Welcome to PLEG100
Introduction to Legal Studies
Welcome to Introduction to Legal Studies!
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this class and introduce myself. I have taught Introduction to Legal Studies many times and it is one of my favorite courses to teach. I hope that you enjoy taking this course as much as I do teaching it.
In this course, you will be introduced to some basic legal concepts and theories. You will also explore a variety of areas in the law. This course will encompass an introduction to the American legal system with an emphasis on the organization of the federal and state government and court systems, and the procedural steps involved in litigating a dispute. You will be introduced to legal ethics, legal research, critical thinking, and legal reasoning skills. We will examine the role of paralegals as well as survey substantive areas of law including torts, contract law, property & estate law, business law, family law, and criminal law and procedure.
I strongly suggest that you carefully review the syllabus, supplemental syllabus and tracking calendars for this course. You can locate these items in the "Introductory Documents" tab on the left tool bar in the classroom. These documents will provide you with valuable information about the course, including policies, assignments, grading and contact information. Further, you will need information contained within these documents to answer the Introductory Course Quiz for Week One.
REMEMBER -- this course is only 7.5 weeks and it moves quickly!! Please stay on track with your reading and assignments. I am committed to helping you succeed. I do NOT bite and no question is stupid! I am here to help you and, usually, the only stupid question is the one never asked. If there is any confusion with regard to any of the course material, please let me know and I will clarify any concerns or questions you may have. Please feel free to use the "Ask Your Instructor" forum or email your inquiries. If you have a question that may benefit everyone in the class, feel free to also post it in the Discussion forum. When you contact me, I will respond to your inquiry within 24 to 48 hours. Lastly, unless I encounter an issue, I will also be updating the grades in Blackboard every Thursday by 11:59 p.m. (EST).
I look forward to working with and learning more about you as the course progresses. Good luck!