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About The Course...NJ Paralegal Course Description...
The Objective of the Paralegal School and the topics offered by the
Institute both train the student in the basic mechanics of the law
office and enable the student to assist the attorney with many phases of
the practice. The overall objective is to prepare the student for
a challenging career and educational opportunity.
After graduation, students can keep updated on the most current
laws through FREE continuing education. Retake a course or the
entire course to refresh you knowledge and skills at anytime in the
future for FREE.
Graduates may retake any course or the entire
course at any time for FREE
The topics to be covered during the course program include the
following:
Ethics and Professional Responsibility...
This lecture course is designed to familiarize the student with the
ethical responsibilities of paralegals working within the legal
profession. The student will be introduced to the Codes and Regulations
governing the legal and paralegal practice. Emphasis will be placed on
the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Confidentiality, and Conflicts of
Interest. Advertising and Solicitation, Fees and Handling of Funds, and
Competence will also be discussed. At the conclusion of the paralegal
course , Professionalism and General Issues will be covered and the
student will recognize the certain responsibilities expected of them as
part of the legal community. Approximate Hours:
10
The Contract in the Law...
This topic is a basic study in the law of contracts with emphasis given
to the elements which give rise to the creation of legally binding
obligations between parties. Some of the areas to be discussed will
include the offer, the acceptance, what constitutes consideration,
review of some of the early Common Law case decisions, as well as the
current statutory laws of NJ governing contracts. Since contract law is
an essential element of most areas of the legal field, this topic will
have as its objective the training of the student to recognize
contractual obligations and the legal implications of these obligations.
Approximate Hours: 12
The Court System in New Jersey...
The purpose of this topic is to familiarize the
paralegal student with the structure of the court system in NJ, and it
will be taught primarily by using the lecture approach.
Approximate Hours: 8
Legal Research and Methods...
For a paralegal student and legal assistant, the Legal
Research and Methods topic provides one of the basic educational
building blocks. The student will be totally familiarized with the
"tools" used by the attorney in researching legal issues, as well as
emphasis given to the preparation of legal memoranda. Students will be
given the opportunity to work in teams with regard to legal research
projects.
Approximate Hours: 14
Basic Will Draftsmanship and Probate Procedures...
The Will and Probate topic is designed to help the
student to become familiarized with basic language in the area of will
and estate matters, as well as teaching the student the mechanical
procedures in handling the estate with the assistance of the attorney.
Emphasis will be given to the mechanics of the probate procedure,
marshaling of assets, familiarization with the NJ Transfer Inheritance
and Federal Estate Tax Returns, as well as the actual preparation of
these particular tax returns. Actual and mock case studies will be used
to illustrate the materials being taught.
Approximate Hours: 12
Modern Real Estate Transactions Theory...
Here the student will be taught the fundamentals of land ownership
through ultimately being able to assist the attorney with the handling
of title conveyances from the time the contract is negotiated and
executed until the closing of title, as well as post closing procedures.
The student will become familiar with the legal documents involved in a
real estate transaction, which includes, but are not limited to, the
Bond, Note, Mortgage, Deed, Closing Statements and Affidavit of Title.
At the conclusion, the student will be able to assist the attorney with
all phases of a real estate transaction, as well as mortgage financing
transactions. In addition, the lecture will discuss the various aspects
of leaseholds and lease agreements, as well as basic landlord - tenant
rights under our present law. A discussion on zoning with emphasis on
the variance and subdivision application will also be included.
Approximate Hours: 8
Modern Real Estate Workshop...
Modern Real Estate workshop is a study of the mechanical aspects of
closing a title on a step-by-step approach commencing with the
preparation of the contract of purchase and sale; title examination;
preparation of title closing documents; including the Federal RESPA
form. In addition, the various types of Deeds, Bonds, Notes, Mortgages
and other closing documents will be discussed and prepared in detail.
Approximate Hours: 12
New Jersey
Practice and Procedure...
The vocational objectives of this course are to designate and
familiarize the student with the basic nomenclature and understanding of
the Court Rules and Rules of Evidence. Emphasis will be given to
preparing the student with regard to assisting the attorney in drafting
legal pleadings and the time period allowed for each. The student will
become familiar with the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New
Jersey. Approximate Hours: 20
Pleadings...
The pleadings course is geared to familiarizing the student with the
various forms of documents used to initiate a law suit as well as the
documentation involved during the discovery period and trial period.
Students will be given an opportunity to prepare various pleadings such
as complaints in civil actions, and matrimonial actions, as well as the
various types of negligence cases, including, but not limited to,
automobile accidents and products liability. Materials will be
distributed to the students to familiarize them with the form and
content of the various types of pleadings and the rules requiring
certain language to be incorporated in these documents. A workshop will
then be undertaken where the students will be given hypothetical case
situations and asked to draft the various forms of pleadings involved in
those case studies. Approximate Hours: 10
Criminal Litigation...
Here the student will be exposed to and become familiarized with the
procedures involved with the attorney in criminal and quasi criminal
matters. The work involved in preparing the case for criminal trial from
municipal through trial court, will be discussed, and areas such as
client interviews, investigation, obtaining reports from the appropriate
police authorities, and legal research involving the issues raised
during the course of trial will be emphasized. The student will also be
taught the mechanics involved in setting up a criminal file for the
attorney and collating same. Actual case studies will be used to
highlight the areas discussed by the lecturer.
Approximate Hours: 10
Negligence Litigation...
Here the paralegal will be exposed to negligence work with emphasis
being given to automobile accident cases and product liability. The
student will be taught the fundamentals of client interviews involving
negligence cases, the type of investigation to be undertaken, the
obtaining of expert and non-expert reports and the procedures involved
in discovery. Case studies will be used to highlight the materials being
taught.
Approximate Hours: 12
Matrimonial Matters...
All phases of matrimonial work, including support matters, actions for
annulment and divorce will be lectured upon. Here the paralegal will be
exposed to the client interview, and explanation of the grounds for
divorce and annulment. Questions of custody, property distribution and
separation agreements will also be closely studied.
Approximate Hours: 12
Bankruptcy...
This course will entail a description of what Bankruptcy is, when it
becomes available, and the consequences thereof. There will be
instruction in the various types of bankruptcy, who can and who should
not go bankrupt. The safeguard that bankruptcy provides and the effect
or lack of effect on certain classes of creditors. How does bankruptcy
effect credit? What assets are exempt from the procedure? How often
bankruptcy can occur and the discharge in bankruptcy. This section gives students a working knowledge of the material
enabling them to assist a bankruptcy attorney.
Approximate Hours: 10
Legal Writing...
This course will consist of instruction first in the clear use of
language, then intermingling this with legal terminology. Instruction in
the writing of legal letters, legal memos, research findings, and trial
motions and briefs. The course will be taught by an attorney in five
two-hour sessions. This section develops skills to help
students think and write concisely in legal terms
and in the proper format.
Approximate Hours: 10
Employment Law...
Includes establishment of the Employee relationship; the various
statutes invloved; discussion of discrimination in the workplace;
workplace conditions; employees rights and wrongful action claims
against Employers.
Approximate Hours: 10
Paralegal Practice...
Paralegal Practice - Practical instruction as to the duties of a
Paralegal in the normal course of a business day.
Approximate Hours: 6
Seeking Employment
...
Q: Seeking Employment - One session discussion with students as to how
they can most efficiently pursue job search.
Approximate Hours: 3
For more information or a free brochure, call,
email us or write to:
Horizon Institute of Paralegal Studies
449 North Wood Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036
(908) 486-0404 |
