PLG-250 Paralegal Internship
This course provides the student with the opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney or experienced paralegal in day-to-day, on-site office work. The student must complete a minimum of 128 hours of internship work at the internship site during the semester, which may be a public or private law office, corporate or government legal department, abstract company, or other appropriate law-related site. It will be the student’s responsibility to secure an internship site with the help of the program director. During the semester, the student must attend three internship seminar sessions in which issues regarding the student’s experiences and the paralegal profession will be discussed. Students will also do an oral presentation and write a paper describing their internship experiences. Internships are subject to the approval of program director as well as availability. Offered on a regular rotating basis.
Prerequisite
Attendance at an orientation session held the semester before the internship, completion of 30 credit hours at least nine of which must be paralegal classes including
PLG-100 and
PLG-125 with a grade of ‘C-’ or better and an overall grade point average of 2.50.
For more detailed course information view the
Course Outline
Course Description
This course provides the student with the opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney or experienced paralegal in day-to-day, on-site office work. The student must complete a minimum of 128 hours of internship work at the internship site during the semester, which may be a public or private law office, corporate or government legal department, abstract company, or other appropriate law-related site. It will be the student’s responsibility to secure an internship site with the help of the program director. During the semester, the student must attend three internship seminar sessions in which issues regarding the student’s experiences and the paralegal profession will be discussed. Students will also do an oral presentation and write a paper describing their internship experiences. Internships are subject to the approval of program director as well as availability. Offered on a regular rotating basis.
Credit Hours
3Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered
Fall, Spring
Prerequisites
Attendance at an orientation session held the semester before the internship, completion of 30 credit hours at least nine of which must be paralegal classes including PLG-100 and PLG-125 with a grade of ‘C-’ or better and an overall grade point average of 2.50.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Perform paralegal tasks in a legal environment
- Demonstrate knowledge of paralegal ethics
- Make an oral presentation about the internship
- Prepare a paper describing various aspects of the internship
Topic Outline
- 1. Time management, organizational skills, and office protocol
- a. Timekeeping and billing procedures
- b. Calendaring and tickler systems
- c. Personal planning
- d. Cooperating with support staff
- e. Professionalism (appropriate dress and behavior)
- f. Ethical issues involved in time management, organizational skills, and office protocol
- 2. Professional development and paralegal associations
- a. NALA, NFPA, and local paralegal organizations
- b. Certification vs. licensure
- c. The importance of continuing legal education
- d. Notary public licensure
- 3. Perceptions of the paralegal profession
- a. Should paralegals be exempt or nonexempt employees as to overtime pay?
- b. How is the paralegal's role defined?
- i. Inside the law firm
- ii. By the general public
- c. How can you help to elevate your profession?
- d. Where are paralegals headed?
- e. Ethical issues faced by paralegals
- 4. Ethical considerations
- a. Prohibition against giving legal advice
- b. Competency
- c. Confidentiality
- d. Solicitation
- e. Conflict of interest
- f. Zealous representation
- g. Professional malpractice