Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PARAD094.
Course Title (CB02)
Introduction to California Law
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
The legal structures and legal procedures existing within the state of California and the roles and duties of legal personnel in California, with an emphasis on the role and duty of paralegals, will be examined in this course.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program and was developed in response to having a basic beginning course that exposes new students to the basic structure of California law and institutions. This course belongs on the certificate and degree programs in Paralegal Studies. This course fulfills the need to build within students the knowledge of California law and organization necessary for the student to succeed in advanced classes in both California specific and American legal specialty areas. This course is CSU transferable.

Foothill Equivalency

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

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

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 CSU only

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

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Oral
    1. Small group discussions and analysis of hypothetical legal problems
    2. Class discussion
    3. Individual and/or small group presentations of course material
  2. Written
    1. Draft case brief(s)
    2. In-class and take-home written assignments
  3. Reading and library
    1. Assigned readings from text and other references
    2. Assigned legal research on the internet and/or the library

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral assignments involving discussion and presentations that show the students ability to understand California law and institutions
  2. Objective and written essay midterms where students will show an understanding of California law and government and major legal resource tools
  3. Written assignments where students will show an understanding of California law and institutions as well as the role of California within the United States
  4. Objective and written essay final examination.
  5. Assigned legal research where student will demonstrate the ability to use both internet and library resources in finding answers to particular California legal research problems.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

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

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Hames, Joanne B. & Ekern,Yvonne, "Introduction to Law", 6th Edition, Pearson Higher Education, 2019

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
California Courts Website www.courtinfo.ca.gov
California Constitution and Codes at: www.leginfo.ca.gov
Dudovitz, Aimee, Macfarlane, Hether C., & Rowe, Suzanne E., "California Legal Research", Caolina Academic Press, Third Edition, 2016
Statsky, William P. & Sandberg, Sharon, "The California Paralegal", 1st Edition, Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008
Currier, Katherine A. & Eimermann, Thomas E., "Introduction to Paralegal Studies: A Critical Thinking Approach, Sixth Editiaion, Wolters Kluwer, 2017

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Describe and evaluate the history of laws and types of legal systems
  • Differentiate the personnel and agencies that constitute the California legal system
  • Determine the structure of the legal system in California
  • Compare the court systems within California
  • Determine and analyze the sources of California Law
  • Differentiate the various sources of California Law
  • Appraise and use California research materials
  • Assess substantive areas of California law
  • Investigate court practices and procedures in criminal cases
  • Investigate court practices and procedures in civil cases

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the different legal systems at work in the state of California.

  • Outline the hierarchy and court procedures of the courts with jurisdiction in California.

  • Differentiate between the various substantive areas of law applicable in California.

Outline

  1. Describe and evaluate the history of laws and types of legal systems
    1. The nature of law
    2. Common law vs. Civil law
    3. Law in the United States
  2. Differentiate the personnel and agencies that constitute the California legal system
    1. State agencies
    2. County and local agencies
    3. State personnel
    4. County and local personnel
    5. Court personnel - judges and support staff
    6. Law office personnel
  3. Determine the structure of the legal system in California
    1. Relationship of state system to federal system
    2. The Executive Branch - its structure and role
    3. The Legislative Branch - its structure and role
    4. The Judicial Branch - its structure and role
  4. Compare the court systems within California
    1. Jurisdiction of federal courts
    2. Jurisdiction of various state courts
    3. Relationship between federal and state courts
  5. Determine and analyze the sources of California Law
    1. Constitutional Law
    2. Statutory Law
    3. Case Law
    4. Relationship of sources to one another
    5. Relationship of state to federal sources
  6. Differentiate the various sources of California Law
    1. Overview of legal research materials
    2. Reading and understanding citations
    3. Locating Constitutional law
    4. Finding statutory law
    5. Finding case law
    6. Using the internet to locate California law
    7. Using the internet to locate California court rules
  7. Appraise and use California research materials
    1. Investigate constitutional law
    2. Investigate statutory law
    3. Investigate case law
  8. Assess substantive areas of California law
    1. California criminal law
    2. California civil law
  9. Investigate court practices and procedures in criminal cases
    1. Role of the Bill of Rights
    2. Rights found in the California Constitution
    3. Pre-trial procedures
    4. Trial procedures
    5. Post trial procedures
  10. Investigate court practices and procedures in civil cases
    1. Jurisdiction
    2. Pleadings and Judicial Council forms
    3. Pretrial procedures and discovery
    4. Trial procedures
    5. Post trial procedures
    6. Alternatives to court procedures
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