E-CLASS COURSE PAGE
U. S. SOUTHERN DISTRICT
New e-class website: http://home.att.net/~slomansonb (click on e-Class) [You are already here--this is just one of those user-friendly navigational points, for students who may have seen the earlier memo/prior website for this class.]
The Incredible Edible Widgets Case: Click on the link, at the bottom of this paragraph, to obtain the basic factual scenario for our course exercises (Case Facts & Problems 1, 2, and 3). I would estimate that--in addition to developing your technical expertise, the reading, digesting, analyzing, drafting, editing, and the final submission of these exercises will take most students a total of fifty hours--the traditional benchmark for one unit of work. Do not be discouraged, if it takes you more time than allotted. By registering for this experimental course, you already realize that the time spent here will save you more than the equivalent in practice, especially the first time you deal with such garden-variety matters in your civil practice. Also, different problems may take less time for different students. After the course is over, I will ask for your input on approximate number of hours for each exercise. Thus, I would appreciate your keeping track of your number of hours per problem.
Links to course problems from this page: click below, first to get the basic facts re the Edible Widgets case--then, on the various problems and their due dates/time. I have placed links at the bottom of each of the three problem pages, which will return you to this "e-Class" page, the basic hypothetical for the course, the other problems, or to the Website Index on my Home Page:
The Edible Widgets: Case Facts
Problem#1
Student Response due Sept. 27th / midnight
Problem#2
Student Response due Nov. 11th / midnight
Problem#3
Student Response due Dec. 12th / midnight
Table of Contents: Form of Submission Free e-mail Honors Code Grading System Withdrawal/Incomplete Instructor's Role Questions for Me Online Articles re Electronic Lawyering & Education Original Course Announcement Form of Submission: e-mail only (with or without attachment). Use 28-lined paper, if your e-mail system permits, just as if this were a Demurrer which you are actually filing. It may be easier for you to send me an e-mail, with your word processed Demurrer as an attachment to the e-mail message. (The free e-mail servers do not necessarily support attachments). Because word processing systems include a code whereby you can readily input legal format (28 lines), you might try to cut and paste your problems from word processing into e-mail format. If your system does not readily support 28-lined paper, do not spend too much time trying to incorporate this feature.
Send your Demurrer (and other Problem submissions) to BOTH of my e-mail addresses, so that I can keep an archival copy of your papers. Do not send your motions/pleadings to the "objection" address, because that will clutter the Steven Breyer computer with unnecessary messages. You should keep an electronic copy. I encourage you to obtain a second e-mail account-- through any of the three free e-mail services listed below--so that I can evaluate your submission on an anonymous basis. Until we are all better aware of the systemic limitations with free e-mail, you are authorized to submit your pleadings/motions via the e-mail address that we will be using to communicate.
Free e-mail: hotmail or juno or net@ddress Note 1: check system limitations, including amount of information dispatchable via e-mail. You are encouraged to obtain a second e-mail account, so that I can grade this optional third unit anonymously. If the systemic limitations with these e-mail systems can be overcome, then I will direct you to submit your second "anonymous" e-mail address to Kay Henley, Director of Academic Administration. Should you obtain a second e-mail account, with hotmail, juno, or anywhere, DO NOT send me any e-mail messages using that second account--so as to preserve anonymity. Note 2: Users have advised me that Hotmail and Juno do not require an ISP (Internet Service Provider)--only a modem. I have also been advised that "Juno" does not permit e-mail attachments. This is one reason for the registration requirment that you have an ISP, because all ISPs have an attachment function integrated into their e-mail service. I have no further details re net@address. Note 3: Hotmail was a credible operation when first available in 1997. Since then, however, a number of users report that they have been inundated by poronographic spams. Honors Code: Although this class is not being conducted in a conventional classroom environment, I have incorporated the law school's Honors Code by reference--as is the case with all TJSL classes. Most importantly, you may discuss whatever you wish with another member of the e-Class. However, your research, analysis, writing, and editing must be your own. Grading System: High Credit, Credit, Low Credit, and No Credit. You must submit all three pleadings/motions. You must also achieve at least two "Credit" grades to get credit for this one-unit e-Class course--e.g., two "Credits" and one "Low Credit," but not two or three "Low Credits."
Your grade in the two-unit classroom course is irrelevant, except for the previously posted registration requirement that you successfully complete the two-unit course in California Civil Procedure (i.e., receiving a passing grade of D- or above). That way, I do not face the prospect of someone's registering for all three units, dropping the two-unit classroom component, and then seeking to complete the one-unit e-class without the classroom component.
After the deadline for your submitting the third problem, I will ask you to submit your e-mail address to Kay Henley (Director of Academic Administration). Do not contact her privately, because you would be compromising my objective of conducting a paperless course. I will provide e-mail instructions, after the end of the 15th academic week, when you have submitted Prob 3. I will determine how to archive your submissions for accreditation purposes. Do not forget to keep an e-mail copy of each problem which you submit to me. Withdrawal/Incomplete: If you do not timely submit any one of the three problems, you should petition to Withdraw or obtain an Incomplete. Otherwise, this course does not simulate actual practice.
Instructor's Role: I will provide clarification, should ambiguities in the three problems dictate. Please feel free to ask me for such clarifications.
I will not be responding to questions like "What are the issues in this Problem?" "How do I write the Demurrer?" "What are the applicable form requirements?" While we have generally discussed the underlying principles in the on-campus CALCIVPRO class, this third unit e-class is supposed to approximate law practice. Thus, I am serving in the capacity as the judge, to whom you will be submitting your various pleadings/motions--unlike my role as instructor for the two-unit on-campus class. In practice, you would not be asking the judge for advice, although it is ok to ask classmates-- fellow attorneys--about what they might do under the circumstances. (Remember: your final submissions must be your own work). To help move things along, I have provided some key references with each of the three problems on the website. Happy lawyering!
Questions for Me: click here
July 10, 1997 To: Interested Students Fm: Professor Slomanson Re: Course Description for Electronic Unit in California Civil Procedure Up to twenty students, who must have their own Internet service providers, may register for an optional third unit in California Civil Procedure. This is a paperless class, wherein students will analyze and submit electronic papers in specified weeks during the semester. I will design some problems (probably three) of current interest, to provide a practical experience. Students must be registered for, taking concurrently , and complete the California Civil Procedure class, in order to participate in this electronic class.
The problems will be posted to the web at the following URL (this address, for anyone reading this description on my web page): www.jeffersonlaw.edu/fac19.htm
The prerequisite for the two-unit Cal Civ Pro class is the successful completion of Civ Pro I and Civ Pro II. Students taking this optional e-unit do not have to participate in the electronic class discussion group (CALCIVPRO), although that is recommended. Questions to: bills@tjsl.edu E-CLASS E-MAIL ADDRESSES: (1) slomansonb@worldnet.att.net for all messages and e-mail submission of three "papers" (2) bills@tjsl.edu for my archives
COMPUTER INSTRUCTION: You may contact the Computer Services/Reference Librarian (Patrick Meyer) or one of his student assistants in the TJSL Computer Classroom (619 297-9700 x1851).