Legal Courses
LGLA 1119 | Legal Ethics
Credit Hours: 1
Lecture Hours: 16
Contact Hours: 16
Description: The ethical and legal responsibilities and duties that a member of the legal profession owes to the public, the court, clients, and other professional colleagues. Includes a review of the canons, codes, and rules of professional responsibility. The student will define and properly use terminology related to legal ethics; describe the 256 ethical responsibilities of lawyers and law office personnel; recognize breaches of ethical obligations that may result in malpractice or disciplinary actions; and demonstrate knowledge of the canons of legal ethics governing legal professionals.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1303 | Legal Research
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: Law library techniques and computer-assisted legal research. The student will locate, read and understand primary and secondary legal authority; design and implement effective research strategies; and be familiar with computer-assisted legal research tools and the proper role of these tools. Extensive outside use of legal research resources.
Prerequisites: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1305 | Legal Writing
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: Fundamentals of legal writing techniques including case and fact analysis, citation formats, and legal writing styles emphasizing the paralegal's role in legal writing.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1307 | Intro Legal Profession
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course provides an overview of the law and of legal professions. Topics include legal concepts, systems and terminology; ethical obligations and regulations; professional trends and issues with particular emphasis on the paralegal. The student will develop a legal vocabulary; explain fundamental legal concepts and systems; explain the ethical obligations of the legal profession with particular emphasis on the paralegal’s role; and discuss topics relating to the paralegal profession.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1345 | Civil Litigation
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course presents fundamental concepts and procedures of civil litigation with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. Topics include pretrial, trial, and post-trial phases of litigation. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to civil litigation; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to the civil litigation and applicable court rules; describe and analyze other sources of law relating to constitutional law; locate, US Constitution and its amendments.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1353 | Wills, Trusts, & Probate Adm
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course presents fundamental concepts of the law of wills, trusts, and probate administration with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to wills, trusts, and probate administration; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to wills, trusts, and probate administration; describe the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal relating to wills, trusts, and probate administration; and draft documents commonly used in wills, trusts, and probate administration.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 1355 | Family Law
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course presents fundamental concepts of family law with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. Topics include formal and informal marriages, divorce, annulment, marital property, and the parent-child relationship. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to family law; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to family law; describe the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal relating to family law; and draft documents commonly used in family law.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2266 | Practicum-LGLA
Credit Hours: 2
Lecture Hours: 16
Contact Hours: 16
Description: Practical general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, the College, and the student. As outlined in the learning plan, the student will apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized tools, materials, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, appropriate verbal and written communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry. 208 practicum hours.
Prerequisites: LGLA 1303, 1307, 1345, 1351, 2303, 2309 and 2313 or permission of the instructor
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2303 | Torts & Personal Injury Law
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course presents fundamental concepts of tort law with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. Topics include intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to tort law; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to tort law; describe the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal in tort law; and draft documents commonly used in tort law.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2305 | Interviewing & Investigation
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course is a study of principles, methods, and investigative techniques utilized to locate, gather, document and manage information. Emphasis on developing interviewing and investigative skills to prepare the paralegal to communicate effectively while recognizing ethical problems. The student will conduct effective interviews with clients and witnesses in preparation for alternative dispute resolution and litigation processes; utilize multiple sources of information; and apply ethical standards in interviewing and investigation.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: This course presents fundamental concepts of real property law with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. Topics include the nature of real property, rights and duties of ownership, land use, voluntary and involuntary conveyances, and the recording of and searching for real estate documents. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to real property; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to real property; describe the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal relating to real property transactions; and draft documents commonly used in real property transactions.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2313 | Criminal Law & Procedure
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: Procedures from arrest to final disposition, principles of federal and state law, and the preparation of pleadings and motions as applied to paralegals. The student will define and properly use terminology relating to criminal law; locate and analyze cases and statutes relating to criminal law; evaluate the role and ethical obligations of the paralegal relating to 258 criminal law; and draft documents commonly used in criminal law.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2331 | Advanced Research & Writing
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: Computerized research techniques and preparation of complex legal documents such as briefs, legal office memoranda, and citation forms. The student will analyze complex legal issues; apply effective research strategies to resolve those issues and report the results in an acceptable written legal format.
Prerequisites: LGLA 1307, LGLA 1303, or approval of the instructor
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology
LGLA 2371 | Advanced Criminal Law
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Contact Hours: 48
Description: Advanced concepts of the procedural rules of criminal cases in Texas. This class will be focused primarily on Texas criminal procedural rules, as opposed to federal criminal procedure. The students will learn how a criminal case procedurally goes through the Texas system, including studying criminal investigation (search warrants, arrest warrants, etc.), arrests v. investigatory stops, booking, first appearance, bail procedures, examining trials, grand jury, indictments, pre-trial matters, motions to suppress, criminal discovery, motions in limine, plea bargaining, negotiations and procedures, jury selection, trial proceedings, various rules of evidence that apply to Texas criminal cases, appellate procedures, and the paralegal’s role and job opportunities in the criminal justice system.
Prerequisites: or corequisite: LGLA 1307
Corequisites: None
School: School of Business & Technology