SYLLABUS



SYLLABUSWILLS AND TRUSTSPARA D098 Time: N/A: ONLINE Term: 2020 Spring De AnzaInstructor: Daniel J. Blanchette, JDContact: via our class on Canvas; blanchettedaniel@fhda.edu; 650-465-5633INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS Student Learning Outcomes:Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an understanding of the substantive legal principles controlling wills and trusts in the state of California.Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to identify and prepare the appropriate documents required based various fact scenerios.Student Learning Outcome: Analyze the current role of the paralegal in the estates and trusts legal practice. RESOURCESRequired MaterialsThere is no required text book specifically for this class; if you do not already own a Blacks Law Dictionary, purchase one as soon as possible. Texts: Black’s Law DictionaryOnline Resourcescourtinfo. California State Court Formsleginfo. California Codes (statutes)COURSE SCHEDULEFirst Day:April 13, 2020Week One: Trusts: Introduction, Vocabulary, Contract BasicsWeek Two: Trusts FormationWeek Three: Trust Management, Distribution, TerminationWeek Four: Trusts Exam; Wills introduction.Week Five: Will formationWeek Six: Will constructionWeek Seven: Beneficiaries and DistributionWeek Eight: Will contests; Wills ExamWeeks Nine, Ten Eleven: Practical assignmentsFinal Exam:Week of June 22POLICIES AND PROCEDURESGrading Policies:I will grade you by pure points on assignments, quizzes and exams. Grammar Counts. A certain amount of subjectivity is inescapable. The same is true with all aspects of law. You are trying to convince a neutral arbitrator that you are more right than the other, really smart person. Neither of you is, in fact, totally right; the relevant question is: how well did you present your argument. Grading:There will be one quiz, worth 15 points; two exams, and a final project, each worth 50 points. The grading is purely by points earned. There will be no extra credit assignments.Exams:I will spend a section on review before the exams. I will also post a study guide to my website.There are no make-ups for the quizzes, and obviously no makeups for the final.There is a make-up for the other exams, with appropriate documentation, but, it will be different than the one taken in class: it will have an essay section, so, take it in class and skip the essay.Attendance Policy:You are not required to attend lectures at a specific time; I will post recorded lectures from Zoom. I will also hold live Zoom sessions, times TBA, but you will not be penalized for not attending, though I hope you all do as much as reasonably possible..Homework:You will have assignments the last three weeks of class.Late work: There will be a due date for assignments; if you miss that day, I will accept the assignment at the next class (with a 10% reduction in grade); I will not accept assignments past one class after the original due date.About the instructor:I earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 2007 from Golden Gate University School of Law, and passed the California bar exam in 2009. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from UC Berkeley, after transferring from Foothill College. I have been working and teaching in the Bay Area for the past eleven years. ................
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