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Fall 2023 Course Syllabus
Course: LGLA-1401 (Section: 1, CRN: 91721) Legal Research and Writing |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||
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| Instructor | Doneane Beckcom | ||||||||
| beckcomde@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6548 | ||||||||
| Office | Umphrey Industrial Technology Center - Room: 201A | ||||||||
| Office Hours | BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, SEND AN EMAIL TO REQUEST A TIME | ||||||||
| Additional Contact Information | CELL 409-718-8613 | ||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| Required 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.
Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals, 8th Edition Deborah E. Bouchoux Wolters Kluwer ISBN 978-1-4548-7335-8 THESE WILL BE NEEDED BY WEEK 8/CHAPTER 8: Texas Rules of Form Texas Law Review, latest ed. The Bluebook of Uniform System of Citation Columbia Law and Harvard Law Review Association, latest ed. |
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| Additional Materials/Resources | I will post links to additional resources throughout the semester | ||||||||
| Corequisites/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. |
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| Program Student Learning Outcomes |
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. |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
Section I Legal Research: Primary Authorities Chapter 1 Finding the Law Chapter 2 The Federal and State Court Systems Chapter 3 Statutory Law Chapter 4 Case Law and Judicial Opinions Chapter 5 The Use of Digests, Annotated Law Reports, and Words and Phrases Section II Legal Research: Secondary Authorities and Other Research Aids Chapter 6 Encyclopedias, Periodicals, Treatises, and Restatements Chapter 7 Miscellaneous Secondary Authorities Chapter 8 Legal Citation Form Chapter 9 Updating and Validating Your Research Chapter 10 Special Research Issues Chapter 11 The Digital Library: Lexis Advance, Westlaw, and Nonprint Research Sources Chapter 12 E-Research: Legal Research Using the Internet Chapter 13 Overview of the Research Process Section III Legal Writing Chapter 14 Back to Basics Chapter 15 Strategies for Effective Writing Chapter 16 Legal Correspondence Chapter 17 Legal Memoranda Chapter 18 Legal Briefs Chapter 19 Postwriting Steps |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
LECUTRES IN CLASS AND LAB ASSIGNMENTS THIS CLASS IS BEING TAUGHT SYNCHRONOUSLY THIS SEMESTER. TUESDAYS WILL BE FOR YOU TO READ THE CHAPTER, VIEW THE VIDEO LECTURE, AND REVIEW THE SLIDES. CLASS WILL NOT TEACHNICALLY MEET ON TUESDAYS, THIS WILL BE YOUR DAY TO PREP FOR THE WEEK. THURSDAY AT CLASS TIME (9:45) WE WILL MEET LIVE VIA ZOOM FOR LAB ASSIGNMENTS, QUESTIONS, ETC. YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZOOM LINK EACH WEEK FOR CLASS. 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. Lecture schedule: WEEK 1: Chapter 1 Finding the Law WEEK 2: Chapter 2 The Federal and State Court Systems WEEK 3: Chapter 3 Statutory Law WEEK 4: Chapter 4 Case Law and Judicial Opinions, TEST 1 WEEK 5: Chapter 5 The Use of Digests, Annotated Law Reports, and Words and Phrases WEEK 6: Chapter 6 Encyclopedias, Periodicals, Treatises, and Restatements WEEK 7: Chapter 7 Miscellaneous Secondary Authorities, TEST 2 WEEK 8: Chapter 8 Legal Citation Form, TEST 3 WEEK 9: Chapter 9 Updating and Validating Your Research WEEK 10: Chapter 10 Special Research Issues WEEK 11: Chapter 11 The Digital Library: Lexis Advance, Westlaw, and Nonprint Research Sources WEEK 12: Chapter 12 E-Research: Legal Research Using the Internet, TEST 4 WEEK 13: Chapter 13 Overview of the Research Process WEEK 14: Chapter 14 Back to Basics, Chapter 15 Strategies for Effective Writing, Chapter 16 Legal Correspondence WEEK 15: Chapter 17 Legal Memoranda, Chapter 18 Legal Briefs, Chapter 19 Postwriting Steps WEEK 16: FINAL EXAM IN CLASS TESTS 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. Tests will cover: Test 1: chapters 1 - 4 Test 2: chapters 5 - 7 Test 3: chapter 8 Test 4: chapters 9 - 12 Final: chapters 13 - 19 FINAL RESEARCH AND WRITING ASSIGNMENT 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. LAB ASSIGNMENTS AND SCHEDULE Lab Schedule: We will do most of the lab assignments together during las; however, there are a few that you will do independently or together with a group with whom you choose to work 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 |
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| Final Exam Date | December 7, 2023 - 8:00 AM Through December 12, 2023 - 12:00 PM | ||||||||
| Grading Scale | 90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F | ||||||||
| Determination of Final Grade |
Exams 50% Projects and assignments (library and internet lab work) 20% Final project 20% Attendance 10% |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||
| Instructor Policies | I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must make an appointment | ||||||||
| 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. You will receive a grade for your attendance at the end of the semester which will reflect your actual attendance in class and lab. | ||||||||
| Additional Information |
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. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CAMPUS EMAIL BEFORE CLASS EACH DAY. If there is a class cancelation or other change in the schedule, I will email you by 7AM the day of the cancelation or change. |
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| Institutional Policies | |||||||||
| MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA. | ||||||||
| Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||
| Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect | As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual. | ||||||||
| Title IX and Sexual Misconduct | LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website. | ||||||||
| Clery Act Crime Reporting |
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website. |
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| Grievance / Complaint / Concern | 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. | ||||||||
| Department Information |
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