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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Introduction to Paralegalism

Course Title: Department: Instructor: Business Address: Phone: Office Hours: Fax:

LS301 - Introduction to Paralegalism Legal Studies Melody F. Everett, JD, BBA, CPA E-Mail PMB 207 13170-B Central Ave. S.E. Albuquerque, NM 87123 505-294-0493 By Appointment 505-294-0151

Instructor checks the above e-mail addresses at least once per day from Monday through Friday.

If for any reason you are experiencing problems contacting the instructor, please do not hesitate to use the telephone numbers listed above.

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Please review this syllabus thoroughly. Most of your questions will be answered here. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact your instructor. It is my job to assist you in any manner possible.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

REQUIRED TEXT: Online Bookstore

The required text for this course is Introduction to Paralegal Studies, A Practical Approach by Linda L. Edwards, J.D. and J. Stanley Edwards, J.D. This book is published by West Legal Studies/Thomson Learning. ISBN #: 0766820807

The web site for this textbook is www.WestLegalStudies.com

GRADING:

This is an eight (8) week course. This course must be completed within two (2) months of submission of the first assignment for credit. The course should be started within one (1) month of registration. If you foresee any problems with this, please contact your instructor. When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

The following consists of the assignments to be completed for credit:

Homework Midterm Final

30% 35% 35%

A B C D F

= = = = =

100% - 90% 89% - 80% 79% - 70% 69% - 60% 59% and below

Students will be provided a course calendar with the suggested due dates for this course.

HOMEWORK

Every week there will be homework assignments for each of the chapters covered.
Homework is due every Monday by midnight (MST).

Late Homework Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted without PRIOR notification to instructor. The assignment will be accepted if submitted within 7 days of the due date. There will be a 50% deduction in grade. Homework will not be accepted after this time period. Students will be provided a course calendar with the due dates for all assignments.

Submitted assignment must be compatible with Microsoft Windows 98. The instructor uses Microsoft Word 2000 and Microsoft Excel 2000. The 2002 version is compatible with all earlier versions of Word (.doc) and Excel (.xls).

CHECKLIST FOR HOMEWORK

Please make sure to submit all homework using the following format:

HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT UNLESS:

1. Homework is submitted as attachment to e-mail to instructor.

You may e-mail it directly to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

If you are unable to e-mail, then faxing is an acceptable alternative.

The fax number is 505-294-0151.

2. Student’s name, course number, and week must be included in heading (first page) of homework as well as the subject line of the e-mail.

This helps the instructor identify the student and assignment. If this information is not included, the homework will not be accepted for credit. If I cannot identify the student, I cannot give credit.

Please follow the specific instructions found in your weekly "Assignments", as listed below.

3. Homework must be submitted timely, Monday by midnight (MST) of the week assigned.

LATE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, without prior approval of the instructor.

This includes any problems you may be having with the technological aspects of this course.

If you are experiencing computer problems, browser problems, software problems, it is your responsibility to find alternative means to completing assignments in a timely manner.

Faxing is always an acceptable means of submitting assignments.

The fax number is 505-294-0151.

You may wish consider public libraries, Kinkos, or other such places should you experience problems.

4. Statement of originality must be included.

The student must include the following statement (or something similar) for each assignment submitted:

"This is my own original work, I have not received help from any other source than those listed herein." Please make sure to list all sources.

The instructor will send you an e-mail verifying your assignment was received. If you do not receive an acknowledgment from your instructor the Tuesday following the due date, then it was not received.

To verify that you have sent the assignment timely, please make sure to cc: yourself when submitting. This would be a good habit to cultivate as an online student.

If there is a question about the submission of the assignment, it is your responsibility to be able to verify to the instructor you e-mailed it timely.

If you are unable to do this, the assignment will not be accepted for credit.

Criteria for Assignment grades:

The criteria for assignments is as follows:

- Quality/clarity of presentation format.
- Soundness of reasoning
- Proper application of concepts

Upon receipt, the instructor will acknowledge the receipt of the assignment and provide the student with answers.

The student should review all the assignment answers and e-mail the instructor should they have additional questions about the material covered during the week.

The instructor grades all assignments by the Friday following the due date.

All homework must be completed using Word (.doc) or Excel (.xls) .

EXAMS

There is a midterm and final exam. The midterm exam will cover Week 1 through Week 3. The final will cover Week 5 through Week 7.

Exams are required to be completed timely. Exams which are not completed within the time frame will not be accepted. If you foresee any problems with completing the exam, please contact your instructor, before the due date. After the due date is not acceptable. When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

HOW TO BEGIN THE COURSE

When the student is ready to begin the course, they may contact the instructor at melody.atty@mindspring.com

Textbook:

The student should make sure that they have the correct book for the course. Please use the edition listed for this course. No other edition is acceptable.

Start date for Student:

After the student receives their book, the instructor and student should agree upon a start date for the student. Homework is always due on Monday.

The course will begin the first Monday after the agreed starting time. The instructor will provide a course calendar with all due dates listed.

If you have any questions about the information listed above, please do not hesitate to contact your instructor. When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK ONE

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 1 – Introduction to Paralegalism As a Profession

Homework Assignment for Week 1:

Chapter 1 – Legal Lingo,(1-16) page 45

Please submit homework to instructor as e-mail attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 1 homework”

in the subject line of your e-mail and on the face of your homework.

Homework is due Monday.

WEEK TWO

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 2 – Developing the Case

Homework Assignment for Week 2:

Chapter 2 – Legal Lingo, (1-20), page 107

Homework due Monday.

Please submit homework to instructor as e-mail attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 2 homework”

in the subject line of your e-mail and on the face of your homework.

WEEK THREE

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 3: Researching the Case
Chapter 4: Initiating A Case

Homework Assignment:

Chapter 3 – Legal Lingo, Crossword Puzzle, Page 193
Chapter 4 – Legal Lingo, (1-28), Page 261

Homework due Monday.

Please submit homework to instructor as email attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 3 homework”

in the subject line of your e-mail and on the face of your homework.

WEEK FOUR

FIRST MIDTERM EXAM (Covering Week 1 through Week 3)

After the instructor received homework for Week 4, you may request that the exam be “opened” for completion. You have a seven (7) day period in which to complete the exam. The exam is open book, open note.

Please go to the homepage of your course. If you will look at the Navigation Bar for this course, you will see “Testing”. Please click on this link. You will see two exams for this course listed. The first will be the midterm (#1). Please click on this link and you will be able to access the first midterm exam.

The exam will consist of T/F and M/C questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor should you have any questions about the midterm.

WEEK FIVE

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “CC Legal Studies 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 5: Discovery and Motion Practice

Homework Assignment:

Chapter 5 – Legal Lingo, (1-21), Page 325

Homework is due Monday.

Please submit homework to instructor as e-mail attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 5 homework”

in the subject line of your email and on the face of your homework.

WEEK SIX

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 6 – Pre-Trial, Trial, and Post-Trial

Homework Assignment:

Chapter 6 – Legal Lingo (1-20), Page 391

Homework due by Monday.

Please submit homework to instructor as e-mail attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 6 homework”

in the subject line of your e-mail and on the face of your homework.

WEEK SEVEN

When e-mailing your instructor please include your full name and course number. The course number for this class is “LS 301”.

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 7 – Criminal Law and Procedure
Chapter 8 – Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Tribal Court Advocacy, and Administrative Law

Homework Assignment:

Chapter 7 – Legal Lingo, Crossword Puzzle, Page 452
Chapter 8 – Legal Lingo (1-18), Page 504

Homework due by Monday.

Please submit homework to instructor as e-mail attachment to:

melody.atty@mindspring.com

Please include the following information:

“Student’s name, LS 301, Week 7 homework”

in the subject line of your e-mail and on the face of your homework.

WEEK EIGHT

FINAL EXAM (COVERING Week 4 through Week 7)

After the instructor received homework for Week 7, you may request that the exam be “opened” to be completed. You have a seven (7) day period in which to complete the exam. The exam is open book, open note.

Please go to the homepage of your course. If you will look at the Navigation Bar for this course, you will see “Testing”. Please click on this link. You will see two exams for this course listed. The first will be the Final (#2). Please click on this link and you will be able to access the final exam.

This exam will consist of M/C and T/F questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor should you have any questions about the final.

GENERAL POLICIES

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to understand the many tasks they will be expected to perform as a paralegal.

In order to accomplish this, students must read the assigned materials, solve the assigned problems, and complete the exams.

I highly recommend working the Internet Inquiries as learning to research on the Internet is imperative for the paralegal.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Ensuring academic integrity is an educational objective taken very seriously in this course.

The following explanations may be helpful in interpreting what are considered to be violations of the academic integrity policy.

In the absence of any other agreement between the student and the instructor, it is assumed that when a student turns in an assignment or takes an examination, every word of the assignment or answer is the student’s own work.

This means, for instance, that all answers are completed by the student and not a friend or fellow student.

It means that the student studies for examinations and his/her answers reflect his/her understanding of the material.

It means that the wording, ideas, and information in a student’s problems, exam, or paper are entirely the student’s own.

One form of academic cheating is plagiarism, defined by Hulon Willis as: “the attempt to pass the ideas or language of someone else as your own. If you use information, speculation, a full sentence, or even a particularly vivid or unusual phrase that you found in your research, you are absolutely obligated to acknowledge it, normally in a note, as clearly and specifically as possible.” (Writing Term Papers, 2nd ed., rev. Alan Heineman [New York: Harcourt, Brace, Javanovich, 1983], p. 57).

The most common instances of plagiarism include the following:

1. Failure to provide a citation for a paraphrase or summary.
2. Failure to paraphrase or summarize properly, even when a note is provided.
3. Copying another source verbatim (word-for-word) without quotation marks or proper indentation.
4. Copying another source without acknowledgement.
5. Turning in another person’s paper or other work as one’s own – in other words, deliberate cheating.

The instructor expects academic honesty from all of the students. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty are considered violations of established college expectations and will result in penalties.

Please do not hesitate to e-mail the instructor any questions you may have about the general policies of this course. It is very important that you understand all the information contained in this syllabus.

There are no extra credit assignments for this course.

ALL GRADES ARE FINAL.