Civil Litigation I

PLA 2203

(fka PLA 2201)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

PLA 2203 Civil Litigation I (3) (A.A., A.S., A.A.S.) Recommended prerequisite or co requisite: PLA 1003.

This course emphasizes the civil court system and litigation procedures in the State of Florida and the Federal courts and will help prepare the legal assistant to assist the attorney with civil trial duties up to the appeal level. All basic aspects of civil litigation are studied, including preliminary office procedures and drafting of all pleadings including interrogatories. It will give students an understanding of substantive civil law and how to use the Florida and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The student, at the successful completion of this course, should be able to:

  1. Define a variety of legal terms and concepts relating to professionalism and the Unauthorized Practice of Law. (1.01)
  2. Explain the court system in the State of Florida. (2.01)
  3. Discuss the fundamental features of civil litigation, criminal and administrative procedures. (2.04)
  4. Discuss case law, how it is made, its component parts, and how to use cases to resolve a legal problem. (2.06)
  5. Contrast case law with statutory law, and explain how to interpret statutes, using intrinsic and extrinsic sources. (2.07)
  6. Describe the jurisdictional bases of the various trial courts and appellate courts in Florida.
  7. Diagram the different State and Federal Courts and describe the basic jurisdiction of each.
  8. Explain the basic concept of the Statute of Limitations. (4.05)
  9. List and briefly explain six causes of action in civil cases. (4.04)
  10. Discuss service of process and the requirements necessary to obtain service.
  11. Define a variety of terms associated with litigation and trial practice. (4.01)
  12. Describe the basic rules of procedure and evidence code. (4.07)
  13. Discuss the purpose of, and draft, a legal memorandum. (2.19) to give attorney with #15.
  14. Prepare pleadings (such as a complaint and necessary forms for service of process) from information given in a simple hypothetical situation. (4.03) and maintain in a #16
  15. Demonstrate and describe how client files are opened, maintained, and closed. (10.5)
  16. Explain the sequence and basic contents of the pleadings. (4.02)
  17. Discuss and prepare discovery documents. (4.06)
  18. Describe what is meant by pre-trial discovery.
  19. Evaluate the types and uses of evidence.
  20. Describe the typical steps in a jury and nonjury civil trial from the opening statements through the appeal, if any. (4.10)
  21. Explain filing deadlines for various kinds of pleadings and motions plus appellate papers,and exceptions, if any, to those deadlines.

Date last Revised 10/08