4/16/2024 3:12:55 PM	PLS 52 Course Outline as of Fall 2019	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 52	Title:  LEGAL WRITING
Full Title:  Legal Writing
Last Reviewed:5/14/2018

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:

Students use legal research skills to draft legal correspondence, case briefs, legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, and other documents.  The course emphasizes construction of clear, concise, and well-organized legal instruments.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion or Current Enrollment in PLS 50, PLS 51 and BGN 71

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students use legal research skills to draft legal correspondence, case briefs, legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, and other documents.  The course emphasizes construction of clear, concise, and well-organized legal instruments.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion or Current Enrollment in PLS 50, PLS 51 and BGN 71
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:	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.  Apply effective legal writing mechanics and drafting techniques.

2.  Employ accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuation in preparing legal documents.

3.  Draft documents such as case briefs and legal office memoranda, motions and legal

    correspondence, while citing legal resources and laws.

Objectives:

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

1. Compose demand letters.

2. Compose general legal correspondence.

3. Draft pre-trial, trial, and discovery motions.

4. Prepare Memoranda of Points and Authorities.

5. Draft case briefs and legal memoranda.

6. Organize writing to produce an effective product.

7. Review, revise, and proofread documents effectively.

Topics and Scope

I. Mechanics of Writing

    A. Grammar

    B. Spelling

    C. Punctuation

II. Writing Strategies

    A. Prewriting

    B. Precision

    C. Clarity

    D. Readability

    E. Brevity

    F. Order

    G. Drafting techniques

III. Legal Correspondence

    A. Elements of letters

    B. General correspondence

    C. Demand letters

    D. Opinion letters

IV. Case Briefs

    A. Case reading strategies

    B. Format

    C. Writing content

V. Legal Memoranda

    A. Objectives

    B. Format

    C. Writing content

VI. Drafting Motions

    A. Types of motions

    B. Elements of motions

    C. Memoranda of Points and Authorities

    D. Writing content

VII. Post-Writing Steps

    A. Proofreading

    B. Reviewing and revising

    C. Polishing the document

VIII. Internet Resources for the Legal Writer

Assignments:

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

2. Study and memorize legal terminology

3. Draft general correspondence, demands, and opinion letters

4. Write citations to resources found

5. Compose case briefs

6. Compose legal memoranda

7. Draft elements of motions

8. Draft Memoranda of Points and Authorities

9. Midterm and Final Exam

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 60 - 80%
Written homework composed of legal writing
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 5 - 20%
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 - 20%
Midterm and final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 15%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals, by Deborah Bouchoux, Aspen Publishing, 7th edition, 2014.

California Style Manual, by Edward W. Jessen, West Publishing, 4th edition, 2000 (classic in field).

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