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This page is intended to provide Program students with basic information about certain Program policies. Note that not all Program policies are set forth here. If any Program policy described here is in conflict with a BTE Department, College of Technology, or University policy that is directly on point and is more restrictive, then the BTE Department, College of Technology, or University policy, as the case may be, will control. The policies described here are subject to change at any time, and without prior notice. Contact the Program Coordinator if you have any questions. Program Internship Requirement Transfer Students: Minimum Program Hours Transfer Students: Transfer Credit
Transfer Students: Minimum Program Hours Regardless of the number of hours accepted by the University for transfer credit, and irrespective of any other courses that may be required, all students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree or a Second Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Legal Assistant Studies must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of Program Courses, including at least 15 hours of legal courses (those having an "LEGL" prefix) at Eastern Michigan University. Return to Table of Contents Transfer Students: Transfer Credit If you are a declared Legal Assistant Studies major (major code BT04), then the Program Coordinator is your academic advisor. Pursuant to University policy, the Program Coordinator has authority to approve transfer credit for certain Program Courses. Specifically, the Program Coordinator has authority, in his or her discretion, to approve transfer credit for courses having an "LEGL" or "BEDU" prefix. The Program Coordinator cannot approve transfer credit for any courses with prefixes other than these. The Program Coordinator cannot approve transfer credit for any University Basic Studies Courses (other than those with a "BEDU" prefix), nor can the Program Coordinator approve transfer credit for Program Courses that are offered through other departments (e.g., "ACC"; "LAW"; "PLSC"). Students seeking transfer credit for a non-LEGL or non-BEDU course must consult with University Academic Advising, or with the department offering the courses for which transfer credit is sought. For LEGL and BEDU courses, the Program Coordinator may approve transfer credit in appropriate cases. If the Program has an articulation agreement in place with the institution from which the student seeks to transfer credit, then the articulation agreement will be followed, except as noted below. If the Program does not have an articulation agreement in place with the institution from which the student seeks to transfer credit, then the Program Coordinator will determine, on a course-by-course basis, if transfer credit is appropriate. Transfer credit is more likely to be approved if the institution from which the student seeks to transfer credit has an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved program, but ABA approval, in itself, does not guarantee that transfer credit will be approved. The Program is ABA-approved. In order to maintain our ABA approval, we must ensure that the Program meets a variety of ABA guidelines. The Program Coordinator may refuse to approve transfer credit in any case where, in the Program Coordinator's opinion, approving transfer credit may be contrary to the letter or spirit of the ABA guidelines. Likewise, the Program Coordinator may refuse to approve transfer credit in any case where, in the Program Coordinator's opinion, approving transfer credit might jeopardize the Program's ABA approval. Regardless of the number of transfer credits approved, all transfer students must satisfy the Minimum Program Hours policy. Return to Table of Contents Each Program Course is part of the curriculum because it is designed to impart skills and competencies that are essential or useful to legal assistants and other legal professionals. Substitutions for required Program Courses will be granted only under exceptional circumstances, and only if the student can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Program Coordinator that he or she has the competencies of the course for which substitution is being sought. In every case, a student seeking a course substitution must obtain the permission of the Program Coordinator in advance. Return to Table of Contents Prerequisite waivers are strongly disfavored. Course sequences are designed in a way such that later courses build upon skills and competencies taught in their prerequisites. A prerequisite waiver will be granted only under exceptional circumstances, and only if the student can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Program Coordinator and the course instructor that his or her learning and performance in the course will not be impaired on account of the waiver. A prerequisite waiver does not excuse the student from taking the waived course, nor is a waiver considered to be fulfillment of the waived course. A prerequisite waiver only allows the student to take a sequential course out of order. BTE Department policy mandates that only the instructor of record for a course may waive a prerequisite to that course, unless the instructor of record for a course is an adjunct instructor. If the instructor is an adjunct, then the student must consult the Program Coordinator for assistance. Return to Table of Contents Program Internship Requirement All Program majors must complete the required Program Internship, LEGL 416. Professor Kustron is in charge of the Internship. All questions about the Internship, including but not limited to the timing of the Internship, the suitability of a location for the Internship, the suitability of clinical Internship work, and the substantive work that must be completed as part of the classroom and clinical Internship components, should be directed to Professor Kustron. In the event that Professor Kustron is absent from the University for an extended period (e.g., sabbatical leave or similar absence), questions about the Internship can be directed to the Program Coordinator. LEGL 416 is offered every Winter term. If needed because of anticipated graduations, LEGL 416 may also be offered during the Spring term. Enrollment priority for LEGL 416 will be based upon anticipated date of graduation. For example, a student who reasonably expects to graduate at the end of the Winter 2003 term would be given enrollment priority for Winter 2003 LEGL 416 over a student who expects to graduate at the end of the Spring, Summer, or Fall, 2003 term. Absent advance written permission, you may not begin your clinical internship work (e.g., your field experience) prior to the time that you begin LEGL 416. The location of your Internship, as well as the general nature of the substantive clinical Internship work you will do, must be approved in advance. Your clinical Internship work must be properly supervised by a licensed attorney. Under no circumstances are you to engage in activities that might constitute the unauthorized practice of law. If you are uncertain about whether any task you are asked to complete might constitute the unauthorized practice of law, you should consult with your supervising attorney. You should also consult with Professor Kustron or, in her absence, with the Program Coordinator. Professor Kustron has established more specific guidelines and rules regarding the Program Internship. These guidelines and rules are incorporated in the "Sponsoring Interns Handbook" Professor Kustron created. You must familiarize yourself with these guidelines and rules. Failure to follow this policy, or the more specific guidelines and rules established by Professor Kustron, may result in failure to receive credit for, or a passing grade in, LEGL 416. This may result in your graduation being delayed. Return to Table of Contents The Program offers legal courses (those with an "LEGL" prefix) based on a Standardized Schedule. This Standardized Schedule was created so that each Program major can develop a plan of study leading to graduation. The Program Coordinator is available to help you with your plan of study. However, it is your responsibility to plan your studies through graduation. This means that you must be familiar with: (1) all University Basic Studies requirements, including all prerequisite courses; (2) all Program course requirements (Second Bachelor's Degree students click here), including all prerequisite courses; and (3) all University graduation requirements. Failure to develop and follow a plan of study may cause delays in your graduation. Return to Table of Contents Every course has an enrollment limitation, or cap. With the exception of LEGL 416, all Program Courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Inability to enroll in a Program Course, whether caused by untimely registration or otherwise, may lead to delays in your graduation. Every course also has enrollment minimums. For example, during the Fall and Winter terms, most courses (other than those offered through the Office of Continuing Education) must enroll at least 10 students. If this minimum enrollment is not met, University or College of Technology policy may require that the course be cancelled. If a course in which you have enrolled is cancelled because of low enrollment, you should contact the Program Coordinator if you need help in making other arrangements. Return to Table of Contents If the Program Coordinator approves a Program Course substitution, you are responsible for completing the paperwork necessary to have the substitution made a part of your University record. The required Course substitution form and instructions for completing the form are available from the Program Coordinator. Return to Table of Contents ©2002, 2001 Daniel R. Ray, J.D. |
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