Fall 2021 Course Syllabus Course: LGLA-1401- Section: 1 Legal Research and Writing

Instructor Information
Instructor	Doneane Beckcom
E-mail	beckcomde@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	Presents the fundamentals of legal research and writing emphasizing the paralegal's role including resources and processes used in legal research and writing.
Prerequisites	LGLA 1307 (may be taken concurrently, however)
Learning Outcomes	1. Locate primary and secondary legal authority; 2. Implement research strategies using available research tools; 3. Draft legal documents; and 4. Analyze the ethical considerations of the paralegal relating to legal research and writing.
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. (1) Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals, 8th Edition Deborah E. Bouchoux Wolters Kluwer ISBN 978-1-4548-7335-8 (2) Texas Rules of Form Texas Law Review, latest ed. (3) The Bluebook of Uniform System of Citation Columbia Law and Harvard Law Review Association, latest ed.
Lecture Topics Outline
Major Assignments Schedule	We will typically cover two chapters per week. There are approximately 13 weeks of instruction in the semester to allow for review for finals. We are covering 19 chapters in the textbook, so this is about 2 chapters per week. There will be some writing assignments that we will do as our lab in this class. They will be assigned during lecture so you must be in class to get the instructions for each assignment. You can use the lab time to work on assignments after we finish our lab for the day. We will also do a virtual tour of the library early in the course. The video tour is posted online for you to watch, as there will be assignments that you will need to use the library do complete. 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. There is a final research and writing project that will be assigned toward the end of the semester, to give you several weeks to do the research and write your assignment. Tests will cover: Test 1: chapters 1 - 4 Test 2: chapters 5 - 7 Test 3: chapter 8 Final: chapters 13 - 19 Lab Schedule: WEEK 1: VIRTUAL LIBRARY TOUR: video will be posted into the course on BlackBoard WRITTEN LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT: where to find the law in our campus library INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: using the internet to find the law WEEK 2: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using various resources to find federal and state court cases and statutes INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: accessing and using the U.S. Courts website WEEK 3: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using various code books to access federal and state statutes INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: where to locate federal and state statutes online WEEK 4: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using various resources to find case law and judicial opinions INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: accessing the U.S. Supreme Court website and other state and federal websites to find cases and judicial opinions WEEK 5: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using digests to locate cases INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: accessing various law school libraries for research WEEK 6: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using encyclopedias, periodicals, treatises, and restatements INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: using various law school websites and law reviews to locate research resources WEEK 7: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: miscellaneous secondary authorities such as dictionaries INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: where to access secondary sources online WEEK 8: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: citation form practice and test; memorandum assignment INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: using the �Blue Book� and other citation form books online WEEK 9: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using Shepards and other citation �checkers� INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: how to access online case updating sites WEEK 10: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: researching legislative history, administrative law, and international law INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: where to access legislative history, administrative law, and international law online WEEK 11: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: using Lexis for research INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: where to find online training for legal research WEEK 12: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: how to make the best use of electronic research INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: using Congress.gov and USA.gov to do legal research WEEK 13: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: back to the basics of writing INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: using various websites and tools for affective
Final Exam Date	December 7, 2022 - 8:00 AM   Through  December 11, 2022 - 12:00 AM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Exams 80% Projects and assignments (library and internet lab work) 20%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies
Attendance Policy	It is HIGHLY recommended that you do NOT miss class or lab. This is an intense course and you will learn best if you are there for lecture and lab. It is a very hands on course that requires you to be present.
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	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. 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 and text, 409-718-8613 (emergencies only for texting, please!). If you'd like to see me in person, please make an appointment.
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.