San Francisco State University Inventory of Program Assessment Activities,

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1 San Francisco State University Inventory of Program Assessment Activities, Program: Paralegal Studies College: College of Extended Learning Date: 10/15/2006 Program Mission: The Paralegal Studies Program (PLS) is to educate students for positions as paralegals as a means of improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of legal services. Measurable learning outcome 1. To provide students with an overview of the legal system and law practice. Place in curriculum where outcome is addressed PLS 300 Introductions to Law & Civil Procedure Academic year outcome was / will be assessed Assessment/procedures Methods/strategies Several student surveys are done on a regular basis beginning with a survey of all new students given each semester during PLS 300. Graduates are surveyed on an annual basis; specific questions in the survey ask them to evaluate each class they took and to assess the transferability of classroom skills to their current paralegal jobs. Specific assessment procedures for PLS 300 include group projects, quizzes, midterm and final exams and written assignments throughout the semester. Summary of findings about student learning Paralegal courses are based on knowledge objectives and skills. Competences that have been adopted based on model course outlines prepared by an educational task force of AAFPE American Association for Paralegal Educators. Graduate survey and employer survey results confirm that Paralegal Graduates are prepared for and succeed at their jobs. Use of findings for program improvement Students requested paralegal graduates to visit class and speak about their specific job duties. This is now done each semester in this class. 10/15/2006 1

2 2. To provide students with indepth knowledge and skills to work in civil litigation. PLS 395 Pleadings and Motions PLS 305 Investigatio ns, Discovery & Trial Preparation PLS 475 Evidence PLS 9178 Electronic Discovery (CEU) Specific assignments in PLS 395 & 305 include assigning students to take plaintiff or defendant sides in a mock case which they shepherd through all phases of discovery and act out in mock trial. Assignments in PLS 475 include analysis of admissibility problems with evidence and drafting motions in Liminie. Paralegal courses are based on knowledge objectives and skills. Competences that have been adopted based on model course outlines prepared by an educational task force of AAFPE American Association for Paralegal Educators. Graduate survey and employer survey results confirm that Paralegal Graduates are prepared for and succeed at their jobs. The ABA has found that the SFSU/CEL PLS program meets all standards required by the ABA for accreditation. New elective courses have been added based on input from legal recruiters on the PLS Advisory Committee and Career Day Speakers. Continuing education classes are offered each semester to meet the need of graduates who must comply with the requirements of California Business & Professions Code Section Both new elective courses and Continuing Education Classes have been offered based on market trends in paralegal employment. 3. To prepare students to do legal research and to draft a variety of legal documents. PLS 320 Legal Research & Writing PLS 425 Advanced Legal Research a variety of assignments involving case briefing, factual and legal research on specific topics, cite checking, library projects and learning to use automated (Lexis) Final written and oral class projects demonstrate student learning. Over 90% of Graduates surveyed confirm that Legal Research was the most important class they took. Many graduates return to audit Advanced Legal Research. A new CEU 10/15/2006 2

3 research tools. They are assigned a variety of legal issues which require the preparation of different kinds of legal memoranda. They master more complex legal research and writing skills in Advanced Legal Research which requires analyzing cases, digests and statues. They develop tools such as IRAC to assist them in persuasive writing. class, Internet Legal Research was offered last year in response to requests from students. We continue to develop and offer quality courses to help students to be current in new electronic research techniques and software. 4. To provide students with the skill set and specific subject matter competency to work in Corporate and business practice, Estate Planning, and other legal specialty areas of a transactional nature. The current curriculum for paralegal students includes 20 different electives, each emphasizing a different area of law. Students may choose to take an internship PLS 380, and are placed in law offices, public agencies, corporations, banks and government offices where they work 120 hours as a paralegal intern and transfer their classroom skills to each semester class. program directors and discussed with faculty at the end of every semester. Academic outcomes are assessed on a semester to Each elective course syllabi is required to include Knowledge and Skills Objectives, and to conform to the AAFPE Model Syllabi. Various assignments include analysis of hypothetical problems, individual research projects, a midterm and final exam. Students in PLS 380 are required to prepare internship journals which describe their tasks and include redacted forms, pleadings, and correspondence. Students learn best by doing and an internship in a specialized field is an ideal course in that it gives students an opportunity to pull together all of what they have learned in the paralegal studies program and apply that knowledge to the The majority of our graduates work in litigation simply because there are more jobs in that field of jobs than any other. Students who respond to a survey done in PLS 300 are asked to list the elective classes they would like to take and the area(s) of law they find most interesting. Those responses are tallied and used by the Program Director in discussion with Faculty and the PLS 10/15/2006 3

4 the real legal work world. Skills in an elective for example; Administrative Law PLS 340 is designed to develop paralegal skills for effective dealing with federal, state and local agencies, particularly those which employ or do business with paralegals. Real Estate Practice, PLS 410 provides an overview of real estate transaction area and an introduction to the purchase and sale of single family homes, commercial properties, and construction transactions. Basic real estate principals are included. A student may choose to do an internship PLS 380, in a legal setting where through practical assignments and mentoring they learn to master the duties of a paralegal in a legal environment. They use their skills in a real office. Advisory Committee to plan New Courses. Two new courses were introduced in spring Elder Law and Contemporary Legal Issues. The CEU courses introduced in fall 2006 included Construction Law and Electronic Evidence. These courses were offered in response to student interest and information obtained from our Annual Employer Survey. Employers were asked what skills they valued most in paralegals and what skills needed to be enhanced. The goal of the paralegal program is to expand the network of potential employers and increase job opportunities for our graduates. The PLS Advisory Committee meetings and the employer survey are the main means used to achieve this goal. 10/15/2006 4

5 skills needed to succeed as a paralegal in that legal specialty. 10/15/2006 5