Spring 2021 Course Syllabus
Course: LGLA-1355- Section: 71
Family Law 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Doneane Beckcom
E-mailbeckcomde@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 984-6548
Office
Location:Student Center - Room: 415
Hours:Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8AM - Noon; otherwise by appointment
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 Fundamental concepts of family law including formal and informal marriages, divorce, annulment, martial property, and the parent-child relationship with emphasis on the paralegal's role in family law.
Prerequisites LGLA 1307 or concurrent enrollment
Learning Outcomes (Related PSLOs in parenthesis)

PSLO Alpha measure by pretest/posttest.
All other PSLOs measured by embedded test questions, in class discussions, and online discussion board.

1. Use terminology relating to family law (ALPHA, 1)
2. Analyze sources relating to family law (ALPHA, 1, 2)
3. Draft documents used in family law (ALPHA, 1, 3, 4)
4. Analyze the ethical considerations of the paralegal in family law (1, 3)
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.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* 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.
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.

Family Law for Paralegals, Ehrlich
8th Edition
Aspen College Series, Wolters Kluwer


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.
Lecture Topics
Outline		 Week 1: Chapter 1 Marriage and the Legal Recognition of Nonmarital Couples
Week 2: Chapter 2 Premarital Agreements
Week 3: Chapter 3 Domestic Violence
Week 4: Chapter 4 Divorce, Annulment, Legal Separation
Week 5: Chapter 5 Child Custody
Week 6: Chapter 6 Child Support
Week 7: Chapter 7 Spousal Support
Week 8: Chapter 8 Division of Marital Property
Week 9: SPRING BREAK (NOTHING IS DUE, TAKE A BREAK!)
Week 10: Chapter 9 Jurisdiction
Week 11: Chapter 10 The Divorce Process
Week 12: Chapter 11 Determining Parentage
Week 13: Chapter 12 Child Abuse and Neglect
Week 14: Chapter 13 Adoption
Week 15: Review for Final
Week 16: Final
Major Assignments
Schedule		 Week 1:
Intro and Orientation to Course
Chapter 1 Marriage and the Legal Recognition of Nonmarital Couples
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 2:
Chapter 2 Premarital Agreements
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 3:
Chapter 3 Domestic Violence
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 4:
Chapter 4 Divorce, Annulment, Legal Separation
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 5:
Chapter 5 Child Custody
Test 1 (chapters 1 - 4)
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 6:
Chapter 6 Child Support
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 7:
Chapter 7 Spousal Support
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 8:
Chapter 8 Division of Marital Property
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

WEEK 9: SPRING BREAK

Week 10:
Chapter 9 Jurisdiction
Test 2 (chapters 5 - 8)
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 11:
Chapter 10 The Divorce Process
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 12:
Chapter 11 Determining Parentage
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 13:
Chapter 12 Child Abuse and Neglect
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 14: Chapter 13 Adoption
Test 3 (chapters 9 - 12)
Watch video lecture
DISCUSSION BOARD

Week 15: Review for Final
Week 16: Final
Final Exam Date May 6, 2021 - 8:0 AM   Through  May 12, 2021 - 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%
Discussion Board: 10%
Final: 20%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies The BEST way to reach me is via email.

ALL TESTS ARE ONLINE VIA BLACKBOARD. If you have an emergency during a test (BB glitches, internet goes down, etc.) you can TEXT me at 409-718-8613 (between 8AM and 7PM, NO EARLIER OR LATER!).

I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must make an appointment and we will meet via ZOOM or you can come to campus if you are comfortable doing that.
Attendance Policy Regular attendance is required. As this is an online class, weekly log in to the course is required. A student who does not log in for 4 consecutive weeks will have a VERY difficult time catching up and being successful in this class. Make a schedule and stick to it!
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
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.