Paralegal Orientation

1. Paralegal Orientation Kapi`olani Community College Legal Education Department 8.8.08

2. Welcome • Welcome to the paralegal program online orientation for new students. Right here on the web, you will learn who your counselor is, about academic advising, college resources, and more. While the web orientation provides basic information, it cannot sufficiently replace the in person orientation where students meet their new classmates and are able to ask questions. • We do hope, however, that you find this orientation of value. • Let’s get started.

3. Your Counselor Hi, I’m Cynthia Kimura the Legal Education Department counselor. As your supporter, advocate, and guide; I can help you become familiar with the paralegal and legal secretary programs and assist you throughout your academic endeavor; providing counseling, support, and academic advising. Together we can develop an educational plan, work on semester by semester planning, discuss problems resulting in poor academic standing, etc. I can also make referrals for additional support services. Contact me at ckimura@hawaii.edu or phone 808.734.9107.

4. Academic Advising • Academic advising is important for student success. It is a collaborative relationship between you and your counselor. Advising encourages you to think critically, seek out resources, and develop action plans. It provides you with the information and encouragement you need to take personal responsibility for exploring options and making decisions. • Your counselor can assist you with course selection, processing course waivers, and information regarding transfer credits and processing of various academic forms. • You can also use STAR, your degree auditing program which matches your academic record against program requirements to show what has been completed and what you still need to complete to meet those requirements. To view your STAR, log into your MyUH (https://myuhportal.hawaii.edu/cp/home/displaylogin).

5. Email • Every member of the University of Hawai`i system has a hawaii.edu address, and the associated username and password provide access to essential Web announcements and email. • You should regularly log into UH email and Web services for announcements and personal mail. • Failing to do so will mean missing critical information from academic and program advisors, instructors, registration and business office staff, classmates, student organizations, and others. • If you do not have a username, go to https://myuhportal.hawaii.edu, click on “Get a UH username”. • Your password for MyUH and your @hawaii.edu email is the same. • To minimize the risk of breaches of confidentiality, the counselor will only provide general information and will not share information about student records via email unless the hawaii.edu email is used.

6. Paralegal Program Student Handbook • The student handbook was developed for your use throughout your tenure as a paralegal student. It will assist you to succeed and make the educational process as smooth as possible. Please keep this handbook handy and refer to it, as appropriate. Some of the information included in the handbook are:

7. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-Accreditation and ABA Approval: • Kapi`olani Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges • The paralegal program has received American Bar Association (ABA) approval since 1978 and is the only ABA approved, Associate in Science degree program in the State of Hawai`i. ABA approval is not the same as accreditation.

8. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-CourseSequencing: • Most students take LAW 101, Hawai`i Legal System in their first semester, • LAW 102, Legal Research must be taken prior to LAW 203, Legal Writing, and • LAW 193P, Cooperative Paralegal Education should be the last LAW class taken.

9. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-Mathematical or Logical Thinking Requirement • A math or logical thinking course is required. • Many students take PHIL 110, Introduction to Deductive Logic instead because it does not have a math prerequisite.

10. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-Computer Skills: • Computer skills are essential to a paralegal. • LAW 146, Litigation Document Preparation and Theory is a required course which requires keyboarding ability and knowledge of word processing software. [Fall 2008 and spring 2009, LAW 146 will not be offered. LAW 148 Legal Document Preparation (experimental number LAW 198B) will be the substitute course for LAW 146. The new paralegal curriculum, effective fall 2009, will require LAW 148.] • KCC does not offer typing or keyboarding classes. • Kaimuki/Kaiser Community School for Adults is an excellent and minimal cost source to obtain these skills. Call 808.733.8460 or 808.733.8461 to obtain a schedule of classes. • Other Community Schools for Adults may offer classes as well, and you are encouraged to contact the school that is most convenient.

11. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-Student Academic Grievance Procedures: • It is a historically established rule of higher education that an instructor has the authority to conduct classes, provide for the discussion of ideas, make assignments or other exercises, require examinations, and render judgments on the performance of students. • The exercise of this authority provides the foundation for an academic relationship between individual faculty members and individual students that is unique to colleges and universities. • This relationship is maintained by the interplay of traditional and customary standards of conduct and courtesies, the observance of which is the responsibility of both faculty and students. • Inevitably, issues associated with the faculty member’s responsibilities as a teacher and the student’s responsibilities as a learner may occasionally arise. • For more information, please refer to the entire Student Academic Grievance Procedures available in the Dean of Student Services Office.

12. Paralegal Program Student Handbook-Student Conduct Code and Disruptive Behavior Policy: • The purpose of the University of Hawai`i is to pursue knowledge through teaching, learning, and research in an atmosphere of physical and intellectual freedom. • Members of the academic community may not violate the rights of one another nor disrupt the basic activities of the University. • Students who are disruptive are subject to a variety of academically related penalties that may include reprimand and probation, restitution, suspension for a specified period of time, or expulsion. • For further information, please refer to the entire Student Conduct Code and Disruptive Behavior Policy available at the department or the Dean of Student Services offices.

13. KCC Catalog • Your academic requirements are published in the catalog that is in effect when you enter the college. • The catalog also describes all KCC courses and campus policies and regulations. The course description is extremely important as it provides an overview of the course and if the course has a pre- or co-requisite. • The catalog may be viewed online.

14. Schedule of Classes • The schedule of classes provides the days, times, and locations of courses offered during a particular semester (summer/fall and spring); registration information; tuition and fees; semester calendar; and final exam schedule. • The schedule of classes may be viewed online.

15. Registration • Registration is the activity when courses for the semester are selected and paid for. You will be assigned a specific registration date and time (time ticketing) to register online using MyUH. • For registration information, go to http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu/object/reguide.html. If this will be your first registration at KCC view “How to Register Online: Simple Steps”. • As a paralegal student, you may register for any LAW class that you meet the prerequisite for. A prerequisite is a prior course, knowledge, or skill you must have before you can register for a course. • To check the enrollment status of classes, use the online real-time Check Class Availability site at http://myuh.hawaii.edu/uhdad/avail.classes?i=KAP.

16. Course Work Load • A semester credit is defined as the number of hours per week you participate in class during the traditional 16 week semester. Usually one credit requires one hour of class attendance and participation each week and two hours a week of homework. If you are taking a 3 credits class, you’ll spend at least 9 hours a week on that class (3 hours in class and 6 hours of study). All LAW classes are 3 credits. • A full time student enrolls in 12 credits. Most paralegal students work full time so enroll part time in 3 or 6 credits each semester. That’s 9 or 18 hours of class and study per week. • Don’t forget, you may have family, work, or community obligations that may dictate your enrollment.

17. Course Syllabus • While the college catalog describes the course, the class syllabus gives you information regarding the class, instructor, grading policy, contact information, assignments, class policies, expected behavior, etc. • At the first class session, you will receive a copy of the class syllabus. Read it carefully and keep it until your course is completed and your grade entered.

18. Transcripts and Transfer Credits • Official transcripts from all colleges and institutions of higher education attended, except University of Hawai`i (UH) system schools, are required if you want to receive transfer credits. To receive credits you must process a “Transcript Evaluation Request Form” after registering for the semester. The form may be obtained from the Kekaulike Information and Service Center (KISC) or downloaded from http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu/page/kiscdocs. • Transfer credits are NOT automatically awarded; you must initiate the “Transcript Evaluation Request Form”. • It is to your advantage to process this “Request” in the first semester of program enrollment. For more information go to http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu/object/transfercredits.html.

19. News & Announcements • Student notices are emailed to students; published on the Web; and posted on the Kapi`olani Community College campus Kopiko and Mamane buildings’ bulletin boards. As a paralegal student, you should regularly check your @hawaii.edu email, the Web, or bulletin boards for information regarding registration, graduation, scholarships, job opportunities, curriculum changes, etc.

20. Conclusion • Now that you have completed this orientation, we hope you found it helpful as you begin you paralegal journey. • Please be sure read and keep your Paralegal Program Student Handbook and use the links on the Legal Education Department homepage for additional information.