LEGAL WRITING - LGLA
1305
I.
Course Description: This course
provides a working knowledge of the fundamentals of legal effective legal
writing. Topics include briefs, legal
memoranda, case and fact analysis, citation forms and legal writing styles.
II.
Required Texts:
a. Basic
Legal Writing for Paralegals, Samborn & Yelin (Little, Brown)
b. The
Handbook of Technical Writing, Alred, Brusaw, et. al.
c. A
Uniform System of Citation (“Blue Book”) (Harvard)
d. Texas
Rules of Form (Texas Law Review)
III. SCANs Competencies:
The SCANs Competencies that will be
developed in this Course are listed on
IV.
Instructional Methodology:
This course will be taught utilizing
lecture, in-class and out-of-class writing exercises.
V.
Course Rationale:
This course is designed to improve
the student’s technical writing skills as they apply to the legal profession.
VI.
Course Outcomes:
The Student Learning Outcomes for this
course are listed on Attachment B.
VII.
Course Evaluation System:
a.
Your grades will be computed as follows:
Exam One 100
points (10%)
Exam Two 100
points (10%)
Case Brief 100
points (10%)
Research Memo 200 points (20%)
Speech 100
points (10%)
In-Class Assignments 200 points (20%)
b. The final letter grade in the course
will be based upon the percentage of total available points received, as
follows:
A:
90-100%
B:
80-89%
C:
70-79%
D:
60-69%
F: 0-59%
VIII. Course Policies:
a.
Preparation
for Class
The student will be expected to have read and
absorbed all of the material assigned for a particular class session.
b. Attendance.
Two absences will be allowed. Arrival in class more than 15 minutes after
the beginning of class or leaving class more than 15 minutes before the end of
class will be treated as a "one-half absence."
c. Withdrawal.
Excessive absences may eventually result in the
student being withdrawn from the course. Do not, however, assume that absences
will automatically result in a withdrawal. Excessive absences may simply result
in a letter grade "F" at the end of the course. If the student wishes to withdraw from the
course, the student must go to an Admissions Office and fill out a Withdrawal
Form.
d. Incomplete
An “Incomplete” will not be granted in this
course unless the student has a grade of “C” or better on the first two
assignments, and a demonstrable emergency.
e. Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the college for which
discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not
limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized
collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by a student shall be the result of his
or her own thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes,
whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group,
classroom presentation, and homework.
f. Academic Freedom
Each student
is expected to participate in class. In
any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there
are bound to be differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each
other on occasion, but the students and instructor may also find that they have
disparate views. It is expected that
these differences will enhance the class and create an atmosphere where
students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn.
Accordingly, rest assured that no student’s grade will be adversely affected by
any beliefs or ideas expressed in class.
g. Student Discipline
In
the event, a student acts in such a way as to significantly interfere with or
disrupt the learning atmosphere of the classroom, the instructor may direct the
student to leave the class and may take other measures as appropriate. See the ACC Student Handbook either in
hardcopy or on the web: http://www.austincc.edu/marketng/handbook/.
h. Office of Students with Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for
students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request
reasonable accommodations through the Office for Student with Disabilities on
the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three
weeks before the start of the semester.
i.
Course Calendar
The Course Calendar is a separate document that
you will have received along with this syllabus.
j. Testing Center
General use of the testing center is not
available to students in this course; however, should you have occasion to use
an ACC testing center, be sure to first review the Testing Center Guidelines
available either in the testing center or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/marketng/handbook/student_handbook_02-03.pdf. The Eastview Campus Testing Center is in
Room 2155. The phone number is
223-5145.
k.
Student
Services Handout
A Student Services Handout is attached for your
review.
l.
Instructional
Services Handout
An Instructional Services Handout is attached
for your review.
m.
Late
assignments
Late assignments will not be
accepted. If a paper or assignment is
not turned in on time, the student will receive a zero for that project. If a student fails to attend and/or fails to
have the rough drafts of projects due for the case brief and memo workshops,
the student will automatically receive a 20-point deduction on that assignment.
n. Rewrites
You may resubmit any written assignment
(excluding exams or in-class work) if you are dissatisfied with your
grade. You have one week from the date
the paper is returned in class in which to resubmit. There will be an automatic 10-point deduction on resubmitted
work. Note: If you are not in class
when the papers are returned, you forfeit the opportunity to resubmit it.
LAW LIBRARIES
UT (471-7726) 727 E. 26th Street
http://www.law.utexas.edu/library/
State Law Library (463-1722) 14th
Street/Lavaca
http://www.sll.courts.state.tx.us/
Travis County Law Library (854-9045) 1100
Guadalupe
There's a lot of good stuff on the net for
legal/technical writing. A couple of
sites which may be helpful are listed below.
For information on cite form and the Blue
Book:
http://www.legalbluebook.com/introduction.htm
Legal resources:
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/law/remotesites/writing.html
Legal Writing, LGLA 1305
SCANS Competencies
Students in this Course
will be expected to use or achieve the following Competencies
COURSE COMPETENCIES (SCANS)
RESOURCES
1.1 Manages Time
INTERPERSONAL
2.1
Participates
as a Member of a Team
2.2
Teaches
Others
2.3
Exercises
Leadership
2.5 Works with Cultural Diversity
INFORMATION
3.1 Acquires and Evaluates Information
3.2 Organizes and Maintains Information
3.3 Interprets and Communicates
Information
3.4 Uses Computers to Process Information
TECHNOLOGY
5.2 Applies Technology To Task
BASIC SKILLS
6.1 Reading
6.2 Writing
6.5 Listening
6.6 Speaking
THINKING SKILLS
7.1 Creative Thinking
7.2 Decision Making
7.3 Problem Solving
7.5 Knowing How to Learn
7.6 Reasoning
PERSONAL QUALITIES
8.1 Responsibility
8.2 Self-Esteem
8.4 Self-Management
8.5 Integrity/Honesty
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of each
segment of the Course, you should be able to achieve the following learning
outcomes:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
A.
Writing – the student will be able to:
1.
Utilize
appropriate legal cite form
2.
Write in a
short, concise format
3.
Improve
editing skills
4.
Improve
grammar
B.
Case Brief -- the student will be able to identify:
1.
the citation
2.
Procedural
history
3.
issues
4.
holding
5.
facts
6.
rationale,
and
7.
draft a
clear and concise brief of a case
C.
Outlining -- the student will be able to:
1.
Develop an
outline to organize the writing process
D.
Memos -- the student will be able to:
1.
Organize a
memorandum of law
2.
Learn the
steps to drafting a memorandum
3.
Draft the
questions presented
4.
Draft brief
answers and conclusions
5.
Organize the
facts statement
6.
Draft the
facts statement
7.
Utilize the
IRAC method for the discussion section
8.
Synthesize
cases and authorities
9.
Outlining
and organizing the memo
E.
Defining and Describing-- the student will be able to:
1.
Develop a
method for providing clear definitions and descriptions of objects and concepts
F.
Process Assignment-- the student will be able to:
1.
Develop a
method for explaining legal processes in a clear, concise manner
G.
Resume-- the student will be able to:
1.
Draft an
effective resume and letter of application
2.
Adopt
effective strategies for obtaining employment
3.
Improve
interviewing skills
H.
Speech-- the student will be able to:
1.
Draft an
oral presentation on a legal process
2.
Deliver an oral presentation on a legal process