ELECTIVE COURSES

ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH
2532  (Two Saturdays)  A more in depth look at research that identifies and describes the materials used in legal research as well as the techniques of legal research.  Included is discussion and use of court reports, statutes, digests, legal encyclopedias, periodicals, congressional and legislative materials, administrative materials, treatises, and restatements.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
2153  (Three Saturdays)  Introduction to resolution of disputes outside the traditional courtroom procedure, with an overview of this rapidly growing area in the law, including mediation, arbitration, and mini-trials for business disputes.  Primary emphasis will be on the court-annexed procedures of mandatory arbitration, summary jury trials, and settlement conferences used in Federal Court in the Western District of Oklahoma.

BANKRUPTCY
2173  (Three Saturdays)  Introduces the student to basic bankruptcy procedure and the requisites for filing voluntary and involuntary petitions.  Emphasis will be placed on the effect of filing a bankruptcy petition on pending litigation by creditors, the availability and use of exemptions from the debtor's estate, and the distinctions between Chapter 7 (liquidation), Chapter 11 (reorganization), and Chapter 13 (adjustments of debts for individuals with regular income).  Instruction will be given on actual preparation of a Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 petition, from initial client interview to discharge or confirmation.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
2013  (Three Saturdays)  An overview of the types of basic business organizations and their purposes.  The course will cover advantages and disadvantages of each, legal concepts relating to each, terms used in discussing them, and related legal documents that the legal assistant might be expected to create.  Topics include the formation and operation of a corporation, sole proprietorship, and general and limited partnership, with emphasis on the corporate entity in Oklahoma.

CONTRACTS
2253 (Three Saturdays)  Contracts is the law of binding agreements.  In this course, students will learn the components of an enforceable contract, exceptions to the enforcement of contracts, and remedies available upon the breach of an enforceable contract.  Each class will include opportunities for students to gain practical skills in the areas of client counseling, negotiation, drafting, and interpretation of contracts.  Students will learn about specific types of contracts, such as lease agreements, insurance contracts, general contractor/subcontractor agreements, and the additional rules and laws that may apply to them.  Students will apply the principles  learned to a simulated fact pattern during open class discussions.

CREDITORS’ RIGHTS
1113  (Three Saturdays)  The debt collection process is discussed, including final judgments and enforcement, prejudgment remedies, statutory liens, bankruptcy, and other elements in the collection process.

CRIMINAL LAW
2183  (Three Saturdays)  This course will provide students with an understanding of criminal procedure from both a practical and theoretical perspective.  Time will be spent on obtaining an overview of the constitutional underpinnings of criminal procedure as well as on practical aspects of criminal justice.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS
1063  (Three Saturdays)  This course provides the student with a practical skills working knowledge of such aspects of domestic law as premarital contracts, marriage, annulment, divorce, separate maintenance, custody, paternity, adoption, wage assignments, citations for contempt of court, preparation of trial exhibits, computations of child support, decrees, and motions to modify divorce decrees.

EMPLOYMENT LAW
1372  (Two Saturdays)  This course is intended to provide the student with an understanding of current legal issues in the area of employer/employee relations, with coverage of both state and federal laws, including discrimination issues, termination issues, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Upon completion, the paralegal should be able to interview prospective clients and recognize what legal remedies will be available to them.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
2342  (Two Saturdays)  This course is intended to provide an overview of the major state and federal acts and regulations governing the environmental law area, as well as practical guidance on how environmental agencies function.  This course is designed for those who want to learn about environmental law and obtain practical suggestions in handling various types of environmental projects and problems.

INSURANCE LAW
2243 (Three Saturdays)  Introduction to insurance law, with emphasis on Oklahoma statutes and cases.  Includes recovery of damages for insurance company failure to deal fairly with the insured.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
2143 (Three Saturdays) The nature of the rights, acquisition and enforcement of, and property and contract interests in, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

INTERNSHIP I, II, III
2412, 2422, 2432  (180 hours per semester; may be taken up to three semesters at two credits per semester)  The goal of this class is (1) to assist paralegal students in bridging the gap between the classroom and the world of law firms, corporations, public agencies, and organizations; (2) to provide the student with a meaningful, practical experience in a professional setting; (3) to assist the student in clarifying career goals and to assess readiness to enter the legal profession; and (4) and to provide the student an opportunity to refine professional skills.

INVESTIGATION AND DISCOVERY
2273 (Three Saturdays) This course focuses on resources for investigation, proper use and drafting of discovery requests and responses, strategies for document organization and production, and provides an overview of issues and best practices in discovery.

OIL AND GAS LAW
2133 (Three Saturdays) Course objective is to study the basic terminology, lease forms and clauses, other forms, and theory of oil and gas law.  Includes discussion of both state and federal regulatory agencies.

POVERTY/ELDER LAW
1282 (Two Saturdays)  This course will focus on legal issues and social programs that affect the lives of low-income individuals, families, and children.  Students will learn the basics of federal and state entitlement programs (e.g., Social Security; SSI/ AFDC) and advocacy strategies relating to those programs.  More traditional areas of paralegal practice (e.g., divorce; unemployment compensation law) will also be discussed, with a special emphasis on how advocacy may be used to benefit low-income clients.  Class will include written exercises, lecture, and in-class dialogue.

PROBATE
2063 (Three Saturdays)  The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the Oklahoma procedures for administration of decedents' estates.  Topics will include all steps in a simple administration proceeding from the initial client interview through closing the estate.  Both testate (with a will) and intestate (without a will) estates will be covered in some detail.  Students will be required to prepare many of the documents necessary to a probate proceeding and will be expected to participate in class discussion.

REAL PROPERTY I
1053 (Three Saturdays)  This course is an introduction to real estate law, which includes the study of property rights, types of land ownership, real property descriptions, sale, financing, conveyancing, contracts, liens, mortgages, deeds, recording, settlement concepts, condominiums and cooperatives, leasing, and other property concepts.

TORTS
1073  (Three Saturdays)  Includes a survey of the law of torts and the role of the legal assistant in preparation and trial of a personal injury lawsuit.  Negligence and other personal injury torts are emphasized.  Includes pre-trial preparation, interviewing techniques, preparation and filing of pleadings, use of various discovery methods, preparing witnesses specifically for trial, and the role of the legal assistant at trial.

TRUSTS/WILLS
2472 (Two Saturdays)  General introduction to the law of trusts, the establishment of a trust, drafting trust forms, and transferring assets into trust.  Introduction to basic law, terminology, history, and development of wills, concepts of distribution, execution, and will contests.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
1103 (Three Saturdays)  This course will provide students with the knowledge and insight necessary to work in the area of Oklahoma workers’ compensation law.  Focus will be on the filing of forms, preparing medical records and reports, as well as the Workers’ Compensation Court.