The Legal Studies Certificates and Legal Studies
Degree Program consist of legal specialty courses that provide
an understanding of basic concepts of substantive and procedural
law and foster the development of skills in legal research and
writing, drafting of legal documents, investigation, interviewing
techniques, and law office administration.
Computers have become increasingly important in
the practice of law and students are strongly encouraged to acquire
some computer experience, either prior to or during the program.
Familiarity with the Windows environment, word processing, spreadsheets,
databases, and the Internet is highly suggested. The program uses
computers in the development of practical, hands-on legal skills
but does not provide keyboarding or software instruction.
Questions about the curriculum can be addressed
to the Program Director, Bruce F. Hamm, J.D., via e-mail
or at 315-443-3299.
LGL/PDC 201 - Introduction
to Legal Systems and Legal Ethics 3 - Examines definitions
and sources of law and organization of judicial system. Representative
substantive areas of law covered to develop case analysis, legal
thinking and writing. Codes of professional ethics for lawyers
and non-lawyers also explored. (required) Prerequisite: None
LGL/PDC 202 - Legal Research
and Writing 4 - Fact analysis, issue spotting, and legal problems
involving statutes, digests, and case law. Assigned library research
problems. Prepare law office memoranda, legal briefs, and other
common legal documents. Computer literacy highly recommended.
(required) Prerequisite: None
LGL/PDC 205 - Law Office
Technology 3 - Integration of technology in the legal setting
including hardware and software considerations, document management,
law office information management, computer assisted legal research
(exercises and research tools), and the Internet. Examine criteria
and methods for evaluating technological options. (required) Prerequisite:
LGL/PDC 201, 202.
LGL/PDC 301 - Tort Law 3
- Overview of the principles of tort law covering intentional
torts, negligence, strict liability, product liability, and defamation.
Elements of causes of action, defenses, and the role of the legal
assistant are examined. (required) Prerequisite: None
LGL/PDC 302 - Criminal Law and Procedure 3
- Substantive criminal law and procedure including criminal responsibility
and elements of a crime. Crimes and defenses, charges, and penalties
examined. Rights, privileges, investigations, confessions, interrogations,
identifications, subpoenas, arraignments, court and trial procedures
covered. (elective) Prerequisite: None
LGL/PDC 304 - Contracts
and Commercial Law 3 - Contract formation, offer and acceptance,
capacity, and consideration. Common law contracts, sales contracts
(Article 2, UCC), negotiable instruments (Article 3), promissory
notes, drafts, checks, certificates of deposit, and dynamics of
commercial transactions are examined. (required) Prerequisite:
None
LGL/PDC 305 - Property
and Real Estate 3 - Examines common law real property, deeds
and conveyances, liens and encumbrances, easements and restrictive
covenants, and conditional estates. Also leases, recording acts,
brokers, contracts, title examination, title policies and surveys,
and preparation of transactional documents. (required) Prerequisite:
None
LGL/PDC 306 - Family Law and Domestic Relations
3 - The laws of divorce, separation, and annulment are followed
by a study of custody, visitation, and support. Procedural aspects
in both Family Court and Supreme Court are considered along with
these substantive areas. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 321 - Administrative Law 3 - Law
and procedure of state and federal administrative agencies, including
case law, appearances, and practice before administrative agencies.
Topics include hearings, rulemaking, adjudication, due process,
judicial review, agency discretion, information disclosure, and
decisions. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 322 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
3 - Fundamentals of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation
in legal disputes and litigation examined. Practical applications
in business, community, and domestic settings studied. Increasing
use of court ordered ADR explored. Procedures, skills, and ethics
covered. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 331 - Environmental Law 3 - Federal
and state law and procedures addressing air and water pollution,
toxic substances, solid waste, and nuclear hazards. Also includes
municipal land use considerations. Practical emphasis on preparation,
compliance, and litigation issues. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC
201.
LGL/PDC 401 - Civil
Practice and Litigation 4 - Examines pleadings, motions, and
orders. Also disclosure including interrogatories, depositions,
and discovery. Additionally, time limitations, service of process,
judgment, filing, and appeals. Includes a practical experience
mirroring a civil litigation from inception through resolution.
(required) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 402 - Estates, Wills, and Trusts 3
- Intestate distribution, the legal requirements of a valid will,
the use of trusts, and probate proceedings are examined. Principles
of estate administration, accounting, recordkeeping, estate income,
and estate taxes are also covered. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC
201.
LGL/PDC 403 - Business Organizations 3 -
Review of the major areas of business organizational law. Comparisons
of sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and agency made.
Focus on corporate operations. Employer/employee relationship
and statutes and regulations affecting employment are examined.
(elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 404 - Employment and Labor Law 3
- Rights and duties of employers and employees including hiring
practices, personnel procedures, terminations, employment discrimination,
sexual harassment, public and private collective bargaining, and
OSHA regulations. Practical document management, settlement, and
litigation practices examined. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC
201.
LGL/PDC 405 - Creditor, Debtor Law and Bankruptcy
3 - Rights of creditor from the time of contract through default,
creditor's remedies including litigation, arbitration, investigation,
negotiation, and post-judgment enforcement rights. Data collection
and drafting. Bankruptcy practice and proceedings, liquidations,
reorganizations, and adjustments. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC
201.
LGL/PDC 406 - Healthcare Law 3 - Examines
legal relationships between consumers, healthcare providers, and
third party insurers. Focuses on regulatory control, compliance,
medical records, reimbursement, terminology, and enforcement.
Practical concerns regarding health plans, government plans, and
areas of dispute are covered. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC
201.
LGL/PDC 407 - Intellectual Property 3 - Patent,
trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection. Distinctions
between forms of intellectual property and statutory and common
law methods of enforcing rights. Emphasis on practical maintenance,
research, emerging technologies, materials preparation, and litigation
processes. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/PDC 408 - Municipal Law 3 - Fundamentals
of town, city, and village law including governing bodies, courts,
executive functions, elections, taxation, financial instruments,
land use, licenses, records retention, and dispute resolution.
Focuses on issues for non-lawyer governmental employees. (elective)
Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201.
LGL/SPM 415 - Sport Law 3 - Introduction
and application of law to the sports industry. Legal concepts
covered are agency, contract, labor, antitrust, tort, and criminal
laws. Special focus on contemporary issues in sports including
diversity, Title IX, drugs, and disabilities. Prereq: SPM 205
or LGL 201.
LGL/PDC 421 - Interviewing, Investigation, and
Discovery 3 - Principles, methods, and techniques to locate,
gather, document, and disseminate legal information. Develop interviewing
and investigative skills to communicate effectively and recognize
ethical issues in discovery. Understand application of formal
rules of evidence. (elective) Prerequisite: LGL/PDC 201, 401.
LGL/PDC 471 - Legal Internship 3 - Supervised
internship integrates coursework with practical experience. Provides
structured work experience in law firm, corporation, public service
organization or other legal environment. Classroom sessions, oral
and written reports, and discussion of ethical workplace issues
included. (required for bachelor's degree - elective for certificate)
Prerequisite: Senior Standing.
