Discipline: Legal Assisting (Paralegal Studies) Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Paralegal Studies 68


COURSE DESCRIPTION
68 Civil Litigation and Procedures I Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
The first of two courses designed to introduce student to the study of civil litigation. Provides an overview of the litigation process and the function of the paralegal in the process. Rules of procedure will be applied to draft complaints, motions, answers, and other legal documents applicable in a given fact situation in the preliminary stages of litigation. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
The first of two courses which provides an overview of the litigation process and the role of the paralegal.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Evaluate methods for factual research and analysis based on client
      on take and informal investigation.

2.   Determine the correct parties to a given case.

3.   Delineate the various jurisdictions in the court system and establish
      the proper court in which to proceed.

4.   Prepare a complaint based on a given fact situations.

5.   Prepare a motion and all supporting documents.

6.   Determine the various methods of effecting service of process and
      use the appropriate one in a given fact situation.

7.   Draft an answer and other responsive pleadings.

8.   Recognize and distinguish deficiencies in opposing parties’
      pleadings.

9.   Define and evaluate the procedural steps necessary to prosecute
      and defend a lawsuit in the court system.

10.  Create legal documents using subject-related application software.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Introduction to Litigation
  2. Client Intake Factual Research and Analysis
  3. Present Procedures
  4. Parties to a Lawsuit
  5. Jurisdiction and Venue
  6. Summons and Forms of Pleading
  7. Computer Application Software
  8. Defaults
  9. Complaints
  10. Service of Process
  11. Answers
  12. Cross Complaints
  13. Amendment
  14. Attacking the Pleadings
  15. Demurrer, Motion To Strike, and Motion To Dismiss
  16. Final Exam
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Lecture
  • Demonstration
  • Discussion
  • Multimedia
  • Case Studies
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Essays/case analysis
  • Problem solving exercises
  • Discussion/mock interviews
  • Objective-type examinations
  • Term project/course specific computer applications
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Civil Procedure Before Trial, (3 volumes), Weil & Brown, Jr., Rutter Group
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