LAW 240 – Legal Studies Internship

Summer 2007 Semester

Chris Whaley, J.D.

Social Science Division

RoaneStateCommunity College

276 Patton Lane

Harriman, Tennessee 37748

865-354-3000 ext.4773

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Paralegal Career Guide, 3rd by Estrin (Prentice Hall)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides the student with an opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney or experienced paralegal in day-to-day, on site office work. The student must complete no fewer than 95 hours of work at the internship site, which may be a private or public law office, corporate or government legal department, title office, court clerk’s office, or other appropriate law-related setting. In addition to on-site work, the student will attend all internship seminar sessions and complete all requirements listed below. The seminar session(s) will likely take place on a Saturday during June or July (I’ll put it to a vote for the class to decide).

PREREQUISITES

Paralegal internships typically require prior course work in basic skills such as legal research, writing, and other common law office subjects. Such prerequisites help ensure that the intern has sufficient skills and knowledge to begin entry-level paralegal work. Since the internship serves as a capstone course and/or facilitates the transition from school to career, it is the last paralegal course a student takes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  1. Gain hands-on experience in a law office or other appropriate law-related work environment.
  2. Apply classroom skills and knowledge in actual work setting, bringing skills to a higher professional level.
  3. Acquire specific, task-related skills for inclusion in the student’s resume.
  4. Develop skills and experience in conducting a job search, including identification of career goals, resume preparation, interviewing, and gathering information on prospective employers.
  5. Become thoroughly acquainted with business, legal, or governmental work environments.
  6. Gain an understanding of attitudes and work habits that ensure a successful career.
  7. Develop professional-level skills in oral and written communications.
  8. Acquire a sound, contextual understanding of legal and professional ethics, regarding client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and the unauthorized practice of law.
  9. Learn to interact effectively with supervisors, co-workers, clients, and professionals within the internship office.
  10. Develop a first-hand understanding of law-related office organizations and their internal systems, such as for timekeeping, billing, and file management.
  11. Gain first-hand insights into current career options.
  12. Acquire a wider range of professional contacts for future career development.
  13. Create a portfolio of work samples (or writing samples) for the student’s job search.
  14. Learn to manage time effectively and recommendation for future employment.
  15. Obtain a professional reference and recommendation for future employment.

COURSE COMPETENCIES (Some competencies may not apply to your particular internship placement.)

1. Obtain a practical understanding of law office organization and functions

2. Become competent in file management

3. Complete timekeeping records effectively

4. Assist with docket control systems

5. Draft correspondence and/or pleadings

6. Obtain information from clients

7. Perform other factual research

8. Perform legal research

9. Summarize depositions, medical information, or other data

10. Gain a working knowledge of law office ethics

11. Become competent in using law-specific software, such as for real estate transactions, probate

administration, business formation, or litigation support

STUDENT OUTCOMES

1. To demonstrate knowledge of law office management, procedures and policies.

Measure (a): Each student will be evaluated by his/her site supervisor at the completion of the required number of contact hours.

Measure (b): If scheduling permits, each student will be evaluated, on-site, by the course instructor.

Measure (c): Each student will prepare a daily journal of his/her activities and observations while on site, which will be reviewed and graded by the course instructor. This journal will also log the number of hours worked – culminating in a total of no less than 95 hours.

2. To demonstrate knowledge of the role of the legal assistant in the delivery of legal services.

Measure (a): Each student will prepare an essay that describes and evaluates his/her experience while at the internship site and his/her role in the delivery of such legal services (minimum eight typed pages).

Measure (b): Each student will complete the Paralegal Exit exam (online).

3. To demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.

Measure (a): Each student will prepare a resume that clearly presents his/her background and credentials.

Measure (b): Each student will prepare a portfolio of four (4) legal documents prepared during the internship, with client names redacted.

Measure (c): Each student will participate in assignments given during the internship seminars.

Measure (d): Each student will complete RSCC’s Preventing Sexual Harassment Training (online).

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

1. On-site Instruction: Instruction concerning office assignments and procedures is provided by the student’s on-site supervisor pursuant to guidelines that are provided by the Instructor/Director. Co-workers may also provide instructive assistance when they are available for that purpose. The Internship Instructor/Director should be contacted about on-site work only in unusually problematic situations. The Internship Instructor/Director should also be contacted if the student believes that on-site supervision is inadequate, but only after the student has first addressed this issue with appropriate office personnel.

2. Classroom Sessions (or meetings with Instructor/Director): In addition to on-site instruction and work experience, the student will attend the classroom session(s). These sessions provide the student with an opportunity to alert the Instructor/Director to any difficulties in the Internship.

In each classroom session, work-related topics will be covered in a lecture/discussion and group-work format. Reading assignments may be required for each of these topics. Guest lectures may be invited to address some topics.

Periodically, students may report orally on their internship experiences for the benefit of all other internship students, each of whom may be in a work setting that is quite different from the others. An open exchange of experiences – comparing observations, sharing problems, and sharing solutions – will be encouraged.

EVALUATION OF STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE

1. Evaluation of On-Site Internship Work: The student’s grade for on-site office work will be determined by the following methods:

  1. Evaluation by the internship supervisor, using the form provided for this purpose*;
  2. Evaluation by the instructor;
  3. Student’s journal/time log;
  4. Student’s essay on the internship experience;
  5. Student’s resume;
  6. Student’s portfolio of work samples or writing samples;
  7. Student’s assignments (e-discussions, etc.); and
  8. Student’s attendance at all seminars.

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the internship supervisor’s evaluation, as well as other required materials, are returned to the instructor at the required time. Unless otherwise announced, all materials are due in the office of the instructor no later than Friday, July 27 at noon (est). Late materials will not be accepted – for any reason.

2. Evaluation of Internship Classroom Work: The student’s grade for the seminar component of the Internship will be determined by the following methods:

  1. Written projects
  2. Student’s (group or individual) oral presentation on a selected, work-related topic
  3. Student’s oral presentation on his/her internship experience
  4. Seminar attendance

GRADING:

This is a “pass/fail” course. In order to receive a “P” grade for this course, all of the guidelines above must be followed.

The following page contains a letter explaining the internship that you may choose to pass along to your internship supervisor.

Dear Sir or Madam:

Thank you for agreeing to supervise a Roane State Community College Paralegal Studies student in an internship setting. As you know, these work experiences are designed to provide the student with a hands-on experience in a law office, government office, a corporate law department, legal services office or other law-related setting. We hope that our students will work hard, learn practical law office skills and will also benefit your work environment with their presence.

Following is additional information about the internship program, and some guidelines we would ask you to follow in working with the student:

A. WHAT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL STUDIES AT ROANESTATECOMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:

1. The internship experience is required for A.A.S. Paralegal Studies degree students. We anticipate that this work experience will culminate and provide useful application of the student’s learning in the Paralegal Studies program.

2. Students are required to work a total of 95 hours during the semester. Missed time must be made up. If you mutually agree, more time may be worked.

3. We anticipate that this will be an unpaid experience. However, should your office want to supply remuneration for the intern’s regular work, or for work under special circumstances, e.g., for working beyond the 95-hour requirement, or working “off” hours, the college has no problem with such an arrangement. In this event the amount of compensation should be negotiated between the office and the intern.

4. Simultaneously with their internship experiences, students are required to enroll in LAW 240 001-Legal Internship, which will require some additional assignments, etc. by the students.

5. Students should work with you to prepare an agreement that details the intern’s responsibilities. At a minimum, the agreement should include: hours to be worked, a mechanism for making up missed hours, tasks to be performed, office decorum, confidentiality, and specific expectations you have for the student’s internship.

6. Students will be required to prepare and submit to the Intern Coordinator two written projects:

  1. A daily log, detailing each task given to them, what they did, the findings or results, the time spent and what was learned.
  2. A detailed paper of approximately eight pages in length, where the student writes a summary of their experience during the internship.

7. This is a “pass/fail” course.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU DURING THE INTERN’S WORK EXPERIENCE IN YOUR OFFICE: (please read these carefully and refer to them often during the semester)

  1. Please meet with the intern before the beginning of the work experience to help develop goals for the intern and to establish your needs. Appropriate topics include:
  • Job responsibilities and minimum performance level
  • Hours. The intern must complete a minimum of 95 hours working in a law office to receive the three hours of credit for which he/she has enrolled.
  • Absenteeism. Interns will be required to make up any time missed. Unauthorized absences should be reported to the Intern Coordinator.
  • Appropriate office decorum.
  • Confidentiality. Interns study this issue and its application to a law office in several courses, and it will gain be emphasized in the seminar. However, your office procedures and special concerns should be presented for detail and emphasis.
  1. Provide an attorney or practicing legal assistant to act as a supervisor of the student intern. The supervisor should have the desire and ability to teach and the time to carry out the supervisory responsibilities.
  1. The intern supervisor designated at your workplace should schedule periodic conferences with the student intern, especially at the beginning of the work experience. In addition to reviewing the intern’s work to date, we would ask that the supervisor discuss and reach an understanding with the intern about plans to enable the student to progress further.

4.Notify the instructor when the intern is not fully meeting the responsibilities of his/her job. Chris Whaley can be reached at or (865) 882-4582.

  1. Provide a final evaluation of the student intern to the instructor. (Forms will be provided).

I hope that this information gives you a clear sense of what you should expect from your Paralegal Intern. We are excited bout the growth of the program, and this opportunity to further involve existing law offices in the training of future paralegals. If at any time you need additional information about the program, or have questions, please do not hesitate to call me. I can be reached at either 865-354-3000 ext. 4773 or

Thank you again for participating in this program.

Christopher L. Whaley, J.D.

Dean of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Assoc. Professor & Director of Legal Studies

PARALEGAL STUDIES INTERNSHIP

SUPERVISING ATTORNEY AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Paralegal Studies Department is grateful for the support of attorneys sponsoring student interns from RoaneStateCommunity College. The internship provides the students with an opportunity to learn skills and obtain knowledge that is difficult to provide in a classroom setting. It is the part of the Paralegal Program that enables students to integrate their learning and see how it applies in the law office. Although the internship is not expected to lead to employment, many attorneys have benefited from it by finding excellent employees.

To maintain the quality of the internship program, we have certain guidelines for attorneys and students:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SUPERVISING ATTORNEY:

  1. We ask the supervising attorney to meet with the student to set up a schedule and proposed set of tasks. The amount of work required is 95 hours for the 3 credit hour internship. It is realized that the set of tasks initially established may change. However, experience has shown that a specific set of expectations and a specific work schedule results in the most successful and beneficial internship experience. The internship experience works best when a specific person is designated to be the one to respond to questions and provide office orientation.
  2. We ask that a variety of tasks be assigned requiring the student to use knowledge and skills gained in the program. Of course, the tasks should be useful to the firm. The student will tell the attorney the courses that have already been taken. Routine clerical and secretarial duties are appropriate internship tasks so long as they do not comprise all of the interns’ duties.
  3. For each new task, some initial explanation or directions should be provided. A model, guide, or checklist may be useful. (Students learn general procedures in the classroom with some exposure to specialized situations, and this may or may not be sufficient for the specific requirements of each task.)
  4. In addition to periodic feedback to the on his/her performance, near the end of the internship period, the supervising attorney will be provided with an evaluation form to assess the student’s performance. This evaluation is to be discussed with the student and both the student and the attorney will sign it. The supervising attorney’s evaluation and the seminar professor’s evaluation together will determine the student’s final grade.
  5. It is expected that the supervising attorney will at least reimburse the student for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while performing work for the office. This department, however, does not require payment for the student’s services, although some supervising attorneys do offer remuneration as a matter of their own choice and this is regarded as a personal matter of agreement between the student and his/her supervising attorney.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENT INTERN:

1.Confirm placement with a letter or e-mail to the instructor, stating

the office at which you will intern, its address and phone number, and the name of your

supervisor.

  1. Each student will arrange an initial orientation meeting with the supervisor at the office’s convenience.

3.The intern will keep a log of time spent on tasks.

4. Copies of at least four appropriate work products, such as research memoranda, pleadings, and other documents, will be kept with names and other confidential information deleted. Particularly sensitive documents will be excluded from this requirement, but it is important that some samples of student’s work be provided as examples of the student’s accomplishments. The student is expected to discuss issues of confidentiality with the supervisor.

5.The student will attend the Internship Seminar(s) and will submit all additional assignments/projects (e-discussions, resume, etc.) as listed in the Internship Seminar syllabus.

INFORMATION SHEET FOR: ______

Student name

Date:

Firm Name:

Address:

Contact Person: (attorney/paralegal supervisor)

Phone:

Fax:

DESCRIPTION OF FIRM

1.Number of:attorneys____law students___paralegals___

2.Type of work:plaintiff___defense___civil___criminal___

Government agency___non-profit agency___

3.Type of law (subjects):

4.Any special features or description of work environment:

Please take a few moments to think through exactly what kind of assignments in your office would provide a good learning experience, and to describe them by checking the spaces provided, and then answering the narrative questions which follow.

DESCRIPTION OF PLACEMENT

1.Tasks to be performed by student: (check off those you are prepared to offer as assignments)

A. GENERAL COMMUNICATIONSB. LEGAL RESEARCH

Phone work___Case briefs___

Client contact___Memos of law___

Witness interviews___Shepardizing cases___

Negotiations___Cite checking___

Correspondence___Points/authorities___

Client intake___Legislative history___

Other (specify)___Legal analysis___

Statutory research___

Other (specify)___

C. Litigation:

Drafting pleadings, complaints, answers___

Summarizing depositions___

Preparing documentary evidence/exhibits___

Service of process___

Organizing/indexing documents___

Fact gathering/investigation of records___

Deposition arrangements___

Drafting discovery tools, interrogatories,

admissions, motions___

D. LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT:E. OTHER

Filing systems______

Calendars______

Automated systems______

Other (specify)______

2. Academic courses especially desired (employers might want to check the list of Paralegal courses offered):

3.Bilingual students needed:

4. Describe the type of cases and assignments the student would be working on that would provide the opportunity to learn some of the above skills:

5. Is there any other information you would like to provide in order to more fully inform the student in this placement opportunity?

______

Signature of Student Supervisor

______

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