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Spring 2023 Course Syllabus
Course: LGLA-1345 (Section: 1, CRN: 10521) Civil Litigation |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||
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| Instructor | Doneane Beckcom | ||||||||
| beckcomde@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6548 | ||||||||
| Office | Student Center - Room: 415 | ||||||||
| Office Hours | Location: Student Center - Room: 415 Hours: M-F 8AM-9AM; M-TH: 1PM-2PM; F: 10AM-11AM All other times by appointment |
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| Additional Contact Information | |||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||
| Description | Presents fundamental concepts and procedures of civil litigation including pretrial, trial, and post-trial phases of litigation and emphasizes the paralegal's role in civil litigation. | ||||||||
| 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.
Civil Law and Litigation for Paralegals Bleavens, latest edition Aspen Publishing |
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| Additional Materials/Resources | I will post links to court channels and other resources throughout the semester. | ||||||||
| Corequisites/Prerequisites | LGLA 1307 or concurrent enrollment | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
1. Use terminology relating to civil litigation 2. Analyze sources relating to civil litigation and applicable court rules 3. Draft documents used in civil litigation 4. Analyze the ethical considerations of the paralegal in relating to civil litigation |
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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 |
Chapter 1 Introduction to the Court System
Chapter 2 The Participants in the Legal System
Chapter 3 Bringing a Legal Action
Chapter 4 Civil Complaints
Chapter 5 The Defendant’s Answer
Chapter 6 Evidence
Chapter 7 Discovery
Chapter 8 Motions Practice
Chapter 9 Preparing for and Conducting the Trial
Chapter 10 Damages
Chapter 11 Arbitration, Mediation, and Settlement
Chapter 12 Appeals
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Week 1 Orientation Chapter 1 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 2 Chapter 2 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 3 Chapter 3 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 4 Chapter 4 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 5 Chapter 5 Test 1 chapters 1 - 4 Week 6 Chapter 6 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 7 Chapter 7DISCUSSION BOARD Week 8 Chapter 8 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 9 Test 2 chapters 5 - 8 Week 10 SPRING BREAK (Nothing is due this week! Take a break!) Week 11 Chapter 10 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 12 Chapter 11 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 13 Chapter 12 DISCUSSION BOARD Week 14 DRAFTING DOCUMENTS Test 3 chapters 9 -12 Week 15 DRAFTING DOCUMENTS REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM Week 16: FINAL EXAM IN CLASS |
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| Final Exam Date | May 8, 2023 - 11:00 AM Through May 8, 2023 - 11:50 AM | ||||||||
| Grading Scale | 90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F | ||||||||
| Determination of Final Grade |
Three regular exams: 70% Final: 20% Discussion Board: 10% |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||
| Instructor Policies | The BEST way to reach me is via email. ALL TESTS ARE ONLINE VIA BLACKBOARD except for the FINAL which is IN CLASS. 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 my office on campus if you are comfortable doing that. | ||||||||
| Attendance Policy | Regular attendance is required. A student who does not attend class will have a VERY difficult time catching up and being successful in this class. Attendance will be taken every day and will be reflected in your final grade. COME TO CLASS AND BE ON TIME! | ||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||
| 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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