Civil Litigation Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course Information

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Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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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

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

O’Conner’s Texas Rules – Civil Trials 2016

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:

1. Describe and explain the duties, responsibilities, and relationships of the paralegal.

2. Understand, discuss, and identify the basic composition of court/judicial systems.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of procedural concepts involved in civil litigation

4. Discuss the professional ethics and regulations for paralegals.

5. Demonstrate basic analytical skills in interviewing, investigation, and trial preparation.

6. Complete projects requiring basic knowledge in instigating and responding to a civil lawsuit, the discovery process, trial procedure, and computer literacy.

7. Identify and complete elementary tasks to demonstrate knowledge of proper procedures in various legal office environments.

8. 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 Responsibilities

Log 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

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: Copying from another student’s test paper. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test. The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test. Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test “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:    http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=10&navoid=407

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

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.