Department: Business Studies
Discipline: Paralegal
Subject Code: PLGL
Course #: 102
Course Title: Legal Research & Writing I
HARRISBURG AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FORM 335
Course Form 335 must be updated at least every five years per AP 765 to include, at a
minimum, the following elements. [§335.2]
1.
Digital Description [§335.2] (Insert new/revised digital description below):
Credit hours:
Lecture hours:
Lab hours:
3.0
3.0
0.0
BL: [ ]⅓ [ ]½ [ ]⅔ [ ] Other (Indicate fraction or percent)
2.
Maximum Enrollment (Insert new/revised maximum enrollments below):
Face-to-Face:
Virtual/Online:
Blended:
3.
4.
Catalog Description [§335.2] (Insert new/revised description in space below):
Examination of the law library. An introduction to research in the various reference
sources available to lawyers in determining applicable law; study of the processes of
legal research and the writing of memoranda. Students gain practical experience by
completing research and writing assignments.
Minimum Grade Required
Prerequisites [§335.2]: PLGL 101
C
Corequisites:
Other:
5.
Learning Outcomes [§335.2]
[These outcomes are necessary to enable students to attain the essential
knowledge and skills embodied in the program’s educational objectives.]
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
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
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
Assist attorneys in conducting legal research
Identify sources of legal information, including primary and secondary legal
authority
Research in a law library
Distinguish the differences between state and federal courts and demonstrate the
significance of those differences when conducting legal research
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/31/12; 7/30/13; 8/26/13; 1/31/14
Department: Business Studies
Discipline: Paralegal
Subject Code: PLGL
Course #: 102
Course Title: Legal Research & Writing I








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Prepare case briefs
Complete research exercises using reporters, statutes, digests, and secondary
authorities
Write legal citations properly
Prepare a legal memorandum, using proper research methodology and format
Write a resume
Write a cover letter and other business correspondence
Demonstrate improved written communication skills
Recognize the need to meet deadlines through the timely submission of assignments
Discern legal ethics issues as they apply to legal research and writing
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: Lecture, class discussion, legal research exercises
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE: Written examinations, graded
library exercises, completion of legal memorandum, completion of resume and cover
letter.
PARALEGAL COMPETENCY ASSIGNMENTS: Legal research exercises (use of
primary and secondary legal authorities); Case brief; Interoffice memorandum; Legal
memorandum
6.
Planned Sequence of Instruction [§335.2]
[These must be designed to help students achieve the learning outcomes.]
TOPIC
TIME DEVOTED
Legal system in United States
3 hours
Federal and state court structures; jurisdiction (subject matter and personal;
applicable law for federal court sitting in diversity; trial vs. appellate)
Sources of law; legal precedent; case law
3 hours
Primary vs. secondary sources of law; mandatory vs. persuasive precedent; parts
of the case; majority opinions; concurring opinions; dissenting opinions
Case law exercise
1.5 hours
Secondary sources
1.5 hours
Use of Corpus Juris Secundum; Martindale-Hubbell; form books; treatises;
Restatements of law
Secondary sources exercise
1.5 hours
Statutory law
1.5 hours
Enactment and codification of statutory law; accessing statutory law
Statutory law exercise
1.5 hours
Digests
1.5 hours
Nature of digests; accessing digests
Digests exercise
1.5 hours
Briefing cases/exercise
2 hours
Purpose of briefing cases; sample case brief; Case briefing exercise
Citations: proper form
3 hours
Blue Book rules; citations of cases: parallel citations; citations of statutes;
citations of secondary authority
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/31/12; 7/30/13; 8/26/13; 1/31/14
Department: Business Studies
Discipline: Paralegal
Subject Code: PLGL
Course #: 102
Course Title: Legal Research & Writing I
Citation exercises
1 hour
Writing citations properly; reading citations
Writing cover letters and resumes; exercise
3 hours
Purpose of cover letters; purpose of resumes; proper format and content
Legal memorandum: Introduction
1.5 hours
Purpose of the legal memorandum; format of legal memorandum; how to begin
research
Legal memorandum: Initial research
1.5 hours
Initial library research; identification of key case
Legal memorandum: Case brief of key case
3 hours
Identifying key case; rough and final drafts
Legal memorandum: Shepardizing
1 hour
Need for Shepardizing; Use of Shepard’s volumes
Legal memorandum: continued research and rough draft 1.5 hours
Identification of issues to be researched; rough drafts
Legal memorandum: writing conferences
3 hours
One-on-one conferences between instructor and student to review rough drafts
Legal memorandum: proper citation form; “id.”
1.5 hours
Review of proper citation form; proper use of “Id.”;Review of Shepardizing;
initial citation check
Legal memorandum: Final draft
2 hours
Following appropriate format; Shepardizing; citation form
Review for final exam: Proper citations
1.5 hours
Review exercises: reading and writing citations
7.
Assessment of Student Learning [§335.44]
[Methods of assessment should be appropriate for Learning Outcomes listed above.]
Assessment of student learning outcomes for the course, as required by AP 765, is part of
regular curriculum maintenance and/or improvement. The specific plan has been
determined by the pertinent faculty involved and is maintained in the College’s
assessment management system.
8.
List of Texts, References, Selected Library Resources or other Learning Materials
(code each item based on instructional use) [§335.2]: C-Lecture/Laboratory, ALecture, B-Laboratory, LC-Lecture/Clinical, CLN-Clinical, I-Online, BL-Blended, DIndependent Study, P-Private Lessons, E-Internship, F-Cooperative Work-Study, FEField Experience. [These resources must be easily accessible to students.]
Full-time Textbooks (A):
DeBouchoux, Deborah, Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals (Latest Edition).
New York: Aspen
Dickerson, Darby. ALWD Citation Manual (Latest Edition).
New York: Aspen Law and Business
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/31/12; 7/30/13; 8/26/13; 1/31/14
Department: Business Studies
Discipline: Paralegal
Subject Code: PLGL
Course #: 102
Course Title: Legal Research & Writing I
Adjunct Textbooks (A):
DeBouchoux, Deborah, Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals (Latest Edition).
New York: Aspen
Dickerson, Darby. ALWD Citation Manual (Latest Edition).
New York: Aspen Law and Business
Full-time and Adjunct Optional Textbooks:
Uniform System of Citations, A (Latest Edition). Boston: Harvard Law Review
Wagner, Andrea. How to Land Your First Paralegal Job (Latest Edition).
New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Full-time and Adjunct References:
Blue Book
Pennsylvania Reporter (Atlantic Reporter2d)
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated
U.S. Code Annotated
Supreme Court Reporter
Pennsylvania Digest
Standard Pennsylvania Practice 2d
Corpus Juris Secundum
Martindale-Hubel
LEXIS
How to Land Your First Paralegal Job, 2d
9.
Prepared by Discipline Faculty Proponent: Kathy Murren
Date: 3/17/14
10.
Approved by Department Chairperson: Michelle E. Myers
Date: 4/8/14
11.
Approved by Associate Provost: Tim Dolin
Date: 4/9/14
This course meets all reimbursement requirements of Chapter 335, subchapters A /
B.
This course was developed, approved, and offered in accordance with the policies,
standards, guidelines, and practices established by the College. It is consistent with
the college mission.
If the course described here is a transfer course, it is comparable to similar courses
generally accepted for transfer to accredited four-year colleges and universities.
12.
Director, Curriculum Compliance: Erika Steenland
Date: 4/9/14
13.
Provost & VP, Academic Affairs: Cynthia Doherty, Ph.D.
Date: 4/11/14
14.
Original Date of course approval by the college: 197620
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/31/12; 7/30/13; 8/26/13; 1/31/14
Department: Business Studies
Discipline: Paralegal
Subject Code: PLGL
Course #: 102
Course Title: Legal Research & Writing I
15.
Date(s) of subsequent reviews [Indicate change: Learning Outcomes; textbook(s)]:
Textbooks updated April 2002, April 2003, April 2004 (dmt)
Reviewed: 12/2003: Revisions made: None. kmb
Reviewed: 12/2004: Revisions made: Full-time and Adjunct Textbooks, Learning Outcomes (dmt)
Project 3/2006: Revisions: Catalog Description, Learning Outcomes (dmt)
Reviewed: 9/2006: Revisions: Paralegal Competency Assignments added (kbm)
Revised: 7/2011: Learning Outcomes Updated and Textbooks Coded (kbm/dmt)
Revised: 3/2014: Learning Outcomes (dd)
12/1/04
Form Template Reviewed & Updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09; 7/31/12; 7/30/13; 8/26/13; 1/31/14