Inactivated by Curriculum Committee 10/12//07__
College of the Redwoods
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL
--Attach the Course Outline-1. Division/Center
Business Division
2. Program and Course Number
3. Course Title
LEGL 42A
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING I
4. _X__ New (If new, are you deleting a course?) Course to be deleted:__LEGL 142A_______
_____ Change (Indicate current status and proposed changes on "Summary of Curriculum Changes" form)
_____ Check here if catalog description is being changed.
_____ Delete (Reason for deletion: ____________________________________________________)
5. Of what approved program is this course a part? __Legal Assistant___
(see list of approved programs and TOPS Codes)TOPS Code 1401.10
Is the course a "required course"?__X__ an "additional requirement"?_____
(In a certificate or degree program)
6. Provide evidence that this course/revision is needed (purpose of proposal).
Revised to a baccalaureate-level course to reflect transferability to 4-year colleges.
Revised ABA approval requirements (1991) and remedy C/R curricular writing/research flaws.
7. Describe the students who will enroll (include estimated number).
Legal assistancy students.
8. Parallel courses--what is the relation of this course to existing courses
(modify/overlap/replace)?
Threshold legal writing/research course underpins student ability to perform adequately legal-assisting entry-level
skils.
9. Capital Outlay: Describe the equipment for this class.
Presently have: Inadequate law library.
Need to acquire: (include cost) Adequate (basic) law library critical to ABA approval. ($30,000 + $8-10 thousand
year update service).
10. Staffing implications (Associate or Full-time faculty)
Full- or part-time faculty.
Instructional Aide required? How many hours per week? No.
11. Learning Resource Implications (new courses only)
Does the college have adequate learning resources to support the proposed course, or can the necessary resources be acquired within the
existing budget?
Yes ________
No ________
Please attach the "Learning Resource Supplement" to the Course Proposal form.
12. Facility Implications: (Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed this course can be offered
Where Scheduled? District-wide
When Scheduled? Semester(s) Fall
Day _____ Evening __X__
District-wide.)
13. Special Fees ______
14. Special Student Expenses (i.e., equipment, clothing, tools, etc.):
15. Submitted by
R. C. Miller
Tel. Ext.
6766
None.
Date
3/4/02
16. Submitting Division/Center Review _______________________
Date _________________
17. Division/Center Review ________________________________
Date _________________
18. Division/Center Review ________________________________
Date _________________
Academic Affairs - 7/17/96
per
Approved by Curriculum Committee ____4/12/02 _______________
Academic Affairs - 7/17/96
c
SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM CHANGES
FEATURES
OLD
NEW
Grading Standard
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Recommended Preparation
Repeatability Maximum Enrollments
Repeatability Maximum Units
Maximum Class Size
TLUs
Lectures Hours
Lab Hours
Method of Instruction
Units
Other
If any of the listed features have been modified in the new proposal, indicate the "old" (current) information and proposed changes.
 Revised to a baccalaureate-level course to reflect transferability to 4-year colleges.
 Remove reference to specific “Westlaw” software
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
3
College of the Redwoods
COURSE OUTLINE
DATE
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER:
FORMER NUMBER (If previously offered)
COURSE TITLE
3/4/02
LEGL 42A
BUS 142A
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING I
I. CATALOG AND OUTLINE
1. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the basic tools of legal research in California law. Students learn to locate authority relevant to selected legal issues.
This skill is applied to writing clear and concise basic pleadings, motions, briefs, and memoranda employing the IRAC (issue, rule,
analysis, conclusion) legal-analytical formula.
NOTE:
2. COURSE OUTLINE:
% of Classroom Hours Spent on Each Topic
Introduction
Principles of Basic Legal Research and Analysis (substantive and procedural)
Briefing Cases (IRAC)
Precedent and Stare Decisis
Primary and Secondary Sources
The Law Library (organization/holdings)
Digests, Citators, Encyclopedias, Reporter System (California)
Distinguishing Cases
Basic Pleadings, Motions, Memoranda, Briefs
Basic Legal Writing Technique/Critique
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
II. PREREQUISITES
Prerequisite?
No ___X____
Corequisite?
No ___X___
Recommended Preparation?
No ___X____
Yes _____________________
(course)
Yes _____________________
(course)
Yes _____________________
(course)
Rationale for Prerequisite, Corequisite, Recommended Preparation__________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
4
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER
LEGL 42A
III. OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENTS
1. COURSE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES:
List the primary instructional objectives of the class. Formulate some of them in terms of specific measurable student accomplishments, e.g.,
specific knowledge and/or skills to be attained as a result of completing this course. For degree-applicable courses, include objectives in the
area of "critical thinking." Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:
1. locate authority relevant to selected basic legal issues;
2. clearly and concisely write basic pleadings, motions, memoranda, briefs (employing the IRAC legal-analytical formula);
3. understand “how lawyers think.”
2. COLLEGE LEVEL CRITICAL THINKING TASKS/ASSIGNMENTS:
Degree applicable courses must include critical thinking tasks/assignments. This section need not be completed for non-credit courses.
Describe how the course requires students to independently analyze, synthesize, explain, assess, anticipate and/or define problems, formulate
and assess solutions, apply principles to new situations, etc.
1. Legal Writing:
a. Students learn to spot critical factual issues, apply appropriate law thereto, analyze same, and draw appropriate legal conclusions
therefrom (IRAC).
b. Students learn to draft basic common pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs incorporating clear and concise language.
2. Legal Research
a. Students learn to locate sources of California law (statutes, administrative law, constitutional law, case law), and
to utilize annotated codes, reporter systems, Shepards, digests, citators, encyclopedias, indexes, and advance sheets.
b. Students implement Harvard citation form, conduct cite checking, evaluate pocket parts, and familiarize themselves with
law-library organization.
3. ASSESSMENT
Degree applicable courses must have a minimum of one response in category A, B, or C. If category A is not checked, the department must
explain why substantial writing assignments are an inappropriate basis for at least part of the grade.
A. This course requires a minimum of two substantial (500 words each) written assignments which demonstrate standard English usage
(grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary) and proper paragraph and essay development. In grading these assignments, instructors shall use,
whenever possible, the English Department’s rubric for grading the ENGL 150 exit essay. Substantial writing assignments, including:
__ essay exam(s)
X term or other paper(s)
___ laboratory report(s)
__ written homework
__ reading report(s)
__ other (specify) ________________________________
If the course is degree applicable, substantial writing assignments in this course are inappropriate because:
__ The course is primarily computational in nature.
__ The course primarily involves skill demonstrations or problem solving.
__ Other rationale (explain) __________________________________
B.
__
__
__
Computational or Non-computational problem-solving demonstrations, including:
exam(s)
__ quizzes
__ homework problems
laboratory report(s)
__ field work
other (specify) _________________________________________
C.
Skill demonstrations, including:
__ class performance(s)
__ field work
__ other (specify) ______________________________________
__ performance exam(s)
D. Objective examinations, including:
__ multiple choice
__ true/false
__ matching items
__ completion
__ other (specify) ________________________________________
E.
Other (specify) _________________________________
NOTE: A course grade may not be based solely on attendance.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
5
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER
LEGL 42A
IV. TEXTS AND MATERIALS
APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
(Indicate textbooks that may be required or recommended, including alternate texts that may be used.)
Text(s)
Title: User’s Guide to a Uniform System of Citation: The Cure for the Bluebook Blues
Edition: 16th
ISBN: 33-979-5657
Author: Alan L. Dworsky
Publisher: Rothman
Date Published: 1996
(Additional required, alternate, or recommended texts should be listed on a separate sheet and attached.)
__X___ Required
_______ Alternate
_______ Recommended
For degree applicable courses the adopted texts have been certified to be college-level:
______ Yes.
Basis for determination:
______ is used by two or more four-year colleges or universities (certified by the Division Dean or Center Dean)
OR
__X__
______ No
has been certified by the LAC as being of college level using the Coleman and Dale-Chall Readability Index Scale.
Request for Exception Attached.
REQUIRED READING, WRITING, AND OTHER OUTSIDE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Over a 16-week presentation of the course, 3+ hours per week are required for each unit of credit. ALL Degree Applicable Credit classes
must treat subject matter with a scope and intensity which require the student to study outside of class. Two hours of independent work done
out of class are required for each hour of lecture. Lab and activity classes must also require some outside of class work. Outside of the
regular class time the students in this class do the following:
__X__ Study
_____ Answer questions
__X__ Skill practice
__X__ Required reading
__X__ Problem solving activity or exercise
__X__ Written work (essays/compositions/report/analysis/research)
_____ Journal (reaction and evaluation of class, done on a continuing basis throughout the semester)
_____ Observation of or participation in an activity related to course content (e.g., play, museum, concert, debate, meeting, etc.)
_____ Other (specify) ______________________________________________________
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
6
LEGL 42A
V. TECHNICAL INFORMATION
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER
1. Contact Hours Per Week: (Indicate
"TOTAL" hours if less than semester length)
Lecture:
__3+___ Weekly ______ TOTAL
Lab:
_______ Weekly ______ TOTAL
No. of Weeks __S____ (S = semester length)
(Use Request for Exception sheet to justify
more-than-minimum required hours.)
5. Recommended Maximum Class Size __40____
Units __3__ or
Variable Unit Range ______
7. Grading Standard
__X___Letter Grade Only
______CR/NC Only
______Grade-CR/NC Option
Grade-CR/NC Option Criteria:
______Introductory
______1st course in sequence
______Exploratory
6. Transferability______ CSU ______ UC
List two UC/CSU campuses with similar courses
(include course #s)
___________________ _______________________
Articulation with UC requested ______
2. TLUs __4.5____
3.
Does course fulfill a General Education
requirement? (For existing courses only;
for new courses, use GE Application Form)
_____ Yes __X__ No
8. Is course repeatable ______ Yes ___X__ No
If so, repeatable to a maximum of:
______Total Enrollments
______Total Units
(Use Request for Exception sheet to justify repeatability.)
If yes, in what G.E. area?
AA/AS Area _________
CSU/GE Area _________
IGETC Area _________
9. SAM Classification __C___
Course Classification __I___
4. Method of Instruction:
__X__ Lecture
_____ Lab
_____ Lecture/Lab
_____ Independent Study
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
7
PROGRAM AND COURSE NUMBER
LEGL 42A
APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
Title:
A Uniform System of Citation (Bluebook)
Edition: 15th
ISBN:
Author: Harvard Law Review
Publisher: Gannett House
Title:
A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and Legal Method
Edition: 2nd
ISBN: 0-8377-0561-4
Author: Dernbach/Singleton
Publisher: Rothman
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COURSE OUTLINE 6/98
__X___ Required
_______ Alternate
_______ Recommended
Date Published:
__X___ Required
_______ Alternate
_______ Recommended
Date Published:
8