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Law 34 - Legal Research – Section 3307
This class meets weekly, Tuesday, 8:15 pm - 9:55 pm - CMS 005
Prof Jaime de la Garza, Esq. - Activities - Textbooks
Read Dear Online Student - Study Guide and Welcome Message
Instructor: Jaime de la Garza, Esq.
Office: Before or After Class on Tuesdays
Office hours: Before or After Class on Tuesdays
Phone:
Email: jdelagarza4@gmail.com
Activities http://duedates.pbworks.com
etudes site http://etudes.org
Classwiki: http://legalresearch.pbworks.com/w/page/16128065/FrontPage
Legal Notes http://profj.us/legalnotes/
Course Description: This course explores legal research. The student learns how to do legal research using primary and secondary legal resources and how to do federal and state law reporting.
Course Organization: Law 34 is organized into assignments, quizzes, a final legal research and writing project, and and forum discussions.
Distribution of Grades
Tests is 30% of your grade
Assignments are 30% of your grade
Final Legal Research Paper = 25 % of your grade
Discussion Forums = 15% of your grade and entered at the end of the semester
A = 90% or above
B = 80% or above
C = 70% or above
D = 60% or above
A grade of C or greater is required to pass the class
for assignments and activities see http://lamission.org
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
1. Brief law cases in including subject areas of the law from all of the other law classes in our paralegal program
2. Critically analyze and argue issues in case law, and learn the methods of finding and researching law cases. see http://profj.us/leganotes
This includes the following:
1. Primary and Secondary Sources of the Law
2. Overview of legal research
3. Steps to take in Case Law Research
4. Intro to Basic Legal Citation
5. Statsky Carthwheel and developing "legal language"
6. Getting background information
7. Refining the statement of the "Legal Issue"
8. How to develop a legal argument
9. Finding constitutions, statutes, regulations, and ordinances
10. Improve your legal writing
11. Finding cases
12. Expand and update your legal research
13. How to write a legal memo - sample
14. Final Legal Writing and Research Paper
3. Prepare a final legal research and writing paper. See format of the paper at http://profjordan.pbworks.com/format . The final research paper will be in the form of a position or argumentative paper. It will train the student in legal analysis, finding of law cases, and improving legal argumentation. The paper will be graded by using the following grading rubric -http://missionparalegal.pbworks.com/rubric-finalpaper
Students will read various law cases and write a case brief demonstrating their understanding and application of the essential facts and rules of law and legal principles of the case. see case brief rubric athttp://missionparalegal.pbworks.com/briefing
Skill Level: College level reading and writing; ability to access the internet. Necessary skills include proficiency using a word processing program, including spell checker, using a web browser, sending and receiving email, saving documents as RTFs (rich text format), uploading and attaching documents.
Estimated Time per Week: 10 hours (see Carnegie Rule)
Class format: The class is a hybrid class. It meets weekly, Tuesday evenings, in CMS 005, from 8:15 pm to 9:55 pm. We use the etudes course management system. read http://etudes.pbworks.com Carefully read our policies.
The class follows a weekly format. There are many opportunities for you to participate and earn points to attain a good grade.
Online classes require your attention and effort. If you fail to log into the class during the first two weeksyou will be excluded from the class. There are activities and assignments each week; you will need to log into the class several times a week.
To be a successful online/hybrid student, you need to do schedule a regular time for studying, read and complete on line activities, and more.
Technical Requirements: The minimum computer requirements are: Computer, either a Macintosh or IBM compatible; modem, minimum 28.8, broadband or high speed internet access is preferred and is required to view the videos. Software: Web browser software, preferably Firefox 3.5 or Internet Explorer 8, an e-mail address and a word processing program.
Get Firefox: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html
Get Google Chrome - http://chrome.google.com
Get a free email account at: www.mail.google.com
Students who do not have regular computer access may use computers in the campus Learning Resource Center. Be sure to save all your papers and assignments on a flash drive.
Course Login: http://etudes.org
Contacting Your Instructor: I check my email several times a day and respond to emails within 24 hours. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions; email me at: jdelagarza4@gmail.com in the subject line put: Law 34 #3307. I am also available in-person or by telephone or before or after classes on Tuesday evenings.
EXPECTATIONS FOR WRITTEN WORK:
VOCABULARY - You are expected to read and understand the material presented in the assigned text and articles you locate.
FORMAT - Papers submitted should be written in accordance with the APA, Bluebook, or other recognized formatting style.
GRAMMAR - Use active voice in your writing. Also use the spelling and grammar check feature of your Word Processor before submitting your papers.
Homework Assignments: Assignments require you to read and brief law cases. Read the information on"briefing law cases".
Students who plagiarize will receive zero credit on the assignment.
Quizzes: The class is divided into weekly quizzes (which is primarily finding law cases) which are submitted under etudes (they are not timed quizzes like other classes). This is 30% of your grade.
Assignments: This includes performing legal research and finding law cases. This is 30% of your grade.
Final Writing and Research Paper. You will follow the format for your paper at . This is 25% of your grade.
Class Participation: Class participation is 5% of your grade.
Late Assignments Our "Late Work" Policy is firm.
Dropping your class/Exclusion: See Academic Calendar for specified dates to drop the class with a "W"
College regulations state that a student may be excluded from a course following accumulation of absences equal to a week of course work. The 12th week of class is the last date a student may drop a class with a "W". (or the 8th week in a "Late Start" class). Thereafter, the student must receive a grade in the class.
If a student has a accumulated score of 50 or below in the 12th week (or the 8th weeek in a "Late Start" class) , it is deemed that the student has accumulated absences in excess of a week of course work, and the instructor MAY, but is NOT required to DROP the student from class, with or without notice. It is the sole responsibility of the student, and not the instructor, to drop the class.
In addition, students who fail to login and post their introduction to class within the first (ten) days of class may be dropped from their online class.
Grading Policy: Letter grades will be determined based upon the following:
Grade Distribution
Tests are 30% of your grade
Assignments are 30% of your grade
Final Legal Research and Writing Paper = 25 % of your grade
Class Participation = 15% of your grade and entered at the end of the semester
Grade Scale: A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F ≤ 60
Please note that a grade of C or higher is required for each of the 12 paralegal certificate classes.
Points will be posted on the class website after each activity closes.
Reasonable Accommodation: For students requiring accommodation the DSPS office provides special assistance in areas like: registering for courses, specialized tutoring, note-taking, mobility assistance, special instruction, testing assistance, special equipment, special materials, instructor liaisons, community referrals, and job placement. The phone number for the Office of Students with Disabled Student Programs and Services is: (818) 364-7732. see their website at http://lamission.edu/dsps
Website opens Sunday, 2/8/15 @ 8 am
After September 8, 2013 please note : This is an earlier and revised deadline. A “W” will appear on your transcript record after this date. This is a new LACCD enrollment limit. The limit is now three times to take a class and includes both substandard grades and withdrawals.
Drop classes with a “W” - Letter grade is required after this date and forward
If you stop attending a class (or wish to drop a class), YOU MUST DROP THE CLASS YOURSELF ONLINE– OFFICIALLY – Failure to do so may result in a grade of “F” in that class.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION Website – http://www.laccd.edu (Student Information System)
Admission Regular Office Hours (Subject to change) Monday and Thursday – 8am-5pm Tuesday and Wednesday – 8am-7pm Friday – 8am-12noon
REMINDER: There is a new LACCD enrollment limit. The limit is now three times to take a class and includes both substandard grades and withdrawals. (See Important Notice, page 3 of the College Catalog)
New 3 Repeat Rule
IMPORTANT NOTICE
All Students Please Read
Beginning Summer 2012: New 3 Repeat Rule
EFFECTIVE SUMMER 2012, course withdrawal (“W”) or a substandard grade (“D,” “F,” or “NP”) count as an attempt at a course. Only three attempts at any one course will be allowed, with some exceptions. Listed below are the new rules that all students need to know about.
• Students who drop or are excluded after the last day to drop without a grade of “W” will have a “W” appear on their transcript. The “W” will count as an attempt for that course.
• For the Fall semester, Septrember 8, 2013 is the last day to drop a 16-week semester length class without a “W.” Students will be able to drop a class online until this date. Contact the office of Admissions and Records for deadlines on late start, short-term and special program classes.
• A course in a student’s transcript which currently shows a recorded “W” counts as an attempt for that course.
• Students will not be allowed to register for any course within the LACCD if there are three recorded attempts for that course in any combination of W, D, F, or NP grades.
• Add permits for a course within the LACCD will not be processed if there are three recorded attempts for that course in any combination of W, D, F, or NP grades.
• For courses specifically designated as “repeatable,” students may repeat up to three times (See Title 5 California Code of Regulations sections 55040, 55041, 58161).
• Where the student’s number of enrollments in a course exceeds the allowable amount, the student may petition for an additional enrollment in cases of extenuating circumstances.
What students should do:
• Be sure you are academically ready for classes you enroll in.
• If you must drop a course, drop before the specifi ed deadline for dropping a class without a grade of “W.”
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
If you require special accommodations for a disability, religious holiday, or any other reason please inform your instructor(s) within the first week of the course and we will accommodate you if at all possible. For accommodations due to disability, you must consult with the Disabled Students Programs and Services Office after which we will abide by their recommendations.
COLLEGE RESOURCES FOR LAMC STUDENTS
see http://lamission.edu/de/student-services
Three Attempt Limit
A new state policy in effect as of 2012 limits students to three attempts per course.
Receiving a grade or a "W" for a course counts as an attempt, regardless of when the course was taken. Withdrawal by the deadline to avoid a "W" will not count as an attempt.
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