DESCRIPTION

This course is intended for individuals interested in becoming legal secretaries or paralegals as well as individuals interested in learning the practices and procedures for commencing a civil lawsuit.  Focuses on law office secretarial procedures and preparation of legal documents including without limitation; a complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.  Legal calendaring, trial court delay reduction requirements, local rules of court, service of process, and dismissal of a lawsuit will also be covered.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Define and analyze the participants and parties to a lawsuit.
2. Compare and differentiate between a civil case, criminal case, and family law case.
3. Identify methods for obtaining and gathering information prior to commencement of a lawsuit.
4. Demonstrate use of legal software and special word processing features to prepare legal documents including a complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.
5. Explain the various methods of serving a lawsuit, including publication.
6. Calculate statutory time periods according to the requirements for legal calendaring.
7. Generate documents required by Sonoma County for the trial court delay reduction program.
8. Outline and cite rules of the Sonoma County Courts relating to civil litigation.
9. Manage court process from filing a lawsuit to obtaining a judgment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

email: rpowell@santarosa.edu