This course explores the paralegal's role in estate planning. The requirements of creating enforceable wills and trusts will be covered, and study of resulting and constructive trusts will be provided.

INSTRUCTOR: David P. Dougherty, J.D.
E-Mail: ddough@msn.com

EXPECTATIONS: This is an accelerated course. You will be expected to spend an average of at least 8 hours per week reading and completing assignments. Please note that, barring extenuating circumstances, extensions will not be granted for this online course. This course is the equivalent of at least 50 course contact hours. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.

OBJECTIVE: To become competent as a legal assistant in the areas of Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates.

REQUIRED TEXT: Introduction to Estate Planning in a Nutshell, 5th Edition, West Publishing Company, 1992, ISBN #0-314-15306-3.
This book is available from The Center for Legal Studies 800-522-7737 for approximately $30 plus shipping.

Optional Textbook: Basics of Legal Document Preparation, by Robert R. Cummins, Delmar Publishers, 1997, ISBN 0-8273-6799-6, also available from The Center for Legal Studies.

COURSE OUTLINE: Students will read the course textbook in its entirety quickly during the first week of the course to obtain an overview of estate planning. Afterwards, read each chapter more carefully while taking notes regarding important terms and concepts. The first three quizzes should be turned in after the second week and the final two quizzes by the last week of the course.

There are two writing assignments due using standard form books such as West's Legal Forms or American Jurisprudence Legal Forms: the preparation of a Simple Will and a Revocable Living Trust for hypothetical clients. The writing assignments are due by the end of the course. There will be six participation exercises that should be posted each week.

GRADING
Your grade will be based on your completion of five Bulletin Board assignments (class participation), five quizzes, and two written assignments. The quizzes and writing assignments are submitted using the Private Mail tool. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation" by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments will enhance your understanding of the reading material.

Your final grade will be figured as follows: The five quizzes are worth 100 points each and comprise 50% of your grade. Your class participation assignments comprise 25% of your grade. Your two writing assignments are worth 100 points each and comprise 25% of your grade.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email info@legalstudies.com by the Wednesday before class begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email info@legalstudies.com anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday of class. After the first Thursday of class no refunds will be issued.