Course Description
| Course Title: |
Interviewing and Investigating
Techniques |
| Course Number: |
PA 2206 |
| Credits: |
2 semester credits |
| Prerequisites: |
Grade "C" or better in PA 1102 - Introduction to Law and Contracts
or instructor's permission |
| Recommendations: |
This course requires the knowledge of legal
analysis, the ability to do light legal research based on directions
provided by the instructor, and the aptitude to learn how to draft
pleadings or legal documents.
|
| Catalog Description: |
Examines general techniques of interviewing and
investigating with special emphasis placed on the practical aspects
of interviewing witnesses and clients, and investigating cases. |
| Course Objectives/
Learning Outcomes: |
Students will be able to:
- Prepare, plan and conduct both client and witness interviews.
- Demonstrate issue recognition, and organize and use facts from
clients and witnesses to develop the case or draft documents.
- Use and design effective and proper listening, questioning
techniques, and perceptual interviewing techniques.
- Describe, illustrate and choose how to conduct an effective
and proper legal investigation method resulting in the gathering
of statements, evidence and other reports.
- Differentiate and choose between civil and criminal investigation
and discovery techniques.
- Obtain, interpret and analyze accident and
investigatory reports from law enforcement and other agencies.
- Use computer and/or audio visual technology to prepare
interviews and investigative reports.
- Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal
professional responsibility, ethics and confidentiality, and the
unauthorized practice of law.
|
| Topics Covered: |
I. Introduction
- Planning, preparing and structuring the interview (3 Hours)
- Verbal and nonverbal skills (3 Hours)
- Effective listening skills (1 Hour)
- Issue recognition (1 Hour)
- Special Circumstances (1 Hour)
- Interviewing witnesses (3 Hours)
II. Investigation
- Preliminary investigation (3 Hours)
- Evidence (1 Hour)
- Differences between legal and investigative interviewing (1 Hour)
- Preparation for trial (3 Hours)
- Civil and criminal investigations
(3 Hours)
- Ethics and Professional Responsibilities (1 hour)
- Mock interviews (3 hours)
- Mock investigations (3 hours)
- Memorandum writing and legal document drafting (2 hours)
Total Semester Hours: 32 Hours |
| Outcomes Measures: |
The student may take exam(s) and/or prepare papers
and/or complete projects. The above measures may use electronic
document software or audio visual technology for their preparation
where appropriate.
Numerical grading may be used. The final grade will be
a full letter grade (A-F). |
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The Paralegal Program is located in the Twin Cities area,
Minneapolis - St. Paul, and serves much of Minnesota
and parts of Wisconsin.
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