Family Law Syllabus for 2022-2023
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>600 South Tyler, Suite 1810, Amarillo, Texas &nbsp;79101</p>

Office Hours

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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 course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

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.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

Family Law, 7th edition.  © 2021

ISBN: 978-1-3379-1753-7

Supplies

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

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 DevicesTurn 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

30% - Weekly Quizzes/Assignments

15% - Projects

25% - Attendance

30% - Midterm and Exam (15% each)

Quizzes/Assignments:  There will be quizzes (True/False, Matching, Multiple Choice) or homework assignments each week. The information for the Quizzes comes directly from the reading assignments and lectures.

Portfolio/Drafting Assignments: 

 

Attendance and Class Participation

You are expected to attend and participate in the video class.  This grade percentage will consist of attendance and participation in the online class meetings.

Exams: 

There will be 2 major exams, a midterm and a final.  These may consist of one or more sections including multiple choice, true/ false, matching, and 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

Family Law - Class Schedule, Spring 2023

Date

Reading for Week

Assignments/Activities

Homework Assignment

January 17 - 23
 

Chapter 1: What is Family Law?

Texas Supplement to Family Law Text

 Weekly Quiz - Chapter 1 (Due 01/23)

Understanding the Texas Family Law Questions (Due 01/30)

 

January 24 - 30

Chapter 2: Ethics in a Family Law Practice

Texas Bar College Article "Stand by Me: Effective (and Ethical) Use of Paralegals 

Weekly Quiz -  Chapter 2 (Due: 01/30)

 

Jan 31 - Feb 6
 

Chapter 3: Compiling a Family History Weekly Quiz - Chapter 3 (Due: 02/06)  

Feb 7 - Feb 13
 

Chapter 4: Premarital,Prenuptial, and Cohabitation Agreements Weekly Quiz - Chapter 4 (Due: 02/13)  

Feb 14 - Feb 20

Chapter 5: Marriage Weekly Quiz - Chapter 5 (Due: 02/20)  

Feb 21 - Feb 27

Chapter 6: Annulment Weekly Quiz - Chapter 6 (Due: 02/27)  

Feb 28 - Mar 6
 

Chapter 7:Divorce Grounds and Procedure Weekly Quiz - Chapter 7 (Due: 03/06)

 

Mar 7 - Mar 13

Chapter 8: Spousal Support, Property Division, and the Separation Agreement Weekly Quiz - Chapter 8 (Due 03/13)

 

March 16

Spring Break

Mar 20 - Mar 27

MIDTERM EXAM - AVAILABLE MARCH 20 MIDTERM EXAM - OPEN BOOK/NOTES, Due: 03/27 by 11:59 p.m.  

Mar 28 - Apr 3

Chapter 9: Child Custody Weekly Quiz: Chapter 9 (Due 04/03)  

Apr 4 - Apr 10
 

Chapter 10: Child Support Weekly Quiz: Chapter 10 (Due 04/10)  

Apr 11 - Apr 17

Chapter 11: Tax Consequences of Separation and Divorce Weekly Quiz: Chapter 11 (Due 04/17)  

Apr 18 - Apr 24
 

Chapter 12: Legal Rights of Women

Chapter 13: Illegitimacy and Paternity

Weekly Quiz: Chapters 11 and 12 (Due 04/24)  

Apr 25 - May 1
 

Chapter 14 - The Legal Status of Children Weekly Quiz: Chapter 14 (Due 05/01)  

May 5 - 11

  Chapter 15 - Adoption

Weekly Quiz: Chapter 15

 

May 8-12

FINAL EXAMINATION WEEK

FINAL EXAM: Due 08/10

 

Additional Information

NOTE: Your instructor reserves the right to change the schedule and assignments shown in this syllabus as needed to meet the objectives of the course.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

January 16

MLK Jr. Holiday – AC Closed

January 17

Spring Semester Begins
March 13 – March 19 Spring Break
   

April 7-9

Easter Holiday – AC Closed

May 8-12

Final Exam week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Services Office at Amarillo College:

Resources for social services and/or emergency services for students are available at:

http://www.actx.edu/resources/

Please advise your instructor of any situation that is interfering with your performance in the class and take advantage of the resources available through the Social Services Office.

 

Helpful Links:

 

Direct link to AC Connect portal and courses as well as your AC Connect email- https://acconnect.actx.edu/. You will log in with the same ID and password you use for WebAdvisor.  Contact AskAC (806-371-5000) for help if you have trouble with your log in.


AskAC -  http://www.actx.edu/contact/-   Please contact AskAC for technical help. Contact your instructor for help with this class. 


Student Help Center -  http://www.actx.edu/ctl/index.php?module=article&id=178-   Offers technical help to AC students 


Writers' Corner:

If you feel you need help organizing and writing course work, check this out:
Writers’ Corner: Tutoring with Pizzazz - http://www.actx.edu/english/index.php?module=article&id=36. Writers' Corner is a great resource for help with writing papers and assignments. They can't help you with the content of your work, but they can help you write your work in the proper format.

Learn about using AC Connect (Blackboard) and using features of our course by reviewing the following tutorials:


Blackboard On Demand Learning Center for Studentshttp://ondemand.blackboard.com/students.htm

AC Connect Student Resources- http://www.actx.edu/ctl/index.php?module=article&id=222

Syllabus Created on:

01/17/23 4:39 PM

Last Edited on:

01/23/23 5:08 PM