• Course Description

This course provides an introduction to personal injury law as it applies in the state of Georgia. Students will gain an understanding of negligence, tort law, liability, damages, and the litigation process. The course will emphasize the role of paralegals in personal injury cases, covering case management, client intake, drafting legal documents, evidence gathering, and settlement negotiations.

 

• Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the foundations of tort law and the Georgia legal framework governing personal injury cases.

2. Analyze negligence claims and defenses, including comparative fault under Georgia law.

3. Assist attorneys with client intake, case management, and trial preparation.

4. Draft demand letters, complaints, discovery requests, and settlement agreements.

5. Navigate the Georgia court system, including statutes of limitations and procedural rules.

6. Understand ethical issues that arise in personal injury practice.

 

• Required Textbooks G Materials

  1. Personal Injury and the Law of Torts for Paralegals by Emily Lynch Morissette (Latest Edition) (Optional)

  2. Georgia Code Title 51 – Torts (Official State of Georgia Website)

  3. Supplemental materials (court cases, sample pleadings, forms)

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• Course Outline G Weekly Topics

 

Week 1: Introduction to Personal Injury Law G The Role of Paralegals

• Overview of Tort Law

• Understanding the Paralegal’s Role in a Personal Injury Law Firm

• Ethical Responsibilities Under Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct Week 2: Negligence G Georgia’s Legal Framework

• Elements of Negligence (Duty, Breach, Causation, Damages)

• Georgia’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33)

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Week 3: Personal Injury Case Life Cycle G Pre-Litigation Procedures

• Client Intake C Initial Case Assessment

• Medical Records C Bills: How to Obtain and Analyze Them

• Demand Letters C Pre-Suit Settlement Negotiations

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Week 4: Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia

• Statutes of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33)

• Drafting C Filing a Complaint

• Service of Process C Responses

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Week 5: Discovery Process in Personal Injury Cases

• Drafting Interrogatories, Requests for Production, and Requests for Admission

• Deposition Preparation C Summarizing Testimony

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Week 6: Damages in Personal Injury Cases

• Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages

• Caps on Damages in Georgia (Punitive Damages: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1)

• Calculating Medical Expenses, Lost Wages, and Pain C Suffering

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Week 7: Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Georgia

• Car Accidents C Georgia’s Fault-Based Insurance System

• Premises Liability (Slip C Fall Cases)

• Product Liability C Medical Malpractice

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Week 8: Insurance G Settlement Negotiations

• Understanding Insurance Policies C Coverage

• Writing Effective Demand Packages

• Mediation C Alternative Dispute Resolution

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Week G: Preparing for Trial

• Court Rules C Procedure in Georgia

• Mock Trial Exercises

• Role of the Paralegal in the Trial Process

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Week 10: Ethics in Personal Injury Law

• Avoiding Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) in Georgia

• Confidentiality C Attorney-Client Privilege

• Conflicts of Interest C Case Management

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Week 11: Special Topics G Guest Speaker

• Workers’ Compensation G Personal Injury – When Do They Overlap?

• Georgia’s Wrongful Death C Survival Actions

• Guest Speaker: Personal Injury Attorney or Paralegal 

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Week 12: Final Exam Review G Career Preparation​

• Exam Preparation C Study Guide

• Resume C Interview Skills for Personal Injury Law Firms

• Course Wrap-Up ​​