PARALEGAL STUDIES (PLGL)

PLGL 134  INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES  
3 unit  

Investigation of the paralegal career. Relationship of attorney and paralegal in decision making and systems procedures. Introduction to law; composition, location and jurisdiction of courts; legal terminology; bibliography, social forces and effect of law. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade
PLGL 135  WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE ADMINISTRATION  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Overview of property, wills and general estate planning; overview of probate and probate court, guardianships, conservatorships, elder law, tax-related issues, probate alternatives; probate litigation. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 135A  WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE ADMINISTRATION  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Overview of property, wills and general estate planning; overview of probate and probate court, guardianships, conservatorships, elder law, tax-related issues, probate alternatives; probate litigation. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 136  PROPERTY LAW, BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITORS' RIGHTS  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Law of personal property, real property, joint ownership, leases, deeds; drafting problems in real estate transactions; systems of recording, search of public documents, bankruptcy laws and forms; creditors' rights, debtors' exemptions and secured transactions. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 137  LEGAL WRITING AND DRAFTING  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): PLGL 134 or PLGL 145A

Advanced legal drafting and writing and special research projects. Preparation of specific court papers and general legal papers. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 138  PARALEGAL STUDIES FIELD PRACTICE  
4 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Maintain enrollment in 7 units or more including field practice and in Paralegal Studies curriculum

Supervised field experience or employment in legal office leading to training in systems approach for paralegals (legal assistants). Total of 360 hours field practice.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 139  TORT LAW AND CLAIMS INVESTIGATION  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Intentional torts and negligence, including insurance claims procedures; evaluation of personal injury claims and pleadings used in law offices either in settlement or litigation. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 140  FAMILY LAW AND DISSOLUTION PROCEDURES  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Law and procedure relative to marriage, dissolution, adoption and community property. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 141  CIVIL AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Rules of civil and criminal evidence, admissibility of evidence in court, types of evidence, hearsay evidence and exceptions, expert testimony, and scientific evidence. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 142  LAW OFFICE PROCEDURES AND ETHICS  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Basic objectives of law office management procedures. Coordination of operational skills in a law office. Ethics of the legal profession and the judiciary. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 143  WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW  
3 unit  

Background of Worker's Compensation Law. Relevant statutory and case law, substantive and procedural issues including compensability, benefit structure and tort law relationships of Worker's Compensation. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 145A  LEGAL RESEARCH  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Introduction to the technical skills of legal research through the use of a case digest, interpretation of statutes, Shepardizing authorities, and prioritizing authorities. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 145B  COMPUTER AIDED LEGAL RESEARCH  
1 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134 and 145A

On-line legal research using online legal databases and other information available. Composing queries and researching case law, statutes, and legal periodicals. Total of 9 hours lecture and 27 hours laboratory.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 146  COMPUTER USE FOR THE LAW OFFICE  
2 unit  
Prerequisite(s): PLGL 134

Use of software programs in the law office. Applications include software for word processing, Judicial Council forms, jury instruction preparation, legal calendaring, case management, trial preparation, time keeping, billing, and accounting. Recommended basic word processing skills. Total of 36 hours lecture and 18 hours laboratory.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 147  INTRODUCTION TO E-DISCOVERY  
2 unit  
Prerequisite(s): PLGL 134

Introduces E-Discovery, the E-Discovery Reference Model ("EDRM"), and the software used in law firms and legal departments for document review. Current trends in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, social media and cloud computing, discovery issues and the practical application of these rules. Intended for students in the Paralegal Studies Program or in the paralegal profession, but open to all students. Total of 36 hours lecture and 18 hours laboratory.

Grade Mode: Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 148  IMMIGRATION LAW  
3 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of PLGL 134

Historical background; administration of immigration law; citizenship and nationality; immigration preference system; non-immigrants; visas; removal; refugees and asylum. Total of 54 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Letter Grade, Pass/No-Pass
PLGL 150  PARALEGAL STUDIES: WORKFORCE PREPARATION SEMINAR  
1 unit  
Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in or completion of final semester of Paralegal Studies courses

Designed to help Paralegal Studies students bridge the gap between the educational institution and the workplace. Resume writing, interviewing for employment, and professional networking. Intended for students in the last semester of the Paralegal Studies Program and earning the Certificate of Achievement. Total of 18 hours lecture.

Grade Mode: Audit, Pass/No-Pass