SUNY Erie Community College

PARALEGAL

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies, the graduate will be able to:

• describe the functions and authority of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government;
• describe basic differences between large and small law firms, and know the paralegal's functions in each type;
• locate and apply rules of unauthorized practice such as code of professional responsibility, state and national bar opinions, formal and informal applicable case law;
• locate relevant authority in any law library for use in drafting case notes, memoranda and briefs;
• prepare a polished legal memorandum exploring both sides of a legal issue;
• describe the differences between civil matters and criminal matter;
• locate and describe the federal and New York State rules of civil procedure as well as the various court rules;
• understand the theory of income taxation in both its revenue gathering and its progressive wealth distribution function;
• understand estate and gift taxation principle;
• understand the necessity of drafting all real property documents with accuracy and completeness;
• closing a real estate transaction, including the preparation of real property taxes, the computation of conveyance taxes and closing costs, the drafting of escrow instructions and the necessity for and types of title insurance;
• understand the principles and legal theories relating to modern day torts;
• understand the substantive law of divorce and adoption;
• interview and assist the client for probate information and assist attorneys in the administration of an estate;
• understand how administrative hearings are conducted and the basic rules that apply to the administrative process;
• describe the scope and enforcement of civil liberties, with particular emphasis on the Bill of Rights;
• relate to the issues that concern criminal litigation, including the underlying principles of the adversary system, the legal representation of unpopular criminal defendants and the processes by which criminal cases are decided;
• understand and apply basic rules of evidence in administrative and court proceedings;
• draft pleadings and motions in civil and criminal litigation; and
• option to participate in an internship where the student will gain experience and first-hand knowledge of law in action.