Course Information

PARA-135-40184

10/28/17-12/16/17

Saturday A-226

9:00 AM – 2:50 PM

Instructor

William T. Tanner

Phone

(714)-624-8144

Email

Tanner_William@sac.edu

Tannerlaw@gmail.com

Office Hours

30 Minutes before class

Course Objectives

This course is designed to give the student an introduction to federal bankruptcy act and court procedures for the paralegal, the functions of the bankruptcy trustee, and a detailed examination of the process of being declared a bankrupt. May require a field trip.

Required Text

No Text Required

CONTACT ME/CONFERENCE:  My office is in the Business Division, A-107-1.  You are welcome to stop by anytime, but especially during office hours.  You may also use remind.com to text me.  Instructions for joining are below.  My email is tanner_william@SAC.edu.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect of this course or the legal profession with you.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Your attendance is expected at every class and attendance will be factored into the final grade you receive.  You should pick up your attendance card upon entering the classroom.  If you are late to class, you may not be able to sign in.  A student may be dropped for excessive absences when the total hours of absences exceed 10% of the total scheduled hours of the class.  It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from a course. However, because of enrollment demand a student may be dropped by the instructor when not appearing at the first class meeting.  Under some circumstances, a student may be reinstated by the instructor.

TECHNOLOGY:  Students are encouraged to bring a pair of headphones to class so that they may watch video independently when asked to do so.  If you have a “smartphone” or device that can access SAC WiFi, please also bring it to class.  (Neither headphones or device are required, however.)  

Canvas:  In addition to the lecture and assignments in the classroom, assignments, documents and information for the class must be accessed through https://rsccd.instructure.com/.  When you are officially enrolled in the class you will have access to the Blackboard class webpage.  You may access this website from home, the library or the student labs at SAC.  You are expected to monitor the Canvas web site and complete all assignments in a timely manner when posted on the web site.  The schedule of reading and assignments will be posted on the website.

Quizlet:  Lexicon specific to the legal profession has been collected into a set of flashcards available through Quizlet.  You are responsible for knowing the terminology.  Please access Quizlet by clicking on the Blackboard link on the left, or with the following link:  

https://quizlet.com/SAC_Paralegal/classes  

GRADING/ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Points will be roughly allocated as follows:

70% - Tests and Assignments

30% - Attendance, Class Participation and Presentations  

The grading scale is as follows:

A = 90% and above as compared to peers.   Two or fewer classes missed with few or no tardies.  Class participation is insightful and reflects students review of Blackboard materials for the week and an interest in the subject matter.   

B = 80% - 89% as compared to peers.  Three or fewer classes missed with few or no tardies.  Class participation is thoughtful and reflects students review of Blackboard materials for the week and an interest in the subject matter.

C = 70% - 79% as compared to peers.   Four or fewer classes missed with few or no tardies.  Some class participation and general interest in the subject matter.

D and F = At instructor's discretion.

EXAMS:  Exams will consist of a combination of true-false, multiple-choice, and short-answer essay questions.  Exams will be based on Blackboard materials and any assigned reading.  We will discuss as a class if an exam is cumulative, open or closed book.  Depending on the classroom set-up (especially technology) we will decide on Scantron or Blackboard based exams.       

HOMEWORK:  Homework will be posted on Canvas and must be submitted through Blackboard unless otherwise specified in the assignment instructions.  Homework is due before the date specified. If no date is specified, all work is to be completed prior to the last day of class.  Points may be deducted from late assignments.  

MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT/EXAM POLICY:   Students must turn in homework and take exams during the times expected; nevertheless you are allowed to turn in late work up to the point of the final exam.  Missing a deadline, however, will be reflected in your grade.        

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Please let me know if you need accommodations as the result of a disability.  A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying himself/herself to the instructor and to the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Physical Disability Center in Johnson Center, U-103, or phone (714) 564-6264, TTY (714) 564-6284 for a referral to the appropriate DSPS Department. If you would like more information, visit http://sac.edu/StudentServices/DSPS.

MANDATED REPORTER:  Your instructor is a “responsible employee” as defined under Title IX, which means that I must report all sexual or gender-based harassment to the District.  I am willing to discuss these personal subjects with you, however, please be aware that after our discussion, I will attempt to connect you with resources and then must report the incident to the District Title IX Coordinator.  

Title IX provides: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

For more information on the policy, please see: http://www.rsccd.edu/Departments/Risk-Management/TitleIX/Pages/Mandatory-Reporter-FAQ's-for-Faculty-and-Staff.aspx

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:  This is the SAC policy on cheating: “In cases where a violation of academic honesty is discovered, the faculty member is encouraged to file an ‘Academic Misconduct Incident Report’ form and distribute the form to the appropriate offices listed.  There are two categories of sanctions: Limited and College-wide. Limited sanctions include an academic action such as assigning a lower grade or a grade of “F” for the assignment, project, or test. College-wide sanctions include any sanction that will affect a student’s standing with the college-at- large, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the College.”

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:  Please review the following information http://sac.edu/StudentServices/Security/Pages/Student-Code-of-Conduct.aspx  

DISCLAIMER:  The information we discuss in class is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.  Nothing I say to you during the time you are enrolled in my class should be construed as establishing an attorney-client relationship.  I will not answer questions about specific legal matters that you, or another person known to you, may be experiencing.  

Week 1

Introductions

Collecting judgments-Effect of Bankruptcy-Stays

Week 2

The Different Chapters

B101 Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy

B101A Initial Statement About an Eviction Judgment Against you

B101B Statement About Payment of an Eviction Judgment Against You

B103A Application for Individuals to Pay the Fee in Installments

B103B Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived

B106    Declaration About Individual Debtor’s Schedules

Declarations

Week 3

The Means Test/Petition

B107     Your Statement of Financial Affairs for Individuals

B108     Statement if Intention

B119     Bankruptcy Preparer’s Notice

B121     Your Statement About Your Social Security Number

B122A-1Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income

B122A-1Supp     Statement of Exemption from Presumption of Abuse Under Sec                                  707(b)(2)

B122A-2 Chapter 7 Means Test Calculation

B423                 Certification About a Financial Management Course

Week 4

Schedules

B106A/B           Schedule A/B Property Individuals

B106C              Schedule C The property who claim as exempt

B106D              Schedule D Secured Claims

B106E/F            Schedule E/F Unsecured Claims

B106G              Schedule G Executory Contracts

MEANS TEST ASSIGNMENT DUE

Week 5

Schedules Continued

B106H             Schedule H Codebtors

B106I              Schedule I Income

B106J              Schedule J Expenses

B106J-2           Schedule J-2 Expenses of Separate Household

SCHEDULES A-G ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Week 6

Thanksgiving

Week 7

Chapter 13-Plans, Motions for Relief From Stay, Review for Final

SCHEDULES H-J2 ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Week 8

Final