LSP 115 - Principles of Substantive Law

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Introduces the dynamics of the law and legal process, including the origin and development of the law, types of law and the judicial system. Examines substantive legal subjects including contracts, torts, property, criminal and business related subjects. Emphasizes recognition of legal issues and the understanding of legal terminology. Credit may be earned in LAS 115 or LSP 115 but not in both.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 111 or OAT 151 with a minimum grade of “C”
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: No

Outcomes and Objectives

Describe the American judicial system.
1. Describe the federal and state court systems.
2. Identify the jurisdiction of various Michigan courts.
3. Explain the role of attorneys, judges, and other court personnel.
4. Describe the steps in a criminal and civil trial.
5. Describe the elements of criminal and civil infractions.
Identify important legal issues.
1. Discuss contemporary legal situations in popular magazines and newspapers.
2. Discuss legal issues, potential implications of same in court, and evaluate likelihood of prevailing.
3. Identify potential causes of action in a given situation.
4. Discuss, develop, and defend possible theories of recovery.
Demonstrate a working legal vocabulary.
1. Define terms in a contemporary legal practice and use them orally and in writing.
2. Describe the subtleties of legal terms used in case reports.
3. Explain terms of art appropriately in legal context.
Evaluate issue in the law.
1. Identify important aspects of a legal fact pattern.
2. Discuss similarities and differences between legal situations.
3. Prioritize issues.
4. Discuss issues in a thoughtful, objective manner reflecting sound legal reasoning.
5. Identify ramifications of one issue on the broader society.
6. Apply legal principles to real-life situations.
Explain ideas using legal language.
1. Identify legal terms correctly and in context.
2. Spell terms correctly.
3. Respond to a variety of written legal scenarios using terms properly.
4. Participate in written and spoken discussions taking positions and defending them with sound legal reasoning.
5. Apply logic and legal reasoning in written work and class discussions.
Demonstrate general knowledge of criminal and civil processes.
1. Demonstrate understanding of how the legal system operates at the federal and state level.
2. Distinguish between criminal and civil matters.
3. Identify the source of laws.
4. Develop working knowledge and vocabulary of criminal law, torts, family law, contracts, property, wills and trusts, and civil procedure.
5. Describe the steps in both civil and criminal trials in proper sequence.