Legal Assisting (LA) Courses
LA 300 Introduction to Law and the American Legal System
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course introduces the American legal system, its history, and function. It provides an overview of several important areas of law such as torts and crimes and the legal assistant's role in the system.
LA 310 Civil Procedures and Litigation
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is an introduction to the California court system with emphasis on understanding the practical aspects of litigation and the proper procedures required by statutes and rules of court. It covers the phases of California court procedure, including state and Federal constitutional limitations, jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, and motions. It also includes the forms by which matters are submitted to the court system from pre-litigation through appeals.
LA 312 Torts and Personal Injury
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is an overview of substantive tort law as it applies to personal injury (PI) cases. It introduces tort concepts, such as negligence, intent, and strict liability, including the elements required to prove liability and defenses available to litigants. This course covers pretrial procedures, such as discovery, settlement offers, and witness and trial preparation.
LA 314 Contract Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers basic contract principles. Topics include formation, validity, defenses, rights of third parties, performance, breach, remedies, and damages.
LA 320 Legal Research
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course provides the paralegal with the basic tools of legal research in both federal and California law, with emphasis on California materials. It covers the location and use of primary and secondary sources, the elements of a court decision, and how to brief a case.
LA 321 Legal Writing
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 320 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is a continuation of LA 320: Legal Research. It includes the application of research methods to gather information which may be used in a variety of written products. It covers synthesizing information into various documents typically used in the law office. Documents created may include interoffice memoranda, court briefs, and letters to clients.
LA 322 Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 321 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course builds on the research and writing skills covered in LA 320 and LA 321. It focuses on refining legal research, analytical, and writing skills with an emphasis on researching and applying most current codes, rules, and practices pertaining to e-discovery, meta data mining, and other technical issues; it also covers drafting various discovery requests/responses and discovery motions/oppositions and/or other documents filed in Law and Motion departments relative to electronically stored information. Extensive use of computers and the internet is required.
LA 330 Family Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:LA 320
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers California Family Law relating to dissolution procedures, property issues, and non-marital relationships. Legal procedures, and preparation of necessary forms and their significance are emphasized.
LA 332 Administrative Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers administrative law and procedure. Topics include comparison of administrative law to civil and criminal law, and administrative due process.
LA 334 Criminal Law and Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course provides background in both substantive crimes and criminal procedure. It includes a detailed study of the operation of the criminal justice system, from arrest and filing of charges through trial, conviction and appeal.
LA 336 Immigration Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is an elective in the Paralegal Studies program and is designed to prepare students for work in an immigration law setting. Students will learn about the Justice Department, the Labor Department, and the State Department, and how these agencies administer immigration and naturalization laws.
LA 340 Techniques of Interview
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course provides general background information about basic communication and relates this information to the skills used by a legal assistant in interviewing clients and witnesses.
LA 342 Evidence
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Advisory:LA 310
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers the rules of evidence in federal and state courts. Topics include Hearsay Rule, Best Evidence Rule, and organizing deposition transcripts.
LA 350 Law Office Management
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:LA 300
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers aspects of the paralegal's role in a law office. Law office technology, accounting, time and records management, and communication skills are examined.
LA 360 Corporations Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers corporation terminology and legal requirements governing corporations. Topics include formation, dissolution and liquidation of a corporation.
LA 362 Estate Planning and Probate Procedure
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 and 320 with grades of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course covers estate planning, including the manner in which property may be held and ways it can be transferred. Testate and intestate probate procedures are included.
LA 363 Public Benefits Clinic
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:LA 300, 320, and 321 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:LA 332
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is a study of the activities of a legal public benefits clinic, including conducting client interviews, participating in legal consultations, performing legal research, and carrying out tasks needed in clinic operations, all under the direct supervision of clinic attorneys. This course also covers research, examinations, and conduct according to the Professional Rules of Responsibility and Ethics.
LA 364 Landlord Tenant Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course focuses on the most common types of landlord-tenant disputes. It covers litigation and non-litigation matters. Topics also include the different types of tenancy, what constitutes habitability, and tenant's rights and obligations.
LA 365 Legal Clinic
- Units:3
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:LA 300, 310, 320, and 321 with grades of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is a study of the activities of a legal clinic, including conducting client interviews, participating in legal consultations, performing legal research, and carrying out tasks needed in clinic operations, all under the direct supervision of clinic attorneys. This course also covers research, examinations, and conduct according to the Professional Rules of Responsibility and Ethics.
LA 366 Basic Bankruptcy Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course is an introduction to the practical aspects of representing debtors or creditors within the bankruptcy system. Topics include voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy, preparation of statements, and schedules for filing.
LA 368 Workers' Compensation Law
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:LA 300 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course provides an overview of the Workers' Compensation Law in California. It focuses on the procedural aspects of handling a Workers' Compensation claim from both the applicant perspective and the defense perspective.
LA 495 Independent Studies in Legal Assisting
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.
LA 498 Work Experience in Legal Assisting
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:30 - 300 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must be in a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job related to legal assisting with a cooperating site supervisor. Students are advised to consult with the Legal Assisting Department faculty to review specific certificate and degree work experience requirements.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:AA/AS Area III(b)
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment or advancement within the field of legal assisting. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in transfer-level degree occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce, completion of Title 5 required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at the work site, and developing workplace skills and competencies.
During the semester, the student is required to complete 37.5 hours of related paid work experience, or 30 hours of related unpaid work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 37.5 or 30 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. All students are required to attend the first class meeting, a mid-semester meeting, and a final meeting. Additionally, students who have not already successfully completed a Work Experience course will be required to attend weekly orientations while returning participants may meet individually with the instructor as needed. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times when there are new or expanded learning objectives. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.
LA 499 Experimental Offering in Legal Assisting
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:June 1, 2022
This is the experimental courses description.
