Instructions to Course and Classwork
Law
34 - Legal Research
updated:
8/28/00
back to Law
34 - Section 3530 - Fall 2000
Law 34 is a course in legal research, and the process involved
in finding relevant cases and codes to legal issues and questions
in the law office. We use three online legal search engines to
search for the law, americanlegalnet.com, lexisone, and jurisearch.
The course description gives the student
some more information about the class.
Notes about this class
- we use the internet and a class webpage for this class.
- you do not have to take a computer class to do this course.
you will learn in class, how to cut
and paste, and other computer skills, including getting and using
your own email account.
- if you do not have a computer you can always print out the
assignments and hand them in to Prof. J. either in typwritten
or handwritten form
- our Paralegal homepage is located at
http://www.vcsun.org/~djordan
- the easiest way to get to our class home page is to first
go to http://lamission.org,
then click on class
web pages, then "P" at top of the index, then Paralegal Studies webpage,
then under Fall 2000, Law
34 - Section 3530 - Legal Research - Fall 2000
- The class is basically divided into discussions,
quizzes, and assignments,
and all of these are located on the class homepage
- You should first join the listbot for
the class. This is required of all students. To do this just
click on listbot, then type in your email address (eg. abogado@pacbell.net
is my email address) You will then be asked to type in your first
name, and last name. It will also ask you for a password ( I
suggest you just use the same password as your email so you do
not have to memorize another password)
You then need to go back to your email, open it up and you will
have received an email from lisbot "verification required",
and just click on "reply all/send", and your email
will send the verifier code back to listbot and you will be joined.
You may send an email to the class at law34f20@listbot.com,
and you may view the archive of listbot messages at View
List Archive. Prof. J. will send announcements and updated
grades using listbot so it is very important to join this.
- If you do not have your own email account, you may get one
at yahoo.com or
hotmail.com
There are countless
other free email services.
- We will discuss legal questions by using "hypernews
threaded discussions". Instructions on how to post your
answers to these discussions is located at instructions
on how to post. Students are encouraged to look at other
students' postings, but do not copy them "verbatim",
use your own creative imagination.
- The Syllabus for Law 34 -Legal Research is located at Syllabus.
- Grades will be posted regulary at Grades
on our webpage.
- If you are having problems with the course work, materials,
or anything, please contact Prof. J. at 818/546-7060, and set
up and appointment. You may also contact him, online, through
Javachat.
First, though, call and leave a message on Prof.J. voicemail
at 818/546-7060, to tell him the date and time you wish to visit
him online to discuss the class.
- You can always contact Prof. J. through email at abogado@pacbell.net
- Law 34 may be your first class in law. Law is fun, but also
difficult to study at times. If you need assistance in learning
how to study, then check out the
study skills, especially how
to study the law. (remember: add 50% to the time you initially
think you need to study for this class. You should work at least
6 - 9 hours a week for this class - 1-2 hours reading the 1 hour
to post your discussions, 2 hours for each written assignment)
If you have problems in "briefing cases" then look
at the materials located at "how
to brief" a law case., and additional materials on briefing
of law cases under
Law 10 assignments.
It is important to learn the distinction between a case and a
code.
Also you will become more familiar how courts
work, and their role in the legal system. We will also start
to learn how to do legal
research and legal
writing in class.
- Welcome to Law 34, and let Prof. Jordan know if you need
any help or assistance in this class.
- one of the best search engines, even for finding law is Google.com, so try it. You
may also find Findlaw very
helpful in finding law, and answering your legal questions.
- information about Paralegal jobs is located at Jobs.,
and also at lawjobs.itgo.com.
- Also remember that we have an excellent Index
of Legal Documents, and a Site
Index A-Z which you should become familiar with.
- A note on "late assignments". Many students have
"legitimate" reasons for turning in late work (quizzes,
discussions, and written assignments). It is within the discretion
of the instructor (Prof. J) to determine those instances. However,
in a majority of cases, students get comfortable in handing in
late assignments. All late assignments will be accepted, and
graded, and one whole letter grade will be deducted. Reason:
it is unfair to both the instructor and the remaining students
who work hard in the class to reward "late work".
- A note of attendance. Prof. J. both calls "roll at the
beginning of class", and distributes a "class sign
in sheet". If you miss more than three (3) unexecused absences
from class, Prof. J. may and can exclude you from class.
Be on time for class, and attend class. All 18 classes during
the spring and fall semester, and all 12 classes during the summer
are required to obtain an "A" in class. If you are
going to be sick, or miss a class, you must call or email Prof.
J. to let him know of your absence. You can leave a message on
his voicemail at 818/546-7060, or email
him at abogado@pacbell.net.
- You are invited to participate in the "Gun
Control Debate"., and you can earn extra credit for
partipating in it. Please email Prof. J. once you have posted
your argument, and posted a critique of another student's argument,
advising him of your participation so he can give you extra credit
back to Law 34
- Legal Research - Fall 2000