PLA 4116 - Legal Writing Seminar

College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2016 (520)

Requisites

Admission to Paralegal Studies (Bachelor of Applied Science) (LEGAL-BAS) and
Prerequisite PLA 2114 with a minimum grade of C

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive review of the entire legal researching and writing process. The further development of legal researching and writing skills is fostered with special emphasis on analyzing and preparing documents for either the state or federal court system.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the methodology involved in analyzing documents critically by:
    1. reviewing and itemizing content of insurance policies.
    2. reviewing and itemizing contents of securities documents.
    3. reviewing and itemizing contents of state and federal statutes and regulations.
  2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the methodology involved in analyzing a body of facts for missing information or conceptual gaps by:
    1. examining intake sheets and devising a will from the information provided.
    2. examining intake sheets and devising a trust from the information provided.
    3. reviewing discovery documents and checking bases of proof against the allegations of the complaint.
  3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate use of standard forms by:
    1. drafting a complaint from a given set of complex commercial facts.
    2. drafting a memorandum of law suitable for submission to the federal courts.
    3. drafting a memorandum of law suitable for submission to the state courts.
    4. drafting special jury instructions for a given factual situation.
  4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of how to systematically arrange whole documents, sections of documents, and individual provisions by:
    1. drafting a proposed statute.
    2. drafting a complex contract.
  5. The student will demonstrate an understanding of word usage choices which enhance clarity and precision of meaning by:
    1. examining alternate wording and explaining the nuances of each word choice in a statute.
    2. examining alternate wording and explaining the nuances of each word choice in a contract.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 4/25/06, BOT 6/20/06, Eff 20061(0370). Flexible Access Approved 20091(0415). C&I Approval: 12/07/2010, BOT Approval: 02/22/2011, Effective Term: Spring 2011 (435).
C&I Approval: 11/20/2015, BOT Approval: 03/15/2016, Effective Term: Fall 2016 (520)

Related Programs

  1. Paralegal Studies (LEGAL-BAS) (640) (Active)