SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW: INCORPORATING BASIC COMPLAINT AND ANSWER ASSIGNMENTS THROUGHOUT AN UNDERGRADUATE PARALEGAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Abstract

Paralegal Studies programs should be designed to teach undergraduate students the fundamentals of the practice of law, but without the increased rigor seen in law schools. Many students come into universities with an unrealistic sense of what practicing law entails. Accordingly, Paralegal Studies programs should strive to incorporate assignments early in the curriculum that allow students to complete simulated legal work to ease students into the study of law. Students need to know that becoming an attorney or paralegal is not as mystifying as it may seem. This article suggests that students complete a simulated complaint and answer assignment in an introductory law course. The required elements of each pleading would be covered, with a focus on using appropriate skills to draft a persuasive document. The same assignment should be assessed in a later course - perhaps Legal Research and Writing or a capstone course - to allow students to create an advanced document using the skills learned throughout the program. By infusing this assignment throughout the curriculum, students will enjoy learning about the law and will be able to concretely see their own progress.