Paralegal Studies Program: Field Trip to the Family Courtrooms

Our Paralegal Studies Program here at Northwest Career College offers the best in legal education, research, writing and communication skills for each student’s utmost success as they transition into their prospective employment position in the legal community. Our paralegal students gain first-hand experience of the process while experiencing various field trips applicable to their studies.  Upon completion of their course studies, students then venture on to their 300-hour externship with a law firm or governmental agency so they may improve their skills and obtain experience on actual cases, under the direct supervision of an attorney, after which students then earn their Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. Completing a versatile program in Paralegal Studies is an incredible and important stepping stone for a student’s career and continued education in the field of law. I wanted to share the most recent field trip our Paralegal Studies students experienced at the Eighth Judicial District Court – Family Division. During this field trip, we viewed various motion and return hearings in the courtrooms of both the Eighth Judicial District Court – Family Division, Family Court Judges Ochoa (Department S) and Potter (Department M), at the Regional Justice Center downtown Las Vegas. After viewing Honorable Family Court Judge Ochoa’s return hearings, students were provided the opportunity to confer with the Judge, in which they inquired as to the process and aspects of family law matters discussed in his courtroom that morning. Additionally, our students observed a full-docket of Motion hearings in a plethora of domestic matters in the Honorable Family Court Judge Potter’s courtroom, whereby students were invited to discuss the matters they just viewed with the Judge. In between our time in both of these courtrooms, students enjoyed lunch together within the legal community downtown, after which they visited the Clark County District Attorney – Criminal Division’s offices on the 9th-Floor of the RJC, speaking directly with Chief Deputy District Attorney – Criminal Division, Bernie Zadrowski, Esq., in anticipation of our upcoming Criminal Law course.

We discussed and observed various aspects of the Court and legal system during this field trip in class. Prior to, students diligently worked on actual legal matters, drafting pleadings, correspondence and conducting research. Thus, our students gained a complete understanding of the legal system as they related their course studies with their actual experience within these courtrooms.

Engaging in field trips to such places as the State and Federal Courts, Judicial departments, law library, State and County Bar Associations and various law firms and government agencies prove to be a wonderful addition to our students’ education in our program.