Introduces various areas of law in which a legal assistant may be employed. Includes study of the court system (Virginia and federal) as well as a brief overview of criminal law, torts, domestic relations, evidence, the U.C.C., contracts, ethics, the role of the legal assistant, and other areas of interest. Prerequisite or co-requisite: ENG 107 if recommended or permission of instructor. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Studies elements of a valid marriage, grounds for divorce and annulment, separation, defenses, custody, support, adoptions, and applicable tax consequences. Includes property settlement, pre- and ante-nuptial agreements, pleadings, and rules of procedure. May include specific federal and Virginia consumer laws and an overview of bankruptcy law. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Provides an understanding of various components of a law library and emphasizes research skills through the use of digests, encyclopedias, reporter systems, codes, Shepard’s Citations, ALR, and other research tools. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Studies proper preparation of various legal documents, including legal memoranda, letters, and pleadings. Involves practical applications. May include case and appellate briefs. Prerequisites: ENG 111 or permission of instructor and LGL 125. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Examines general principles of ethical conduct applicable to legal assistants. Includes the application of rules of ethics to the practicing legal assistant. Lecture 1 hour per week.

Examines indepth the rules of procedure in Virginia and federal court systems, including the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Practice and Procedure in the District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court of Virginia. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Studies fundamental principles of the law of torts, including preparation and use of pleadings and other documents involved in the trial of a civil action. Emphasizes personal injury, product liability, and medical malpractice cases. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Examines the trial process, including the preparation of a trial notebook, pretrial motions, and orders. Includes preparation of interrogatories, depositions, and other discovery tools used in assembling evidence in preparation for trial or an administrative hearing. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Surveys applicable administrative laws, including the Privacy Act, the Administrative Process Act, and Freedom of Information Act. Studies practice and procedure involving the ABC Commission, State Corporation Commission, Division of Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Administration, the Virginia Employment Commission, and other administrative agencies. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Introduces various devices used to plan an estate, including wills, trusts, joint ownership, and insurance. Considers various plans in light of family situations and estate objectives. Focuses on practices involving administration of an estate including taxes and preparation of forms. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Reviews aspects of abstracting title to real estate, recordation of land transactions, liens, grantor-grantee indices, warranties, covenants, restrictions, and easements. Prerequisite: LGL 228 or permission of program head. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Focuses on methods and practices in administrative area of real estate closings, back title information, preliminary report from attorney’s title notes, lender’s requirements, payoffs, HUD-1 settlement statement, real estate taxes, interest, escrow, disbursement and release of liens of record. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Studies fundamental principles of agency law and the formation of business organizations. Includes sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities. Reviews preparation of the documents necessary for the organization and operation of businesses. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Provides a practical understanding of nonbankruptcy alternatives and the laws of bankruptcy, including Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Emphasizes the preparation of petitions, schedules, statements, and other forms. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Teaches post-trial motions, enforcing judgments and appellate practice and procedure. Emphasizes the preparation of documents to enforce judgments and to appeal a judgment from a Virginia District Court to a Virginia Circuit Court and to the Virginia Court of Appeals and Virginia Supreme Court, and from the United States District Court to the United States Supreme Court. Prerequisites: LGL 210 and LGL 216. Lecture 3 hours per week

Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial of service firms coordinated by the college. Laboratory 12 hours per week

Provides basic information on the role of the Paralegal in criminal cases, including preparation of the appropriate forms and motions. Includes both statutory law as well as criminal procedure. Lecture 3 hours per week.

Covers Westlaw, Lexus/Nexus, legal software packages, and utilizing the internet in the practice of law. Prerequisites: Passing score on English placement test or completion of ENG 111 (or equivalent course); ITE 115; and LGL 125. Lecture 3 hours per week. 

09.15.09