Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Law (Online)

LEGL 1100-30I

Course: LEGL 1100-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32426

Course Description

Introduction to the origin of our legal system and the theories giving rise to our common law, civil law, ethics, substantive and procedural law, and statutory law systems, with emphasis on legal terminology in our contemporary legal system. Review of the court system and emphasis on our state courts and an overview of substantive law and legal assistant skills. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None 

Required Texts


Required E-Text
Introduction to Law by Christine Taylor


This course's e-textbook and related PowerPoint presentations are offered through the Top Hat Platform. The course is listed through tophat.com as Introduction to Law - Fall 2025, Join: 429547. Students were sent emails from Top Hat regarding purchase of the e-textbook and related platform, as well as links to student assistance matters. Students must order their e-textbooks through the link in that email in order to receive a special price.  Please check the Spam folder for this email as it was sent from the TopHat Platform.

Learning Outcomes

1.   Understand the historic foundation of the American Legal System with emphasis on the main sources of American law.  
2.   Understand the Constitution and its amendments and how the Constitution is the primary source of American Law. 
3.   Differentiate between various categories of law as criminal/civil and substantive/procedural as well as understand the concept of jurisdiction. 
4.   Describe the role of legal professionals including paralegals within the legal system and ethical considerations regarding their work.
5.   Describe the judicial system and its structure as well as analyze and brief court opinions, and understand the basic requirements of rules of court. 
6.   Describe the role of the legislature within the legal system as well as analyze statutory law.
7.   Describe the role of the executive branch within the legal system as well as analyze regulatory law. 
8.   Understand the basic elements of substantive law and related legal specialties re torts, family law, contracts, business law, probate, property law, and criminal law. 

Course Requirements

The goal of the course is to provide a basic understanding of the U.S. legal system from a system from a variety of perspectives, both civil and criminal. The course focus includes essential history and the working structure of the government, procedural issues in the courts, specific concepts of basic categories of law such as contract law and property, the distinctive characteristics of criminal law and procedure, and, finally, the roles of various legal professionals and the effect of legal ethics on the practice of law. It is intended that the course lay a solid foundation for those who intend to pursue advanced legal courses and to provide a functional appreciation for students of other disciplines with regard to the impact of the legal system on those disciplines.  
These will be achieved through the following:

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS/QUIZZES/DISCUSSIONS:  These count for 40% of the final grade.  
  • There will be one quiz for each Chapter and Module which are worth 100 points each.
  • There are five discussion throughout the course which apply the material for that week's module to an interactive experiential discussion.  Students are required to post an initial discussion and respond to at least one classmate's discussion post.  Each discussion is worth 25 points
  • Students will view the film "Separate but Equal" as an analysis of the Supreme Court Case Brown v. Board of Education and will submit a 2-3 paragraph response which is worth 50 points. 

PROJECTS:  These count for 60% of the final grade (20% each).  Students work in teams of 3-4 to complete each project.  Drafts are submitted and feedback provided from the instructor prior to submitting the final projects.  Students may self-select their own team or will be randomly placed in a team.  Before each project a new team will be created.  The projects include:

  • Project 1: Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Case Brief (team project)
  • Project 2: Legal Analysis Project: Law Office Memorandum (team project)
  • Final Project: Report on Legal Professional and Judicial Proceeding (team project)

Course Outline

TENTATIVE CALENDAR 
Each Module relates to one week.
(The following sequence may be subject to change with notice.)

FIRST DAY OF CLASS:
Discussion:  Introductions
Syllabus & Course Overview

MODULE ONE
Chapter One: The Four Sources of American Law
Related Power Point Presentation
Homework Quiz

MODULE TWO:
Chapter Two – The Constitution of the United States 
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz

MODULE THREE:
Chapter Three – The Courts and Judge-Made Law 
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz

MODULE FOUR
Chapter Four – Landmark Supreme Court Opinions & Case Briefing
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz
Team Project:  Landmark Supreme Court Opinion Case Brief (includes separate submission of draft brief & LexisNexis court opinion copy)

MODULE FIVE:
A Study of Brown v. Board of Education through the Film SEPARATE BUT EQUAL
Homework Quiz
Team Project: Draft of Case Brief & Opinion from LexisNexis re Landmark Supreme
Court Opinion DUE

MODULE SIX:
Chapter Five – Law of the Legislative Branch: Statutes
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz

MODULE SEVEN: 
Chapter Six – Administrative Law
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz
Team Project: Landmark Supreme Court Opinion Case Brief DUE

MODULE EIGHT:
Chapter Seven – Legal Method
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz
Team Project: Law Office Memorandum (including draft memo assignment)

MODULE NINE: 
Chapter Eight – Legal Systems
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz
DUE: Law Office Memo Draft re Team Project

MODULE TEN: 
Chapter Nine – Substantive, Criminal Law
Related Power Point Presentation & Additional Materials
Homework Quiz

MODULE ELEVEN:
Chapter Ten – Substantive, Civil Law
Related Power Point Presentation & Additional Materials
Homework Quiz

MODULE TWELVE:
Team Project Two: Law Office Memorandum DUE
Chapter Eleven – Legal Professionals and the Ethical Rules They Must Follow
Related Power Point Presentation
Discussion
Homework Quiz

MODULE THIRTEEN:
Team Project: Report on a Legal Professional & Judicial Proceeding

MODULE FOURTEEN:
Project: Report on a Legal Professional & Judicial Proceeding DUE

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


All assignments, projects, homework, and the like are due and must be received online in the Canvas classroom on or before the matter’s due date. Late submissions will not be accepted without prior approval. In the event of an emergency or exceptional circumstance, an allowance may be made at the instructor’s discretion if requested by the student to the instructor as soon as possible after the related situation.



Attendance Policy

This course is offered online through Canvas. Students are expected to spend the same amount of time in their Canvas classroom, with their studies, assignments, etc. as is expected of students in an in-person classroom environment.  Each week students will be assigned readings, studies, homework/discussions, project work, etc. and they are to complete such matters in a timely fashion.  Zoom Office Hours will be held each Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. and students are encouraged to utilize this time to discuss any attendance and course concerns. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.