Syllabus BUSL 400 36245 Fall 2024 Fast Track I
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School
Chaffey College**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
BUSL 400
Subject
Law
Date
Dec 20, 2024
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6
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Chaffey College Business and Applied Technology Fall 2024Course Syllabus for Introduction to Paralegal Studies BUSL 400 Section 36245 Fast Track I (8-Week) Online ClassProfessor:Abel Chen, J.D., Esq.Telephone:(909) 652-6847Email:abel.chen@chaffey.eduVirtual Office Hours via Zoom: Monday 9:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M., Tuesday 9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M., Wednesday 9:30 A.M. -11:00 A.M., Zoom Link: https://chaffey-edu.zoom.us/j/94626273019?pwd=ekxQc1VocFI1c3d2UnRqa1dGZ3FiZz09Zoom Meeting ID: 946 2627 3019Zoom Passcode: 634860 Zoom telephone: 1 (669) 900-6833Required Text/Materials:1)INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGALISM, Perspectives, Problems, and Skills, 8thEdition, William P. Statsky, Cengage, ISBN-13: 978-1285449050 or ISBN-10: 1285449053.2)Access to Internet and a valid email.3)Able to Open and view PowerPoint slides4)Access to CanvasLogging into our Online CourseStep 1: Go to:https://canvas.chaffey.eduStep 2: Follow instructions to login your username and passwordStep 3: Click on “BUSL-400-36245”Course Description:Introduction to the roles and duties of a paralegal within the American legal system, and the relationships between paralegals, attorneys, and clients. Topics include: paralegal career options, ethical codes, law office investigations, litigation assistantship, legal research and writing, computer use, and general law office administration.Course Objective:Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:A.Distinguish the roles and functions of a paralegal and the differences between a paralegal and an attorney as well as the differences between a paralegal and a clerical law staff. B.Recognize and assess the various problems paralegals encounter on the job and how these problems can be solved. C.Analyze legal career situations and options. D.Evaluate and compare ethical situations as they pertain to issues raised in the course and formulate responses to those situations. 1
E.Interpret concepts of legal investigation, the techniques of legal investigation, evidence law relevant to investigations, and formulating legal analysis. F.Write simple case briefs, legal letters, and legal office memorandums. G.Utilize legal research tools to conduct fundamental legal researches. H.Illustrate and employ law office administration techniques as covered in this course.Learning Outcomes:1.Upon the successful completion of BUSPL 400 (grade "C" or higher), students shall demonstrate the ability to identify legal issues from hypothetical legal situations and apply laws to solve the legal issues by working together in teams.2.Upon the successful completion of BUSPL 400 (grade "C" or higher), students shall produce professional quality documents of the type used in the legal profession.3.Upon the successful completion of BUSPL 400 (grade "C" or higher), students shall demonstrate understanding of basic job skills to enter the paralegal profession.Student Needs:If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me or the Disability Programs & Services (DPS) office at (909) 652-6379 soon as possible. Please be sure to allow adequate time to arrange an appropriate accommodation.Instructor Availability:The professor is available to meet with students at the below virtual office hours via Zoom. You can always use it to live web chat with me. Alternatively, the professor has a strong preference to be contacted via email. All emails will be responded within 24 hours (except on Sunday). Zoom Office hours are: Monday 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M, Tuesday 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M., and Wednesday 9:30 A.M.to 11:00 A.M., Zoom link: https://chaffey-edu.zoom.us/j/94626273019?pwd=ekxQc1VocFI1c3d2UnRqa1dGZ3FiZz09Zoom ID: 946 2627 3019Zoom telephone: 1 (669) 900-6833 Zoom Passcode: 634860Attendance:Please make sure you can see each chapter’s PowerPoint files in video format and to take notes by READING and LISTENING to the video lecture. We should cover one or more chapter per week. You are required to read AND hear each chapter’s PowerPoint video slides. Each week, the professor will require students to participate in a “Discussion Assignment.” Viewing the PowerPoint video files (able to read AND hear the voice lectures) AND participating in each week’s Discussion assignment are ways for the professor to take students’ attendance. Online Classroom Behavior: The professor believes in honest exchange of ideas and opinions. However, freedom of speech isnot absolute. The professor WILL NOT tolerate inappropriate email, inappropriate class postings, or flaming. Flaming is the expression of extreme emotion or opinion in an email or class posting. Abusive, threatening, or harassing messages are grounds for disciplinary action and/or deduction of points.2
Online Etiquette: Never write in all caps. On the Internet, writing in caps is often considered equivalent to yelling at someone. If you want to emphasize a point, use underline or bold font. The online course environment is not a place to send junk mail or chain letters to your classmates and professor. Please only send email regarding course issues. Remember that “tone” can be misinterpreted in email because the recipient does not get the benefit of your body language. Avoid sarcasm at all costs. Always keep in mind that once you send an email or a class posting, what you’ve said is in writing forever. Chaffey College Success Centers:The Business, Technology, and Hospitality Success Center wants to help by connecting you witha tutor for our class. Please contact Gregory or Brian via email:Gregory Creel: Gregory.creel@chaffey.eduBrian Sherman: brian.sherman@chaffey.eduCourse Requirements:1. Reading Assignments: Students are expected to have read all assignments from our textbook and from each chapter’s PowerPoint slides (read and listen). It is vitally important for students to take notes since all of the questions on all 3 exams are from the PowerPoint slides and voice lecture.2. Exams: There are three exams for this semester. The first midterm, second midterm, and finalexam will be combination of multiple choice and essay questions. The questions will be from the PowerPoint video lectures. All three exams are each worth 100 points and have the same format. Section A will have 15 multiple/true or false questions. Section A is worth 30 points (each question is worth 2 points). Section B will involve a factual situation for students to apply laws to the facts using the four-step method for every legal issue. Section B is worth 70 points. The first midterm and second midterms are noncumulative. The final exam will be cumulative. Students will have 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete each of the midterm and the final exam. All three exams will be administered via Canvas. Students are to complete all three exams on Canvas. All of the questions in all three exams will come from each the PowerPoint’s video lecture. In the events of an emergency (the professor will require proof) and a student is allowedto make up an exam, the professor will deduct points at his discretion. The professor reserves the right to determine what constitutes an emergency. 3. Team Presentation: There will not be a team presentation project this semester. 4. Attendance and Class Participation: Students are expected to “attend” classes by reading our textbook, reading each chapter’s PowerPoint video lectures, AND taking notes by listening to each PowerPoint slide’s video lecture. Students are to participate on each week’s Discussion assignment to discuss questions, concerns, or sharing information with the class. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined by the Chaffey College Student Disciplinary Procedures as “amisrepresentation of published ideas or words of another as one’s own.” Plagiarism will not be 3
tolerated. Any student caught plagiarizing will receive an automatic F for that exam, paper, or presentation. At the discretion of the professor, a report of the incident may also be filed for disciplinary review. The professor’s suggestion to avoid plagiarism: when in doubt, CITE.Cheating:Cheating is defined by the Chaffey College Student Disciplinary Procedures as “utilizing dishonest means to meet course requirements.” Cheating will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will receive an automatic F for that exam, paper, or presentation. At the discretion of the professor, a report of the incident may also be filed for disciplinary review. Theprofessor’s suggestion to avoid cheating: when in doubt, DONT DO IT.Points Distribution:Class Participation via Discussion assignments24 pts.1stMidterm100 pts.2ndMidterm100 pts.Final Exam100 pts.Total: 324 pts.How Points and Percentages Equate to Grades:100-93%A – A+ (96% or more)76-74%C92-90%A-73-70%C89-87%B+69-67%D+86-83%B66-63%D82-80%B-62-60%D-79-77%C+59 %<FKeeping Track of your Points:1stMidterm2ndMidtermFinalClass ParticipationTotalAdd the number of your total points and then divide it by 324. The result is your points in percentage. You can then check the above table to figure out your letter grade. Your grade is also posted on our Canvas website.Withdrawal: If you choose to withdraw from class, it is your responsibility to do so.4
Personal Legal Questions:The professor will not give legal advice to students’ personal legal questions due to potential conflict of interest issues.Course ScheduleWeek 1 (8/12 - 8/18)Introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Week 2 (8/19 – 8/25)Chapter 5 Week 3 (8/26 – 9/1)Chapter 5 continued and First Midterm – Thursday, August 29thWeek 4 (9/2 – 9/8)Chapter 3 and Chapter 4September 2ndis Labor Day Holiday Week 5 (9/9 – 9/15)Chapter 6 and Chapter 7Week 6 (9/16 – 9/22)Chapter 7 continued and Second Midterm -- Thursday, September 19thWeek 7 (9/23 – 9/29)Chapter 7 continued and Chapter 8 Week 8 (9/30 – 10/4)Final Exam – Friday, October 4th(Short Week)5
*The above schedule is subject to change. This syllabus is subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of such changes.6