LAW 8 Criminal Litigation: Law and Procedure

Units: 3
Prerequisites: LAW 4 Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing with a grade of “C” or better.
Corequisites: LAW 4.
This course involves the study of the substantive and procedural rules, skills, knowledge, and forms for handling federal and California state criminal cases. Course topics include select overviews of the criminal court system, criminal investigation and prosecution, discovery and investigation, evidence, motions, document and trial preparation and procedures, sentencing, relief, and appeals with an emphasis on the role of the paralegal. The course also includes select overviews of elements of crimes against person and property, parties to a crime, and defenses to crimes, as well as an analysis of procedural law and rights relating to arrest, search and seizure, rights to counsel and a jury, evidentiary issues, sentencing and appeals. (CSU)