Catalog Description
- Transfer Status
- CSU
- Unit(s)
- 2.00
- Lecture: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
- Total: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
Course Description: This course is an introduction to legal research. Students will become familiar with and learn how to use materials commonly found in law libraries via a web-based legal resource. Graded only.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Use various on-line legal resources to access legal information.
- Identify and interpret various State statutes and legal terminology.
- Perform legal research independently.
- Prepare legal briefs of appellate court decisions.
Course Content
Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic
Lecture
| Topics | Lec Hrs |
|---|---|
Review of Legal Vocabulary | 1.50 |
Introduction to Find Law Legal Resource | 2.00 |
How to Write a Legal Brief | 2.00 |
California Appellate Courts - Negligence | 3.00 |
California Supreme Court - Negligence | 3.00 |
Federal Courts - 1st Amendment | 3.00 |
Introduction to West Law Legal Resource | 2.00 |
Annotated Codes | 6.00 |
Witkin Series | 3.00 |
American Jurisprudence | 3.00 |
California Vehicle Code | 2.50 |
California Penal Code | 3.00 |
| Total Hours: | 34.00 |
Methods of Instruction
- Discussion
- Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
- Lecture
- Multimedia Presentations
Methods of Evaluation
- Oral Presentation
- Final Examination
- Homework: legal briefs of appellate court decisions and analysis of state statutes - estimated 300 words, Analysis of reading assignments
Examples of Assignments
Reading Assignments
- Read the U.S. Supreme Court decision, "Ricci, et al v. DeStefano," paying particular attention to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Come to class prepared to discuss how a firefighter promotional examination was valid when white candidates outperform minority candidates.
- Read six appellate court decisions and be prepared to discuss in class.
Writing Assignments
- Based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision, "Safford Unified School Dist v. Redding," prepare a minimum 2 page legal brief that identifies the legal standards to search a grammar school student suspected of possessing narcotics.
- Access an on-line legal research source and define 20 instructor provided vocabulary used in judicial system.
Out-of-Class Assignments
- Identify and document six constitutional legal issues that relate to written statutes.
- Define and summarize 20 instructor provided vocabulary used within the judicial system.
Recommended Materials of Instruction
Bast, C., Hawkins, M. (2012). Foundations of Legal Research and Writing. Delmar, 5th.
Other Learning Materials
Handouts regarding constitutional issues provided by the instrutor
Minimum Qualifications
Administration of Justice
Law (Masters Required)