University's Paralegal Program now enrolling

As students hurry to enroll in Paralegal Studies classes at Madonna, Mary Meinzinger Urisko begins work on a seventh edition of "The Paralegal Today," a textbook she co-authored with Roger Miller nearly twenty years ago. This much-needed resource when it was originally published in 1995, is still a key text for many paralegal instructors. There's still time to register for classes that begin Sept. 2. Madonna's paralegal courses are offered online, on campus, and on weekends. Students enjoy personal instruction in small classes taught by professors with experience in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16.7 percent employment growth for paralegals between 2012 and 2022, adding 46,200 positions. Program graduates are employed in local corporate legal departments, large and small law firms, and state and federal courts and government agencies. Before publishing her book, Urisko found that many paralegal books were written by non-lawyers and sometimes contained legally inaccurate information. "The paralegal profession was just over twenty years old when we started writing the book. There were very few textbooks for use by paralegal program instructors, and the introduction-to-law textbooks that existed did not cover substantive law subjects such as torts, contracts, or criminal law," said Urisko. Since its publication, "The Paralegal Today" has been updated to include technology-related topics such as E-discovery, cyber torts, electronic contracts, signature regulation and social media topics. Urisko continues to use this textbook, which includes online supplements through Cengage Publishing, to teach introductory paralegal studies courses at Madonna University. Madonna University Paralegal Studies Course offers: On Campus - Introduction to Paralegal Studies provides an overview of the paralegal profession, the legal system, and substantive law, Wednesday nights from 7-10 p.m., taught by Urisko. - Legal Research and Writing I introduces the basics of legal research and the preparation of basic legal documents, such as complaint, case brief, memorandum of law and motion, and brief for summary disposition, Thursday nights from 7-10 p.m., taught byUrisko. - Litigation covers the procedures used in litigating civil cases before both federal and state courts. Also included is the drafting of numerous discovery tools, as well as pleadings, and other documents needed to be filed with the courts, Tuesday nights from 7-10 p.m., taught by Martha Champine. - Legal Research and Writing II offers additional research practice and focuses on federal legal sources, and provides the fundamentals of drafting various federal court documents, Thursday nights 7-10 p.m., taught by Jennifer W. Cote. Online - Computer-Assisted Legal Research builds on the Westlaw (Classic and WestlawNext) and Lexis Academic skills taught in LAW 1010 and 3210, and introduces Casemaker, the legal research service offered by the State Bar of Michigan to its members, taught by Mary Meinzinger Urisko. - Case Preparation and Trial is an advanced course in litigation process. An actual case is developed for trial presentation. Deposition summaries, drafting of opening and closing statements and jury instructions are covered, taught by Martha Champine. Weekend - Torts: An Overview of Negligence is a course in the fundamentals of tort law with an emphasis on application of tort law to fact situations encountered in legal practice. Topics covered include: intentional interference and defenses, negligence and defenses, strict liability, product liability, misrepresentation, defamation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and auto negligence. Class meets Friday nights Sept. 12 and 19, Oct. 10 and 17 from 6-10 p.m. and Saturdays, Sept. 13 and 20 and Oct. 11 and 18 from 8 a.m. -2:25 p.m., taught by Craig Tarpinian. - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an advanced course in the pre-trial litigation process. Students draft a facilitation summary of issues presented in an actual case and make a mock case presentation to an ADR panel. LAW 1010 or the equivalent is a prerequisite. Hybrid courses meet on campus on Fridays Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 from 6-10 p.m. and Saturdays Nov. 8 from 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m., and Nov. 15 from 8 a.m.-12:55 p.m. The other courses are online starting Oct. 31. Taught by Mary Meinzinger Urisko. - Electronic Discovery focuses on the requirements of electronic discovery, meets on Friday, Oct. 24 from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Taught by Kim Nowosod. Madonna University's paralegal studies program is approved by the American Bar Association and has maintained its status for more than 30 years. The program offers associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate. The nurse paralegal certificate program is designed for nurses who hold a bachelor's degree in nursing and wish to pursue a different career path. For additional information, email or call Mary Urisko at murisko@madonna.edu, 734-432-5548 or Jennifer Coté at jcote@madonna.edu, 734-432-5549. To schedule an appointment, call 734-432-5570. Published: Wed, Aug 06, 2014