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 71


COURSE DESCRIPTION
71 Legal Terminology Units: 1.50
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
Introduction to legal words, definitions, synonyms, pronunciation and usage. To prepare for the use of legal terms in legal writing, memoranda of law, legal documents and briefs as well as verbal communication with judges, lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants in the legal profession. 27 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Introduction to legal words, definitions, synonyms, pronunciation and usage in the legal profession.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
Analyze and apply legal terminology in written and verbal communication. Apply college-level methods to identify legal terms and their definitions used most often in the California State and Federal Litigation Systems. Classify legal documents based on the legal terminology used within in.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

 

  1. Identification of Legal Terms
    1. Identify terms used in various areas of law; including but not limited to:
      1. Criminal law
      2. Civil law
      3. Contract law
      4. Family law
      5. Probate law
      6. Real Property law
  2.  California and Federal Litigation Systems.
    1. Identify the various types of terms used in CA court and Federal court systems.
    2. Determine the appropriate terms to be used in various legal documents.
  3.  Discovery Methods
    1. Identify terms used in discovery methods.
    2. Identify terms used in practice and procedure.
  4.  Pretrial Hearing and Jury trial
    1. Evaluate the application of legal terms used within court documents.
    2. Create legal documents using appropriate legal terms.
  5.  Negotiable Instruments
    1. Identify terms used in the creation of negotiable instruments.
    2. Extrapolate terms used within negotiable instruments and divide instruments into appropriate categories.

Students are also assigned reading, writing and other outside assignments equivalent to two hours per one hour lecture.

 
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of class lectures and discussion in order to analyze and apply legal terminology in written and verbal communication California
  • State and Federal Litigation systems. 
  • Guest lecturers from the legal environment in order to discuss current events and topics to identify legal terms and their definitions used most often in the legal environment.
  • Presentation, discussion, and detailed examination of case law studies in order to apply the rules of a case to a particular set of facts along with their terminology
  • Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to the classification of legal terms involved in civil and criminal litigation
  • Cooperative/collaborative learning tasks and activities designed to assist students in activating, stimulating, and acting upon the resources of the internet as a resource for solving legal and ethical dilemmas
  • Group and /or individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students with case activities
  • Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced, telecourse and/or online  instruction such as web quest, web site reviews, internet presentations, discussion board postings, online paper submission and presentations of material, which reinforces course content
  • Creating and assigning pair and small group activities in order to expose the students to real or hypothetical issues as they relate to the legal concepts in the readings
 
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:

  • Written summaries, reports and presentations of cases or current events that are designed to evaluate a student's business and legal problem solving skills as they relate to the application of case law and principles; students should be able to gather, interpret facts and data, and apply the law to the case or hypothetical 
  • Class, group, or Individual case projects and assignments that identify, and describe the various legal principles that should be applied in a particular situation
  • Participation and regular attendance are required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering the course content and participation in collaborative learning projects
  • Quizzes/Examinations designed to evaluate a students mastery of the key legal principles of the chapter topics which analyze and separate various classifications of laws
  • Final Examination designed to assess student learning outcomes as well as demonstrate successful understanding and mastery of the essential concepts and legal case principles explored in the course
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:

  • Brown, G.. Legal Terminology. 4 ed. any: Prentice Hall, 2003.
  • Garner, B. . Blacks Law Dictionary, Deluxe. 8 ed. any: West Group, 2006.
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