4/19/2024 10:57:03 PM	PLS 85.4 Course Outline as of Fall 2022	Inactive Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 85.4	Title:  CIVIL LITIGATION PROC
Full Title:  Civil Litigation 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 85.4

Catalog Description:

This course is intended for individuals interested in becoming legal secretaries or paralegals as well as individuals interested in learning the practices and procedures for commencing a civil lawsuit.  Focuses on law office secretarial procedures and preparation of legal documents including without limitation; a complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.  Legal calendaring, trial court delay reduction requirements, local rules of court, service of process, and dismissal of a lawsuit will also be covered.

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 the practices and procedures for commencing a civil lawsuit.  Focuses on law office secretarial procedures and preparation of legal documents including without limitation; a complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.  Legal calendaring, trial court delay reduction requirements, local rules of court, service of process, and dismissal of a lawsuit will also be covered.

(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:
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:		Effective:		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.   Explain the procedures for commencing a civil lawsuit.

2.   Discuss legal calendaring, local rules of court, and service of process.

3.   Create and process legal documents to commence a lawsuit.

 

Objectives:

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

1.  Define and analyze the participants and parties to a lawsuit.

2.  Compare and differentiate between a civil case, criminal case, and family law case.

3.  Identify methods for obtaining and gathering information prior to commencement of a lawsuit.

4.  Demonstrate use of legal software and special word processing features to prepare legal documents including a complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.

5.  Explain the various methods of serving a lawsuit, including publication.

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

7.  Generate documents required by Sonoma County for the trial court delay reduction program.

8.  Outline and cite rules of the Sonoma County Courts relating to civil litigation.

9.  Manage court process from filing a lawsuit to obtaining a judgment.

Topics and Scope

1.    Brief comparison of civil, criminal, and family law cases.

2.    Pre-lawsuit client intake and procedure

3.    Overview of calendaring considerations

4.    Initial informal discovery from client, professionals, and witnesses

5.    Civil litigation process from commencement of a lawsuit to judgment or dismissal

6.    Terminology relative to civil litigation

7.    Methods of service of process

8.    Preparation of civil litigation legal documents using legal software and special word processing features

      a.  Summons

      b.  Complaint

      c.  Answer

      d.  Cross-Complaint

      e.  Proof of Service

      f.   Notice of Motion

      g.  Memorandum of Points and Authorities

      h.  Verification

9.    Overview of trial court delay reduction requirements

10.  Overview of Sonoma County local rules relating to civil litigation

11.  Service of documents other than Summons and Complaint

Assignments:

1.  Read textbook and outside resources of approximately 30 pages per week

2.  Use simulated cases to work through civil proceedings

3.  Calendar and tickle dates throughout the simulations - homework

4.  Prepare written legal documents using word processing software

5.  Develop case files including integrating pleadings where appropriate

6.  Two to five 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 - 20%
Written legal documents using word processing software
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 50%
Develop case files including integrating pleadings where appropriate
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Calendar and tickle dates throughout the simulations - homework, Use simulated cases to work through civil proceedings
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 30%
Two to five 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, Julie Soren, Lawdable Press, 2016

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