Paralegal ProgramAssessment Report

2008

  LO3 Apply logical, scientific and/or quantitative reasoning to develop a thesis

or hypothesis. 1*

  LO5 Draft and respond to pleadings and motions. 2

  LO7 Produce clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately to

an assignment using standard American English. 3

  LO10 Use word processing software applications to produce properly

formatted documents.4

  L023 Identify and understand terminology in at least four different practice

areas. 5 **

  LO24 Locate and discuss cases, statutes, and theories relating to at least

four different legal practice areas. 6

  LO25 Perform paralegal tasks in at least four different areas of law. 7

Outcomes Assessed 2007 - 2008 Academic year

Complaints

Answers

Collected from two upper level paralegal electives: Litigation and Tort Law

Products Assessed

The Rubrics

Goal: 80% Students would score a 2 or above (satisfactory) in each of the assessed categories.

CRITERIA POINT VALUE TOTAL

5/4 points 3/2 points 1/0 points

Caption · Court accurately stated · County accurately stated (if applicable)· Parties and designations accurately stated · Caption formatted · Complaint appropriately titled

· Some correct formatting· Some correct court and party designations

· Incorrectly states court or parties · Caption not formatted · No title

Parties and Statement of Jurisdiction(if necessary)

· Identification of all parties and addresses ·Correctly invokes jurisdiction of court, if necessary

· Statement of some parties or jurisdiction

· Omits jurisdiction where necessary · Omits party names and addresses or places of business

Statement of Facts of Claim

· Identification of all parties and locations (if not alleged already)· Concise statement of material facts of claim· Simply stated facts · Numbered paragraphs for each allegation· Complete sentences

· Some material facts included · Little or no fact summary· Material facts omitted· Incomplete sentences

(x2)

Cause(s) of Action · Each cause of action (count) identified· All elements of each cause of action stated in separate numbered paragraphs · Incorporation paragraphs included

· Includes most elements of causes of action

· Omits cause(s) of action· Omits most or all of elements of cause(s) of action·Omits all incorporation paragraphs

(x2)

Prayer for Relief · “Wherefore” clause included· Each request for court action separately stated· Request for jury trial

· Some elements of proper prayer for relief included

· Omits most or all elements of proper prayer for relief

Complaint Grading Rubric

Signature Block · Party’s name included · Attorney of record and address included· Dated

· Some elements of proper signature block included

· Omits party’s name · Omits attorney’s name and address

Appearance of Body and Signature Block

· Paragraphs individually numbered · Consistency in headings, fonts and numbering· Formatted and spacing · Overall professional appearance

· Some formatting, spacing and overall professional appearance

· Paragraphs not individually numbered · Unformatted

Writing ·Produces clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately using standard American English· Complete sentences· Accurate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

·Produces mostly clear and well-organized writing that mostly responds appropriately using standard American English· Mostly grammatically correct

· Writing is not clear or well-organized and/or does not respond appropriately using standard American English·Fragment or run on sentences· Incorrect grammar, punctuation and spelling

Critical Thinking ·Properly evaluated the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

· Evaluated some of the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

· Failed to properly evaluate the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

Computer Fluency ·Used word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document with no errors or only minor errors

·Used word processing software applications to produce a document containing some significant errors

·Failed to use word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document and/or produced a document containing many significant errors.

OVERALL TOTAL

OVERALL PERCENTAGE SCORE = OVERALL TOTAL ÷ 60 (Number of possible points)

CRITERIA POINT VALUE TOTAL

5/4 points 3/2 points 1/0 points

Caption · Court accurately stated · Parties and designations accurately stated · Caption formatted · Answer appropriately titled

· Some correct formatting· Some correct court and party designations

· Incorrectly states court or parties · Caption not formatted · No title

Admissions and Denials to Factual Allegations

· Each allegation in numbered paragraphs of complaint responded to with admission or denial or statement that party does not have sufficient information to admit or deny

· Some admissions or denials · Omits all or majority of admissions or denials

(x2)

Cause(s) of Action · Each cause of action (count) identified· Each numbered paragraphs of cause of action(s) responded to with admission or denial· Incorporation paragraphs included

· Includes admissions or denials for most elements of causes of action

· Omits cause(s) of action· Omits most or all of admissions or denials in response to elements of cause(s) of action·Omits all incorporation paragraphs

(x2)

Affirmative Defenses · All applicable affirmative defenses included· Affirmative defenses correctly titled and numbered

· Includes some applicable affirmative defenses

· Omits most or all applicable affirmative defenses· Affirmative defenses not titled or numbered

Prayer for Relief · “Wherefore” clause included· Each request for court action separately stated· Request for jury trial

· Some elements of proper prayer for relief included

· Omits most or all elements of proper prayer for relief

Signature Block · Party’s name included · Attorney of record and address included· Dated

· Some elements of proper signature block included

· Omits party’s name · Omits attorney’s name and address

Answer Grading Rubric

Appearance of Body and Signature Block

· Paragraphs individually numbered · Consistency in headings, fonts and numbering· Formatted and spacing · Overall professional appearance

· Some formatting, spacing and overall professional appearance

· Paragraphs not individually numbered · Unformatted

Writing ·Produces clear and well-organized writing that responds appropriately using standard American English· Complete sentences· Accurate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

·Produces mostly clear and well-organized writing that mostly responds appropriately using standard American English· Mostly grammatically correct

· Writing is not clear or well-organized and/or does not respond appropriately using standard American English·Fragment or run on sentences· Incorrect grammar, punctuation and spelling

Critical Thinking ·Properly evaluated the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

· Evaluated some of the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

· Failed to properly evaluate the evidence and data relevant to the assignment

Computer Fluency ·Used word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document with no errors or only minor errors

·Used word processing software applications to produce a document containing some significant errors

·Failed to use word processing software applications to produce a properly formatted document and/or produced a document containing many significant errors.

OVERALL TOTAL

OVERALL PERCENTAGE SCORE = OVERALL TOTAL ÷ 60 (Number of possible points)

CRITERIA NUMBER AND PERCENT RECEIVING AVERAGE RATING OF…

4 or higher 2 or higherNumber Percent Number Percent

Caption 2, 4, 5, 7 14 78 17 94

Parties and Statement of Jurisdiction (if necessary) 2, 5, 7

17 94 18 100

Statement of Facts of Claim 2, 3, 5, 7 17 94 18 100

Cause(s) of Action 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 8 44 18 100

Prayer for Relief 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 16 89 16 89

Signature Block 2, 4, 5, 7 15 83 17 94

Appearance of Body and Signature Block 2, 4, 7

14 78 18 100

Writing 2, 3 14 78 18 100

Critical Thinking 1, 2, 6 16 89 18 100

Computer Fluency 2, 4 17 94 18 100

ASSESSMENT 1: STUDENT ASSIGNMENT – DRAFT AN APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT

COMPLAINT GRADING RUBRIC (Number of students rated = 18)Average ratings, across two raters, on a 6-point rating scale ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 5.

COMPLAINT GRADING RUBRIC RATING RESULTS

Computer Fluency

Critical Thinking

Writing

Appearance of Body and Signature Block

Signature Block

Prayer for Relief

Cause(s) of Action

Statement of Facts of Claim

Parties and Statement of Jurisdiction (if necessary)

Caption

0 20 40 60 80 100

4 or higher2 or higher

Percent of students

Cri

teri

a

NUMBER AND PERCENT RECEIVING AVERAGE RATING OF…

4 or higher 2 or higher

Number Percent Number Percent

Caption 2, 4, 5, 7 15 83 18 100

Admissions and Denials to Factual Allegations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 18 100 18 100

Cause(s) of Action 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 8 44 18 100

Affirmative Defenses 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 12 67 15 83

Prayer for Relief 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 12 67 13 72

Signature Block 2, 4, 5, 7 13 72 17 94

Appearance of Body and Signature Block 2, 4, 7 12 67 18 100

Writing 2, 3 12 67 18 100

Critical Thinking 1, 2, 6 14 78 18 100

Computer Fluency 2, 4 18 100 18 100

ASSESSMENT 2: STUDENT ASSIGNMENT – DRAFT AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER

ANSWER GRADING RUBRIC (Number of students rated = 18)Average ratings, across two raters, on a 6-point rating scale ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 5.

ANSWER GRADING RUBRIC RATING RESULTS

Computer Fluency

Critical Thinking

Writing

Appearance of Body and Signature Block

Signature Block

Prayer for Relief

Affirmative Defenses

Cause(s) of Action

Admissions and Denials to Factual Allegations

Caption

0 20 40 60 80 1004 or higher2 or higher

Percent of students

Cri

teri

a

Goals Achieved Our goals were met in all but the Prayer for

Relief category in the Answer.

Areas for improvement to achieve a 4 or higher:

Complaint Causes of Action

Answer Causes of Action

Share results with Faculty and Legal Advisory Board to brainstorm ways to improve targeted areas.

Plan

The Program Plans to assess the following documents:

Briefs

Letters

2008-2009