Course Descriptions

Legal Studies

LAH 201 Introduction to the Legal System - 3 Credits (Syllabus Spring 2003)
Introduction to the American legal system; an overview of the areas of contracts, real property, torts, civil litigation, constitutional law, criminal law, and more.
Prerequisites: 12 credits in general education, GPA 2.0 minimum, and permission of department.

LAH 210 Civil Litigation - 3 Credits (Syllabus Fall 2002)
Nature and background of litigation, the structure of state and federal courts, study of state and federal rules of civil procedure, preparation for the commencement of a law suit. Analysis of trial preparation, the trial process and the appeal.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 215 Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Legal Assistants - 1 Credit (Syllabus Fall 2002)
An overview of ethical considerations and responsibilities regulating the legal profession. Focus on evolving issues with special emphasis on the unauthorized practice of law, attorney-client privilege, and conflict of interest. Includes discussion of the legal assistant career and its regulations.
Prerequisites: 12 credits in general education and minimum 2.0 GPA.

LAH 220 Probate Practice - 3 Credits
The study of all aspects of handling estates in the probate court and an overview of all areas of jurisdiction in courts of probate with emphasis on the preparation and filing of necessary documents in decedents' estates.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 230 Real Estate Transactions - 3 Credits
Working knowledge of all aspects of a real estate transaction, title examination, preparation of documents and closing. Exposure to a range of documents essential to the law of real estate.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 240 Business Organizations - 3 Credits
Treats formations and structure of corporation, stockholders meetings, and directors meetings. Consideration of corporate financing, charter amendments, reorganization, and liquidation.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 250 Legal Research and Writing I - 3 Credits
Training in the use of primary and secondary sources of the law. Study of the legal reasoning process and case and statutory analysis. Updating sources such as Shepard's will be included. Research and writing skills developed through lectures and assigned library exercises. Hands-on computerized legal research included.
Prerequisite: LAH 201. Laboratory fee.

LAH 290 Special Topics/Legal Studies - 3 Credits
Special topics will be selected as the subject of focus and research in the class. Topics will vary according to the needs of the legal community and the demands of the student population. Examples of such topics are legal writing, securities law, labor law, and law office management. Students will be expected to meet in a weekly seminar. The topic of the seminar will be announced and scheduled in advance.

LAH 490 Internship - 3-15 Credits
Under faculty supervision, students will be placed in a field experience in a law office, legal clinic, corporation, or government agency. The minimum number of hours at the site will vary with the credit hours earned; approximately 120 hours for 3 credits are expected. In addition, students will be expected to meet regularly with the faculty supervisor, keep diaries, and complete written assignments to integrate practical experience with prior course work.
Prerequisites: Completion of major requirements, application for internship, and permission of instructor.

LAH 310 Civil Litigation II - 3 Credits
A seminar devoted to expanding the student's understanding of the litigation process. Projects include drafting complaints, motions and discovery materials as well as completing substantive research on more complex causes of action such as products liability. Students shall participate in mock oral arguments or depositions.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 210.

LAH 311 Studies in Comparative Law and Practice - 3-4 Credits
An intensive study in the development of the law and its impact on or relationship to American law and practice. Selected topics will vary from offering to offering to include the origins of the common law system under Henry II; the development of the civil law system, religious law, and other major areas of law throughout the world. This course may be elected more than once with permission of the department.
Prerequisite: LAH 201 and junior standing, or permission of the instructor.

LAH 312 Studies in Comparative Law and Practice Lab - 1 Credit
This laboratory course provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience relative to the development of the topic studied. For example, if Common Law/London is the topic, this trip usually takes on week in London, typically during spring break; another example is Civil Law/Rome. No credit will be given to those who have taken LAH 311 for the 4-credit option.
Prerequisite: LAH 201 and junior standing, or permission of the instructor.

LAH 314/ENGH 315 Justice and the Law in Literature and Film - 3 Credits
A close examination of the relationship between justice and the law in selected works of literature and film, with an emphasis on varying definitions of justice and natural law. The course will also focus on public perceptions of justice and injustice; to that end, students will research an actual trial for their final presentation.
Prerequisites: ENGH 101-102 or RLC 110-111, or equivalent; LAH 201 and 6 additional credits in Legal Studies courses; or permission of the instructor.

LAH 315 Legal Research and Writing II - 3 Credits
A seminar requiring students to build upon the skills learned in LAH 110. Students will review key research processes, such as Shepardizing and legislative interpolation. The tracing of a statute legislative history and exploring its application will also be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on precision and clarity in the drafting of documents.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 250. Laboratory fee.

LAH 320 Administrative Practice and Procedure - 3 Credits
The study of administrative law and agency practice, powers of administrative agencies, and judicial review of agency decisions. The course will include studying a particular procedural and substantive area of administrative law and participating in a mock agency hearing.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 250.

LAH 325 Technology in Law - 3 Credits (Syllabus - Spring 2002, Spring 2003)
All classes will be held in the computer lab. Students will be exposed to the many ways that computers are being used in legal environments. Areas of exploration will potentially include, but are not necessarily be limited to, hard disk management, database systems for litigation support, time keeping, spreadsheets for real estate analysis, and computerized legal research.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, LAH 250, and CSH 101; or permission of instructor. Laboratory fee.

LAH 336 Title Search - 3 Credits
Training in title searching in a Land Records Office, with classroom instruction with a real estate attorney.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 230.

LAH 340 Commercial Real Estate - 3 Credits
Comparison of residential and commercial transactions, multistate transactions, title and title insurance, land use and environmental controls, business entities, partnerships, contracts for the disposition of commercial real estate, leases, loan commitments, construction contracts, architects contracts, industrial revenue bonds.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 230.

LAH 350 Environmental Law - 3 Credits (Syllabus Fall 2002)
An introductory general overview of federal and state environmental laws and regulations as they relate to and affect the regulatory framework and the practical application of environmental laws.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 355 Family Law - 3 Credits
Developing paralegal skills for interviewing clients, developing a basic knowledge of the principles and practices involved in types of family court actions. Preparation of documentary evidence, reports, responsive pleadings, discovery matters.
Prerequisite: LAH 201 and 250.

LAH 360 Taxation-3 Credits
Instruction requisite to the preparation of the Connecticut Succession Tax Return, Federal Estate Tax Return, Fiduciary Income Tax Return, Connecticut Estate Tax Return, and Gift Tax Return. Essential for legal assistants working in probate.
Prerequisite: LAH 201.

LAH 365 Insurance Law - 3 Credits
An introduction to the legal aspects of the insurance industry, focusing on principles and recent developments in selected lines of insurance. Students will analyze and summarize key regulations, policies, insurance-related legal issues. Emphasis will be placed on the legal assistant's roles.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 240.

LAH 370 Pension and Employee Benefits: Code, ERISA, Regulations -3 credits
A survey of the federal law regulating qualified pension and profit-sharing plans .Coverage and design issues will be included as well as procedural items, such as IRS and DOL filings. Topics will include minimum coverage minimum participation, nondiscrimination, plan distributions, participant and spouse rights, and 401(k) plans. The latest tax reform and regulations will be discussed.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 240.

LAH 375 Workouts, Foreclosures and Bankruptcy-3 credits
A consideration of workouts involving the restructuring of a business deal,usually loans,
Foreclosures involving title, litigation, and negotiation strategies involved in taking property from a defaulting debtor, bankruptcy involving motivations for filing bankruptcy, procedures in carrying a case from filing to reorganization or liquidation, types of conflicts among creditors and debtors. Attention will also be given to consumer rights and environmental law implications.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 240, 230.

LAH 380 Criminal Law-3 credits
A consideration of the substantive and procedural principles of criminal law. An introduction to the arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post trial practices. Examination of the operation of the criminal courts, public defender and prosecutor offices.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 250.

LAH 400 Special Topics/Legal Studies-3 credits (Syllabus Health Care Law Spring 2003)
Special topics will be selected as the subject of focus and research in the class. Topics will vary according to the needs of the legal community and the demands of the student population. Examples of such topics are legal writing, securities law, labor law, and law office management. Students will be expected to meet in a weekly seminar. The topic of the seminar will be announced and scheduled in advance.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, 200, 210, 220, and 230

LAH 410 Contracts- 3 credits
This course will introduce students to the law of contracts, including legal requirements for a binding contract, drafting of contracts in particular practice areas, including the Uniform Commercial Code and complex financial transactions.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 210.

LAH 411 Elder Law- 3 credits
This course focuses on the legal issues affecting our aging population with an emphasis on such practice areas as Medicare, Medicade, end-of-life decision making, long-term care issues, nursing homes and alternatives, elder abuse, estate planning, and asset protection, disability planning, and probate matters such as conservatorships.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 220, and junior standing; or permission of instructor

LAH 412 Intellectual Property-3 credits
This will familiarize students with the basic forms of intellectual property protection, including trademark, copyright,trade secret, and patent protection, and the copyright and trademark registration process. Students will also learn the law regarding intellectual property in cyber-space.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 210.

LAH 413 Employment Law-3 credit
This course will give the student a comprehensive overview of the most important facets of employment law. The course will cover a broad range of issues relating to employment. Students will review the historical background of employment law that provides the legal and conceptual basis for the modern statutory approach to regulating employment relationships. Specific attention will be given to the concept of discrimination in the workplace and the two statutes that form the basis of much of the current litigation in the field of employment law: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the Age Discrimination Act.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 210.

LAH 414 Personal Injury Law- 3 credits
The study of substantive and procedural principles of personal injury claims. Students will analyze and apply theories and defenses relevant to intentional torts, negligence, products liability, and medical malpractice.
Prerequisites: LAH 201 and 210

LAH 450 Seminar/ Legal Studies-3 credits
The seminar will require investigation of advanced problems in the field through the analysis and application of classic works selected by the faculty. The seminar is expected to serve as a capstone course for majors by integrating prior course work.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and completion of major requirements.

LAH 480 Independent Study in Legal Studies-1-3 credits
Supervised individual study under the direction of a faculty member on a topic of interest to the student. The course may be selected more than once with permission of the department.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 115; junior or senior standing.

LAH 491 Studies in Law-3 credits
A study of various areas of law, varying from semester to semester to include related topics of practice and procedure, contract law, property law,Constitutional law, tort law, and public benefits law. The course may be elected for credit more than once with permission of the department.
Prerequisites: LAH 201, 250, and 115; and junior or senior standing.