Fall 2021 Course Syllabus
Course: LGLA-1307- Section: 01
Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Doneane Beckcom
E-mailbeckcomde@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 984-6548
Office
Location:Student Center - Room: 415
Hours:TBA
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description Overview of the law and the legal professions including legal concepts, systems, and terminology; substantive areas of law and the federal and state judicial systems; ethical obligations and regulations; professional trends and issues with emphasis on the paralegal's role.
Prerequisites None.
Learning Outcomes 1. Use legal terminology;

2. Explain fundamental legal concepts categorizing substantive areas of law and the federal and state judicial systems; and

3. Identify the ethical obligations of the legal professional in various practice areas with particular emphasis on the paralegal's role in the legal profession.
Core Objectives * Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.

* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.

* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills: demonstrates comprehension of content (legal) area reading material.
PSLO 1: understand legal terms and the paralegal's role in the legal environment.
PSLO 2: apply correct drafting procedures to transactional and court documents.
PSLO 3: demonstrate appropriate ethics and professionalism in the legal environment.
PSLO 4: exhibit the ability to use computer skills.
Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Introduction to Paralegal Studies, latest Edition
Currier and Eimermann
Wolters Kluwer
ISBN 978-1-4548-7342-6
Lecture Topics
Outline		 I am always available via email. Please make an appointment to discuss grades. Otherwise feel free to stop by my office during posted office hours. Powerpoints and other study resources are available on Blackboard.
Major Assignments
Schedule		 This class is online for this semester so that you can stay on track with the order of classes in the degree plan. You need to log into the class at least once per week and watch the lecture videos for that week, after reading the corresponding chapter in the textbook and reviewing the powerpoint slides which are provided for you on Blackboard.

We will typically cover one to two chapters per week. There are approximately 13 weeks of instruction in the semester to allow for review for finals. We are covering 13 chapters in the textbook, so this is one chapter per week.

There will be a written discussion board assignment each week from the topic of each chapter/week. Discussion posts are due every Friday at NOON, no exceptions (unless Blackboard goes down). Your responses will be graded for accuracy, writing proficiency, and content. This is a way for us to do writing assignments for a grade while developing good writing and communication skills. You will receive more instruction for each discussion assignment as each one is posted. The topic will typically be posted on Monday or Tuesday of each week, and will usually be on a topic we that will be covered for that week.

We will NOT cover chapters 11 - 14 in the textbook. These chapters are covered in detail in another class in the program.

Tests will generally cover 4 chapters and occur every 3 - 4 weeks throughout the semester, with a review prior to each exam. You will be given the dates the test will be open and when it will close at least one week prior so that you can plan accordingly. All tests will be done online through Blackboard.

Tests will cover:

Test 1: chapters 1 - 4
Test 2: chapters 5 - 8
Test 3: chapters 9 - 10
Final: chapters 15 - 17
Final Exam Date December 6, 2022 - 9:0 AM   Through  December 11, 2022 - 12:0 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Tests 70%
Discussions (blackboard) 30%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies I am always available via email. Please make an appointment to discuss grades. Otherwise feel free to stop by my office during posted office hours. Powerpoints and other study resources are available on Blackboard.
Attendance Policy Attendance (even online) is important as we will be covering lots of new information and terminology. If you are not in class you will miss out on instruction and discussions. YOUR GRADE WILL SUFFER IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND CLASS!
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies
  1. No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.

  2. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.

  3. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other I am always available via email at beckcomde@lamarpa.edu. You may text me in EMERGENCIES ONLY at 409-718-8613. An emergency would be if you are taking a test on Blackboard and it crashes and I need to reset the exam for you to start over. DO NOT TEXT AFTER 7PM OR BEFORE 7AM PLEASE!
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Department
Business and Industrial Technology
Chair:Sheila Guillot
E-mail:guillsr@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6381

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.