2005-07 Catalog - Tacoma Community College

126 Credit Course DescriptionsTacoma Community CollegeParalegalADLJ 153Civil Procedure (5)Students will be introduced to proceduralrequirements in the litigation process with anemphasis on skills and knowledge essentialto the paralegal. Statutes and court rules willbe examined as well as legal pleadings anddocuments for filing a lawsuit, discovery,pretrial motions, negotiation and pretrialconferences, the trial, and appeals.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 154Law Office Management (3)The organization and management of lawoffices is a critical function of theparalegal/legal assistant. The officeenvironment as it pertains to supportpersonnel, fee structure, standard operatingprocedures, office automation andcomputerization, communications and legalsoftware, will be covered.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 155Health/Dealing With Stress (1)This is a self-paced, independent study coursethat covers the basics of maintaining physicaland mental health while coping with stress.ADLJ 220Litigation (3)This class emphasizes the civil rules ofprocedure for the State of Washington andthe local civil rules for Pierce County. Thecurriculum moves logically through thelitigation process covering discovery, trialpreparation, and post-trial relief.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading AND adlj 153.ADLJ 221Family Law (3)The Family Law course provides a basicunderstanding of the procedures fordissolution (divorce), child custody, childsupport actions, third party custody, andpaternity issues. Students will become familiarwith Washington State statutes and state andlocal court rules concerning marriage anddivorce procedures, child support, and relatedissues. Students will learn the proper pleadingsand the court rules for each type of case,from the standpoint of representing both thepetitioner and the respondent.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 222Probate/Estate Planning (3)Estate planning involves the financial andhealthcare arrangements that are made duringa person's lifetime as well as the preparationfor transfer of that person's assets at death.Probate is the process of proving the validityof a will and ensuring that the instructions ina valid will are carried out. Students willdevelop knowledge and skills for the draftingof wills and trusts and for the proceduralrequirements of the probate process.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 223Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) (3)Alternative Dispute Resolution is a methodof resolving disputes before they go to trial.Negotiation, mediation and arbitration areforms of ADR. Paralegals may qualify asmediators and directly assist parties inreaching an agreement. Other paralegals willassist attorneys in this fast growing methodof settling disputes. Students will becomefamiliar with the ADR laws in WashingtonState.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 224Real Estate Law (3)An introduction to law and legal systems asrelated to real estate transactions. Majortopics include forms of ownership; title,transfers and insurance; fraud, deceit andmisrepresentation; contract law anddocuments; real estate security documents;and duties and liabilities of licensees.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 225Bankruptcy Law (3)Bankruptcy law is federal law with theproceedings taking place in the federal courtsystem. Students will learn about the varioustypes of relief for both individuals andbusinesses. They will gain knowledge andskills necessary for interviewing the debtor,reviewing creditors' claims, and preparingthe documents for submission to thebankruptcy court.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 226Administrative Law (3)Administrative law consists of the rules,orders, and decisions of administrativeagencies at all levels of government.Students will learn how to research andanalyze agency regulations to assist clients intheir business activities, clients pursuing aclaim against an employer, or clients seekinggovernment benefits.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 227Environmental Law/Land Use (3)Environmental law covers all state andfederal laws or regulations enacted to protectthe environment and preserve environmentalresources. Students will develop knowledgeand skills for the coordination of corporateprograms and policies to ensure compliancewith environmental regulations, for obtainingpermits from governmental agencies for landuse issues, for preparation of forms anddocuments relating the hazardous wastedisposal, and for assisting in litigationrelating to violations of environmental laws.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.ADLJ 228Employment and Labor Law (3)Employment and labor law includes lawsgoverning health and safety in the workplace,labor unions and union-managementrelations, employment discrimination,wrongful employment termination, pensionplans, retirement and disability income(Social Security), employee privacy rights, theminimum wage, and overtime wages.Students will research Washington Stateworkers' compensation statutes and learnabout agencies where paralegals mayrepresent clients during agency hearings.Prerequisite: Assessment at college-level English andreading.