DESCRIPTIONS OF CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COURSES
LA-2
Wills, Trusts & Estate
Planning
Focus on various available methods of estate planning and the federal tax
consequences of transferring family wealth and property, with emphasis
on Florida probate law and practice. Additional topics to be discussed
in detail include: the preparation, content and use of wills, will substitutes,
trusts and other similar arrangements, recent tax savings ideas and strategies,
the role of life insurance and irrevocable life insurance trusts, major
changes and recent developments in gift and estate tax planning, the use
of revocable (living) and irrevocable trusts, jointly-held property, ownership
of family business interests, buy/sell agreements, use of pension/profit
sharing plans, charitable contributions/trusts, private annuities and post-mortem
estate planning.
LA-3 Real Property Law
All general phases of real estate practice are studied. Topics include: standard
residential contracts; the process from listing a piece of property through
closing; contract preparation; types of title insurance matters (liens
vs. permitted acceptable items); construction-related matters (liens/notices
required); types of deeds; taxation; homestead; loans; and preparation
of closing statements. The goal is to give you the knowledge to understand
a basic residential contract, understand a title insurance commitment,
and to prepare all documentation relating to closings.
LA-4 Civil Litigation
The primary focus is on civil litigation in Florida. Included are: sources
of law, jurisdiction, venue, pleading requirements in civil actions, motion
practice, third party practice, all aspects of discovery, trial preparation,
trial procedure, post-trial motions and appeals, and post-judgment enforcement.
The course will provide an understanding of civil litigation as it is practiced
in Florida, with emphasis on practical aspects of litigation. In addition,
you will learn how to prepare for a trial and how to assist the attorney
in handling a civil matter from initial interview through trial.
LA-5 Contract Law
The broad application of contract law is kept in mind during the exploration
of what makes some promises enforceable. Areas of discussion include: how
the concepts of offer, acceptance and consideration are combined to create
enforceable contracts; what happens when one or more elements is missing;
and the performance and breach of contracts. You will be invited to apply
your learning to real-world situations through discussions of contract
disputes in the news, hypothetical situations based on current events and
by drafting exercises that challenge you to create unambiguous provisions.
LA-6 Criminal Law
This course involves the study of both substantive and procedural criminal
law. First, you will study the criminal justice system, elements to various
offenses and defenses to crimes, sentencing and punishment, and the details
of each part of a criminal trial. The second part deals with constitutional
and procedural aspects of criminal law. You will study numerous foundation
cases decided by the Supreme Court. Various topics within the area of search
and seizure, including warrants, confessions, the Miranda rule, and the
exclusionary rule will be covered. Finally, the Florida rules of criminal
procedure will be examined in detail.
LA-7 Personal
Injury
This course includes an introduction to negligence actions, intentional torts
such as assault, false imprisonment, fraud, misrepresentation, infliction
of emotional distress, and malicious prosecution and other aspects of personal
injury. Topics of discussion include: the various documents used in personal
injury cases (complaints, answers, affirmative defenses); discovery documents
used in preparation for trial (interrogatories, requests to produce, and
requests for admission); and the use of other pre-trial and trial documents
and exhibits and how they are used in personal injury actions. You will
learn the fundamental elements of personal injury causes of action and
will be guided through an entire personal injury case from commencement
through settlement negotiations. The goal of the course is achieved through
both the text and the use of actual case documents and experiences, with
an emphasis on practical application.
LA-8 Effective Legal Research
You will become acquainted with the fundamentals of legal research. Learn
to use and locate primary and secondary sources and gain exposure to computer
research systems like Westlaw and LexisNexis.
NOTE: This course is a prerequisite to LA-12 Research Writing.
LA-9 Research Writing
Research Writing is a continuation of Effective Legal Research and includes
exercises in grammatical construction and legal writing. You will become
acquainted with the fundamentals of legal writing and learn to resent legal
analysis in a logical concise format. Prerequisite: Effective Legal Research.
LA-10 Probate
You will be introduced to the principles of probate law in Florida. Topics
for study include: the role of the attorney and personal representative,
probate vs. non-probate assets, testate vs. intestate estates, creditor
and beneficiary rights, accountings, probate litigation and federal estate
taxes as well as trust administration. You will learn to administer an
estate from beginning to end, including formal, summary and ancillary administrations,
and you will be required to prepare pleadings after a study of the Florida
probate code.
LA-11 Corporations
You will study sole proprietorship and general and limited partnerships,
with a special emphasis on corporations. Topics include: corporate formation,
articles of incorporation and by-laws, sub-chapter S, corporate financial
structure, operation, meetings, dividends, distributions, employment, steps
after formation, foreign corporations, and corporate taxation. The course
includes a manual of the latest forms and tax procedures.
LA-12 Domestic
Relations
Dissolution of marriage in Florida is the primary focus. Included are: valid
marriages, annulments, preparation of pleadings in a dissolution action,
jurisdiction venue, uniform child custody, child support, alimony and other
relief, property settlement agreements, final hearing and post-judgment
proceedings. Adoption and paternity are also covered.
Be Smart—Register Now!
1.800.228.5845
www.smart.fau.edu
To register for LA-1 Introduction to Law starting July 23 or July 28, call
1.800.228.5845.
