Crushing debt can limit the creation of new businesses. Personal debt can so overwhelm a person as to discourage that person from working. Bankruptcy laws arrange to pay off creditors and to allow businesses and individuals to start over. This course will look at the types of bankruptcy available and at the forms to be filed to initiate bankruptcy proceedings in the federal system. Students will also learn about the appeals process and bankruptcy taxes.
Practical Bankruptcy Law for Paralegals, by Pamela K. Webster. West Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 0314066640
COURSE GOALS
In this class, students will learn the material, following the list of readings below. When ready, students take the open-book, on-line test for that chapter. They can contact the instructor via e-mail. By taking open-book quizzes, students will develop an understanding of the topic addressed in a particular chapter. Students will also learn about bankruptcy law by completing documents for filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and under Chapter 11.
ASSIGNMENTS
Students will need to complete an open-book quiz (multiple-choice, true/false, or a mix thereof) for each chapter designated for study in this course. A correct answer for every quiz is one point. The maximum possible points to be earned is 296. Check the grade sheet for this course to see the distribution of points by chapter. You may wish to download a copy of a quiz and then research the answers using the hard copy, then come back and enter in your answers.
A student's final grade for the class will come from an average of all test grades for that class (70%) and complete an application for the filing of bankruptcy (30%).
To take the on-line quizzes, students need to use the student ID and password assigned to them by the college.
Students should refer to Appendices A-D for useful information and links to a site for bankruptcy forms, when completing the filing for bankruptcy.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any form of academic dishonesty is regarded as a very serious violation of college regulations. Any student suspected of engaging in such activity will be subject to the full set of procedures set forth by the college.
READING ASSIGNMENTS (CHAPTERS IN TEXT)
Introduction
The Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules
The Role of the Legal Assistant in Bankruptcy Practice
The Building Blocks of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy: Legal Research and Writing
Bankruptcy: Litigation and Appeals
Beginning a Bankruptcy Case
Chapter 7: the Debtor's Perspective
Chapter 7: the Trustee's Perspective
Chapters 12 and 13: Family Farmer and Individual Reorganizations
Chapter 11: Complex Reorganizations
The Creditor's Perspective
Taxes in Bankruptcy
Appendix A: Useful bankruptcy document 1
Appendix B: Useful bankruptcy document 2
Appendix C: Useful bankruptcy document 3
Appendix D: Links for securing federal bankruptcy forms
