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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:

Credit hours: 3.0

Lecture hours: 3.0

Lab hours: 0.0

BL: [ ] 1/3 [ ] ½ [ ] 2/3 [ ] Other (Indicate fraction or percent)

2. Catalog Description:

Continued examination of various legal reference sources, including computer-assisted legal research. The course includes extensive drafting of legal memoranda, correspondence, and briefs. A technology fee is required.

Minimum Grade Required

3. Prerequisites: PLGL 102 C

Corequisites:

Other:

4. Learning Outcomes

[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 this course, the student will be able to:

• Assist attorneys in conducting legal research

• Research in a law library

• Distinguish the differences between state and federal courts and demonstrate the significance of those differences when conducting legal research

• Prepare case briefs

• Write legal citations properly

• Prepare a legal memorandum, using proper research methodology and format

• Prepare an appellate or trial brief

• Demonstrate computer-assisted legal research skills using Westlaw and Lexis

• Demonstrate improved written communication skills

• Demonstrate an appreciation for the need to meet deadlines in a timely manner through the completion of assignments on time

• Discern legal ethics issues as they pertain to legal research and writing

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: Lecture, research exercises

EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE: Written examinations, completion of research exercises completion of legal memorandum, completion of appellate brief.

PARALEGAL COMPETENCY ASSIGNMENTS: Case brief; Interoffice memorandum; Legal memorandum; Appellate brief; Westlaw/Lexis research exercise

5. Planned Sequence of Learning Activities

[These must be designed to help students achieve the learning outcomes.]

TOPIC TIME DEVOTED

Review of legal system in Pennsylvania 1.5 hours

Federal vs. state court structures; jurisdiction (subject matter and personal; applicable law for federal court sitting in diversity); trial vs. appellate jurisdiction; Nature of precedent

Review of sources of legal authority: primary 1 hour

Constitutional law; case law; statutory law; regulatory law

Review of sources of legal authority: secondary 1 hour

Corpus Juris Secundum and other legal encyclopedia; Form books (Standard PA Practice); Treatises; Restatements

Legislative history 1 hour

Need to research legislative history; Appropriate steps and publications for conducting research

Review of briefing of cases 1 hour

Parts of the case; majority/concurrent/dissenting opinions; Purpose of case briefing; Case briefing exercise

Review of use of digests 1 hour

Nature of digests; accessing digests

Review of use of statutes 1 hour

Enactment and codification of statutory law; federal vs. state statutory law; accessing statutes

Review of Shepardization 1 hour

Need for Shepardizing; Use of multiple Shepard’s volumes

Review of proper citation form 2 hours

Blue Book rules; Citations of cases: parallel citations; Citations of statutes; Citations of secondary authority; Citation exercises: (1) Correct improperly written/placed citations; (2) Correct improper pinpoint citations

Digest/statute exercise 2 hours

Library exercise: accessing Pennsylvania Digest and state and federal statutes

Introduction to WESTLAW and Lexis 3 hours

Accessing Lexis through HACC library website; search of federal regulation databases; Accessing WESTLAW using case names; Accessing WESTLAW using

citations; Switching between databases; Formation of queries: Natural Language and Terms and Connectors; Use of KEYCITE feature

WESTLAW / Lexis exercise 1.5 hours

On-line research: Conduct Natural Language search; change databases; Use of KEYCITE; regulatory research through Lexis

Legal memorandum: initial research 3 hours

Review: Purpose of the legal memorandum; Format of legal memorandum; How to begin research

Legal memorandum: library research 3 hours

Identifying legal issues from fact pattern; identifying legal issues in cases researched; Proper wording of issues in memo

Legal memorandum: rough drafts 3 hours

Following appropriate format; Use of proper citation form

Legal memorandum: writing conferences 3 hours

One-on-one conferences between instructor and student to review rough draft

Legal memorandum: final draft 3 hours

Writing as an advocate 1.5 hours

Instructor will chose from variety of possible assignments (e.g. trial brief, appellate brief, opinion letter); instructor will provide DETAILED fact pattern, define format, and issues to be addressed

Advocacy assignment: initial research 3 hours

Library and/or electronic research; rough draft

Advocacy assignment: writing conferences 3 hours

One-on-one conference between instructor and student to review rough draft

Advocacy assignment: final draft 3 hours

Review for final exam 1.5 hours

Review of proper citations; review of case briefing

6. Assessment of Student Learning

[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 kept on file in the division office.

7. List of Texts, References, Selected Library Resources or other Learning Materials (code each item based on instructional use): C-Lecture/Laboratory, A-Lecture, B-Laboratory, LC-Lecture/Clinical, CLN-Clinical, I-Online, BL-Blended, D-Independent Study, P-Private Lessons, E-Internship, F-Cooperative Work-Study, FE-Field 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

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 Reporter 2d)

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated

U.S. Code Annotated

Supreme Court Reporter

Pennsylvania Digest

Standard Pennsylvania Practice 2d

Corpus Juris Secundum

Martindale-Hubbell

LEXIS

How to Land Your First Paralegal Job, 2d

8. Prepared by Faculty Member: Kathy Murren Date: 7/2011

9. Approved by Department Chairperson: Kathy Murren Date: 7/2011

10. Approved by Academic Division Dean: Diane Thompson Date: 7/2011

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.

11. Associate Dean, Curriculum & Assessment: Erika Steenland (Interim) Date: 7/27/11

12. Provost & VP, Academic Affairs: Ronald R. Young Date: 7/28/11

13. Original Date of course approval by the college: 199120

14. Date(s) of subsequent reviews:

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)

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