Law
13 courses · El Camino College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Winter 2027 · Spring 2027
LAW 4 Legal Environment of Business
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 4 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL 84
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an introduction to a legal environment in which a business firm operates. Topics include an introduction to the American legal systems, contracts, torts, product liability, forms of business organization, trade regulation, labor law, environmental law, and international business law.
LAW 5 Business Law
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course explores the fundamental legal principles pertaining to business transactions with an introduction to the legal process. Topics include sources of law and ethics, contracts, torts, agency, criminal law, negotiable instruments, business organizations, and judicial and administrative processes.
LAW 11 Introduction to Legal Research
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000) and LAW 4 or LAW 5
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will give the paralegal a general introduction into the basic legal research tools, including legal citation, legal analysis, and writing of legal memorandum and legal documents. The course includes a component of training in online computer research.
LAW 12 Probate Procedures
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an overview of the procedural structure of basic practice. The course is designed to cover every aspect of probate procedures. All necessary forms and procedures will be examined and explained from the client interview to the closing of the estate. This course will cover all aspects of practice concerning conservatorship, guardianships of incompetents and guardianships of minors.
LAW 13 Family Law
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on legally recognized relationships. Emphasis will be placed on the dissolution of a marriage including the legal theories behind the dissolution and the public policy supporting those theories. The course includes requirements of a valid marriage, a Judgment of Nullity, legal separation, dissolution of marriage proceedings, Order to Show Cause, and preparation of proper forms. This course also covers the concepts of separate and community property and division upon dissolution. Other aspects of family law including children's rights, adoption and guardianship are discussed.
LAW 14 Tort Law
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Advisory
- LAW 4 or LAW 5
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course includes the study of intentional wrongs, inadvertent wrongs, and that type of conduct for which the law imposes absolute liability. Special emphasis is given to concepts of causation, standard of care, reasonable person, duty, and defenses to liability. Also covered are wrongs which produce intangible harm such as defamation, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, and misuse of legal process.
LAW 15 Civil and Criminal Evidence
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Advisory
- LAW 16
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines the rules of civil and criminal evidence. It emphasizes how to develop and utilize evidence and how to summarize documents and other evidence in an ordered and systematic matter so that the evidence will be readily available for use by the attorney in preparation for and use in trial.
LAW 16 Civil Procedure
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment in LAW 11 with department approval
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines civil court procedures before filing a lawsuit in a court of law through trial and appeal, and is designed to provide expertise in drafting legal documents from the inception of the civil action through the pleading stage. Topics include parties to the action, jurisdiction and venue, the summons, defaults, pleadings, and attacking the pleadings. Students are also introduced to the law of evidence.
LAW 17 Legal Research and Writing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to the practical writing skills and necessary analytical skills required in the law office. Topics include analysis of cases, analysis of statutes and administrative regulations, drafting and generating objective documents used in the legal environment, and generating and drafting persuasive documents submitted by attorneys to the trial and appellate courts.
LAW 18 Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent experience
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines basic concepts and the proper use of wills and trusts in estate planning. Topics include the taxes through estate planning, probate, methods of holding title to property, tax effects of gifts, gifts to minors, laws of intestacy, state and federal tax requirements during life and upon death, guardianship, and conservatorship.
LAW 19 Introduction to Legal Technology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- LAW 11 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to the use of computers in the law office and the utilization of legal specific software for forms and document preparation. Emphasis is placed on how to automate document production and litigation support systems. Introduction to legal and general electronic information databases are covered. Current legal research software, such as Westlaw and Lexis, sources on the internet, and time and billing software are also included in the course.
LAW 20 Paralegal Seminar
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- LAW 17 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines ethics, advanced paralegal communication skills, law office management, problem solving, and analysis skills. It also includes a component on employment, networking and job search.
LAW 95 Cooperative Work Experience Education
- Units
- 2-4
- Hours
- hours to be arranged
- Formerly
- Law 95abcd
- Transfers to
- CSU
Through a set of learning objectives established by the student, supervisor, and instructor, each student will work with and learn from experts in the Law field. These experiences will enable students to improve job skills, analyze career opportunities and requirements, and compare them to personal abilities and career expectations.