Course Descriptions 11-12 - NHTI - Concord's Community College

PL 107 Contracts and Torts 3-0-3The contract portion of the class will cover Contract law fromformation, defenses and remedies for breach. Likewise,various civil wrongs in which the victim is entitled to aremedy in the form of damages, including negligence,product liability, trespass and defamation, are addressed inthe Torts section of the course. (Prerequisites: PL 106 orpermission of department head of Paralegal Studies)PL 110 Litigation and Trial Preparation 3-0-3The student will be able to assist in virtually all phases oflitigation. Functional skills acquired include preparing andmaintaining the file; gathering information through clientinterviews; drafting pleadings; organizing and indexingdocuments; tracing evidence; examining public records; andpreparing briefs and memoranda. (Prerequisite: PL 106 andPL 107 or permission of department head of ParalegalStudies)PL 221 Real Estate 3-0-3The student will be able to assist in virtually all phases oftransactions in real property. Functional skills acquiredinclude: conducting title searches; assisting in preparationand drafting of deeds, contracts of sale, leases and abstractsof title; gathering and reviewing documentation necessary inmortgage transactions; recording deeds and mortgages; andorganizing and witnessing documents at the closing.(Prerequisites: PL 106, PL 107 or permission of departmenthead of Paralegal Studies)PL 225 Legal Research and Writing 3-2-4The paralegal will be able to assist in most aspects of legalresearch in support of the drafting of clear and concise legalwritings. Functional skills acquired in this course will includea working knowledge of federal and state statutory researchincluding legislative history, federal and state case lawreporter systems, the court systems, legal form books, lawdigest, case and statutory citators, legal treaties and legalperiodicals. In addition, an introduction to the use of LEXISwill be included. Furthermore, the student will develop thespecific writing skills necessary for the paralegal. Preparationof trial memorandum and appellate court briefs will also becovered. Emphasis will be on brevity, clarity, and precision ofexpression together with the refinement of editing skills.(Prerequisites: PL 106, PL 107 and PL 110 or permission ofdepartment head of Paralegal Studies) A $100 fee will beassessed for all students taking PL 225. This fee will covercosts associated with ABA dues, Lexis/Nexis, Franklin PierceLaw Center Library, Supreme Court Library and PLSAssociate Membership.PL 231 Business Organizations and Bankruptcy 3-0-3The student will be able to assist in the formation, dailyadministration, reorganization and dissolution of a corporateentity. Functional skills acquired include: preparing articles ofincorporation; satisfying state filing requirements; takingminutes at meetings of board of directors; preparingregistration materials for regulatory agencies; and preparingbankruptcy petitions, claims and other documents.(Prerequisites: PL 106, PL 107 or permission of departmenthead of Paralegal Studies)* PL 241 Family Law 1-0-1The student will examine the substantive and procedural lawand the legal ethics relating to marriage, divorce, supportand custody issues, and will be prepared to assist theattorney in drafting pleadings and completing preliminaryresearch relative to these aspects of family law.(Prerequisites: All PL courses at 100 level or permission ofdepartment head of Paralegal Studies)PL 242 Domestic Relations Law 3-0-3The student will examine the substantive and procedural lawand the legal ethics relating to marriage, divorce, andcustody issues, and will be prepared to assist the attorney indrafting pleadings and completing preliminary researchrelative to these aspects of Domestic Relations Law.(Prerequisites: PL 106 and PL 107 or permission ofdepartment head of Paralegal Studies)PL 251 Probate Estates and Trusts 3-0-3The student will be able to assist in the planning andadministration of the decedent's estate. Functional skillsacquired include: assisting with estate planning; collectingassets; notifying beneficiaries; assisting in preparation ofFederal and State Estate Tax Returns; submittingdocumentation to the Probate Court; transferring securities;drawing checks for the Executor's signature; and maintainingaccount records. (Prerequisites: PL 106 and PL 107 or PL 101and PL 103, or permission of department head of ParalegalStudies.)PL 261 Criminal Process 1-0-1The student will examine the various elements of NewHampshire criminal practice and procedure and will trace thesteps by which the process is completed, from the initialinterview through the post-trial procedure. (Prerequisites: AllPL courses at 100 level or permission of department head ofParalegal Studies)PL 262 Criminal Law and Procedures for the Paralegal 3-0-3The student will examine the various elements of NewHampshire criminal practice and procedure and will trace thesteps by which the process is completed, from the initialinterview through the post-trial procedure. (Prerequisites: PL106, PL 107, and PL 110 or permission of department head ofParalegal Studies)PL 270 Internship 0-9-3The internship offers the opportunity to combine thetheoretical and practical issues of the classroom in theworkplace setting. Students are required to complete aspecified number of hours in a law office or law-relatedenvironment. Weekly meetings will be held with theinternship coordinator to discuss the ongoing experience.(Prerequisite: All 100 level PL courses or permission ofdepartment head of Paralegal Studies)* PL 271 Legal Writing 1-0-1This course focuses on the specific writing skills necessary forthe paralegal. The assignments involve practical examples ofparalegals' work products, as demonstrated in the areascovered in the Certificate curriculum. Preparation of a trialcourt memorandum and an appellate court brief will also be8/17/2011 NHTI, Concord’s Community College Course Descriptions 2011-2012 47