Law & You – Course Syllabus
Instructor: Mr. Billy Pitcher
Classroom A117 Office Room A113
Email: billy.pitcher@lz95.org
Phone: 540-4661 Voicemail: 4308
Required Text: Law for Business and Personal Use, 17th Edition
Supplies: Pocket folder, paper, pen/pencil, & textbook everyday
Law is a semester course designed to provide students with a solid foundation in understanding the legal issues
related to topics of business and personal law. The major key for success in this course will be completing all
assigned work, attendance in class and knowledge of specific cases discussed. At the end of the semester
students will be able to:
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Define law and discuss its important function.
Distinguish between Roman law and the English common law.
Analyze the differences in the Dual Court System.
Analyze the most common torts and the basic elements of each.
Describe a valid contact and its elements.
Explain the qualities of contracts.
Describe the methods by which offers are terminated.
Contrast oral and written contracts.
Discuss and explain the termination of contracts.
Examine the importance of the juvenile court system.
Explain the formalities and restrictions of marital law and divorce law.
Discuss negotiable instruments.
Explain and discuss the legal relations between employer and employee.
COURSE OUTLINE
Unit 1 – Forms of Law & Government ......................Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Unit 2 – Contract Law................................................Chapter 6, 7, 8 , 9, 10 & 11
Unit 4 – Property Law................................................Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19
Unit 5 – Agency & Employment Law .......................Chapters 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24
Unit 6 – Legal Forms of Business Organization ........Chapters 25, 26 & 27 (no test)
HOMEWORK: Class work is assigned and completed on a daily basis (reading assignments, case studies, etc.)
If you are absent you will be responsible for 44 minutes of make-up work. Current events relating to the course
of study will be due each Friday. Projects will also be assigned. Each Homework assignment should be turned
in at the beginning of class on or before the due date. If you do not attend class on the due date, your homework
must be turned in upon your return to school. Otherwise, late assignments will not be accepted.
GRADING SCALE:
A = 100-90
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-60
F = 59 and below
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
CLASS RULES: Students are expected to respect themselves, the teacher, fellow students, and school
property. Behavior threatening the effectiveness of learning in the classroom WILL NOT be tolerated and will
result in disciplinary action.
All rules outlined in the student handbook are to be observed in the classroom. In addition to these rules, the
following must be adhered to while in class:
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Raise your hand before talking in class.
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Be in your seat when the bell rings; stay in your assigned seat until the bell rings.
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Cheating will result in an automatic zero-this is your warning! Do your own work.
TARDIES:
Each student receives one warning; all tardies thereafter result in detentions. If you are late, bring
a pass or you will be marked tardy-no exceptions!
LEAVING CLASS: You will be permitted to leave for emergencies only. Abuse of privileges will result in
loss of privileges.
LATE WORK: Missing work from absent students can be turned in as outlined in the student handbook. Late
work from students not related to an absence is accepted one day after the due date at half credit. You are
responsible for missed work-come to see me if you have been absent or late.
WEBSITE: Check the course website through the links on www.lz95.org. Assignments, projects, due dates and
class news will be posted on the website. Grades will be updated and posted weekly on E-School.
BEHAVIOR: Respect others, you, the instructor and the school. Any disrespecting or inappropriate behavior
will result in removal from class and/or dean referral.
*If there are any questions or problems please feel free to see, call or email me.
Best of luck and enjoy the year!
Law & You: Course Calendar
Week 1: Chapter 1 Notes, Chapter 1 Review & Cases (p. 20-22)
Week 2 (4 days): Research and Present Cases from 1960’s – Present, take notes on other presentations
Week 3: Chapter 2 Notes, Chapter 2 Review & Cases (p.44-46), Chapter 3 Notes
Week 4: Chapter 3 Review & Cases (p. 60-62), Chapter 4 Notes, Speaker
Week 5 (4 days): Chapter 4 Review & Cases (p. 76-78), Chapter 5 Notes,
Week 6: Chapter 5 Review & Cases (p. 98-100), Unit 1 Review, Unit 1 Test
Week 7 (4 days): Anatomy of a Murder Case & Research
Week 8: Field Trip: Lake County Jail & Courthouse; Chapter 6–8 Notes, Review Questions & Cases
Week 9: Chapter 9-11 Notes, Review Questions & Cases
Week 10: Unit 2 Review, Unit 2 Test
Week 11: Mock Trial
Week 12 (2 days): Ch 15-16 Notes, Review Questions & Cases
Week 13: Finish 15-16, Chapter 17-19 Notes, Review Questions & Cases
Week 14: Unit 4 Review, Unit 4 Test (12/6)
Week 15: Chapter 20-23 Notes, Review Questions & Cases
Week 16: Chapter 24 Notes, Review Questions & Cases, Unit 5 Review, Unit 5 Test (12/20)
Week 17: Chapter 25-27 Notes, Review Questions & Cases, Final Exam Study Guide Review
Week 18 (4 days): Final Review, Final Exam
*Each Friday will be Current Events Day at the beginning of class