Westchester Community College Paralegal
Course Offerings
Course Offerings Include:
PRLGL 101 -
Introduction to Paralegal Studies - 3 credits
Introduction to Paralegal Studies is a prerequisite to all
other courses in the program. The course provides students with a
historical and sociological perspective of the law. The methods and
processes of judicial, administrative and legislative branches of government
as they relate to the legal assistant are studied. The basic terminology and
procedures of the legal system in New York are covered. An introduction to
legal research assists students in analyzing cases, writing briefs and
making presentations. Ethical standards of the law profession are included.
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Class Hours: 3
Instructor: Russell J. Ippolito, Esq.
Course Book:
Introduction to Law and the Legal System
Frank A. Schubert, Northeastern University
Check bookstore for current edition.
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Course Syllabus
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PRLGL 116 - Computer
Applications for the Law Office - 3 credits
Students develop the conceptual,
technical and interpersonal skills required to apply technology and
principles of management and supervision to manage information and personnel
in an automated law office environment. Course includes hands-on experience
with word processing, database, spreadsheet, presentations, and law specific
software.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 115 - Criminal Law
for Paralegals - 3 credits
This course is an introduction to
criminal law and procedure for paralegals. Emphasis will be placed on
practical aspects of prosecuting and defending criminal law cases. For
example, students will learn procedural steps from arrest to trial, but
attention will also be given to the nature and origins of criminal law and
the role of crime in American society today. The student will learn legal
terminology, case analysis and briefing and will continue to develop writing
skills.
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Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies Course Book:
Criminal Law and Procedures for the Paralegal,
James W.H. McCord and Sandra L. McCord
Check bookstore for current edition. |
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PRLGL 121 - Elder Care - 3
credits
This is an introductory course in the
growing field of Elder Law, which focuses on the legal and financial
implications of aging. Legal areas such as estate planning and probate, age
discrimination, durable powers of attorney, right-to-die issues, trusts,
disability planning, elder abuse, guardianship, fraud, Social Security,
Medicare and Medicaid are covered. The student will learn how legal and
social institutions interact with life and death issues. Particular
attention will be paid to ethical questions and the intersection of law and
public policy in defining and meeting the needs of the elderly. Offered once
a year.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 110 - Estates,
Wills, and Trusts - 3 credits
This course prepares the prospective
paralegal to prepare legal documents related to the planning and
administration of trusts, the administering of estates and asset
distribution. Topics covered in depth include wills, probate and taxes.
Students learn to prepare legal documents most commonly related to these
topics, such as petitions for probate, citations, waivers, notice of probate
and probate attorney’s affidavit. Students prepare tax returns.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
Course Book:
Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration for the Paralegal,
by Dennis R. Hower, Delmar Publishers
Check bookstore for current edition.
Instructor: Russell J.
Ippolito, Esq.
Course Syllabus
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PRLGL 104 - Family Law - 3
credits
This course prepares the prospective
paralegal to assist attorneys in the practice of marriage law and
preparation of documents related to the most common legal aspects of
marriage. Marriage relationships, legal problems with children, dissolution
of marriage, custody, legitimacy, adoption, guardianship and support
agreements are studied. Students write the most common legal agreements and
marriage/family related documents.
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Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies Course Book:
New York Family Law for Legal Assistants, by Sara P. Schechter
Check bookstore for current edition.
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PRLGL 120 - Health Care
Law - 3 credits
This is an introductory course in the
specialty field of Health Care Law. The student will learn how legal and
social institutions interact with life and death issues. Areas of study
include legal problems of the elderly, law and mental health, AIDS and the
law, health care financial and delivery systems, federal vs. state law, the
privatization of health care facilities, and the marketing of health care
providers. The course will also focus on the ethical questions of health
care and public policy.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 118 - Paralegal
Intern - 3 credits
This course provides students with an
opportunity to apply their paralegal theory and skills in an actual legal
setting, working fifteen hours per week and completing a portfolio which
describes what has been learned. A faculty mentor monitors the work
experience. Prerequisite: permission of the curriculum or department chair
to register for this course.
This course should be taken only after much
of the other course work has been completed.
Intern
Requirements |
Internship Evaluation
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Internship Letter
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PRLGL 117 - Immigration
Law - 3 credits
This course is an introduction to
immigration law and policy in an historical and constitutional context with
emphasis on paralegal skills training and practice. It covers the
categorization of immigrants and non-immigrants, admission and deportations
procedures, asylum and refugees, and citizenship. A major component of the
course will be the application of knowledge to specific legal issues, real
and hypothetical.
Instructor: Theresa A.
O'Rourke
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 122 - Intellectual
Property - 3 credits
This course is an introduction to
intellectual property law and policy in a national and international context
with emphasis on paralegal skills training and practice. It covers the areas
of trademark, copyright and patent law with special emphasis on the most
recent legislation in the United States and the United Nations and on the
impact of technology. A major component of the course will be the
application of knowledge to specific legal issues, real and hypothetical.
Class hrs. 3. PRLGL 101 Introduction to Paralegal Studies. Offered once a
year.
Instructor: Theresa A.
O'Rourke
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 102 - Legal Research
& Writing - 3 credits
This course introduces paralegals to
methods of finding the law applicable to a specific legal issue. Students
learn legal research principles; the types of law books used in research,
their scope, citation methods; interpreting case and statutory law as well
as other legal authority and annotations. Students learn to use government
publications. In all areas of research, students are required to organize
legal research and findings and present their ideas in written and oral
format. This course involves intensive legal writing.
 
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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PRLGL 106 - Litigation - 3
credits
Students are introduced to the use of
litigation as the process for resolving disputes through the court system.
In addition to an overview of the litigation process, students learn the
court procedures involved with litigation and methods by which paralegals
assist attorneys in the process. This course involves intensive legal
writing. Students complete a portfolio of legal documents related to
litigation.
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Instructor: Russell J.
Ippolito, Esq.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
Course Book:
Siegel's Hornbook New York Practice, 3d
by David D. Siegel
Check bookstore for current edition.
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Course Syllabus
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PRLGL 119 - Medical
Malpractice for Paralegals - 3 credits
This is an introductory course in the
specialty field of Medical Malpractice. It combines health sciences and
paralegal backgrounds in an attempt to enhance the skills of students in
both fields. The class will cover basic tort law with medical malpractice
litigation. Emphasis will be placed on substantive knowledge of law and
medicine with skills of legal research and medical records reading. A major
component of the course will be the application of knowledge to specific
legal issues, real and hypothetical.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
Instructor: Hon. John
P. DiBlasi
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PRLGL 108 - Partnership
and Corporation - 3 credits
This course explores laws which
pertain to business form and structure. Primary attention is directed to
different legal types of partnership forms as well as legal corporate
structures. Students learn to prepare the legal documentation needed to
form, maintain, and dissolve the primary legal entities of business.
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PRLGL 114 - Real Property
Law - 3 credits
This course provides basic knowledge
of real property law, its concepts, its principles, and the government
regulations regarding real property. Students learn to use the documents and
forms utilized in closings on houses, cooperatives and condominiums.
Students learn to draft, for use by an attorney, most of the documents
needed in a real estate closing. Students participate in a mock closing at
the end of each semester.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
Course Book:
Essentials of Real Estate Law,
Daniel F. Hinkel, Delmar Publishers, ISBN/ISSN: 0-314-12693-7
Check bookstore for current edition.
Course
Syllabus
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PRLGL 112 - Torts &
Investigation - 3 credits
This course provides paralegals with
an introduction to the general nature of tort law and allows for the
specific analysis of intentional and other torts. Students prepare “Office
Memorandum of Law” in conformity with the requirements of such memoranda.
Students will also prepare a Complaint and Bill of Particulars based on
provided fact patterns.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal
Studies
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