American Legal Studies
Mr. Allaire - Room 236 - rallaire@cvs.k12.mi.us
Welcome to Mr. Allaire's American Legal Studies course for the 2021-2022 school year.
Course Description
This course is a practical guide to the legal system. Concepts include careers in law, constitutional rights, civil law, criminal law, the court system, lawyers and police powers. Students will be learning practical information and develop problem solving skills which will benefit them in today's law-saturated society. A heavy emphasis will be placed on actual cases (case law) and current events in American Law.
Unit 1: Origins of American Legal Philosophy
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U.S Constitution (Intro to Web Research)
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Judicial Branch - Structure and Organization
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Supreme Court
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Individual Rights vs. Police Powers
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The Adversary Process
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Burden of Proof/Due Process/Equal Justice
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Case Law and Precedent
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FILM STUDY – “To Kill a Mockingbird” (trial sequence only)
Unit 2: The Jury Process
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The Roots of the Jury System
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Eligibility and Selection
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Deciding a Case
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Steps in a Trial READING - “The Jury Trial as a Drama” (Lizzie Borden Trial)
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The Unpredictability of Juries
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FILM STUDY - “Twelve Angry Men”
Unit 3: Search and Seizure
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Fourth Amendment Origins/Briefing Cases
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Privacy Rights vs. Police Powers
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Warrants, Traffic Stops, Probable Cause, and Forfeiture
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School Law Issues - School Law Standards
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Student Rights and Adult Rights
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DOCUMENTARY – "Vernonia V. Acton"
Unit 4: Criminal Proceedure
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Arrests, Prosecutions, and Trials
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Forensic Science
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Participants and their Roles
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Investigations and the Criminal Justice Process
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DOCUMENTARY - “Why OJ Won” – (Criminal Trial)
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DOCUMENTARY – “Murder on a Sunday Morning”
Unit 5: The First Amendment and Freedom of Speech
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Speech and Expression
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Legal Research and Briefing Cases
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Landmark Precedents and Effect on School Policies
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Free Speech and Expression in Public School
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DOCUMENTARY – "Texas V. Johnson"
Unit 6: Civil Proceedure
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Resolving Disputes – Small Claims, District and Circuit Courts
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Participants and their Roles
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Lawsuits and the Effectiveness of Attorneys
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Case Resolution and Recovering Damages
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DOCUMENTARY: “Why OJ Lost” (Civil Trial)
Unit 7: Criminal Justice
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Rehabilitation and Retribution
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Crime Statistics and Incarceration
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THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE U.S.
Unit 8: The Legal Field as a Vocation (Careers)
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Becoming a Lawyer, Judge, or Court Employee
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Law Enforcement and Careers
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Law Schools and Acceptance
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The Bar Examination and Practicing Law
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Specialties in the Legal Field
Unit 9: The Legal Experience
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Visiting Court (Field Trip to a Criminal Court) - not likely this year due to Covid, but we will go if allowed.
Unit 10: Course Review and Final Exam
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Comprehensive Final Exam
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80% Objective / 20% Essay
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150 Points