pints **EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CLASS MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR FINAL FOLDER. INCLUDING ALL CONTRACTS, SAMPLE WORK PRODUCT, RESUME DRAFTS AND FINAL RESUME, COVER LETTER DRAFT AND FINAL COVER LETTER, ETC, ETC, ETC.. EVERYTHING MUST BE ORGANIZED. INCLUDING IN A TABLE OF CONTENTS AND TABS. Resume Drafts and Final Resume Interview Wrkshp 200 pints 100 pints 5 Current Events (Summary & Presentatin) 500 pints (100 Pints Each) Class Participatin 100 pints 3

4 LATE ASSIGNMENTS Yu are all in prfessinal training. In the Legal Prfessin there are n excuses fr missed deadlines, failure t appear at hearings, lack f preparatin r failure t read ftntes. In rder t assist in this develpment I will decide whether a late assignment will be accepted. IF YOU DO NOT COMPELTE YOUR 150 HOURS BY THE REQUIRED DATE, YOU WILL RECEIVE A F GRADE IN THIS CLASS. I DO NOT GIVE INCOMPLETES. INTERNSHIP LOG Yur internship requires a minimum f 150 hurs dcumented in an Internship Lg (see next page) with dates and time perids detailed. The jurnal must be turned in at the end f the semester with the final paper. EACH PAGE OF THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE SINGED BY YOUR SUPERVISOR INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR 150 HOURS. Q. Is it kay t get paid fr my internship? A. Yes, but certainly nt required. FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS Q. Can I get credit fr wrk I have dne in the past? A. Only if it is recent enugh t meet the intent f the curse and is relevant t yur career plans. Q. What if I have n idea what I want t d? A. Call yur prfessr immediately fr help. Q. What if I can t find a placement within the first 3 weeks? A. Call yur prfessr as sn as yu realize yu have difficulty. Q. What if I frget the instructins r lse this syllabus? A. Get a cpy frm anther student. Q. What if I have an idea fr wrk experience nt mentined in the syllabus? A. Great! Call the prfessr and discuss yur idea. 4

5 Suggested Frmat LAW 4 PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP Internship Lg (Name) (Address) (City, State, Zip) (Telephne) Date Amunt f Time Detailed, Detailed, Detailed, Detailed Descriptin Ttal hurs this page: Supervising Attrney s Name & Title: Supervising Attrney s Signature: 5

6 PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR MONTHLY EVALUATION FORM (2 mnths required) STUDENT: SSN: MONTH & YEAR: ATTORNEY OR ASSISTANT EVALUATING STUDENT: Fr the mnth cntained abve, the student s perfrmance deserved the fllwing grades: 1. TIMELINESS / PUNCTUALITY ( did the student regularly shw up fr wrk at the scheduled time and was he/she punctual in perfrming wrk assignments?) A B C D r F 2. ATTITUDE / COOPERATION ( did the student display a psitive attitude tward their wrk and cperate willingly with their supervisr(s) and ther ffice emplyees? ) A B C D r F 3. QUALITY OF WORK ( did the student perfrm her/his wrk in a manner that demnstrated the cmpetency and prfessinal skills f a trained legal assistant? ) A B C D r F 4. Overall, hw wuld yu evaluate this student s perfrmance during the mnth cvered in this evaluatin? A B C D r F Cmments: ATTORNEY OR ASSISTANT PREPARING THIS EVALUATION: Name (typed r printed) Name (signed) Date: 6

7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNSHIP BINDER/FOLDER YOU MUST BUY A RED, THREE-RING VIEWBINDER, AT LEAST 2 INCHES THICK. THIS FOLDER WILL BE YOUR INTERNSHIP FOLDER. EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CLASS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS FOLDER. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOLDER YOU TURN IN TO THE INTERNSHIP INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO YOU AND THAT YOU WILL KEEP A SECOND COPY FOR YOURSELF. 1. Yur flder must have a Table f Cntents and dividers fr the different sectins. 2. The fllwing different sectins will be included in yur flder at a minimum: a. Cntracts b. Supervisr Mnthly Evaluatin Frm c. Final Paper/Reprt d. Sample Wrk Prducts e. Resume Drafts and Final versin f. Five (5) Current Events, Summary and Article Attached INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINAL PAPER TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR FINAL FOLDER Final Paper Assignment Write a 7-12 page cllege-quality paper describing yur experience. Yu shuld discuss yur accmplishments and critically analyzing yur experience frm the perspective f the cnclusin f the internship. General Frmat 1. Typewritten. 2. Duble spaced. 3. Spell and grammar checked. 4. Title Page. Cntents Discuss in detail all technical aspects f yur internship. Infrmatin shuld include educatinal preparatin and hw it cmplemented r detracted frm actual wrk assignments. This paper shuld nt merely be a lg f daily task, but shuld reflect research methds, prblem slving and analysis, applicatin f knwledge t prjects, etc. Include: 1. Part 1 - Overview As an intrductin, describe hw yu gt yur psitin and what yu d. Include: 1. Yur Name 2. Yur Title 7

8 3. The name f yur rganizatin 4. Yur supervisr's name 5. The Date f yur internship 6. A Descriptin f the wrk envirnment, including the type f cmpany and the hurs f wrk. 7. A list f task assignments, including: A descriptin f yur C-Op assignments, including yur main duties and respnsibilities, any extra tasks beynd the scpe f daily rutine, and any special accmplishments and/r training. A descriptin f human relatins, including the type f supervisin yu received, the attitude f yur cwrkers and supervisrs tward yu (and/r ther interns), and cmpany plicies, prcedures, r practices which enhanced r inhibited learning. A descriptin f the technical cntent f the jb, including a list f technical aspects imprtant t yur career develpment, and the relatinship between yur curse wrk and yur jb assignments. 8. Recmmendatins. Wuld yu recmmend an internship t ther students in yur majr (why/why nt)? Wuld yu recmmend interning with yur cmpany? Did yur internship meet yur expectatins? Prvide any cmments useful t future interns. 2. Part 2 - Educatin Critically analyze what yu have learned during the internship by addressing the fllwing: What have yu learned abut yurself? What have yu learned abut yur emplyer and yur jb? What have yu learned abut the value f yur educatin in preparing yu (r nt preparing yu) fr the internship? What have yu learned abut this ccupatin r prfessin? The rganizatinal culture r industry? What have yu learned abut the jb search prcess? 3. Part 3 - Future Gals Reflect n yur internship experience and think abut hw it will have an impact n yur future by addressing: Nw that the internship is cmplete, what wuld yu have dne differently? Hw des the internship experience fit int yur lng-range career gals? 8

9 Hw will yu maintain r fster prfessinal relatinships that will aid yur future career develpment? 4. Part 4 Hw t Make a Better Experience Identify hw yu, yur emplyer, the internship syllabus, and/r yur advisr culd have made this a better experience. Be sure yur final paper is very cmplete and self-explanatry. Belw is a general utline f yur flder and items t be included in yur flder. Belw is nt a cmplete utline f all the items yu must include, this utline is t get yu started. I. Describe the ffice yu wrk in and the nature f the law practice at the ffice. a. Describe hw yur supervising attrney fits int the ffice structure. b. Describe the legal wrk yur supervising attrney des. c. Identify the size f the law ffice. Hw many attrneys, hw many secretaries and ther supprt staff. d. Describe the relative divisin f respnsibilities amng the different levels f staff in the ffice. II. Describe the wrk yu perfrm, and hw it fits int the verall wrk f the ffice. a. D yu wrk directly with an attrney r ffice manager? D yu wrk alng with ther supprt staff? b. Describe the actual duties yu perfrmed. What level f wrk is it? Is it mre like a law clerk r mre like a secretary? c. Identify any duties yu learned r perfrmed which a legal secretary culd nt d. Were there any? d. Attach at least five (5) samples f yur wrk III. Describe any benefits frm the WLAC Paralegal Prgram yu enjyed in perfrming wrk in the law ffice. a. Have any f the classes yu have taken taught yu practical skills which assisted yur supervisr extend his services r made yu a mre valuable ffice assistant? b. Are there any curses yu have taken which yu think were unnecessary, r did nt prepare yu fr wrk in a law ffice? c. Can yu think f any skills the prgram shuld teach that we d nt currently teach? IV. Reflecting back n yur wrk experience ver the semester, have yu learned anything in this internship? a. Did the internship experience prvide yu with a greater understanding f the practical skills yu need t be an effective legal assistant? What specifically did yu learn? b. Did the internship experience help yu decide what area f law yu wuld like t wrk in after yu receive yur degree? Hw did the experience help? c. What was gd and bad abut yur internship experience? d. D yu think WLAC can change the prgram t better prepare paralegals t wrk in the cmmunity? What culd we d better? 9

10 Five (5) Required Current Events A majr gal f this curse is t prmte the imprtance f being able t get hired as a paralegal. Knwledge f current events related t LEGAL resumes, interviewing, prfessinal develpment, law ffice diplmacy, etc is crucial t yur success. Yu are expected t familiarize yurself with imprtant issues related t finding a jb. YOU WILL BE TEACHING THE CLASS BY PRESENTING YOUR CURRENT EVENTS. Yur assignment is t d current events n each f the fllwing tpics and acquire the necessary backgrund knwledge t develp sme expertise in that tpic and HOW TO DO IT BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. 1. Hw T Get My First Paralegal Jb 2. Writing Resumes fr Paralegal/Legal Emplyment 3. Writing Cver Letters fr Paralegal/Legal Emplyment 4. Law Firm Interviewing/Legal Interviewing 5. Paralegal Prfessinal Develpment/Cntinuing Legal Educatin Frm the ppular press, chse an article (published within the last 18 mnths) related t the tpics abve Read the article fr understanding. Write an in depth ne page summary (wh, what, when, where, why and hw) abut the article. Hw is yur article related t this class and yur ability t find a jb Give yur pinin abut the tpic f the article. What Changes will yu make? Attach a cpy f the article t yur submissin. Make sure everything is spelled crrectly and the grammar is crrect. 10