Wills, Trusts and Estates for Paralegals provides students with the opportunity to learn about the law of wills, trusts and estates and develop the skill sets they need to succeed in the legal field. The text also presents the student with hands-on assignments to help develop their legal reasoning skills and demonstrate their knowledge of the material without overwhelming the student in the process. The pedagogy of the book applies three goals:Learning Outcomes
Critical thinking
Vocabulary building
Skill development
Issues analysis
Writing practices
Relevance of Topics without Sacrificing Theory
Ethical challenges
Current law practices
Technology application
Practical Application
Real-world exercises
Portfolio creation
Team exercises
Chapter Objectives introduce the concepts students should understand after reading each chapter as well as provide brief summaries describing the material to be covered. Case Fact Pattern: Client Interview gives students a simple, hypothetical fact pattern that references material covered in the chapter. Ethics Alert presents ethical issues related to the chapter topics and offers tips for handling situations on the job. Cyber Trip asks the students to engage in a hands-on activity by exploring the Web to learn more about the law relating to the topics in the chapter. Research This! Hands-on Assignment engages students to research cases in their jurisdictions that answer a hypothetical scenario, reinforcing the critical skills of independent research and writing. Chapter Summary provides a quick review of the key concepts presented in the chapter. Key Terms used throughout the chapters are defined in the margin and provided as a list at the end of each chapter. A common set of definitions is used consistently across the McGraw-Hill paralegal titles. Review Questions ask students to apply critical thinking skills to the concepts learned in each chapter by reviewing the objectives of the chapter. Real World Discussion Topics present students with a fact pattern taken from an actual court case and ask students to use analytical skills in discussing the topics covered. Portfolio Assignment exercises give students the opportunity to analyze a fact pattern and draft documents associated with material covered in the chapter. Case in Point presents real cases, connecting students to real-world examples and documents that further develop the information presented in the chapter. Case Brief Assignments can also be found throughout the chapters, asking students to read and brief assigned cases. Crossword puzzles at the end of each chapter utilize the key terms and definitions so students can become more familiar with legal vocabulary by using it. Real Paralegal Life in each chapter offers a practical application designed to help students build a specific skill set, including analyzing evidence, creating a personal court directory, billing hours, and basic investigative techniques. Review and Discussion Questions ask students to apply critical thinking skills to the concepts learned in each chapter. The Review Questions reinforce the objectives of the chapter. The Discussion Questions focus on more specific legal topics and promote dialogue among students. Both sets of questions are found at the end of each chapter. Exercises at the end of each chapter offer short scenarios to test the students’ retention and understanding of the chapter materials. Portfolio Assignments are designed to use the skills mastered in the chapter and convert them into a practical legal document that can be used as samples of work during interviews that fully demonstrate the student’s competency in each area.
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