RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACADEMIC COURSE OUTLINE COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN THE LAW OFFICE LEGL-130

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1 1 RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACADEMIC COURSE OUTLINE COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN THE LAW OFFICE LEGL-130 I. Basic Course Information A. Course Title and Number: Computer Applications in the Law Office LEGL-130 B. New or Modified Course: Modified C. Date of Proposal: Spring 2011 D. Sponsoring Department: Business & Public Service E. Semester Credit Hours: 3 F. Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture: 2 Lab: 2 G. Prerequisites: Computer Literacy CISY- 102 or Microcomputer Applications CISY- 261 or Passing Score on Computer Literacy Test H. Laboratory Fees: Yes I. Name/ of Coordinator: Maria M. DeFilippis, Esq. [email protected] II. Catalog Description Prerequisite: Computer Literacy CISY-102 or Microcomputer Applications CISY-261 or Passing Score on Computer Literacy Test. This course provides essential background about computers in the law office; uses state-of-the-art legal software, as well as the most popular windows and application tools for file managing, legal document preparation, and courtroom presentations. The student will perform legal research on specific fact patterns using LEXIS, the Internet, and CD-ROM. The instruction is supplemented with software demonstrations by in-the-field experts.

2 2 III. Statement of Course Need Utilization of technology is essential to the daily practice of law. More and more systems within the practice have become computerized and software dependent. Therefore, a working knowledge of this technology is essential to be an effective paralegal within a firm setting. This course provides students with the ability to utilize technology to create documents, manage files, organize office functions and do legal research. Recognition of popular and specific software is included, as well as the value of technology in the effective and economical delivery of legal services to clients. IV. Place of Course in College Curriculum A. The course is an elective in the following programs: Paralegal Studies, AAS Degree and Certificate. B. This course will transfer to any school with a Paralegal Studies four year degree, which includes Montclair, Thomas Edison, and St. Elizabeth College in New Jersey. It will also transfer to any four year institution offering an ABA approved paralegal program of study. V. Outline of Course Content The course is divided into seven specific technology modules, as follows: MODULE I: Computer Concepts (3 hours) A. Overview: Hardware PC s, laptops, fax Software available legal tools Networks Intranet, Extranet B. Description: An overview of hardware and available legal software, networks and in the law office. MODULE 2: Word Processing (9 hours) A. Demonstration: CompareRite, PC DOCS, Voice Recognition B. Application: MS Word, WordPerfect Creation/Management of internal legal docs C. Description: Learn how to create and manage internal legal documents with MS Word and WordPerfect- Legal Edition. CompareRite, PC documents and Dragon Voice Recognition will be demonstrated. MODULE 3: Spreadsheets (6 hours)

3 3 A. Demonstration: MS Excel B. Application: Litigation (PI Calculations) Real Estate (RESPA/HUD-I) Family Law (Child Support/CIS/Payroll and Benefit Calculations) C. Description: Learn how to create and use spreadsheets in various legal situations such as litigation, real estate and family law. MODULE 4: Presentation Software (3 hours) A. Demonstration: MS PowerPoint B. Application: Creating, modifying, and enhancing evidentiary documents and courtroom presentations. C. Description: Learn to create, modify and enhance evidentiary documents and courtroom presentations with MS PowerPoint. MODULE 5: Law Office Management Functions (9 hours) A. Demonstration: Case Master B. Application: File management and creation of client tracking system; calendar and docket control; timekeeping and billing; records retention and management; conflicts checking Description: Computer use in the management of a law office will be covered. Learn file management and how to create a client tracking-system. Other topics include: calendar and docket control, timekeeping and billing, records retention and management, and conflicts checking. MODULE 6: Litigation Support (6 hours) A. Demonstration: Image and Summation Software B. Application: Scanning, Indexing, Managing discovery, Document assembly and creation C. Description: Scanning, indexing, managing discovery, document assembly and creation will be demonstrated using Image and Summation Software. MODULE 7: Computer-Assisted Legal Research (9 hours) A. Demonstration: LEXIS, Internet, CD-ROM

4 4 B. Application: Finding legal and law-related sources on the Net; Legal research on the Net and in LEXIS; CD-ROM searching C. Description: Use of the Internet for finding legal and lawrelated sources will be covered, as well as conducting research on the Internet and in LEXIS, CD-ROM searching and the use of e- mail. VI. Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes A. Education Goals Students will: 1. Develop the ability to communicate and collaborate with others in the preparation and use of computer-assisted technology to effectively run a law office. (GE NJ 1) 2. Use technological tools to research, to gather information and to create usable templates and documents for the practice of law. (GE NJ 4) 3. Analyze and evaluate legal-technology ethical issues, especially regarding confidentiality in the use of electronic mailing and file maintenance. (GE NJ 9) B. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate competence in using a computer to collect, process, and produce legal documents. 2. Identify the distinctions and benefits/limitations between computer-assisted and traditional legal research. 3. Plan and undertake the efficient search of legal materials, retrieving and recording search results using both LEXIS and the Internet. 4. Apply knowledge of file management, including indexing and assembling of discovery documents. 5. Draft legal documents and templates, using computer applications in the law office, including appropriate software

5 5 for word processing, spreadsheets, database management, litigation, case management, time and billing, calendar and docket control, and other document management systems. 6. Identify ethical considerations in use of technology in the practice of law. 7. Apply technology skills to communicate effectively with clients and within the law office using , intranet, and extranet networks. VII. Modes of Teaching and Learning This course will employ the following methods of teaching: A. lecture/discussion B. computer-assisted research & legal specialty software instruction with assignments C. template production D. student presentations E. demonstrations by experts in the field VIII. Papers, Examinations, and other Assessment Instruments This course will employ the following methods of assessment: A. Examinations B. Student Presentations C. Internet & LEXIS research D. Document and template preparation assignments IX. Grade Determinants Written exams, student presentations and computer-based assignments requiring research and the preparation of various documents and templates will be used to assess the students according to the general education goals and learning outcomes listed above. X. Text and Materials. A. Textbook: Roper, Using Computers in the Law Office (Current Edition); Thomson Publishing Company. B. web sources C. other computer-based and software-specific legal sources XI. Resources

6 The course will require the use of a computer lab with appropriate legal software loaded on each computer. 6