PCC/ CCOG / PL

Course Content and Outcome Guide for PL 204

Date:
25-FEB-2013
Posted by:
Curriculum Office
Course Number:
PL 204
Course Title:
Applied Legal Research/Draft
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture hours:
30
Lecture/Lab hours:
0
Lab hours:
0
Special Fee:
 

Course Description

Covers legal research skills and the drafting of legal pleadings, documents and memoranda common to the practice of law. Includes preparation of a portfolio of student work completed in the paralegal program. Prerequisite: PL 201 or PL 203 or LA 203, and WR 122 or WR 227. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course is required for certificate and degree and is intended to provide application of research techniques learned in LA 203.
 

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

Draft correspondence and various legal pleadings which are commonly used in law offices.
Identify, prioritize, locate, evaluate and apply rules, statutes, and court opinions.
Analyze a court opinion and make judgments regarding the opinion’s applicability through techniques of comparison.
Draft legal memoranda.
Use a professional portfolio as a vehicle to provide evidence of career-related competencies

Course Activities and Design

This course will include classroom discussion/lecture; legal research; writing assignments; teamwork research assignments; work on a specific fact situation; and other projects. Individual one-on-one conferences with students to review writing projects will be used to address each student’s progress in the course. Students will be provided the opportunity to resubmit written documents after one-on-one conferences. Grades will be determined by the written projects submitted, legal research conducted and attendance/teamwork.
 

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Grade and competency will be determined by student ability to follow directions; timely completion of assignments; applied legal research; quality of the written submissions before and after conference with the faculty; logical analysis and presentation of written submissions; and compliance with formatting and stylistic requirements of documents.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Drafting: cover letter and resume, Internal office Memo, correspondence, Complaint, Answer, discovery requests, Motions, Affidavits, Legal Memorandum and other written projects selected by the faculty. 
 
Research: will include weekly requirements and at research for at least one significant legal memorandum.
 
Analysis: use analytic skills to apply drafting and research skills to set of facts.
In addition, students will demonstrate:
Communication skills: PCC graduates should be able to communicate effectively by determining the purpose of the communication; analyzing the audience and context to use appropriate language and modality; and by responding to feedback to achieve clarity, coherence and effectiveness.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: PCC graduates should be able to think critically and creatively to solve problems, understanding and using various methods of reasoning and evaluating information and its sources.
Cultural Awareness: PCC graduates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the varieties of human cultures, perspectives and forms of expression as well as their own cultures complexities.
Professional Competance: PCC graduates should demonstrate master of their discipline at a level appropriate to the program and transfer requirements through application of skills, concepts, processes and technology in performance of authentic tasks that enhance their employability.
Self-Reflection: PCC graduates should be self-appraising in applying knowledge and skills they have learned, examining and developing personal beliefs and professional skills.
 

Related Instruction

Computation
Hours: 10

Outcomes:

Draft correspondence and various legal pleadings which are commonly used in law offices.
Identify, prioritize, locate, evaluate and apply rules, statutes, and court opinions.
Analyze a court opinion and make judgments regarding the opinion’s applicability through techniques of comparison.
Draft legal memoranda.

Activities:

Instruction and use of the west key number digest and research system
Instruction and use of the case citation system, including case name and numbered reporter citation
Instruction and use of shepardizing a case
Calculating damages pursuant to applicable legal claims

Communication
Hours: 45

Outcomes:

Draft correspondence and various legal pleadings which are commonly used in law offices.
Identify, prioritize, locate, evaluate and apply rules, statutes, and court opinions.
Analyze a court opinion and make judgments regarding the opinion’s applicability through techniques of comparison.
Draft legal memoranda.
Use a professional portfolio as a vehicle to provide evidence of career-related competencies.

Activities:

Classroom instruction and Drafting legal correspondence, pleadings and memoranda

Human Relations
Hours: 10

Outcomes:

Identify, prioritize, locate, evaluate and apply rules, statutes, and court opinions.
Analyze a court opinion and make judgments regarding the opinion’s applicability through techniques of comparison.
Draft legal memoranda.

Activities:

Collaboration on research and writing with partners in class; ethical issues.