PAR 290 - Paralegal Internship

4 Credits, 16 Contact Hours
1 lecture period 15 lab periods

Volunteer paralegal field experience at an approved work site. Includes communications, positive work attitudes, ethics, progress review, law office systems, professional development, employment strategies, and final evaluation within a classroom seminar setting.

Prerequisite(s): PAR 104 , PAR 202  and WRT 102 .
Information: Enrollment and placement contingent upon earned grade point average in PAR courses. Designed for students in their final semester of course work in the Paralegal Program. Six credit hours of PAR specialty electives from the following list must be taken - PAR 203 , PAR 204 , PAR 206 , PAR 207 , PAR 208 , PAR 209 , PAR 212 , PAR 215 , PAR 217 , PAR 218 , PAR 219 , PAR 220 . A minimum of 45 credit hours if completing the AAS Degree, or 27 credit hours in completing the certificate are required. Application and acceptance required.

1. Analyze communications within the law office and formulate paralegal communication goals.
2. Identify work related problems and develop solutions using positive work attitudes.
3. Evaluate ethical concerns and recommendations for action.
4. Assess internship progress and plan goals for completion of goals by semester’s end.
5. Contrast effectiveness of law office systems and procedures.
6. Identify and recommend opportunities for paralegal professional development.
7. Formulate plan for an employment search.
8. Review and evaluate internship job site performance.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

1. Prepare a resume for an entry level paralegal position.
2. Demonstrate successful job interview skills.
3. Demonstrate appropriate paralegal skills in a variety of tasks assigned while working under the supervision of an attorney.

1. Interpersonal Communication in the Legal Work World
   1. Teamwork building between attorneys, paralegals and staff
   2. Clear definition of goals for intern and supervisor
   3. Law office organizational structure
   4. Supervisor’s style - delegation, direction, and use of paralegal
2. Positive Work Attitudes
   1. Office politics and suggestions for improvement of working relationships
   2. Constructive solutions vs. griping
   3. How to’s for making a better impression
3. Paralegal Ethics
   1. Attorney supervision of work product
   2. Unauthorized practice of law
   3. Students concerns
4. Progress Review
   1. Review of learning journals to correlate goals and duties
   2. Establish goals for remainder of semester
5. Law Office Systems
   1. Practical investigation - court records, agencies, government
   2. File organization and records analysis
   3. Established procedures unique or common to various job sites
   4. Job site rules and regulations (dress code, working conditions)
6. Paralegal Professional Development
   1. Bridging the gap from student to professional
   2. Developing job advancement opportunities
7. Employment Strategies
   1. Resume update
   2. Cover letters
   3. Job search techniques
8. Final Evaluation
   1. Student review of performance
   2. Job-site supervisor review of student’s performance

FIELD EXPERIENCE

1. Resume Preparation
   1. Employment history
   2. Academic background
   3. Skill’s assessment
2. Employment Interview
   1. Prepare for and attend internship interview with prospective employer/ supervisor
   2. Preparation and submission of legal writing sample
3. Paralegal Field Experience
   1. Completion of required number of hours at an approved work site under the supervision of an attorney
   2. Draft pleadings and other legal documents
   3. Interview clients and witnesses
   4. Engage in factual research
   5. Engage in legal research
   6. Review and analyze records
   7. Organize client files
   8. Prepare law office correspondence
   9. Attend court or administrative proceedings and assist attorney