Legal Courses Completed
College of Lake County
Civil Litigation
Gained working knowledge of general and Illinois state procedural rules governing a case from client intake through appeal, along with the discovery process and a paralegal's ethical role at each stage. Evaluated case facts, calculated billable hours, and tracked a litigation schedule for case management. Drafted a range of litigation documents, including court forms such as an appearance and jury request, a multi-count personal injury complaint and answer, and interrogatory requests and responses. Gained exposure to basic motion practice and jury instruction procedure. Sharpened ability to move a case through each procedural stage with organization and precisio
Legal Research & Writing
Gained working knowledge of primary and secondary legal research sources, including case law, statutes, regulations, and evaluation of mandatory versus persuasive authorities. Developed proficiency navigating Westlaw, Lexis+, and other online legal research databases. Earned NSLT certificates in Legal Research Technology and AI for Legal Professionals. Learned to analyze legal problems and communicate findings in proper written format, including Bluebook case citation requirements and a distinction between objective and persuasive legal writing. Coursework culminated in an extensive legal memorandum analyzing Illinois negligence law against a mock case fact pattern, synthesizing statutory and case authority into a reasoned legal conclusion.
Contract Law
Gained working knowledge of requirements contract formation, and how the Uniform Commercial Code functions both in concert with and apart from general contract theory. Studied formative common law cases that established these doctrines, along with how those principles have evolved into current contract law. Learned to identify breach of contract and evaluate available remedies. Drafted a complete contract each week across a range of contexts, including private sales, business-to-business sales under the UCC, employment and independent contractor agreements, and a commercial equipment lease, applying concepts immediately upon learning them. Coursework also introduced mechanic's liens and their function within construction contracts, illustrating how statutory remedies can operate alongside contract terms.
Real Property Law
With a focus on Illinois law and practice, gained working knowledge of property rights and ownership interests, including types of estates such as life estates and fee simple, along with non-possessory interests and encumbrances on title. Studied real estate purchase and sale processes, including required state disclosures, standard forms, HUD-1 and ALTA settlement statements, title search procedures, county recording formatting standards, and the assessor's role in property taxation. Learned the history of legal descriptions of land and how to interpret and apply them today. Studied the history of racially restrictive covenants and Illinois's statutory process for removing such unlawful language from title. Studied types of deeds, including warranty and quitclaim deeds, and drafted a warranty deed, easement agreement, PTAX declaration, closing documents including a Bill of Sale, Affidavit of Title, and ALTA Statement, and client correspondence for an incoming real estate client.
Family Law
An introduction to fundamental common law and statutory concepts of family law, with emphasis on Illinois law and the paralegal's role. Topics included formal and informal marriages, legal separation, divorce, marital property division and dissipation, parental allocation of decision-making and responsibilities, child support, and domestic relations court procedures. Learned to calculate child support under Illinois statutory guidelines. Drafted a range of family law documents, including a petition for dissolution of marriage, a motion for default, a notice of intent to claim dissipation, a subpoena duces tecum, and a parenting plan. Researched and drafted a memorandum on Illinois law governing income earned by child influencers.
Drafting Legal Documents
Hands-on drafting course using mock clients with multi-part legal matters across several practice areas. Created table of authorities and practiced detailed proofreading of documents containing planted errors and inconsistencies across client communications. Drafted probate documents, including petition for name change, small estate affidavit, and power of attorney for health care. Assisted mock client with starting a business, including drafting a D/B/A, researching proposed business name for trademark availability across the core business and merchandise, along with requirements for pursuing a wordmark and/or logo registration. Researched and drafted interoffice memo on Chicago short-term rental regulations, and reviewed the client's real estate purchase contract for the same matter. Researched attorney and firm conflicts of interest as part of client intake. Drafted an opinion letter for a client and correspondence with opposing counsel.
Criminal Litigation
Gained working knowledge of criminal litigation as a primarily statutory area of law, in contrast to civil litigation's common law foundation, along with the criminal court system and the stages of a criminal case from pretrial investigation through sentencing and appeal. Studied the constitutional basis underlying most stages of criminal procedure, including due process, the right to counsel, the right to a jury trial, and protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Drafted a motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence, applying Fourth Amendment principles to a specific fact pattern. Participated in a plea bargain negotiation exercise and gained an introductory understanding of case analysis for defense strategy, and trial notebook preparation
Law Office Tech & eDiscovery
Gained introductory exposure to common office and law practice software, including the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe applications, case management software such as Clio, and eDiscovery platforms such as DISCO. Studied the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governing discovery, along with the eDiscovery process, including identification and collection of custodians, culling and processing of data, de-duplication, document review, privilege logs, Bates numbering, metadata, and proportionality considerations in production. Earned NSLT certificates in Legal Technology and eDiscovery (NSLT with ACEDS).
Tort Law
Introduction to the broad area of civil wrongs and available remedies, covering tort principles in intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, products liability, and nuisance, along with commonly employed defenses. Studied pivotal cases establishing these doctrines and how courts have applied and refined them over time. Drafted an insurance demand letter, an assault and battery complaint, and a premises liability complaint. Researched and drafted a memorandum analyzing a potential client matter involving negligence and strict products liability, including manufacturing and design defect theories, along with potential defenses.