Courses may not be offered during every semester. To confirm course offerings for each semester, please use the Course Search.The Paralegal Studies program offers a wide assortment of courses on the vast subject of law. From an introductory knowledge of law, research, and litigation to an in-depth study of advanced legal proceedings, rights, and politics our department develops its students into expert legal personnel. Our department is finely crafted and forward-looking, offering a number of online electives designed to further encourage a career for the modern professional.
For specific classes offered in specific semesters see the Schedule of Classes at Student Central.
Y211: Introduction to Law (3 cr) An introduction to law as an aspect of government and politics, and as a means for dealing with major social problems. Students will study legal reasoning, procedures, materials, and compare other nations’ legal systems. This course includes a mock trial.
Y221: Legal Research and Writing for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) Development of research and communication skills special to the area of law. This course includes methods of organizing and conducting legal research, resources available for legal research, presentation of findings in memoranda and briefs, and other forms of legal writing.
Y222: Litigation for Paralegal Studies I (3 cr) This course examines the processing of a case from initial client interviews to the final disposition. It includes the drafting of complaints, answers, counterclaims, interrogatories, and other discovery tools. It also includes the gathering of evidence, motions, and judgements. Both Indiana and federal rules of evidence are emphasized.
Y223: Litigation for Paralegal Studies II (3 cr) This elective course in advanced litigation focuses primarily on aspects of trial preparation not covered in Y222. Topics include jury selection, witness preparation and examination, preparation of evidence for use at trial, jury instructions, and post judgement relief.
POLS P 431: Advanced Legal Writing for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This is the Capstone course for the Law in Liberal Arts degree. The course builds on Y221 by giving students the opportunity for advanced study of research and communication skills needed for paralegals and provides an opportunity for students to build a portfolio of paralegal work as they prepare for a legal career.
Y232: Professional Responsibility for Paralegals (3 cr) Examines the ethical rules and responsibilities of paralegals.
Y304: Constitutional Law (3 cr) Studies the nature and function of law and the judicial process, with a focus on key Supreme Court decisions, and an interpretation of the constitutional system of the United States.
Y305: Constitutional Rights and Liberties (3 cr) Examines the extent and limits of constitutional rights. Interpret the American constitutional system through study of selected Supreme Court decisions.
Y320: Judicial Politics (3 cr) Looks at the American judicial system and the role of courts—particularly the Unites States Supreme Court—in the political process. Topics in the course include the structure of the judicial system, the participants in the judicial system, and the impact of court decisions and actions on public policy.
P324: Property Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course examines the legal rules governing various types of property and the ways in which human beings relate to property. Types of property include real and personal; relationships to property include both ownership and interest. Emphasis is placed on forms and procedures used in Indiana.
P325: Contract Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course includes the basic elements and principles involved in the drafting, interpretation, and enforcement of contracts, including current trends in contract law in Indiana. This course includes Uniform Commercial Code.
P326: Tort Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course reviews current law and recent trends in negligence and liability. Different dimensions of liability are covered. An emphasis is placed on conduct of a tort case from initiation through relief, and covers the responsibilities of legal assistants therein.
P327: Criminal Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This in-depth review of criminal law in Indiana covers the Indiana Criminal Code—infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. The course emphasizes real situations that legal professionals encounter throughout the process.
P328: Family Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course examines legal rules and procedures concerning domestic relations. Topics covered include separation and divorce, adoption, child custody and support, and other areas of domestic relations in Indiana.
P329: Estate Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course reviews legal rules and procedures concerning the transfer of property upon the owner’s demise. Provides a practical approach to the language, procedures, forms interpretation, and administration of wills and trusts. Emphasis is placed on current trends in Indiana and federal law.
P330: Bankruptcy Law for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) Examines the legal rules relating to bankruptcy.
INFO-I 330: [Online] Legal and Social Informatics of Security (1-3 cr) This course examines the set of ethical and legal problems most tightly bound to issues of information control. Students will analyze core issues of technology: privacy, intellectual property, Internet law, concepts of jurisdiction, speech anonymity versus accountability, and ethical decision making in the network environment.
P333: Business Association for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course covers relevant commercial business and law topics for paralegal students.
INFO-I 350: [Online] Foundations in Legal Informatics (1-3 cr) This course examines the basic concepts of the design, evaluation, and use of technology in the study and practice of law. The course provides an overview of the application of a variety of emerging informatics and new media technologies to the field of law. Technology for law office management, legal research, litigation support, document management, imaging and animations, case management, and electronic court filing will be covered in this course.
INFO-I 410: [Online] Electronic Discovery (1-3 cr) This course will cover the legal, ethical, financial, logistical, procedural, and technological considerations of electronic discovery and its implications for lawyers and their clients. It will highlight recently revised federal and state rules, new state and federal legislation, and recent court that impact electronic discovery policies and processes. We will also consider electronic discovery from the point of view of the corporation that has to prepare—and then respond to—requests for the production of digital evidence.
INFO-I 470: [Online] Litigation Support Systems and Courtroom Presentation (1-3 cr) This course provides students with the opportunity to use specialized software for organizing, managing, retrieving, and presenting documents and evidence in a legal matter. Students will gain hands-on experience with software tools and learn what is effective and allowable from a technical, legal, and ethical standpoint.
NEWM-N 480: [Online] Technology and the Law (1-3 cr) Provides students with a solid foundation on legal matters that impact new media and informatics. Subjects include intellectual property (copyright, patents, trademark, and trade secrets), contracts, licensing, privacy, publicity, global legal issues, and professional ethics.
Y485: Field Experience for Paralegal Studies (3 cr) This course allows students to enroll in a legal internship for credit. As well as completing the internship, students typically complete a research paper based on their experiences, modules about the internship, and weekly work logs.