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National College Credit Recommendation Service

Board of Regents  |  University of the State of New York

Civil Litigation - LawShelf Educational Media

Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences

Length:

Versions 1 and 2: Various (self-study, self-paced).

Dates:

Version 1: June 2021 - November 2021. Version 2: December 2021 - Present. 

Objectives:

Version 1 and 2: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: describe the structure of the American court system, including the roles of the federal and state court systems; apply the rules of jurisdiction and venue; define and describe the various types of pleadings and parties relevant to a civil action; explain the rules and procedures relevant to a civil case, including jury selection, burden of proof, presentation of evidence, and jury instructions; and determine the available steps after a judgment is rendered in a civil case.

Instruction:

Version 1: This course is a survey of the civil litigation process, from the filing through appeals. In addition to the mechanics of the civil litigation system, the course includes an overview of the American court system, both on the state and federal levels. It also focuses on questions of jurisdiction and venue. Version 2: Same as version 1 with expanded academic readings and assessments including case studies. 

Credit recommendation:

Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours in American Courts, Judicial Systems, or Administration of Justice (6/21). Version 2: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in American Courts, Judicial Systems, or Administration of Justice (11/21 administrative review). 

Length:

Various (self-study, self-paced).

Dates:

June 2021 - Present. 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: describe the goals behind the discovery rules and the timing of the discovery process; apply appropriate privileges and other limitations that can be used to shield information from discovery requests; identify information subject to mandatory disclosure rules; explain how Rule 26 of the federal rules of civil procedure works to mandate disclosures from the parties in litigation; differentiate between types of depositions and their purposes; and apply the rules governing various discovery devices, including depositions, requests for production and interrogatories.

Instruction:

This course focuses on the discovery process in civil litigation, by which parties conduct their investigations and find evidence to be used at trial. Instruction  covers the goals behind the discovery rules and the timing of the process and  also highlights the various available discovery processes, such as depositions, interrogatories, and requests for production. 

Credit recommendation:

In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Legal Technology. Civil Procedure, Insurance Investigations, or Civil Aspects of Law Enforcement (6/21).

Length:

Various (self-study, self-paced).

Dates:

December 2021 - Present. 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: define “electronically stored information” in many of its forms; explain the technologies involved in storing and retrieving electronic information; apply the rules of civil procedure to electronic information; apply the proportionality rule and other rules unique to E-discovery; and determine the extent with which information sought and recovered during the E-discovery process is admissible at trial.

Instruction:

The E-Discovery course offers a cutting-edge look into the legal and technological factors that impact the electronic discovery process in civil litigation. It explains the basic technologies involved in electronically stored information and retrieval of that information. It also applies the rules of civil procedure as they relate to electronically stored information and the extent to which those rules govern E-Discovery.

Credit recommendation:

In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Legal Technology or Paralegal Studies (6/21). 

Length:

Various (self-study, self-paced).

Dates:

June 2021 - Present. 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: research and apply the rules of evidence as they relate to various trial situations; determine whether evidence is relevant to a given situation and whether it is barred by character evidence rules; apply the rules of hearsay to determine whether testimony is hearsay and/or whether a hearsay exception applies; and evaluate whether opinion testimony should be admissible from a layperson and/or from an expert in a given circumstance.

Instruction:

This course looks at the tapestry of rules that govern what information can be presented during criminal and civil proceedings and focuses primarily on the Federal Rules of Evidence. Other topics include relevance, character evidence, hearsay, witness testimony, the original documents rule, and many others.

Credit recommendation:

In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Legal Technology, Criminal Evidence, or Paralegal Studies (6/21).

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