SYLLABUS FOR:
PAL 201 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING II
Instructor: John A. Plesa
419E – Wheeling Campus
(304)-214-8895 [Office]
jplesa@wvncc.edu
Course Description: This course will provide students with an understanding of the
fundamentals of legal research, analysis, and writing. Topics covered will include legal
analysis and the IRAC analytical process, legal research and the research process.
Prerequisites/Corequisites: At least a “C” in PAL 160 and ENG 101 or permission of
the program director
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours Per Week: 3 M 7:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Wheeling
Expanded Description/Course Focus: The course will provide students with hands-on
activities in using internet resources to reinforce the concepts and skills discussed in the
chapters.
Texts: LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING FOR PARALEGALS, Tepper & Bevans
(Chapters 8-10; 15-19)
Grades: Will consists of homework, mid-term, & final; Class participation will be used
to assess borderline grades.
Grading System: 100%-90% = A 69%-60% = D
89%-80% = B 59%-00% = F
79%-70% = C
Attendance Policy: Attendance will have a direct bearing on your grade. You will be
allowed three (3) absences for the semester. I will make exceptions for extreme
circumstances (e.g. death in the family). You will drop ½ letter grade for each absence
exceeding three (3). Routine doctor appointments or other appointments do NOT classify
as extreme circumstances and instructor may request/require documentation.
Students who come more than 10 minutes late or leave more than 10 minutes early will
be marked absent. Students who do not return from a break in the class will be marked
absent.
Chronic absence from class will result in administrative withdrawal. YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL MATERIALS, TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS,
ETC. THAT YOU MISS!
Assignment Deadlines: The nature of the legal profession requires strict adherence to
deadlines and timetables, therefore, so does this course. Failure to follow and/or meet
assignment deadlines will result in a 50% reduction of the allocated points for that
assignment. If an assignment is more than 48 hours late, you will not receive credit for
that assignment.
All assignments are to be transmitted electronically to the e-mail account listed on this
syllabus.
With the exception of extreme circumstances (e.g. death in the family) excuses WILL
NOT be tolerated. Routine doctor appointments or other appointments and in most cases
computer “problems” do NOT classify as extreme circumstances and instructor may
request/require documentation.
Classroom Conduct Policy: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous,
responsible, mature manner in the classroom. This includes being prepared for class;
informing the instructor if you are going to miss class; not coming late, leaving during
class, or leaving early without prior notification and for legitimate reasons; not engaging
in sidebar conversations or being otherwise disruptive in class, harassing or distracting
other students or the instructor, making offensive comments, and turning off cellular
phones during class.
Academic Honesty Policy: Students are expected to conduct themselves in an adult,
ethical, honest and professional way on assignments, research papers, and exams.
Academic dishonesty includes things like: cheating (this includes helping or being helped
on exams or other assignments that are to be done individually), putting your name on
someone else’s work and turning it in as your own, doing work someone else is supposed
to be doing, and plagiarism.
You are responsible for your own work. If an assignment is given and you use an outside
source to complete that assignment, you must cite to that outside source.
Plagiarism and cheating in any form will automatically result in an F (0%) for that
assignment and may result in dismissal from the class, program, and/or the College.
Please note: If you are suspended or expelled from the College for academic dishonesty
your eligibility to receive financial aid from ANY institute of higher education will be
PERMANENTLY affected.
Student Academic Support Services: WVNCC is committed to providing academic
assistance to students to enhance their success. The Academic Success Centers on each
campus provide in-house, FREE tutoring to all enrolled students in various subjects. If
you find that you are struggling in this or any other course, contact the ASC to see how
peer tutors can assist you. Students should call ahead to set up tutoring sessions or request
an appointment through their GradesFirst accounts.
Campus
Wheeling
Weirton
New Martinsville
Location
Room 225B
Room 107
Room 114
Phone
304-214-8922
304-723-7514
304-510-8773
In addition to tutoring through the ASC, Support Services for Students with Disabilities
provides accommodations to students with documented disabilities, per ADA-AA
regulations, at no charge to students. Students must self-identify and should contact
Denise Wycherley, Student Disabilities Coordinator (304-214-8938), or a campus
counselor for information about enrolling for services. Furthermore, students can register
for services beyond those provided per ADA-AA guidelines for a fee through the
C.A.R.E.S. (College Assistance and Resources for Educational Success) program.
Contact Denise to learn more about this valuable service.
Academic Student Support Services also includes initiatives to help students be
successful in their courses. For instance, all students are given a GradesFirst account that
provides them Progress Report notices when they are at risk of failing or being dropped
from a course. The Director of “Academic” Student Support Services, Christina Sullivan,
administers this service and provides counseling to students struggling in school or
thinking about dropping out of coursework. Contact Christina at extension 8853 or
csullivan@wvncc.edu for assistance with GradesFirst or for academic support
information.
Social Justice Policy: WVNCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age,
disability, veteran status, color, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Any
suggestions as to how to further a positive and open learning environment in this class
will be appreciated and given serious consideration. If you are a person with a physical or
psychological disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to
participate or succeed in this class, please advise me AND contact the Office of
Disability Services in Wheeling.
Outcomes
The student will
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Demonstrate the ability to identify key facts and issues in a case
Learn how to use the Lexis-Nexis legal research system
Demonstrate the ability to explain the I.R.A.C. analysis method
Demonstrate the ability to draft an office legal research memorandum.
Demonstrate the ability to draft legal correspondence.
Demonstrate the ability to draft an appellate brief.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete Legal Research and Writing II will:
1.
Explain what on point means when discussing case law.
2.
Explain the role and importance of a case being on point in legal analysis
3.
Determine if a case is on point
4.
Define counteranalysis
5.
Explain why counteranalysis is important
6.
List the techniques of counteranalysis
7.
Identify the placement of counteranalysis in an interoffice research memorandum
or a court brief
8.
Explain the importance of an office legal research memorandum
9.
Identify the sections of a basic office legal research memorandum
10.
Explain the elements and format of the analysis, conclusion, and
recommendations sections of an office legal research memorandum
11.
Explain the steps when drafting a legal research memorandum
12.
Compare the similarities and dissimilarities between court briefs and office
memoranda
13.
List the techniques of persuasive writing
14.
List the elements of trial and appellate court briefs
15.
List the basic components of correspondence
16.
List the types of law office correspondence that communicate the results of legal
research and analysis
17.
Identify the elements of information, opinion, and demand letters
18.
Draft information, opinion, and demand letters
19.
Identify general citation rules that apply when citing most types of legal sources
20.
Identify specific citation rules that apply when citing primary authority, that is
case, constitutional and enacted (statutory) law
21.
Identify specific citation rules that apply when citing secondary authority
22.
Explain the role and importance of key facts
23.
Identify key facts in a client’s case
24.
Identify key facts in a court opinion
25.
Define legal issue and the various types of issues
26.
List the elements of an issue
27.
Identify the issue in a client’s case
28.
List the elements of a well-crafted issue
29.
Explain the value and importance of phrasing the issue narrowly/comprehensively
30.
Explain the best way to assemble the elements to effectively communicate the
issue
31.
Explain the importance of stating the issue objectively
32.
Locate court opinions
33.
Explain the role and importance of a case brief
34.
List the elements of a case brief
35.
Explain how to brief a case
*The instructor reserves the right to alter any and all information and policies contained
in this syllabus. The instructor will notify the class of any and all such alterations.