Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PARAD009.
Course Title (CB02)
Overview of American Law
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the major substantive areas of American law, including: contracts, constitutional law, corporations, criminal law, family law, property, torts, wills and estates.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Law]
Discipline 3
[Political Science]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - LAW]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program and is CSU and UC transferable. It was developed in response to a need for a basic beginning course that exposes the basic legal principles within a wide range of legal subject areas. This course belongs on the Paralegal Studies degree. This course is a building block for students to be able to succeed in all advanced and specialty legal courses within the Paralegal Studies program. This course is cross-listed.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly PARA D095.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Not open to students with credit in the cross-listed course(s).)

(Also listed as ADMJ D009. and POLI D009.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Viewing, analysis, critique of assigned videos

Written reports and essays

Homework and extended projects

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Discussion and problem-solving performed in class and/or through online course delivery

Guest speakers

Homework and extended projects

Quiz and examination review performed in class and/or through online course delivery

Assignments

  1. Oral
    1. Small group discussions of course content
    2. Class discussions
    3. Individual and/or small group presentations of course material, including case briefs
  2. Written
    1. One or more essays based on out-of-class experiences (such as police ride-along, court visit)
    2. At least one case brief
    3. Objective and essay midterm and final examinations
    4. Viewing and analysis of assigned videos
  3. Reading
    1. Assigned readings from text and other references
    2. United States Constitution
    3. Selected Supreme Court cases
    4. Selected federal statutes

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral assignments including presentations and/or group discussion of material and readings where students will have the opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of the structure and fundamentals of American Law.
  2. Written assignments including one case brief where students will demonstrate the ability to read, analyze and apply legal precedents.
  3. Midterm and final examinations using both objective and essay questions testing an understanding of substantive parts of different areas of the law.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Hames, Joanne; Ekern, YvonneIntroduction to Law, 6th EditionNew York: Pearson Legal Studies202113: 9780137503896
Garner, BryanBlack's Law DictionaryThomson West11th Edition, 20199781539229759

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Describe the components of the judicial system utilizing appropriate legal terminology.
  • Explain the steps involved in the judicial process, using appropriate legal terminology
  • Describe the major areas of substantive law, utilizing appropriate legal terminology
  • Demonstrate the ability to read case law and statutory law
  • Compare and contrast the American legal system with that of other nations

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the American judicial system and process, utilizing appropriate legal terminology.

  • Demonstrate the ability to read case law and statutory law.

  • Analyze factual situations in relationship to concepts of the major areas of substantive law in America.

Outline

  1. Describe the components of the judicial system utilizing appropriate legal terminology.
    1. Federal court system
      1. Trial courts and their adjuncts
      2. Appellate courts
      3. Supreme Court
    2. State court systems
      1. Trial courts
      2. Review courts
    3. Quasi judicial systems
      1. Administrative agencies
      2. Review boards
    4. Legal terminology
  2. Explain the steps involved in the judicial process, using appropriate legal terminology
    1. Overview of judicial process in criminal cases
      1. Jurisdiction
        1. In personam, in rem and quasi in rem
        2. Federal question and diversity
        3. Service of process
      2. Steps of due process
        1. Notice (complaints, arraignment)
        2. Hearing (pretrial, trial)
        3. Appeal (issues of law and fact)
      3. Verdicts
    2. Overview of judicial process in civil cases
      1. Jurisdiction
        1. In personam, in rem and quasi in rem
        2. Federal question and diversity
        3. Service of process
      2. Steps of due process
        1. Notice (complaints, arraignment)
        2. Hearing (pretrial, trial)
        3. Appeal (issues of law and fact)
      3. Judgments, satisfaction and collection
  3. Describe the major areas of substantive law, utilizing appropriate legal terminology
    1. Constitutional law
      1. Branches of government and their powers
      2. Federalism: national versus state powers
      3. Individual rights protected
      4. Doctrines of judicial review and preemption
      5. Effect of constitutional law on current social issues involving people of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and gender backgrounds
    2. Criminal law and procedure
      1. Corpus delicti
      2. Exclusionary rule: search and seizure, confessions and admissions
      3. Defenses: incapacity, entrapment, self-defense
    3. Torts
      1. Intentional, negligent and strict liability
      2. Damages: special, general, punitive
      3. Defenses: assumption of risk, comparative and contributory negligence, consent
    4. Contracts
      1. Offer, acceptance and consideration
      2. Statute of Frauds
      3. Uniform Commercial Code
      4. Defenses
      5. Remedies
    5. Business organizations
      1. Sole proprietorships
      2. Partnerships
        1. General partnerships
        2. Limited partnerships
        3. Limited Liability partnerships
      3. Limited liability companies
      4. Corporations
        1. Close corporations
        2. Professional corporations
        3. Nonprofit corporations
        4. Subchapter S corporations
        5. "C" corporations
    6. Property
      1. Real versus personal
        1. Fixtures
        2. Personal property
      2. Types of interests
        1. Fee
        2. Joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, community property
        3. Terms: life estate, lease, time-share
      3. Evidence of ownership
        1. Deeds: grant, warranty, quitclaim
        2. Liens
        3. Bills of sale, bills of lading
        4. Recording statutes
    7. Domestic relations
      1. Parent-child relationship: rights and duties
      2. Marriage: formation, rights and duties
      3. Termination of relationships: adoption, nullity and dissolution
    8. Administrative law
      1. Delegation of powers: enabling statutes
      2. "Due process" from agencies
      3. Specific agencies: Social Security, Veterans Administration, Welfare, Worker's Comp, Unemployment Insurance, Internal Revenue
    9. Estates and trusts
      1. Statute of Wills
      2. Probate
      3. Intestate succession
      4. Testamentary and inter vivos trusts
      5. Tax aspects
  4. Demonstrate the ability to read case law and statutory law
    1. Reading case law
      1. Distinguishing editorial enhancements from case law
      2. Identifying the relevant parts of a case, including legal issue, facts, holding and rationale.
    2. Reading statutory law
      1. Distinguishing editorial enhancements from law
      2. Identifying the elements of a statute
      3. The role of case law in determining statutory meaning
  5. Compare and contrast the American legal system with that of other nations
    1. Other common law countries
    2. Civil law nations
    3. Effect of the International Court
    4. Effect of international treaties
    5. Effect of global economy on development of uniform laws
    6. Effect of international concern with human rights on development of uniform laws
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