SRJC Course Outlines

12/5/2024 8:20:11 PMPLS 55 Course Outline as of Fall 2019

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 55Title:  LEGAL ETHICS  
Full Title:  Legal Ethics
Last Reviewed:8/14/2023

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum2.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum2.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total2.00 Contact Total35.00
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
Untitled document
This course emphasizes development of ethical judgment in the context of the modern law office team.  The course covers the examination of the Rules of Professional Conduct, ethical guidelines for paralegals, and their application to special problems of both civil and criminal practice.  Ethical standards for direct providers of legal services are also discussed.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion or current enrollment in PLS 50 and PLS 51


Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
This course emphasizes development of ethical judgment in the context of the modern law office team.  The course covers the examination of the Rules of Professional Conduct, ethical guidelines for paralegals, and their application to special problems of both civil and criminal practice.  Ethical standards for direct providers of legal services are also discussed.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:Course Completion or current enrollment in PLS 50 and PLS 51
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2010Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
1.  Recognize when ethical standards are in danger of being breached.
2.  Identify ways to protect clients' interests by adhering to principles of confidentiality and
    attorney-client privilege.
3.  Identify conflicts of interest.
4.  Recognize how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law.
5.  Recognize the consequences of unethical conduct in a legal setting.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Describe behavior that demonstrates an ethically responsible and professional manner.
2. Analyze and apply the Rules of Professional Conduct.
3. Develop a system for conflicts checks.
4. Recognize the need to maintain ethical and professional relationships with judges, witnesses,
    jurors, opposing counsel, and other parties.
5. Recognize the need for screening in a conflict situation.
6. Distinguish between dispensing legal advice and legal information.

Topics and Scope
Untitled document
I. Regulation of lawyers
    A. State courts and bar associations
    B. American Bar Association
    C. State statutes and other forms of regulation
    D. Sanctions and remedies
    E. California Rules of Professional Conduct
II. Ethical guidelines and regulation of paralegals
    A. Direct regulation of paralegals
    B. Regulation of attorney-supervised paralegals
    C. Non-lawyer legal service providers
    D. Liability of paralegals as agents for attorneys
    E. State guidelines for utilization of paralegals
    F. California statute defining paralegals
    G. Paralegal Associations' Codes of Ethics and Guidelines
III. Unauthorized practice of law
    A. Attorney's responsibility for prevention
    B. Unauthorized practice of law defined
    C. Potential tasks that may constitute unauthorized practice of law
    D. Practice before administrative agencies
    E. Disclosure of status as a paralegal
    F. Paralegals as independent contractors
    G. Legal document assistants
IV. Confidentiality and attorney client privilege
    A. Principles of confidentiality
    B. Attorney client privilege defined
    C. Work product
    D. Ethical rules of confidentiality
    E. Application of confidentiality rules to paralegals
V. Conflicts of interest
    A. Simultaneous and successive representation of clients
    B. Conflicts of interest involving paralegals
    C. Attorney and paralegal as witnesses
    D. Other conflicts in relationships with clients
    E. Imputed disqualifications and screening
    F. Conflicts checks and systems
    G. Non-representation letters
    H. Dis-engagement letters
VI. Advertising and solicitation
    A. Protocol for attorneys and paralegals
    B. Ethical considerations in advertising and solicitation
VII. Fees and client funds
    A. Fee agreements with clients
    B. Terms and communication of fee agreements
    C. Statutory fees
    D. Fee splitting, referral fees, and partnerships between attorneys and non-lawyers
    E. Client trust funds
VIII. Competence
    A. Definition
    B. Sanctions for incompetence
    C. Legal malpractice
    D. Factors affecting paralegal competence
    E. Paralegal education and continuing education obligations
IX. Other ethical issues
    A. Candor and honesty
    B. Relationships and communications with the court and court staff
    C. Conduct with jurors
    D. Conduct with opposing parties and unrepresented litigants
    E. Conduct with witnesses
X. Professionalism
    A. Current issues in professionalism
    B. Pro bono work

Assignments:
Untitled document
1. Read textbook and outside sources of approximately 50 pages per week
2. Memorize legal terminology
3. Prepare live or recorded oral presentation on an ethical issue
4. Participate in weekly discussions based on reading assignments
5. Research topical ethical issues and present for discussion
6. Quizzes (2 - 5)
7. Complete term paper, 5-10 pages, on ethical issues

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
15 - 20%
Written homework, term paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
40 - 50%
Homework problems, research procedural and substantive law
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
10 - 15%
Quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
20 - 25%
Attendance and participation in weekly discussions; live or recorded oral presentation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Legal Assistants. 8th ed. Cannon, Therese. Aspen Publishing. 2017
Ethics for Paralegals. Spagnola, Linda and Batts, Vivian. McGraw-Hill. 2008 (classic)

Print PDF