PLST 400 Employment Law

This course is designed to assist you in gaining a broad understanding of employment law and legal issues that impact the workplace. Students will survey the various sources of employment law including federal and state law. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of the employer and employee relationship in the workplace and the legal significance of this dynamic. Topics covered will include, but are limited to, the hiring process, discrimination, wage and hour, benefits, freedom in the workplace, disability, discharge, and retirement.

The employer-employee relationship is one that will affect virtually every person in society. Given the universal nature of this complex relationship and the exclusive and vast body of law that governs it, specialized training in this area is crucial. Many unique aspects of employment law distinguish it from all other forms of civil litigation; this includes employment-specific terminology, union-labor relations, and discrimination litigation, which are governed by numerous federal statutes and landmark cases. This course introduces the paralegal to the terminology, federal statutes, and case law that make up employment law.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

There will be 4 Discussions throughout this course. The student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided topic for each Discussion. Each thread must be 300 words in length and demonstrate course-related knowledge. The thread must include at least 2 references to the textbook. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. The replies must include at least 1 reference to the textbook. Each reply must be 125 words.

Article Review Assignments (2)

The student will write a brief paper discussing current news articles related to a trial or other actions that directly relate to the subject matter of employment law. News articles used for this assignment must come from the newspaper, a news program, or some other reputable news source. Each paper must be no less than half a page and no more than 2 full pages double-spaced, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins.

Case Brief Assignment

The student will be provided a case to conduct a case brief. Following the instructions provided, the student will review the case and draft a concise, but thorough, brief to submit. The brief’s information must be well organized in presentation and between 1–2 pages.

Reflection Paper Assignment

The student will write a 2-page research-oriented paper in current Bluebook format that focuses on emerging trends in LGBT discrimination and the biblical worldview. The paper must include 2 references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.

Legal Journal Assignment

The student will compile a legal journal, which is a collection of forms, documents, checklists, procedural rules, and principles of law, including case law and statutes and the rationale behind them. This journal will become a reference notebook for a paralegal. The student will complete the systems folder assignments at the end of each chapter and submit them as 1 project at the end of the course.

Read & Interact Assignments (16)

Each assignment will cover the Learn items for the module: week in which it is assigned.