Segment A
 Volume I, Chapters 1 through 6

 

Orientation and Introduction to the Law

 

 
Getting Started
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Introduction
Welcome to Study Support Website .

This Website has been designed to make your learning experience more efficient and effective, but it's up to you to utilize the devices provided here. Every Segment will begin with this page which will provide an outline for the Segment. The next step is to read the corresponding chapters in the Essential Skills Manual and use the study support provided here. All you have to do is click the "Next" link at the top or bottom of each page, or click on the desired chapter and section link on the right side of the page. Good-luck!
 

 

Assignments for Segment A . . .

There are no assignments for this Segment.

Check this panel in other Segments for research and writing assignments that must be completed.

Website Features . . .

The layout of this Website is designed to be as straight-forward as possible so the student may concentrate on the educational experience. The program is broken into Segments, with each Segment covering multiple chapters from the text books. This website corresponds with the text books.

Each Segment, broken into the relevant chapters, provides a series of support mechanisms. These tools should generally be used in the order in which they are provided, that is Chapter by Chapter. One or more of the following study support devices are provided for almost every section of the manual:

Lecture Notes
Use these in conjunction with the Essential Skills for Paralegals Manual. Think of them as an additional commentary regarding the classroom experience.

Commonly Asked Questions
Review the most frequently asked questions by students who have already taken the program.

Demonstrations
Diagrams, charts, text and picture based glossaries, and other visual aids to make the learning process more dynamic.

Exercises
There are many forms of exercises, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank quizzes, and analytical demonstrations.

Perspectives
These real-life stories or examples bridge the gap between the academic experience and what your life will be like as a paralegal.

ViewPoints
Periodic graphical demonstrations of the material being covered.

Wrap-up
At the end of the last chapter covered in each Segment you will find the Wrap-up. Here we collect short Quizlets covering the entire Segment. Think of it as a preparation for the Mock Exams.

Mock Exams
It is important that you wait to take the Mock Exams last, after you have studied all other material in that Segment. If used properly, the Mock Exams will help you narrow the focus of your study to those areas not yet completely understood.

Labs
There are research, writing, and citation labs to help students prepare written assignments and develop skills related to the law library, online legal research, and citations. Use these tools. They act like an instructor looking over your shoulder and make the learning process much more efficient.

DemoLabs
A mechanism to allow students to view a demonstration of a specific skill, followed by a link to a live lab where the student can practice that skill.

That's it. You may see some additional tools provided from time to time, but just go with the flow.

If you utilize these tools and put a real effort into this program, you can have a great educational experience!

 

What You Will Learn in Segment A . . .

The objectives for Segment A are as follows:

• Students will be introduced to the paralegal profession

• We will lay a foundation in legal terminology

• Students will learn the structure of the United States court system

 

Chapters Covered in Segment A . . .

VOLUME I: ORIENTATION

Chapter 1. The Client
Chapter 2. Defining the Profession
Chapter 3. Entering the Field

VOLUME I: PART 1

Chapter 4. Legal Terminology
Chapter 5. Court Structure
Chapter 6. Law Office Ethics & Etiquette

 

A note about Legal Dictionaries . . .

There are several standard legal dictionaries. The most common, and popular, are:

• Black's Law Dictionary
• Barron's Legal Dictionary
• Ballentine's Legal Dictionary

The above act as standard dictionaries, providing definitions for legal terms. Some also provide citations to cases dealing with those terms. You are not required to purchase one of the above, but if you do, we advise a small portable version.

   

Legal Movie Recommendation

Extra Tools
Almost every section on this site will have a set of extra tools at the bottom of the page (see below). The tools will typically include:

More
For more complex and difficult concepts, students will be provided with another "layer" of study support regarding that material. This may include links to Internet articles, additional exercises, or other support tools.

Report a Problem
If you have a problem viewing a page, using a study tool, or just have a technical question, feel free to contact us by submitting this form. The more specific you can be regarding the location of a problem, the more quickly we can solve the issue or provide you with a solution.

Updates
The law is ever changing, and technology even more so. Thus, if there are updates regarding specific areas of law, or if such devices as Lexis or Westlaw add new features, we will post updates here.

Briefcase
This is an optional set of tools to help you keep track of progress, thoughts, or lists. The first tool is the Reminder List. You can enter the point you stopped studying, create a "To-Study" list, or any other short note to retrieve later. The second tool is the Memo Pad for longer notes. If you want to print your Reminder List, just click the Print icon.

Please note that the Briefcase tools require that Cookies be allowed on your computer. (They probably already are.) For more information about Cookies, click here.

Also, any entries made using the Briefcase tools reside only on the computer where they are created. Thus, if you create a list on your home computer, and then visit the site using your work computer, don't be concerned if the list is not there. It will be when you return to the originating computer.

These tools may be altered or added to from time to time. Let us know what you think (use the Report a Problem form).