12/27/2024 8:25:14 AM	PLS 57 Course Outline as of Fall 2022	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 57	Title:  LEGAL PROFESSIONS
Full Title:  Legal Professions
Last Reviewed:2/28/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	0		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.00			Contact Total	17.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50

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:  PLS 85.1

Catalog Description:

A survey course that will introduce students to the field of law and its various occupations. Topics include: overview of legal professions; professional organizations; legal terminology; duties and responsibilities of personnel; review of the legal system; and the court structure.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

A survey course which will introduce students to the field of law and its various occupations. Topics include: overview of legal professions; professional organizations; legal terminology; duties and responsibilities of personnel; review of the legal system and the court structure.

(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:	Fall 1998	Inactive:
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. Differentiate among the legal professions and professional organizations

2. Define and apply legal terminology

3. Explain the legal system and the court structure

 

Objectives:

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

1.  Discuss the history of our present-day legal system

2.  Differentiate between civil and criminal law

3.  Examine the court structure system

4.  Define legal terminology

5.  Survey and critique legal professions and their respective duties and responsibilities

6.  Compare legal professions and their respective duties, responsibilities, and interconnections

Topics and Scope

I.  The Legal System

   A.  Overview of history of law

   B.  Civil law

   C.  Criminal law

   D.  English common law

   E.  Federal and state laws

II.  The Court Structure

   A.  Federal courts

   B.  State courts

   C.  Authority of courts

   D.  Officers of the court

   E.  Jurisdiction versus venue

   F.  Statute of limitations

III.  Legal Professions and Respective Duties and Responsibilities

   A.  Attorney/lawyer

   B.  Legal administrator/office manager

   C.  Legal assistant/paralegal

   D.  Law clerks

   E.  Legal secretary

   F.   Other in-house support staff

   G.  Professions providing legal services (e.g., certified court reporters, process servers, private investigators, law librarians, etc.)

IV.  Professional Organizations

   A.  Bar associations

   B.  Legal administrators

   C.  Paralegal associations

   D.  Legal secretary associations

V.  Legal Terminology

   A.  Latin terms

   B.  Other legal terms

Assignments:

1.  Research legal websites

2.  Informational interview of professional(s) in the field

3.  Write report(s) summarizing findings of research and interview(s) including a critique of the research

4.  Select a particular legal profession and develop a long-term written plan for pursuing that career to include both educational requirements and experience

5.  Terminology quizzes

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 - 30%
Written reports and plan
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 50%
Website research and selection of a profession, informational interviews
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 - 40%
Terminology quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 20%
Class participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Instructor prepared materials and internet resources.

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