FAMILY LAW
HDDR 6332
Thomas L. Hartsell, Jr.
JAN Term 2010
Wednesdays: 6:00 – 10:15 p.m.
Course Information
INSTRUCTOR Thomas L. Hartsell, Jr.
Law Office phone: (214) 363-0555 ext. 227
Cell Phone/Voice Mail: (972) 741-3307
SMU Office phone: (972) 473-3439
Internet Address: tlhartsell2@aol.com
I do not have set school office hours, but I will be happy to set a mutually convenient time to discuss any matter in person or by phone. My office is located in Suite 118, Building 3.
REQUIRED TEXT
West Texas Family Code, 2010 Edition (Unannotated Version) ***This text is brand new and is scheduled to be shipped to the bookstores November 6th. Do not purchase the older version, there are many changes in the 2010 edition. ISBN-13: 9780314988218
CATALOG DESCRIPTION No area of law touches our lives more than family law. It is also an area ripe with conflict and presents more opportunities for third party neutrals than just about any other kind of dispute. Designed with a non-legal audience in mind, this course will provide a solid foundation for students who wish learn more about alternative dispute resolution and its role in resolving family disputes.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge and application of family law terminology and principles, the Texas Family Code, other sources of family law, and in addition will be able to recognize common family law issues while gaining an understanding of alternative dispute resolution from a family law perspective.
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Key Learning Objectives |
How Achieved |
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Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge and application of family law terminology and principles |
Textbook and related materials distributed by the instructor will be studied to acquaint students with terminology and principles. |
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Students will learn to recognize and handle family law issues confronted by ADR professionals. |
Textbook and related materials will be used to identify legal principles and issues in family law cases. |
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Students will learn about national and/or local current trends and changes in family law issues and approaches on how those issues are, or will, be dealt with. |
Student research projects and presentations will acquaint students with current trends and changes in family law issues through their own research project and those of other students. |
ATTENDANCE POLICY Attendance is crucial and class participation will be factored into the final grade. Failure to participate in a student presentation will result in a failing grade. Failure to attend 3 or more classes will result in a failing grade.
EVALUATION/GRADING POLICY 1/4 of the final grade will be based on a group research project and presentation. 1/4 of the final grade will be based on a midterm exam. 1/4 of the final grade will be based on a final exam.1/4 of the grade will be based on attendance and class participation. I use the following grading system.
94 – 100 = A 84 – 86 = B 74 – 76 = C
90 – 93 = A- 80 – 83 = B- 70 – 73 = C-
87 – 89 = B+ 77 –
79 = C+
RESEARCH PROJECT EVALUATION
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Student(s) posed a focused question or topic involving them in challenging research. |
Student(s) gathered information from a variety of relevant sources—direct, print and electronic and effectively analyzed the information collected |
Student(s) logically organized the product and made good connections among ideas |
Student(s) documented sources with some care, Sources are cited, both in-text/in-product and on Works-Cited/Works-Consulted pages/slides. Few errors noted. |
Student(s) effectively communicated the results of research to the audience |
Each of the five areas of evaluation will receive a separate score for a maximum total possible score of 100 points.
Exceptional: 20 points
Good: 18 points
Average: 15 points
Poor: 12 points
STUDENT DROP POLICY If you are unable to complete this course or will miss 3 or more classes, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to withdraw formally from the course.
CLASS PRESENTATIONS: Class presentations should be upbeat, creative and exciting. They are a combination of information, presentation, performance and enthusiasm. The other students should both learn and enjoy.
An outline or summary must be given to each member of the class the day of presentation. It is up to the student presenters to decide what additional information he/she wishes to reproduce and distribute to the class.
If an outside resource person is to be used, furnish the Professor the name and a one-sentence biography one week before class. Arrange to greet and introduce all resource people. At least one-half of the session must be a student presentation.
Resource people have a tendency to cover fully and in detail their own area of competence. Therefore, discover this area in advance and make sure the material in the assignment will be covered during the class. This is essential.
Outside resource people have a tendency to ramble and use more time than is assigned to them. The student presentation must begin a few minutes after class begins and end promptly one and one-half hours later. The student must see that the class takes a timely break. THERE IS ALWAYS MORE MATERIAL THAN CAN BE COVERED. THE TRICK IS TO PICK OUT THE TRULY RELEVANT MATERIAL AND PRESENT IT.
Each presentation is scheduled for a one and one-third (1 1/3) hour student Presentation and Discussion. It is the student's responsibility to secure a substitute if the student cannot make the Presentation. The student should arrange for the substitute and call the professor. The student must begin and end promptly.
Students are not restricted to the suggested topics provided.
Professor's Absence: The students with the Presentation will preside and the Presentation will be presented to the class.
Class Decorum
· Be punctual, class begins on time.
· Breaks will be granted, but the student is expected to be back on time.
· Do not read newspapers, books for other classes, or other outside reading material during class.
· Attendance is mandatory and roll will be taken.
· Be quiet if you arrive late for class when you enter the classroom.
· If you have to leave class early let me know before class begins.
· Beepers and cellular phones are to be turned off during class.
· Be prepared to participate.
· Professional respect and courtesy is expected.
Disability Accommodations Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first contact Ms. Rebecca Marin, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities (214-768-4557) to verify the disability and establish eligibility for accommodations. They should then schedule an appointment with the professor to make appropriate arrangements. (See University Policy No. 2.4.)
Religious Observance Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on the holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of absence. (See University Policy No. 1.9.)
Midterm Exam:
The final exam will consist of at least 50 questions, either multiple choice, true/false or fill in the blank items that reflect content from the course text and as well as other class materials presented and discussed in class. This exam will be on the last day of class.
Final Exam:
The final exam will consist of at least 50 questions, either multiple choice, true/false or fill in the blank items that reflect content from the course text and as well as other class materials presented and discussed in class. This exam will be on the last day of class.
COURSE OUTLINE
DATE CLASS NO. TOPIC
10/28/09 (Wed) 1 Overview of Class, Syllabus, Assignments
Overview of the Judicial System
Anatomy of a Family Law Suit
Mediation
Research Assignment: Prepare a group research paper and presentation on a topic of interest related to family law. (A one page written summary of your proposed research project will be due on the date of the third class).
11/04/09 (Wed) 2 TFC Title 1
11/11/09 (Wed) 3 TFC Title 1 and TFC Title 2
11/18/09 (Wed) 4 TFC Title 3 and TFC Title 4
Review of Divorce Pleadings
Thanksgiving makeup 5 Negotiation Exercise
Class TBD Midterm
12/02/09 (Wed) 6 Midterm Exam Review
TFC Title 5
12/09/09 (Wed) 7 TFC Title 5/Offenses Against Family
12/16/09 (Wed) 8 Negotiation Exercise
Student Presentation
01/06/10 (Wed) 9 Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
01/13/10 (Wed) 10 Student Presentation
Final Exam
SUGGESTED PRESENTATION TOPICS
Juvenile Crime/Justice
Same Sex Marriages
Evolution/Future of No Fault Divorce/Covenant Marriages
Evolution of Joint Custody/Parenting
Assisted Conception /Surrogate Parenting
Palimony/Cohabitation
Same Sex/Interracial/Single Parent Adoptions
Grandparent rights/Extended Family Access
Minors/Emancipation (Child Performers)
Use of Mediation in Family Law Matters
Collaborative Law
Relocation/Custody Cases
Family Law for Native Americans
2009 Family Law Legislative Proposals
Students’ Choice