Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is required for certificate and degree and is intended to provide application of research techniques learned in PL 201 and PL 202.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Draft correspondence and various legal pleadings which are commonly used in law offices.
• Identify, prioritize, locate, evaluate and apply rules, statutes, and court opinions.
• Draft legal memorandum.
• Prepare and make a verbal presentation of a reflection paper and portfolio of student work samples completed in the paralegal program demonstrating achievement of program outcomes.

This course will include classroom discussion/lecture; legal research; writing assignments; teamwork research assignments; work on a specific fact situation; completion of a portfolio; and other projects. Individual one-on-one conferences with students to review writing projects will be used to address each student’s progress in the course. Students will be provided the opportunity to resubmit written documents after one-on-one conferences. Grades will be determined by the written projects submitted, legal research conducted and attendance/teamwork.

Grade and competency will be determined by student ability to follow directions; timely completion of assignments; applied legal research; quality of the written submissions before and after conference with the faculty; logical analysis and presentation of written submissions; and compliance with formatting and stylistic requirements of documents.

Drafting: cover letter and resume, Internal office Memo, correspondence, Complaint, Answer, discovery requests, Motions, Affidavits, Legal Memorandum and other written projects selected by the faculty. 

Research: will include weekly requirements and at research for at least one significant legal memorandum.

Analysis: use analytic skills to apply drafting and research skills to set of facts.

In addition, students will demonstrate:

Communication skills: PCC graduates should be able to communicate effectively by determining the purpose of the communication; analyzing the audience and context to use appropriate language and modality; and by responding to feedback to achieve clarity, coherence and effectiveness.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: PCC graduates should be able to think critically and creatively to solve problems, understanding and using various methods of reasoning and evaluating information and its sources.

Cultural Awareness: PCC graduates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the varieties of human cultures, perspectives and forms of expression as well as their own cultures complexities.

Professional Competance: PCC graduates should demonstrate master of their discipline at a level appropriate to the program and transfer requirements through application of skills, concepts, processes and technology in performance of authentic tasks that enhance their employability.

Self-Reflection: PCC graduates should be self-appraising in applying knowledge and skills they have learned, examining and developing personal beliefs and professional skills.