Course Description

The course is a study of the ethical rules and professional responsibilities of the paralegal within the legal profession. Students will study the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and analyze those rules as they pertain to specific cases.

Rationale

This course will focus on legal practice, more specifically the area of legal practice that encompasses the following responsibility of legal professionals: acting in a professional manner while considering the fundamental rationale and practical application of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the NALA Code of Ethics, and the NFPA Model Code of Ethics. This course will also address biblical standards and will cultivate an understanding of ethics and professional conduct through a Christian worldview. Please consult Liberty University for details on the requirements for this course.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. 1. Articulate the ethical duties and responsibilities of a paralegal.
   2. Discuss the sources of ethical standards for the legal profession.
   3. Describe the rules of professional responsibility.
   4. Explain how the rules of professional responsibility impact attorneys and paralegals.
   5. Apply Christian worldview principles to the rules of professional responsibility.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

The student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be 250–300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 100–150 words.

Essay Assignments (4)

The student will write 4 research-based essays in the current Bluebook format that focus on prompts provided in the course. Each essay must be 450–500 words, and each essay must include at least 2 primary resources in addition to the course textbook and the Bible.

Quizzes (3)

Each quiz will cover the textbook material for the module in which it is assigned and the preceding module. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.

Quiz: Comprehensive Final

The Quiz: Comprehensive Final will cover the textbook material for the entire course. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 50 multiple-choice questions as well as 3 essay questions (each essay must be 200–250 words), and have a 2-hour and 30-minute time limit.