Assessment Plan Overview Program Mission and Core Learning Objectives PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

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Assessment Plan Overview

Paralegal Technology AAB 2012-2013

Jeffery S. Rubel

Program Mission and Core Learning Objectives

The Program is designed to educate and train students to assist attorneys in performing tasks which, but for the presence of the paralegal, would be performed by the supervising attorney. The purpose of the Program is reflected in the College’s mission statement: “…life-long learning in a dynamic and supportive open-access educational community that fosters intellectual, cultural, and social development.” The Program meets the College’s mission by providing practical, student-centered learning opportunities for students; encouraging

continuation of education and fostering intellectual, cultural and social development for the students. Upon graduation from the Program, graduates are prepared to function effectively and ethically in the public and private sectors of the legal community. There are four core objectives for the Program:

1. workplace readiness skills, including basic skills in legal research and writing, various substantive areas of the law such that they are prepared for employment in an entry-level paralegal position or other related field;

2. the ability to analyze and evaluate the law and modify standardized forms found in form books, pleading files, form files or computer databases to create the appropriate work product of a typical entry-level paralegal working under the supervision of an attorney;

3. proficiency in legal software and other technology used in the practice of law; and

4. knowledge of legal and ethical principles that guide paralegal conduct and demonstrate an understanding of the role of the paralegal in the delivery of legal services.

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The process by which the program has retained its continuous ABA approval since 2001 remains the process by which the program continually determines and modifies its

objectives, outcomes and assessment strategy. Under the ABA Guidelines, responsibility for program planning and development must exclusively reside with the Program Coordinator, whose qualifications must meet the ABA standards. Program objectives, outcomes and the assessment strategy, inter alia, are fully described to the ABA through two mechanisms: re-approval reports and interim reports. The program provides a self-report for re-approval on a seven-year schedule. The self-report and appendices full of

supporting documentation are reviewed by the ABA Re-approval Commission Attorney, and to the extent additional information is sought, that fact is communicated to the program. Once the self-report is approved, the ABA schedules a 3-day site visit, and evaluates the program. UC Clermont’s Paralegal Program hosted its last site visit in February 2010, and formally re-approved by the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors that same year. The Program’s first Interim Report was submitted in September 2011. The second Interim Report will be submitted in 2014.

The new semester based Assessment Plan defines the educational objectives and expected outcomes for the Paralegal Studies program and outlines its plan for assessing the achievement of the stated objectives and outcomes. Our challenge is to coordinate these efforts so they are consistent with the ABA’s exacting requirements. The development of the objectives and outcomes consisted of (1) a

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review of the American Bar Association’s recommendations for the effective utilization of paralegals, (2) consultations with the program’s advisory committee, (3) consultations with other Program Coordinators that are institutional members of the American Association for Paralegal Educators (AAFPE) and (4) analysis of past employer and graduate surveys. From this process, we have developed an assessment approach that is divided into “Direct” and “Indirect” Indicators of learning. The direct indicators of learning are used directly with students for the primary purpose of assessing student learning, student achievement, and performance. The indirect indicators do not assess student achievement per se, but provide vital information about whether we are meeting the 4 core learning objective for the program.

Our new assessment approach employs the following direct indicators of learning:

1. Course-Embedded Assessment; 2. Tests and Examinations; 3. Group Communication Projects

Our new assessment approach employs the following indirect indicators of learning:

1. Graduate Surveying; 2. Intern Sponsor/Employer Surveying; 3. Focus Groups

Summary of Assessment Approach and Results Student Learning Outcome Outcome

Type

Methodology Semester Assessment Result

Advisory Committee

Action Taken 1. Analysis & Ethics  PARA

 GENERAL EDUC.  Communication  Culture/Diversity  Problem Solving  Critical Thinking  Direct  Examinations  Group Project  Indirect  Internship Survey Fall 2. Analyze, evaluate, modify and create

appropriate work product

 PARA  Direct

 Examinations

 Assignment

Fall Spring 3. Legal software and other

technology skills  PARA  Direct  Examinations  Tech. Assignments  Indirect  Internship Survey  Graduate Survey Spring 4. Workplace readiness skills  PARA  Indirect  Internship Survey  Graduate Survey Spring Summer

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Four Core Learning Outcome and Assessment for Each Outcome #1 Outcome Title: Ethics & Analysis

Outcome Type:  PARA Discipline  General Education: Communication Culture/Diversity Problem Solving Critical Thinking

Students will be able to identify ethical issues and be able to apply the rules of professional conduct to fact situations (hypotheticals) to determine the appropriate ethical course of conduct through synthesis and analysis.

Where is Outcome #1 Assessed?

PARA1001 – Introduction to Paralegal Profession.

Group project assigned in which the student must apply the rules of ethical conduct that apply to a paralegal.

PARA 2027 – Paralegal Practicum

Students will be required to complete a two hundred (200) hour practicum under the supervision of a licensed attorney prior to graduation from the program.

Who Assessed Outcome #1

Paralegal Program Director

Employer/Sponsor survey. At the completion of each student’s practicum, the sponsor/employer will complete a written survey (see exhibit “A”).

Benchmark for Outcome #1

Direct measure of student learning for Learning outcome #1:

1.Examinations Containing Factual scenarios requiring the student to analysis

2.Group assignment to review assigned ethical Scenarios and reach a group conclusion applying the ethical rules correctly to fact situations to determine the appropriate ethical course of conduct in situations. 80% of all assignments reviewed must demonstrate knowledge required of an entry level paralegal.

Indirect Measure of Student Learning for outcome #1

 75% of all students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” or higher question VI.- “Overall rating for Intern.

 75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” or higher on question : IV.9 “demonstrated an understanding of the ethical standards of the legal profession.

Outcome #1

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Outcome #2 Outcome Title:

Outcome Type:  PARA Discipline

Outcome #2

Students will be able to analyze and evaluate the law and modify standardized forms found in form books, pleading files, form files or computer databases to create the appropriate work product of a typical entry-level paralegal working under the supervision of an attorney.

PARA 2026 –Administrative Litigation.

Students will be given a case scenario and be required to commence an application for Social Security disability benefits and complete the proceeding through the appeal level.

PARA2021 Civil Litigation I

Students will be given various scenarios and will be required to complete discovery and litigation pleadings

Paralegal Program Director and Full-time Faculty Member Teaching Civil Litigation I & Administrative Litigation

Representative samples of the students work will be collected during the course by the Full-time Faculty Member and subsequently reviewed by Paralegal Studies Program Director (or designee having practical experience in the relevant area of law). 80% of the samples will meet or exceed the expected skills of an entry-level paralegal (see attached Rubric).

Outcome #2

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Students will demonstrate technology proficiency in the use of word processing, spreadsheets, electronic case management, and other legal software and computer applications used in the practice of law.

PARA 181 – Law Office Technology

Students will be required to complete hands-on assignments in which they demonstrate proficiency with case management, scanning/ optical character recognition software.

Paralegal Program Director and Full-time Faculty Member Teaching Law Office Technology

Employer/Sponsor survey. At the completion of each student’s practicum, the sponsor/employer will complete a written survey (see exhibit “A”).

Graduate Survey

In class hands-on testing and evaluation. 80% of all students must demonstrate proficiency in utilizing the identified legal software (see exhibit “D” Technology Grading Rubric)

75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” or higher on question IV.3: “software/technology Skills acceptable for entry level Paralegal

75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” or higher on question IV.5: “Adapted quickly to the computer programs used by the office.”

Graduates of program will be surveyed upon graduation, asking them to evaluate their level of preparedness for their job as a result of completing the Paralegal Curriculum. 75% of the graduates surveyed will “agree” or “strongly agree” with the statement “I am well prepared for my first position” contained in the Graduate Survey. The survey will allow the program to combine the students’ self-assessment with the external assessments from the Practicum Sponsor.

Indirect Measure for outcome #3

Every third year a focus group will be used to gather information on how the legal community is using technology, what needs our legal community has for technology, and how we should be training paralegals to best meet those needs. This will allow the program to remain focused our training “software and computer applications used in the practice of law” A technology focus group was last hosted in 2010. Outcome #3

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Graduating students will demonstrate workplace readiness skills, including knowledge of the substantive legal principles/procedures, skills in legal research and writing, and a general knowledge of Ohio Court Rules.

Practicum sponsor survey. At the completion of each student’s practicum, the sponsor/employer will complete a written survey (see exhibit “A”).

Indirect Measure 1 for Student Learning on outcome #4

 75% of all students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” or higher on question IV.1.

“demonstrated competence in the substantive principles/procedures related to the major areas of practice such as litigation, real estate, business organizations, etc.”

 75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” on question IV.2 “applied his/her legal knowledge to practical matters assigned.”

 75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” on questions IV6-7. - Legal research and writing.

 75% of the students will receive an overall rating of “VERY GOOD” on questions IV.10. – General Knowledge of the Ohio Court Rules.

Indirect Measure 2 for Student Learning on outcome #4

 Graduate Surveys. Graduates of program will be surveyed upon graduation, asking them to evaluate their level of preparedness for their job as a result of completing the Paralegal Curriculum. 75% of the

graduates surveyed will “agree” or “strongly agree” with the statement “I am well prepared for my first position” contained in the Graduate Survey. The survey will allow the program to combine the students’ self-assessment with the external assessments from the Practicum Sponsor.

Outcome #4

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Curriculum Mapping Matrix: Linking Program Outcomes to Curriculum Key

Paralegal Technology

UC Clermont College

I=Introduced / D=Developed A=Assessed

Required Courses Identified in P-1 Program Learning Outcomes Para1001- Intro Legal Studies Para1011 Legal Researc. I Para1012 Legal Researc. II Para1013 Law Off. Techn. Para1014

Family Law Para1015 Crim. Law & Proc.

Para2021

Civ. Lit I Para2022 Civ. Lit. II Para2023 Real Estate Para2026 Adm. Lit. Practicum Para2027 Students in the Paralegal

Technology program will

demonstrate workplace readiness skills to be prepared for

employment in an entry level paralegal position or a related field.

I, D, A I D I, D, A I, D I I, D D, A I D, A A

Students in the Paralegal

Technology Program will be able to analyze and evaluate the law to create the appropriate work product of a typical entry-level paralegal working under the supervision of an attorney.

I I D I I, D I I, D D, A I D, A A

Students in the Paralegal

Technology Program will be able to modify standardized forms found in form books, pleading files, form files or computer databases to create the appropriate work product of a typical entry-level paralegal working under the supervision of an attorney.

N/A I I I D I I, D D, A I D, A A

Students in the Paralegal Technology Program will

demonstrate proficiency with legal software and other technology used in the practice of law.

I I, D D I, D, A D N/A I D I N/A A

Students in the Paralegal Technology Program will demonstrate knowledge of legal and ethical principles that guide paralegal conduct and

demonstrate an understanding of the role of the paralegal in the delivery of legal services.

I, D, A I I D D I D, A D, A I D A

University of Cincinnati Clermont College 2013-2014

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University of Cincinnati Clermont College 2013-2014