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PROGRAMS / COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the role of the paralegal in the
rendering of legal services by attorneys to clients and
the ethical rules that govern that relationship. The
student will become familiar with the concept of the
unauthorized practice of law, the criminal penalties such
practices carry and the best means to avoid liability.
Comprehensive study of the ABA’s Model Rules of
Professional Conduct will give the student a broad base
from which to operate ethically and legally as a
paralegal.
POLS 134 FAMILY LAW
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU. (No prerequisite)
This course examines Family Law rules and procedures
for the paralegal working in a California family law
practice. Concepts covered include marital contracts,
annulment, separation, dissolution, child custody and
support, spousal support, property division, and tax
consequences of family law procedures. Included will be
current topics in family law such as demise of marriage,
same-sex unions, adoptions, and surrogate
motherhood.
POLS 135 TORT LAW FOR PARALEGALS
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU. (No prerequisite)
This course introduces the paralegal to the world of tort
law; takes them through the basic concepts that are the
foundation of negligence litigation (duty, breach,
causation, damages), intentional torts to both persons
and property, and strict liability. Introduces the student
to investigative procedures in personal injury cases.
POLS 136 LEGAL WRITING FOR PARALEGALS
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU. (No prerequisite.)
This course provides the paralegal student with the
development of good legal writing skills. Critical analysis
of proper legal writing forms stressing logic, clarity and
format will be used to shape the paralegal student’s
ability to produce such legal documents as correspondence,
legal briefs, memorandum of law,
pleadings, and appellate briefs.
POLS 137 BEGINNING LEGAL RESEARCH FOR
PARALEGALS
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU. (No prerequisite.)
This course provides the paralegal student with a
beginning introduction to the sources and means of
legal research. The course will focus on developing the
student’s ability to locate and use various types of legal
authority including legal encyclopedias, constitutions,
statutes, court opinions, administrative regulations, and
appellate decisions. The student will be expected to
learn and practice Shepardizing and citation checking
skills.
POLS 139 WILLS AND TRUSTS FOR PARALEGALS
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU. (No prerequisite.)
This course introduces the paralegal student to the laws
of Wills, Trusts and Estates, including the creation of
wills, testate succession, intestate succession, trust
creation and arrangements, family protection, estate
planning, probate courts, and estate taxes.
POLS 138 COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
See Cooperative Education listing ( 1-8 units)
POLS 206 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU, UC. (No
prerequisite)
This course examines American environmental policy
and how natural resources are managed. The historical,
global, and ethical dimensions of how our society
relates to the environment are analyzed from an
interdisciplinary perspective.
POLS 211 GLOBAL ISSUES (formerly POLS 111)
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. CSU, UC. (No
prerequisite. Grade Option). This course may be taken
two times.
Surveys recent developments in the nature of global
interdependence. Examines the major political,
economic, and military conflicts of this century and
recent problems of population growth, environmental
decay, ethnic/national antagonism and violence, and
post-Cold War politics. Course content changes based
on current events.
PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is a behavioral science which has as its
goals to describe, understand, explain, predict and
influence behavior and mental processes. Graduates in
psychology—bachelor’s degree and post-graduate
study required—are employed in a number of areas,
including teaching, research, and practice. Some of the
major sub-fields in psychology are clinical, counseling,
developmental, educational, environmental, health,
industrial/organizational, neuroscience, physiological,
quantitative (math, psychometrics, statistics), school,
and social psychology.
Career Opportunities
Advertising Executive
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
Marriage, Family and Child Counselor
Mental Health Officer
Personnel Analyst
Probation Officer
Psychologist
POLITICAL SCIENCE • PSYCHOLOGY
2012-2013 Victor Valley College Catalog 293