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Law 17 - Spring 2016

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Syllabus 


Law 17 - Legal Writing  – 3:00 Units  
  

Academic Calendar
textbooks

online textbook chapters

 
Spring 2016  - Section # 0376

 

Instructor:       David Jordan,  Attorney at Law  

Office:            #20 - Faculty Offices  

Office hours:      Mon - Thursday 12 - 4 pm or by appointment 

Email:                 jordandc@lamission.edu or greatlawteacher@gmail.com 

Etudes site           http://etudes.org

Calendar             http://lamission.org

 

Classwiki:          http://legalwriting.pbworks.com/w/page/16131590/FrontPage 

 

Course Description:    This course explores legal drafting and writing, including legal memoranda, motions, pleadings, demand letters, a research brief, and special projects including a final legal research and writing paper. .

Course Organization: Law 17  is organized into assignments, quizzes,  a final legal research and writing project, and forum discussions. 

 

Tests  are 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

 

  

 

Student Learning Outcomes:    

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Brief law cases in various legal subjects to improve students' understanding of the law and improve their legal analysis, argumentation, and legal writing required by a paralegal in a law firm.  

2. Critically analyze and argue issues of various legal subjects and topics as listed in #1 above. 

3. Prepare legal documents, forms or papers including a legal demand letter, a legal memorandum, various types of motions, a mandatory settlement conference, trial brief, and other legal documents required by a paralegal in a law office.  

Also students will prepare a final legal research and writing paper.

 

See format of the paper

at http://profjordan.pbworks.com/format . The final legal writing and 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 various 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 at http://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 an entirely online class.  We use the etudes course management system. readhttp://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 weeks you 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 Google Chrome  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://google.com/chrome 

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

 

First Assignment:  Introduce yourself to the class under the forum discussions for the first week.  This is where you will get to know your classmates. Post your introduction by Sunday evening of the 2nd week of class.  You may be dropped from class if you do not post your introductions by the end of the 2nd week of class. 


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 


Discussion Forums:
  The discussion forums are the main area for class participation.  The weekly discussions open on Mondays and close the following Sunday at 11:59 PM.  Initial posts are due by Wednesdays at 11:55 pm.  Initial posts should be at least two paragraphs in length (approximately 120-150 words), respond directly to the topic in a reflective manner, referencing the topic link and content provided, and applying the law or case materials.   Respond to at least two students to each forum by Sunday evening at 11:59 pm.  

CLASS INTRODUCTIONS You will find your instructor's autobiography posted in the "Discussion Board" of the class website. Please post your bio in the discussion board by Friday of week one. In your bio, please be sure to include:

Your name  
Academic/Career Goals/Expectations of the class
How you found out about the class/program
Other items of interest, and 
Include any preliminary questions or concerns you have at this point.

DISCUSSION FORUMS: Every week a discussion questions posted to the website "FORUMS." You are required to post a answer to each discussion question by Wednesday of the forum week. Further, you are required to post, at least, one response to two or more of your classmates' initial responses. You are not required to respond to every classmate. You may, although this is a decision each student will make.  

Minimum THREE different days per forum week.  As we begin our online work together I want to discuss an important aspect of online learning, namely participation. Participation is an important part of this collaborative online learning environment. It is well documented that participation and collaboration does enhance learning & whether it be in-class or at a distance. You are encouraged to initiate and respond regularly and make sure your ideas are presented clearly and are substantive.  
Postings that lack substance will receive little or no credit.  For example, “I agree,”  “Good posting,” or similar messages that add little or nothing to the discussion will receive few, if any creditsDiscussions posted to the website are an important part of the learning that takes place in this class. In essence, we learn from each other. Share ideas or questions with your colleagues. Ask them questions. Share your own experiences. 

SOME SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT PARTICIPATION:

Class Meeting Discussions:

  • Please read, review, and reflect on each message PRIOR to posting to the forums. Remember: Others cannot get visual clues as to meaning, therefore, be careful in what and how you communicate. Once posted, messages cannot be deleted!
  • All postings to any meeting in this class are to be considered CONFIDENTIAL and for consideration and discussion only by members of this class.
  • Ask questions about areas of the subject that you wish to better understand or for clarification and/or amplification.
  • Read your classmates comments and presentations, and respond constructively.
  • Offer personal/professional experiences/observations relevant to the items being discussed.

 

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 APABluebook, 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". Below is the grading rubric for your case "briefs"

Students who plagiarize will receive zero credit on the assignment.


 

Quizzes:  The class is divided into weekly quizzes which are submitted under etudes (they are not timed quizzes like other classes)

Assignments: This includes creating legal documents, and briefing law cases 

Forum Discussions: 
The class is divided into weekly discussion forums. This is 15% of your grade.


Late Assignments  
 Our "Late Work"  Policy is firm. 

 

Dropping your class/Exclusion:  Check the Academic Calendar for the last day 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

 


                         

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 Accommodations:   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 

 

Please note that if you do not drop the class by the specified deadline,  then you must receive a grade, and cannot request to be dropped or to receive and Incomplete grade. 


*PLEASE NOTE:  The District required earlier and revised deadlines starting Summer 2012.  A “W” will appear on your 
transcript record after this date.  

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)

If you stop attending a class (or wish to drop a class), YOU MUST DROP THE CLASS YOURSELF – OFFICIALLY – on or before  November 17th, 2013 (Internet).  Failure to do so may result in a grade of “F” in that class

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, September 8th, 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 specifi cally 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 specified 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

 

 

updated:   1/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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