Penn State Abington

Paralegal Certificate

Effective Fall 2008, we are discontinuing the Paralegal Program. We will offer courses until the Spring of 2009 for those already enrolled so that they may have sufficient time to complete the program. We are not accepting any new students. Questions, contact Eva Klein, 215-881-7387.

About the Program
To earn this certificate, you must successfully complete the three required courses and five electives. You should be able to complete the program in 240 hours of class time. Although this certificate program provides insight into legal issues, it does not authorize participants to practice law.

Choose Credit or Noncredit Option
The courses in this paralegal series are available in a traditional noncredit or undergraduate credit option (2 credits per course). When registering, use the prefix "PARLG" plus the course number for the noncredit option, the prefix "L A" plus the course number for the credit option. Contact your Penn State campus for information on tuition and fees for both options.

Required Courses
It is highly recommended that you complete the three required courses prior to enrolling in an elective course:

Basic Introduction to the Paralegal Profession: PARLG 5001/L A 197A
Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing: PARLG 5002/L A 297A
Civil Practice and Procedure: PARLG 5003/L A 297B

Who Should Attend:

Secretaries and assistants working in law offices, government agencies, banks, and corporations
People who want to upgrade their professional understanding of the law
Health care and human resource professionals
Those contemplating a law career

Detailed information on our statewide paralegal program.

Requirements:

3 required
Basic Introduction to the Legal Profession
Legal Research Analysis and Writing
Civil Practice and Procedures

5 Electives, Choose from:
Legal Documentation and Presentation
Corporations and Partnerships
Wills, Estates, and Trusts
Domestic Relations
Real Estate
Elder Law
Human Resource Law
Health Care Law
Criminal Law and Procedure
Debtor's Rights/Creditor's Remedies

Course Requirements

PARLG 5001
Basic Introduction to the Paralegal Profession

This course is an introduction to the paralegal profession that includes basic legal principles, law office procedures, legal business ethics and diversity in this career choice.

PARLG 5002
Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing

An integrated approach that teaches basic methods of legal research, analysis, and written support through the identification and limited use of primary and secondary sources.

PARLG 5003
Civil Practice and Procedure

A general overview of the process by which the legal system operates. Emphasis is place on civil procedures as opposed to substantive law. Course content is designed to be practical and specific rather than theoretical or philosophical. It is designed to meet the employment and personnel training needs of practicing attorneys, governmental agencies, and corporations, to enhance the career development of students and those already holding jobs, and to upgrade the business person’s understanding of the law.

Elective Courses

PARLG 5040
Legal Documentation and Presentation

This course examines the practical application of legal research in the preparation of legal documents, with emphasis on effective writing, terminology, and format.

PARLG 5041:
Corporations and Partnerships

Various concepts of the corporate and partnership form of doing business are considered, with particular emphasis being placed upon their relative advantages and disadvantages, and the mechanics of organization, operation and dissolution.

PARLG 5042
Wills, Estates, and Trusts

The basic concepts of estate planning and will preparation are considered. Emphasis is placed upon the administration and probation of an estate, including the preparation and filing of federal and state tax returns and other required documents.

PARLG 5043
Domestic Relations

The grounds for obtaining a divorce or an annulment are analyzed with particular emphasis being placed upon the procedure for procuring each. Also considered are support, custody, and adoption problems, their procurement and resolution. Course content is designed to be practical and specific rather than theoretical or philosophical. It is directed to meet the employment and personnel training needs of practicing attorneys, government agencies and corporations, to enhance the career development of students and those already holding jobs, and to upgrade the business person’s understanding of the law.

PARLG 5044
Real Estate

Interests in real estate are classified, rights, and duties relative to possession and ownership are identified, and various methods of transfer are discussed. Emphasis is placed on understanding and performing typical real estate procedures such as title searches, preparation of agreements of sale, deeds and mortgages and handling real estate closings.

PARLG 5047
Elder Law

This course deals with the application of traditional legal planning tools such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, etc., to the unique problems of the elderly. It will also cover relatively new concepts to the problems of the elderly such as advance directives for health care, the living will, and planning for mental incapacity.

PARLG 5049
Human Resource Law

This course studies the impact of various laws and conditions affecting employment practices and the work place. Topics include: Civil Rights Act of 1866; Civil Rights Act of 1991; ADA, age and sex discrimination; harassment; privacy rights; affirmative action; labor standards act; performance appraisals; unemployment compensation; workers compensation; safety laws; and the National Labor Relations Act.

PARLG 5050
Health Care Law

This course deals with legal issues in health care. Topics include: introduction to the health care industry, how to deal with participants, professional liability, medical malpractice, government regulation, forms of doing business, insurance, managed care; and special problems relating to the health care industry.

PARLG 5060
Criminal Law & Procedure

Basic rules, essential elements, legal reasoning, defenses, analysis of specific crimes against persons and property, and a review of crimes against public order of substantive criminal law as set forth in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

PARLG 5078
Debtor’s Rights – Creditor’s Remedies

Procedures involving collection of delinquent accounts are analyzed in detail with particular emphasis placed on the administration of a collections practice and defense available to a debtor. Included is an analysis of bankruptcy law, forms of relief available to a debtor and recommended actions to be taken on the part of the creditor. Course content designed to be practical and specific rather than theoretical or philosophical. It’s directed to meet the employment and personnel training needs of practicing attorneys, government agencies, and corporations, enhancing career development of students and those already holding jobs, and to upgrade the business person’s understanding of the law.

Paralegal 2008 - 2009 Schedules

Contact: Eva Klein, 215-881-7387