12/26/2024 7:24:12 PM	PLS 50 Course Outline as of Spring 2020	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 50	Title:  INTRO- PARALEGAL STUDIES
Full Title:  Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Last Reviewed:2/28/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

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:

This is the required initial course for students in the Paralegal program.  It includes an introduction to the legal field, the role of the paralegal, an overview of the legal system, ethics, a survey of procedural law, and a survey of selected substantive areas of the law including contracts, torts, property, and business.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This is the required initial course for students in the Paralegal program.  It includes an introduction to the legal field, the role of the paralegal, an overview of the legal system, ethics, a survey of procedural law, and a survey of selected substantive areas of the law including contracts, torts, property, and business.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
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:	Transferable	Effective:	Spring 2010	Inactive:
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:

1.   Compare and contrast the professional and ethical responsibilities and duties of attorneys and paralegals.

2.   Discuss the difference between substantive and procedural law.

3.   Diagram the state and federal court systems.

4.   Analyze the differences between tort and contract law.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1.  Demonstrate how legal cases move through the court systems

2.  Explain the differences between tort and contract law

3.  Prepare case briefs

4.  Perform preliminary case analysis

5.  Utilize correct legal terminology in document preparation

6.  Develop checklists as a "best practice" for tracking document preparation

Topics and Scope

1.    Historical Basis of American Law

2.    The Modern Legal System

       a.  Sources of law

       b.  Hierarchy of law

3.    The Courts

       a.  Purpose and effect of judicial law

       b.  Structure of the judicial system

       c.  Trial and appellate courts

       d.  Federal court system

       e.  Special federal courts

       f.   California court system

4.    Legislation -- State and Federal

       a.  Legislation process

       b.  Bills

       c.  Constitutional amendments

       d.  Publication of legislation

5.    Executive Branch and Administrative Authority

       a.  Powers and authority of the President

       b.  Role of the Administrative Agency

       c.  Agencies today

       d.  Operation and authority of administrative agencies

6.    Substantive and Procedural Issues

       a.  Criminal law v. civil law

       b.  Substantive law

       c.  Procedural law

7.     Jurisdiction and Venue

       a.  Types of jurisdiction

       b.  Federal jurisdiction

       c.  Other jurisdictional considerations

       d.  Corporations

       e.  Establishing jurisdiction

8.     Contract Law

       a.  Elements of a valid contract

       b.  Third party involvement in contracts

       c.  Problems in creating or enforcing the contract

       d.  Defenses to allegations of breach of contract

       e.  Remedies for breach of contract

9.     Property Law

       a.  Real property

       b.  Rights and duties of ownership

       c.  Types of ownership

       d.  Condominiums

       e.  Easements

       f.   Fixtures

       g.  Personal property

       h.  Abandoned property

       i.   Bailment

       j.   Actions to recover property or its value

10.  Torts

       a.  Development of tort law

       b.  Terminology of torts

       c.  Increase of tort claims

       d.  Negligence

       e.  Strict liability

       f.   International torts

       g.  Products liability

       h.  Employment and torts

       i.   Tort defenses

       j.   Damages in tort actions

11.  Business Law

       a.  The law of agency

       b.  Sole proprietorships

       c.  Partnerships

       d.  Limited partnerships

       e.  Corporations

12.  Estate and Probate

       a.  Intestate succession

       b.  Testate succession

       c.  Requirements of a valid will

       d.  Will contests

       e.  Probate of estates

       f.   Estate planning

13.  Criminal Law

       a.  Definitions and categories of crime

       b.  Parties to crime

       c.  Elements of serious crimes

       d.  Punishment

       e.  White collar crime

       f.   Internet crime

       g.  Defenses to charges of criminal conduct

       h.  The insanity defense

14.  Criminal Procedure

       a.  Criminal procedure and the constitution

       b.  Stages of criminal procedure

       c.  Arrest and interrogation

       d.  Bail

       e.  Preliminary hearing and arraignment

       f.   Trial, appeal, and sentencing

15.  Legal and Professional Ethical Obligations

       a.  The judge

       b.  The attorney

       c.  The paralegal

       d.  Support personnel

16. Case Analysis and Briefing

       a.  Preliminary case analysis

       b.  Briefing technique and terminology

       c.  Preparing briefs

       d.  Document preperation checklist

Assignments:

1.  Read textbook and outside sources of approximately 50 pages per week.

2.  Study and memorize legal terminology- homework.

3.  Participate in weekly discussions based on reading assignments.

4.  Research procedural and substantive law and prepare written case briefs.

5.  Quizzes (1-3), Midterm and Final Exams.

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 30 - 40%
Written case briefs
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 30%
Legal terminology homework. Research procedural and susbstantive 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 20 - 30%
Quizzes (1-3), Midterm and Final Exams.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 20 - 30%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Introduction to Law for Paralegals:  A Critical Thinking Approach, by Katherine Currier and Thomas Eimermann, 2014, Aspen Publishing.

Introduction of Law for Paralegals, by Beth Wiston-Dunham, 2002, Cengage Learning (a classic in the field)

Print PDF