Civil Litigation Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Tom Boyd (Curriculum Vitae)Office Location
600 South Tyler, Suite 1810, Amarillo, Texas 79101
Office Hours
Course Information
Recording Policy
Disability Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
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Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
N/A
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Course
LGLA-1345-001 Civil Litigation
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: LGLA 1307 and BCIS 1305 or Department Chair consent
Course Description
This course presents fundamental concepts and procedures of civil litigation with emphasis on the paralegal's role. Topics include pretrial, trial and post trial phases of litigation.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
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Occupational License Disclaimer
Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Class Type
Hybrid
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
O’Conner’s Texas Rules – Vvil Trials 2015
Author: Michol O’Conner
ISBN: 978-1-59839-208-1
Supplies
50-Pack of spiral bound 3/5 index cards
3-ring notebook
Student Performance
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the Paralegal Studies program:
- Describe and explain the duties, responsibilities, and relationships of the paralegal.
- Understand, discuss, and identify the basic composition of court/judicial systems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of procedural concepts involved in civil litigation
- Discuss the professional ethics and regulations for paralegals.
- Demonstrate basic analytical skills in interviewing, investigation, and trial preparation.
- Complete projects requiring basic knowledge in instigating and responding to a civil lawsuit, the discovery process, trial procedure, and computer literacy.
- Identify and complete elementary tasks to demonstrate knowledge of proper procedures in various legal office environments.
- Gain experience in and understanding of litigation support and administrative advocacy.
AAfPE CORE COMPETENCIES FOR PARALEGAL PROGRAMS: IA1-9, IB1-4, ID1-6, IE2, IF1-4, IG1-2, IH1-4, IIA1-5, IIB2, IIC2, IIC4
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
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USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent/vibrate 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 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 (whether from this semester’s students or a prior semester’s students) will result in a zero on the entire project or test in question. Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. “Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work. All assignments presented in this class must be the work of the student submitting the assignment. No form of scholastic dishonesty will be tolerated. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. “Cheating on a test” shall include:
“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements. A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at: |
Grading Criteria
|
Tests 1 and 2 |
20% |
|
Notebook |
25% |
|
Mini-Trial |
40% |
|
Other Assignments and Class Participation |
15% |
CLASS PARTICIPATION: To receive credit for class participation you must attend regularly, complete all assignments, and participate in class discussions in a positive fashion.
ASSIGNMENT AND TESTING POLICY: Specific dates for assignment due dates and tests are provided. These dates are adhered to unless changes are announced in class. If an assignment is turned in after the due date, but within one week, you will be eligible for maximum grade of 50. If it is turned in after one week, you will not receive credit for the project. If you are not going to be present on the evening of a major test, you are required to contact me by e-mail at tboyd@whb-law.com prior to the test or you will not be allowed
to make up the test. If the time and date on the e-mail is after the start of class, this is not considered prior notice! If you contact me, you will be allowed to make up the test but it must be taken before the next class meeting.
Finally, you are responsible for material in your reading assignments for tests regardless of whether or not it is specifically discussed in lecture. From time to time, supplemental readings and assignments may be made during class, and you are responsible for such readings and assignments even if you are absent.
NOTEBOOK: You will have multiple assignments, as well as other materials to be included in your notebook. The notebook assignments will be handed out on the night indicated in the class schedule. You can turn in the completed assignment at the next class meeting for brief comments to be handed back within two class meetings. No grade will be assigned at that time. I will not accept late papers for comments – no exceptions. The completed notebook will be due after completion of your mini-trial, but no later than December 7, 2015, again no exceptions. If you will not be in class on that date, bring it to the paralegal studies office and leave it for my attention. The notebook will be worth 25% of your grade. I do not accept any assignments by email.
Attendance
Employees in the business world are expected to be at work each day; therefore, students in paralegal studies classes are expected to be in class promptly and regularly.
Calendar
CIVIL LITIGATION - LGLA 1345
COURSE SCHEDULE - FALL 2015
|
Class Date |
Class Discussion/Activities |
Text Assignment |
|
August 24 |
Introduction/Syllabus Course Overview Notebook and Mini-Otrials |
Chapters 1 & 2 |
|
August 31 |
Chapter 2A – 2E Types of Litigation/Parties Initiating a Lawsuit Assignment – Original Petition |
Chapter 2 |
|
September 7 |
NO CLASS – LABOR DAY |
|
|
September 14 |
Chapter 2F – 2I Jurisdiction, Venue, and Service |
Chapter 3 |
|
September 21 |
Defensive Pleadings Affirmative Defenses Review for Test 1 |
Test 1 |
|
September 28 |
Test 1 (Chapters 1-2) Defensive Pleadings, cont. |
Chapter 4 |
|
October 5 |
Chapter 4 Alternate Dispute Resolution Review for Test 2 |
Chapter 5 |
|
October 12 |
Test 2 (Chapters 3-4) Chapter 5 (A,B,D,E,F) Pretrial Motions |
Chapter 6 |
|
October 19 |
Chapter 6 (A-D) Discovery Assignment – Discovery Requests |
Chapter 6 |
|
October 26 |
Chapter 6 (E-K) Discovery, cont. |
Chapter 7 |
|
November 2 |
Discovery Assignment Due Chapter 7 – Pretrial Disposition |
Chapter 8 |
|
November 9 |
Chapter 8 – Trial Procedure |
Texas Rules of Evidence |
|
November 16 |
Chapter 8 – Trial Procedure, Cont. Evidence (Articles 4,5,6,8,9,10) |
Chapter 9 |
|
November 23 |
Chapter 9 – Judgment and Postjudgment Motions |
Work on Notebook |
|
November 30 |
Mini-Trials |
|
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December 7 |
Mini-Trials Notebooks Due |
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NOTE: This is a tentative outline of the course schedule. Your instructor reserves the right to change the schedule as needed to meet the objectives of the course. Papers and tests become the property of the instructor upon submission and may be retained by the instructor. After grading, you may pick up your Notebook from the paralegal studies office.
Additional Information
BE SURE TO SEE YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFORE YOU CHANGE TO NON-CREDIT, DROP, OR WITHDRAW. THERE MAY BE OPTIONS OF WHICH YOU ARE NOT AWARE.
Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM