Self Reflection

How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?  AE, P, AP, CR, or NC
I think so far I'm somewhere between an AP or a high CR. I still have to find my service learning and turn in my second interview.

What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
I think I've done pretty good research. I'm caught up on my research and it is all organized in my binder.

What is one thing you would like to improve on and why? 
Finding research for science fair. I've been having trouble lately, and until I find some good research I'm kind of stuck.

Science Fair Proposal

1. What is your hypothesis?
If a paralegal has an education or certification, then employers will be willing to pay them more than a paralegal who has no education or certification.

2. Identify the dependent (produced), independent (manipulated) and control variables in your hypothesis.
Dependent: paralegal starting salary
Independent: level of education/certification
Control: employers

3. What is the connection between your science fair project and your senior project EQ?
My EQ is about being hired as a paralegal, and my science fair project is about starting salaries.

4. How will you perform the experiment?  Include the equipment you plan on using.
I will use data that professionals have made available and organize it in a chart/graph.

5. Which category will your project be listed under?  
Behavioral Science

What I've Learned So Far

1) What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?
I've learned how to effectively organize a bibliography so that it helps with research instead of just keeping track of what you've researched.

2) Post evidence of this accomplishment.  

3) What research helped you to do this and how?
There was no specific bit of research that helped me do this. Every piece of research helped me learn how to create and use a helpful bibliography like this.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

 (1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

I will be sitting in on my mom's paralegal classes. I will take notes on what goes on in the classes.

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours or work requirement.
I'm will attend at least 30 hours of classes.

(3) How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?  
The classes I will be attending are for people working towards getting their degree in paralegal studies. 

Defining the Essential Question

(1) What is your EQ?
What is the best way to become a litigation paralegal?

(2) Define the words in your EQ to make sure we are on the same page regarding what your EQ means.
Best: Which of the answers would be most helpful in getting hired as a litigation paralegal
Become: Begin working at a law firm or law office
Litigation paralegal: A litigation paralegal is a person who helps an attorney research cases and helps prepare for trials.

(3) What are some possible answers to your EQ so far? 
-  Knowledge of the whatever field of law the attorney you want to work with specializes in
- Understanding legal procedures
- Ability to research precedent related to the case at hand

(4) What has been your most important source and why? 
My most important source has been paralegaltoday.com. I have found several very useful articles on this site, and all were written either by paralegals or attorneys. These articles have explained various aspects  of the paralegal career, including the types of paralegals you can find, certification, and advice on helping attorneys once you've started.

Second Interview Questions

If my service learning is with a paralegal:

1: Are you a certified paralegal? 

2: If yes, where did you get your certification? If no, how did you become a paralegal?
3: How long have you worked as a paralegal?

4: What sort of work do you find yourself doing most?

5: What do you think are some of the most important skills required to be a paralegal?

6: How involved are you in the different cases that come to your office?
7: Are you planning on continuing your law career by going to law school? If so, do you think that working as a paralegal has given you an advantage over other potential law students?

If my service learning is with a lawyer:

1: Where did you go to law school?

2: How long have you been practicing law?

3: What steps do you think are important in winning court cases?
4: Do you have any experience working with a paralegal?

5: If yes, how does he or she help you with your court cases? If no, is there any specific reason?

Presentation Reflection

1.  In what way did the first interview affect your presentation?  Please explain, be specific and use an example.
Since my presentation was about contract law and my interview was about paralegals, the only way my first interview helped me with my presentation was that it helped me get slightly more outside of my comfort zone. I was very nervous and uncomfortable when I interviewed Professor Ramey, and I think that every time I am pushed out of my comfort zone and forced to present or talk to people I don't know, it gets a little easier.

2.  What would you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
I think that my knowledge on the subject stood out. I was able to speak about my subject calmly.

3.  What was the most challenging to do and why?
I found fitting everything into five minutes to be the most challenging. I had to cut out almost half of what I had originally planned on saying in order to meet the time limit.

Senior Project Presentation 1

Objective:
Students will learn what is necessary for a contract to be legally valid.

Procedure:
1-Introduce contracts (quick explanation, ask students when they last bought or sold something, express contract vs. implied contract)
2-Talk about when contracts are voidable
3-Explain mutual assent
3-Explain bilateral and unilateral contracts (give examples)
5-Talk about certainty of terms (what needs to be clear for the contract to be valid)

Check for understanding:
Ask students for examples of different types of contracts.

Materials:
Poster showing visual aid of terms that must be certain for a valid contract

Interview Check

1. Who are you interviewing and why?


I will be interviewing Martin Ramey. He is an attorney and he teaches Legal Research and Analysis, Law Office Procedures, and Civil Law Pre-Trial at Mt. Sac. My mom has taken a few of his classes and recommended me interviewing him.

2. What additional questions will you ask them (in addition to the 5 we require)?

I will also ask  what skills he thinks are important for paralegals to have.

Senior Project Topic

 Q: What is your topic?  Why? And what do you hope to accomplish after studying this topic all year? Be specific and use examples.


My Senior Project topic will be law. I am currently deciding which branch of law I want to focus on, but I think it will be either criminal law or business law. I have decided to study law because my mom has begun taking paralegal classes and this has made me realize that law is different than what I had thought it was. For example, I used to think that careers in law would involve a lot of time in courtrooms, but my mom has told me that that isn't the case.
After studying law throughout the year, I hope that I will be able to decide if law is a career I would be interested in pursuing.