Introduction to the court system, administrative agencies, functions of law offices, and professional conduct and legal ethics.

Survey of the language of the law that will serve either as an introductory course or as a review course to prepare students for the certification test.

The Virtual Law Office class is a 'hands-on', project oriented course designated to provide the student with the basic law office skills needed to function successfully in a law office setting. The student will gain a practical, working knowledge of the procedures necessary to work in a law office. The skills learned in the class will directly translate to real life situations.

Case standing of the law of the Constitution and Bill of Rights with regard to day-to-day applications in the law practice. Documents dealing with constitutional problems in both civil and criminal areas of law will be drafted and discussed.

Introduction to federal and state criminal law; criminal proceedings, prosecution and defense, sentencing and appeal.

Introduction to ethical dilemmas faced in the workforce and the rules of ethics developed by the American Bar Association, various national paralegal organizations, and the Supreme Court of New Mexico.

Survey of the basics of immigration law including the rights and obligations of citizenship and the naturalization process.

Work experience that directly relates to a student's major field of study that provides the student an opportunity to explore career paths and apply knowledge and theory learned in the classroom. Internships can be paid or unpaid. Students are supervised/evaluated by both the employer and the instructor.

Continuation of PL S 221. Each credit requires specified number of hours of on-the-job work experience.

Law of contracts, negotiable instruments, bank transfers, secured transactions, debtor-creditor relations, agency, and business types and their formation. Students will study the relevant statutes as well as draft documents associated with these types of legal practice.

Individual and corporate bankruptcy; the basic principles and processes of bankruptcy law as a system of debtor relief and debt collection.

Legal memoranda, briefs, and pleadings will be prepared and written based on the student s original research. Research materials and techniques will be identified and studied; introduction of computer usage in legal research.

Primary legal principles of tort and insurance law and means of establishing insurance plans, types of torts and insurance, as well as use of specific forms and procedures relating to these areas.

Cases and statutes dealing with wills, trusts, and probate. Emphasis on preparation and drafting of documents and the application of the law and documents to the client s problems.

Methods of conducting client interviews and drafting of pleadings and research relative to families. Laws relating to marriage, divorce, custody, support, adoption, name change, guardianship, and paternity.

The law of procedure and evidence will be considered through rules and cases. Case situations will be used to identify and solve problems.

Continuation of PL S 274. Advanced training in legal research problems with a focus on analysis, writing, and preparation of sophisticated legal memoranda and documents.

Techniques of legal interviewing and investigation with emphasis on development of human relations and communication skills.

Individual studies directed by consenting faculty with prior approval by department head.