Family Law Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

LGLA-1355-001 Family Law

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: LGLA 1307 and BCIS 1305 or Department Chair consent

Course Description

This course presents fundamental concepts of family law with emphasis on the paralegal’s role. Topics include formal and informal marriages, divorce, annulment, marital property and the parent-child relationship.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Texas Family Code – Sampson and Tindall

Supplies

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Student Performance

The student will define and properly use terminology relating to family law; locate, describe, and analyze sources of law relating to family law; describe the roles and ethical obligations of the paralegal in family law and draft documents commonly used in family law.

After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to describe and explain the duties, responsibilities, and relationships of the paralegal in the following (as evaluated by the faculty in the Paralegal Studies program)

1. The scope and skill of a family law practice.
2. Law books and legal institutions as related to the State of Texas.
3. Ethics, competence, fees, and malpractice.
4. The preliminary legal interview including interviewing guidelines and checklists.
5. Antenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.
6. The formation of ceremonial marriages, common law marriages, annulment, and separation agreements.
7. Child custody, child support, divorce, judicial separation, and separate maintenance.
8. Legal rights of women, illegitimacy and paternity proceedings, legal status of children, adoption, and surrogacy.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

Use of Electronic Devices: Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent/vibrate ring during class meeting times. Remove and turn off any blue tooth device. No text messaging will be allowed during class. Put away your iPods, MP3’s, any other device with recorded music, and the earphones to listen to the music. You will be asked to leave class if you are in violation of this request. You will be counted absent and you will not receive credit for that day’s lab projects, quizzes, or tests.

Plagiarism, Cheating and Individual Work Ethic: The Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating, and duplication of work product. Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or duplication of work product will result in a zero on the project or test in question.

A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at

http://www.actx.edu/student/responsibilities/

Grading Criteria

20% - Weekly Quizzes
20% - Class Participation
10% - Participation in Pro se Clinic

25% - Divorce Notebook
25% - Exams (12.5% each)

Quizzes:  There will be weekly quizzes (True/False, Matching, Multiple Choice) each week. The information from the Quizzes comes directly from the Reading assignment and lecture.

Weekly Notebook Assignments:  Each week, you will be expected to complete an assignment as noted on the class schedule. The assignment will be due at class time on the following Thursday from which it is assigned.

Pro Se Divorce Clinic Assignment: There will be a Pro Se Divorce clinic put on by Legal Aid.  It is expected that you will attend.  There will be further class discussion on this particular matter.

Exams:  There will be 2 major exams, a midterm and a final.  These will consist of fact patterns that you will be questioned about how you would handle the case.

Attendance

As stated in Grading Criteria.  It is imperative that paralegals be at work consistently and in a timely manner.  The same will be expected in this class.

Calendar

Additional Information

Fall 2014 - Important Dates