Course Description
The Paralegal Practicum is a three (3) credit-hour course in which eligible paralegal degree-seeking students report to a host site and work under the supervision of an attorney or his/her designee (herein after referred to as the Site Supervisor) for a minimum of 240 hours over the course of a semester in exchange for course credit. The schedule for performing work at the host site shall be agreed upon between the Student and host site at the start of the semester. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
- To ensure that students participating in the practicum possess a certain level of skill and knowledge, students must have completed the following core paralegal and business law courses either at Charter Oak State College (COSC) or through transfer credit:
- BUS 120: Business Law
- PLG 105: Civil Procedure
- PLG 110: Technology in Law
- PLG 210: Legal Research and Writing
- PLG 301: Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Demonstrate ability to perform tasks typically undertaken by a paralegal in a law practice including, but not limited to, research and writing; file organization; document preparation and client interaction.
- Evaluate the ethical principles that guide paralegal conduct in the legal profession.
- Explain the various career paths available for paralegals.
- Describe strategies to manage stressors of a career in the legal profession.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Practicum Journal (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Discussion (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Weekly Timesheets and Activity Summary (Weeks 1-8) | 10% |
Midterm & Final Evaluations (Weeks 4 & 8) | 50% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbook
There are no required texts for this course.
Practicum Site Selection
- Students are responsible for finding their own host site; however, the Charter Oak State College (COSC) Practicum Program Coordinator (PPC) must approve of the practicum host site. Students are required to submit their site selection for approval at least 90 days before the first day of the course and the Practicum.
Course Schedule
Week | SLO | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2 | Topic: Ethics in the Profession
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2 | 1,2 | Topic: Law Firm Utilization of Paralegal Services
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3 | 1,2 | Topics: Assisting Attorneys in Preparing for Trial
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4 | 1,3 | Topic: Paralegal Career Paths
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5 | 1,2,4 | Topics: Client Interaction
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6 | 1 | Topic: Legal Writing
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7 | 1,4 | Topic: Stressors and the Law
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8 | 1,2,3,4 | Topic: Reflection and Final Conference
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.