PARALEGAL CERTIFICATE COURSE FIRST SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS LEGAL TERMINOLOGY AND INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL PROCESS

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1 FIRST SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS (Note: Syllabi may be altered by your instructor at any time) SESSION ONE: LEGAL TERMINOLOGY AND INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL PROCESS A. Discussion of Chapter 4 in Paralegal Career for Dummies (PCD). In class discussion of exercises in Chapter 1 of Paralegal Procedures and Practices (PPP) B. Discussion of legal terms on pages of PCD C. Introduction to the European & traditions of Civil Law. A. Discussion of legal terms in PCD, continued B. Quiz over legal terms C. Discussion of Chapters 1, 2, 9, 15, and 19 in PCD and in class discussion of exercises in Chapter 7 and Chapter 9 of PPP D. Discussion of Exercise 12(A), The Case of John Ebersol, on page 25 of PPP E. Discussion of Civil Law; history and role of Louisiana Civil Code. F. Comparison between Civil Law and Common Law. ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION TWO: 1. Prepare the interoffice memo, Exercise #12(A) in PPP. 2. Skim Chapters 1-4 and read Chapter 5 in Introduction to Paralegal ism 3. Read Chapters 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, and 16 in PCD. 4. Skim Chapters 1,2,9 & 10 in Basics of Legal Document Preparation (Legal Docs) 5. Review Chapters 4, 15, and 19 in PCD. 6. OPTIONAL - Prepare a cover letter and resume for instructor critique. See Chapter 3 in PCD. (Please note that this assignment may be submitted at any time during the course.) Please call The Center for Legal Studies at if you have any questions. 1

2 SECOND SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS SESSION TWO: RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, INTRODUCTION TO TORTS AND CONTRACTS AND DOCUMENTS A. Discussion of John Ebersol Memo, Exercise # 12(A) B. Discussion of Chapters 1-5 in Introduction to Paralegalism (Statsky) C. Discussion of Chapters 15 and 19 in Paralegal Career for Dummies (PCD), and Exercise #33 in Paralegal Procedures and Practices (PPP) D. Review of state court rules and procedure and Chapter 7 in PCD A. Discussion of Exercises #5(E), 6 & 7 in PPP B. Discussion of Chapters 1 & 2 in Legal Docs C. Discussion of Chapter 10 in PCD D. Quiz #2, covering terms, lecture, and reading material E. Discussion of Chapters 9 and 10 in Legal Docs. F. In class completion of Exercises #8, 9, 10 & 13 in PPP using PCD and Legal Docs as reference (Do not draft an answer; the answer will be drafted next week. Drafting a motion, Exercise #11, is optional, but will provide extra credit.) G. Torts and obligations on the Civil Code. ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION THREE: 1. Read Chapters 7, 11, and 12 in PCD. 2. Finish Exercises #8,9, 10 & 13 if you have not finished these in class on Sunday. 3. Read Chapters 6-10 in Statsky. 4. Review Chapters 1,2,9 & 10 in Legal Docs. As usual, call The Center for Legal Studies at if you should have any questions. 2

3 THIRD SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS SESSION THREE: PLEADING FORMAT, DISCOVERY, EVIDENCE, INTERVIEWING, AND INVESTIGATION A. Discussion of rules of evidence B. Discussion of Chapters 6-10 in Statsky C. Discussion of Chapter 7, 11, and 12 in PCD 1. Hearsay Discussion/Exceptions to Hearsay 2. Discussion of Direct and Circumstantial Evidence 3. Discussion of Interviewing and Investigation Techniques A. Discussion of Chapters 7, 11, and 12 in PCD, continued B. Discussion of Exercises in PPP on Evidence and Hearsay C. Quiz on materials in Statsky, Chapters 6-10 D. Preparation of an answer to the complaint served upon you by fellow classmate E. In class preparation of Exercises in PPP ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION NUMBER FOUR: 1. Read Chapters 8 and 13 in PCD. Next session's quiz will be on legal research. 2. Complete the answer if you have not already done so in class. 3. Read Chapter 11 in Statsky. Please call The Center for Legal Studies at if you should have any questions. 3

4 FOURTH SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS SESSION FOUR: ELEMENTARY LEGAL RESEARCH A. Discussion of Complaints and Answers B. Coverage of Chapter 13 in PCD & Chapter 11 in Introduction to Paralegalism 1. "Frustration and Legal Research" 2. Glossary of Law Books 3. Authority a. Primary b. Secondary c. Mandatory d. Persuasive e. The Code and Commentaries as primary authority in Louisiana. 4. Completion of exercises 20 and 21 in PPP C. Cite Checking D Cartwheeling E. The Three Levels of Legal Research F. The Ten Major Search Resources G. Reading and Finding Case Law A. Discussion of Chapter 11, continued from Saturday B. Quiz on Chapter 11 C. Discussion of How to Use Shepard's Citations D. Discussion of Chapter 16 in PCD E. Discussion of second interoffice memo assignment (The Case of Samantha Clark, Exercise #12(B) in PPP, or as assigned by your instructor) ASSIGNMENT FOR THE FIFTH WEEKEND: 1. Read Chapter 16 in PCD. 2. Read Chapter 12 in Statsky. 3. Prepare interoffice memorandum of law assignment, Exercise 12(B) in PPP. 4. Review How to Use Shepard's Citations 5. Complete the citation exercise 11.7 on pages of Stat sky. Call The Center for Legal Studies, , if you should have any questions. 4

5 FIFTH SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS SESSION FIVE: ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH, WRITING, AND SHEPARDIZING A. Review of Chapter 11 in Statsky and discussion of citation assignment 11.7 on page in Statsky B. Discussion of Chapters 13 and 16 in PCD and performance of the research assignments in Chapter 6 of PPP C. Research for the brief assignment Exercise #31 on page 90 of PPP D. Discussion of Samantha Clark Exercise, #12(B) in PPP E. Role of notary in Louisiana practices. F. Distinction between law and fact in Louisiana. A. Quiz B. Continuation of Research Exercises in Chapter 6 of PPP ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION SIX: 1. Prepare an appellate brief based on anyone of the hypotheticals from Exercise #31 on page 90 of PPP. Use Chapter 12 in Legal Docs as a reference. 2. Read Chapters 3, 17, and 18 in PCD. 3. Read Chapters in Statsky. 4. Read Chapter 12 in Legal Docs and skim Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8 & 11 in Legal Docs according to the wishes of your instructor. As usual, call The Center for Legal Studies at if you should have any questions. 5

6 SIXTH SESSION COURSE SYLLABUS SESSION SIX: LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, AND APPELLATE RULES A. Collection of appellate brief assignments B. Discussion of Chapters 14 & 15 in Statsky on advocacy and administrative hearings C. Discussion of Chapter 13 in Statsky and Chapters 3 and 18 in PCD D. Completion of legal research assignments in Chapter 6 of PPP A. Discussion of WEST LA W B. Discussion of Chapter 12 in Legal Docs C. Discussion of Chapters in Legal Docs as assigned by your instructor D. Quiz Congratulations!! Please call The Center for Legal Studies if you should have any questions. 6