|
|
New paralegal students, or those considering the program, often ask, "What is your teaching style?" and "How
will I survive the class?" Those questions are answered here.
|
|
What Jac has to say:
Paralegal students are in class
for a very short amount of time (although I'm sure it doesn't seem that way to them). Still, in that roughly 144 hours, I
must instill in them the skills, knowledge, resources, and thought-processes they need to become smart, essential, indispensable
paralegals.
Paralegals must know how to figure out the pet peeves of their attorneys and avoid those. Paralegals
must know what's going on in the world around them. Paralegals need a basic understanding of how the government works, how
laws are made, how to cite laws, how to read cases, and how the court system works. Paralegals must know the difference between
the state and federal systems, courts, and laws. Paralegals must know how to draft documents, how to interview clients, how
to draft legal memos, how to brief cases, and how to perform electronic research -- both legal and general. Paralegals must
understand procedural law, and have broad stroke knowledge of some common areas of law, such as contracts, torts, wills, powers
of attorney, real estate, criminal, disability, employment, juvenile, criminal, appellate, tax, immigration, business organizations,
social security, products liability, family, consumer, and elder law. Above all, paralegals must know their ethical and professional
responsibilities and the ethical lines they must not cross, particularly relative to the unauthorized practice of law. Students
learn all of this -- and much more -- in this program. And they learn it all in ten weeks! This program is skills focused.
This is not a class in which you just simply take notes and memorize things. This class requires you to do things as you learn
paralegal skills. You will interview clients, prepare for trial, participate in a mock arbitration and a mock trial, prepare
briefs, analyze cases, look up law, cite cases, draft pleadings, propound and answer discovery, prepare the paperwork for
incorporating a business, learn to use O'Connor's, learn to use document production software. I could go on about the skills
you will learn, but I guess I've gotten a little off the subject of my teaching style. I make use of the Socratic method of
teaching when feasible. This is involves my asking questions, rather than answers. I do not give a great deal of detailed
information because figuring things out for yourself, or through collaboration with others, is part of what you will do as
a paralegal - so it is part of what you will do in class. I encourage questions -- not just during class, but in between
classes. I will not always just give you an answer, though. Sometimes, I will talk you through the analysis to find the answer
on your own. That's an important part of learning to think like a paralegal. Paralegals must be well-organized and
very detail oriented. To that end, I am a very, let's say, particular. The students who write on this page will probably
use less flattering words, but I'm writing this part so we'll go with particular. I'm a lawyer and I know what jerks we can
be. Paralegals need to understand the pressures of lawyering and how that translates for paralegals. This class discusses
that and students experience exactly how, ummmm, particular, lawyers can be. There is a method to my teaching madness.
There is a specific reason for every single thing I do in class. Every assignment has at least two levels in terms of what
students must learn. Most have more levels. You'll understand that more as you get into the work of the class. I've come to
realize that I don't really teach so much as I create conditions that foster learning. You have to have an affimative desire
to actively learn to really "get it" in this course. This is a challenging course and, because the challenge
is great, the sense of accomplishment at the end is nothing short of complete. Take the leap -- and build your paralegal
wings on the way down. You'll soon be a high-flying paralegal!
***************************************************** -Try to get your homework done by Wednesday,
so you have Thursday and Friday to prepare for your tests -Watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report -Know world leaders and current events -Get to know your classmates. They can help with your homework, any questions
that you're too afraid to ask Jac, and they are the only people who know what it's like to go through this class. Also,
your classmates could help you get a job in the future. -Bring food to class, and be prepared to gain weight during this
class. -Don't miss class, if possible. -E-mail your guest speakers when you get home from class. The speeches
are fresh in your head then, and you need to do so before you forget. The speakers are giving up part of their weekends,
so tell them you appreciate that! (They could be your future bosses.) -Don't be afraid to ask Jac questions.
She doesn't really bite... -Start doing Extra Credit when you start the class instead of cramming them all in at the
end of class. -Proofread ALL homework assignments before you turn them into Jac. Sallie Woodell Fall
2009 ********************
Tips for surviving the Jac Brennan School of Paralegal Hard Knocks 1. Do not miss class. A lot goes
on each session, and much information is disseminated. You are paying a good deal of money to take
this class, and in theory it is preparing you for a new and important life. So, take everything seriously
and treat the class in a professional manner. 2. Words are important. Pay
attention to them, especially if Jac says them. For example, if Jac casually says as she discusses
a topic of law, “Oh, incidentally, this is important and might be on a test,” chances are good the topic being
discussed will make an appearance on a test. Quite possibly that appearance will be on the next test. 3. Be organized and stay on top of things. Each
week will be composed of three elements: readings, home work, and the tests on Saturday and Sunday. So,
develop a game plan, a rhythm, if you prefer that term, to get through each week. For example, many
survive the incessant pressure by completing the readings and the homework by Wednesday (see number 4, below),
use Thursday to prepare for the test on Sunday, and leaving Friday open to prepare for the Saturday test. That
may not work for you, but the key is to develop a strategy that works for you and then stick to it as closely as possible. The
practice of organizing a plan and following it through to the end will yield enormous dividends to you and your career. 4. Go to the mid-weeks on Wednesday. It will force
you to have the homework prepared by that time, and it will also show you the errors you have made in the homework. That
homework will mount each week, reaching its peak during the discovery process, and believe when I state you will need Jac’s
Wednesday night wit and wisdom to keep you on top of the onslaught. So, do yourself a big favor and
take advantage of her generosity in taking time to meet with you each week. Not many teachers would
take the trouble to help their students like that. 5. Develop a rapport with your fellow
suffers in the class. You will have moments of doubt and insecurity in this class. It
is important to realize you are not alone, and that everyone in the class is experiencing similar
emotions. Also your fellow students can help you the key points in the course, and how to handle
the homework. And lastly, they are the only people who can understand what you are going through,
and they are good people who for the most part are willing to help you. Which of course places a burden
on you to be willing to help your fellow students and to lend a helping hand (and ear) when called upon to do so. 6. Do not hate Jac or the class or the law. It
is a waste of time and energy. If you have a problem, look in the nearest mirror – you will
immediately see the source of the problem and the only person who can get you through the class. Try
to remember: all of your classmates are in the same boat, madly bailing away
to keep the boat afloat. Keep in mind that others-many others-have survived, and so can you (see number
7, below). 7. Believe in yourself. If
this course is the worst thing that has ever happened to you, you are doing quite well in life. I
will trade lives with you, even up. So, believe in yourself and your gifts, do the best you can and
get through the worst of this class with as good a attitude as possible. Just get on with it. Eric Buck Fall 2009
*****
To all
future paralegals,
Jac is an excellent teacher for this course. She demands and expects excellence from each
and every one of her students. She can be tough, but tough is what you need. She has a purpose for everything she does and
says. Jac prepares you for the career that you will have as a paralegal. Here are a few things to help you get through paralegal
boot camp.
1. Go to Midweeks - Jac will help you to get on the right track with your homework. 2.
Finish your homework no later than Wednesday afternoon so you can take it to midweek so she can tear it apart. 3.
Take Thursday and Friday to study for the test, after you have made your homework corrections. 4. Know the Supreme
Court justices. 5. Know the world leaders. 6. Keep up with current events and sports. 7.
Remember all the guest speakers. And pay attention to what they have to say because they have valuable information for you. 8. Use spell check on your computer and proofread your work. 9. Be detailed on your tests. 10.Do as
much as you can of the extra credit. 11.Have fun!!!! And don't give up!
Good luck to all of you. Brian Harrison Summer 2009
*****************************
My
survival tips: 1. Make friends with your classmates. They are the only
people who will ever understand what you are going through in this class, and you’re going to need them. Even
if this means stepping outside your comfort zone – even if it means cramming seven total strangers into one car to go
to lunch on the first day of class – it will be worth it in the end. 2. Pay
attention to the little things Jac says in class. If she quietly, nonchalantly says “So, in
case anyone ever asks you, this is…” what she really means is “Someone is going to ask you, it’s
going to be me, and it’s going to be in the form of a test question. Know it.” 3. Re-learn
all those really basic things about American history that any fourth-grader could easily tell you, but most adults couldn’t
remember if their life depended on it. 4. Bring food to class. It will
help with that whole making friends thing, and put everyone in a better mood. 5. GO TO MIDWEEKS. If
you want to do well in this class, they are essential. 6. If you don’t already have a
gmail account, you need to get one. 7. Go ahead and invest in a few thousand
note cards, extra ink cartridges, and several reams of paper. Paralegal students kill a lot of trees. 8. Pay
attention to what’s going on in the world around you. Watch the news, read the paper, be a fan
of Houston sports teams, learn who does what in our government, and know the people in charge of other countries. 9. Respect
your teacher. There is a method to her madness, and everything she says or does will eventually serve
a purpose. Never forget that. 10. Have fun, and enjoy your class. This
is one of the hardest things you will ever do, and you will come out of it a better person. In the
meantime, take lots of pictures, make lots of inside jokes, and make some great memories with your classmates. It
will be over before you know it. Jen Bonds Summer 2009 ****************************
Survival Tips for the UH Paralegal Certificate
Program Get as much rest as possible: You think more clearly and absorb more information when you are rested. In
addition, you may avoid colds and things like that. Find
a study method that works for you: Repetition is key for getting
all those facts to stay in your head. Some people hand wrote the main ideas of the handouts and PowerPoints
on cards, some people typed the main ideas into documents that they printed out, and some people just re-read all the handouts
and PowerPoints. Make sure you review your information for each week’s test, but you also want to
retain the information for future usage. Maintain
your sense of humor and stay relaxed: Make sure you keep your
perspective on all the work involved. It just seems insurmountable, but you will succeed. Be
able to laugh at yourself and your foibles. Take
deep breaths: If you find yourself on the verge of panic, whether
completing homework or taking a test, take a deep breath. You think more clearly when you breathe deeply.
It helps you to relax. A relaxed brain is more likely to grab that arcane piece of information needed
or look at things in a new light. Do your work now,
not tomorrow: This course is over before you know it.
Many times meaning to get to something doesn’t always get things done. If you have to scramble
at the last minute, you can start panicking, then you aren’t thinking clearly, and then it takes twice as long to get
things done. Go to Mid-Weeks: This is so valuable. Jac reviews your homework and gives you ideas for improvement.
Since homework counts for 60% of your grade at a minimum, this really helps. Listen to what she
says to others, because that can help you, too. Take
advantage of your classmates: If you have a question, send it
out to any or all of your classmates. It’s amazing how many times we exchanged thoughts in person
and found out that others felt the same frustration. Make sure you do your own work, but classmates can
help. Do the extra credit work: Almost all of the extra credit work takes at least three hours and may involve a small cost (renting
/ buying DVDs, obtaining books to read, and so on). But you actually learn things about the legal system
and specific court procedures and laws and cases. All the time you invest in any extra credit assignment
is time invested in yourself and your knowledge bank. Treat Jac as your supervising attorney: Listen to what she says. In this class, Jac is the lawyer
you are trying to please. She doesn’t want to hear what other lawyers think or say about her preferences.
She is the one to review your work. What they may think about your work means nothing to Jac.
Pay attention to Jac’s pet peeves: Here is a list obtained from the first class, but I’m sure more things can be added:
- Be on time all the time;
- Turn off
your cell phones in class;
- Use complete sentences in your homework;
- Use
12 point font, so it looks big enough to read without glasses;
- Only use the word “hopefully”
when you can substitute it for the phrase “full of hope.” You can hopefully approach
the loan officer, but you won’t hopefully get a loan;
- Don’t use “try and.”
Use “try to;”
- Definitely spell “definitely” correctly;
- Don’t end any sentence with a preposition;
- Make sure you
always have proper agreement with singular/plural subject / verbs / objects;
- “Who”
refers to people; “that” refers to objects;
- Be careful of homonyms:
their, they’re, there; your, you’re; it’s, its;
- Make sure you
correctly use the words “loose” and “lose;”
- You don’t feel that the court meant to say . . . ; you believe
or think so;
- If you use the word
“literally,” make sure it is actually so;
- Don’t use fill-ins, like raising
your hand, being recognized, and stating “I have a question;”
- Don’t
ever cite Wikipedia or any Wiki site;
- Pay attention and don’t ask questions that
have already been asked and answered;
- If you use quotations, put the punctuation marks
inside the quotation marks;
- Don’t use “etc.” Law is
all about the exact meaning of the words and “etc.” could mean anything at all;
- When
using bullets in the law, end each bullet point with a semicolon and put either “and” or “or”
at the end of the penultimate bullet point; and
- When you use a pronoun to refer to Congress
or a court, always use “it,” not “they.
Peggy Colligan Summer 2009
'
|
|