Program Objectives
- Explain role of paralegal in law office, identify employment opportunities, prepare resumes and apply effective interview techniques.
- Discuss the S.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and explain their application to lawyers and paralegals.
- Locate, read and analyze constitutional law, statutory law, case law, administrative agency regulations and secondary source materials related to given factual situations.
- Research and prepare legal memoranda and properly cite law used according to the citation rules contained in a Uniform System of Citation.
- Discuss and apply the S.C. Rules of Civil Procedure and describe jurisdiction of state and federal courts.
- Discuss legal issues related to real property, analyze documents for the conveyance and encumbrance of real property for validity and proper form and prepare loan closing documents.
- Apply legal principles involved in tort actions and investigate claims by gathering evidence, preparing discovery documents and interviewing witnesses.
- Apply legal principles related to domestic relations issues and prepare appropriate pleadings and documents.
- Prepare a simple will, analyze various types of trusts and apply legal principles, and prepare forms relative to administration of testate and intestate estates.
- Discuss legal principles governing formation, performance and breach of contracts, as well as appropriate remedies for breach.
- Apply legal principles and skills learned in classroom setting in law office internship or comprehensive research project.
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW (UPL) STATEMENT: PARALEGALS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW IN SOUTH CAROLINA (S.C. CODE § 40-5-310).