12/26/2024 6:54:55 PM	PLS 85.5 Course Outline as of Fall 2020	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 85.5	Title:  DISCOVERY PROCEDURES
Full Title:  Discovery Practices and Procedures
Last Reviewed:5/23/2016

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.50	Lecture Scheduled	1.50		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	26.25
Minimum	1.50	Lab Scheduled	0		5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.50			Contact Total	26.25
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  52.50

Total Student Learning Hours: 78.75

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  BOT 85.5

Catalog Description:

This course is intended for individuals interested in becoming legal secretaries or paralegals as well as individuals interested in learning about discovery, the most important component of a lawsuit. Focuses on law office secretarial procedures in discovery methods using interrogatories, production of documents, subpoenas, depositions; preparation, processing, and production of discovery documents and responses; and time frames and calendaring requirements.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of CS 60.11A or equivalent; Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course is intended for individuals interested in becoming legal secretaries or paralegals as well as individuals interested in learning about discovery, the most important component of a lawsuit. Focuses on law office secretarial procedures in discovery methods using interrogatories, production of documents, subpoenas, depositions; preparation, processing, and production of discovery documents and responses; and time frames and calendaring requirements.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion of CS 60.11A or equivalent; 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:	Fall 2010	Inactive:	Fall 2022
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Discuss the procedures and preparation of discovery documents.

2.   Prepare discovery documents according to appropriate statutory laws and timelines.

 

Objectives:

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

1.    Examine and analyze the purpose of discovery.

2.    Interpret the Discovery Act in the Code of Civil Procedure.

3.    Compare the various discovery documents and their purposes.

4.    Examine the legal requirements of each discovery document according to law.

5.    Select the time frames for service of the discovery documents and response to the documents.

6.    Calculate statutory time periods according to the requirements for legal calendaring.

7.    Create discovery documents according to standard legal format procedures.

8.    Generate responses to discovery documents.

9.  Properly organize discovery documents in preparation for a trial.

Topics and Scope

I.    Discovery Act in Code of Civil Procedure

II.   Discovery Purpose

III.  Discovery Methods (under the Discovery Act)

     A. Interrogatories

     B. Depositions

     C. Demand for inspection and production of documents

     D. Request for admissions

     E. Demand for physical or mental examinations

     F. Compliance with statutory laws and timelines

IV.  Calendaring Considerations

     A. Time frames

     B. Calendaring requirements

V.   Responses to Discovery Demands

VI.  Discovery Documents

     A. Interrogatories

     B. Production of documents

     C. Subpoenas

     D. Depositions

VII. Response Document

     A. Answers to interrogatories

     B. Response to request for production of documents

VIII. Service of Process

     A.  Discuss proof of services

     B.  Other practices

Assignments:

1. Follow discovery procedures for simulated cases

2. Draft written components of legal documents

3. Prepare discovery documents

4. One to two quizzes

5. Reading: approximately 10 pages per week

6. Organize and produce client files - homework

7. Calendar and tickle dates throughout simulations

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 10 - 20%
Drafts of legal and discovery documents
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 50%
Calendar and tickle dates throughout simulated cases, discovery document procedures for simulation cases
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
homework organization and production of client files, draft legal documents
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 30%
One to two quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
In-class participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Litigation by the Numbers, Lawdable Press, Julie Goren, 2016

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