Law 110: Legal Terminology

Santa Ana College, Business Division

Instructor:  Rebekah Thomas, Esq.

Units:  2        

Spring 2018

Thursdays 6:00 PM to 10:15 PM

Caesar Chavez Building: A-228

Description of the course:

Legal questions come up regularly in our daily lives and the language of law is everywhere.  Legal Terminology is a comprehensive guide to the language of the legal system.  If you're planning on purchasing a house, involved in a landlord-tenant dispute, making a will, buying a car, getting health insurance, applying for a credit card or hiring a lawyer then understanding the terminology of the contracts, forms and systems is vital for a successful outcome. 

This course is ideal for anyone wanting to quickly and easily learn common legal terms.  Each week we will tackle an area of the law and given context to the terms used. 

Regardless of the path that each student plans to take with their career, whether its looking for work in the legal or business world or otherwise, this course will help you learn a new language the 'legal language'.

Course Textbook(s):

This semester we are using a new text book which you can read or purchase in many different formats. The textbook can be rented on a variety of websites.  Check it out early so you are prepared for the start of the semester. You choose the best option for you. 

• Legal Terminology, with Flashcards, 4^th, Cathy Okrent. ISBN-13:978-1-1111-3679-6 
• Black’s Law Dictionary, latest ed. Wests Publishing, 2015, ISBN:13-978-03142 (There should be a free edition online)

You can find a class schedule here where you can view the reading for the next class along with the schedule for quizzes/ assignments/ discussions boards, etc.