10110175Orientation to the Legal Profession
Course Information
Description
Students are introduced to the legal profession, classes offered in the legal studies/paralegal program, and tools for success in the legal studies/paralegal program and the legal field. Students enroll in their upcoming semester courses.
Total Credits
1
Course Competencies
  1. Analyze the personal qualities and aptitudes of a legal professional
    Assessment Strategies
    Group Assignment/Project, Personality Test
    Criteria
    Acquaint yourself with positive habits that influence a successful legal career
    Identify the skills essential for an effective legal professional
    Identify the soft skills needed for successful client, office, and third-party relationships
    Align your personality traits to the essential skills necessary to become an effective legal professional
    Describe the role of teamwork in successful client, office, and third-party relationships
    Believe in the use of inclusive, non-alienating language as a legal professional
    Examine compensation in the legal field
    Explain various uses of technology in the legal field
    Apply the methodology of knowing your own personality through 16 Personalities to better understand yourself and to meet the needs of others
    Assignment includes personality types, including your own and others
    Assignment summarizes how to best increase productivity, teamwork, and communication
    Assignment addresses the role of cultural identity and inclusivity during the implementation of services for all clients

  2. Examine the professional organizations available to a legal professional and what they offer
    Assessment Strategies
    Group Assignment/Project, Interaction with leaders in legal professional organizations
    Criteria
    Identify legal professional organizations on the local, state, and national level
    Describe the importance of networking when employed and looking for employment in the legal field
    Investigate scholarship opportunities offered by professional organizations
    Investigate professional certifications offered by professional organizations
    Investigate mentorships offered by professional organizations

  3. Explore the broad range of career opportunities and tasks performed by legal professionals
    Assessment Strategies
    Group Assignment/Project
    Criteria
    Describe career opportunities available to a graduate of this program as a legal professional
    Identify the variety of tasks performed by legal professionals
    Identify workplace practices that support cultural inclusivity
    Assignment includes legal practice areas, types of organizations, sizes of organizations, and office cultures

  4. Evaluate the classes available in the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration - enroll in Madison College classes
    Criteria
    Explain the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program class list and sequencing
    Identify legal "selective" classes that students may choose from
    Identify the classes that comprise the International Certificate in the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program
    Locate transferability information from the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program to four-year institutions
    Enroll in classes using the Student Portal

  5. Use skills and strategies that assist with a successful transition into the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program
    Assessment Strategies
    Journal, keyboarding test, grammar test, legal research online training
    Criteria
    Access software available to you by the College
    Locate resources on the College library law webpages
    Examine resources from the State Bar of Wisconsin
    Identify time management techniques
    Work with the virtual desktop
    Identify skills, practices, and/or processes needed to function effectively and appropriately with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions
    Achieve the keyboarding and grammar tests at the level specified by the instructor
    You use inclusive, non-alienating language

  6. Prepare for upcoming semester enrollment
    Assessment Strategies
    One-on-one meeting with an advisor, skill demonstration - enrolling in upcoming semester classes
    Criteria
    Locate your transfer credits, if any
    Locate your placement scores, if applicable
    Determine which classes you must complete based on transfer credits and placement scores
    Choose your next semester classes
    Enroll in the next semester classes
    You use the Student Portal