YOUR INSTRUCTOR
see information on your instructor including
website, office hourse, phone no. etc. http://lamission.edu/law/lawfaculty.htm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Catalog: Law 12 is a study of the fundamental
principles of the law of torts (civil injuries/wrongs), including
insurance law, and an examination of the techniques of investigation
involved in the handling of tort and insurance claims.
Law 12 introduces the student to negligence
actions, intentional torts such as assault, false imprisonment,
fraud, misrepresentation, infliction of emotional distress, and
malicious prosecution. The student will prepare, draft, and craft
personal injury complaints, answers, affirmative defenses, cross-complaints
for indemnity and contribution, and apportionment. The paralegal
will also prepare discovery, interrogatories, notice to produce,
and pre-trial and trial documents related to personal injury and
torts. The student will prepare and entire personal injury file
from commencement of the case, through settlement negotiations,
pleading, discovery, arbitration, and any necessary motions which
might be required in a Personal Injury law firm.
COURSE TEXT
No textbook is requred for this class. Students can print out the Summary of Tort Law at
http://profj.us/summary
and use this as their textbook.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. The student will learn to handle PI
Claims Investigation. The student will consturct an actual PI
file, with client
interview sheet, and the Steps
to Hanlding a PI case. , and will prepare a Contingency
Fee Agreement Retainer. The student will interview another
student to learn how to complete an effective interview as a paralegal.
The student will prepare a PI
Complaint, and then an Answer with Affirmative Defenses.
2. The student will learn to "think critically" in law,
This will be accomplished through the multiple-choice quizzes,
postings to discussion forums, written assignments and legal documents.
The written assignments require the student to prepare varioius
legal documents and pleadings required of a parealegal in a Personal
Injury Lawfirm.
3. The student will learn how to do legal
research in general, how to phrase a legal question or issue,
and how to search for the correct "legal" answer.
4. The student will improve
their writing skills and learn basic skills in legal
drafting and writing.
5. The student will improve
their study skills and will improve
how they study law.
GRADING & EVALUATION
The class will
be composed of quizzes, postings to an "electronic bulletin
board" - threaded discussions, and written projects.The
student should work off of the due dates for the class. The
deadlines are clearly posted on the schedule. Quizzes will be
posted and students are expected to fill in their answers to the
multiple choice questions during a deadline period. After the
time period has expired, the quiz link will no longer be available,
and the student will NOT be allowed to take the quiz (certain
exceptions might be made if the student emails his/her online
instructor regarding exceptional family circumstances or situtations
- not just "not enough time", or "late", and
the instructor will decide and determine each request on the facts
of the circumstances).
The "letter grade" scale is as follows.
A = 90-100 percent of total points
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = Below 60
Office Hours: see
Faculty page at http://lamission.edu/law/lawfaculty.htm
- Office Hours, Mon. - Friday 9-5 pm at the Office Telephone number
of each Faculty member, or upon special appointment - email the
faculty member for your appointment date and time.
Course Structure: This course will be offered under a course
management system online. The student should login at the Mission
College online portal located at http://lamission.edu/online
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: ASSIGNMENTS SUBMITTED LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS REQUESTED AND GRANTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR.
EXTRA CREDIT: Since the law is in constant change, along with
the advent of the Internet, issues may arise that are timely and
germane to our class. Therefore, opportunities may arise during
the term that allow for extra credit, although no extra credit
is presently offered.
INCOMPLETE: If you require a grade of "incomplete,"
you must advise me as soon as possible and discuss the terms of
its removal.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic honesty is highly
valued at Mission College, just as it is at all colleges and universities.
A student must always submit work that represents his or her original
words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent
the student's original words or ideas, the student must cite all
relevant sources. The student should also make it clear to what
extent such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citations
include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications,
whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communications
when the content of such communications clearly originates from
an identifiable source. All submissions to any public meeting
or private mailbox fall within the scope of words and ideas that
require citations if used by someone other than the original author.
Course Assignments: see assignments at http://duedates.pbwiki.com
Course Evaluation:
The final grade will be determined by: averaging quizzes, discussion questions and written assignments, each assigned 100 or more points.
Required Resources (for internet/online work)
System requirements: IBM or compatible (486/33
CPU minimum) with Windows or Mac or compatible with 6.05 operating
system or higher, 8 megs of RAM, 20 megs free hard disc space,
modem with a 9600 baud rate minimum.
* This syllabus is subject to change. Please note revision dates
("updated") above. Students are responsible for the
most recent
updated version of this syllabus.
updated: 3-06-07