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2019 Spring Syllabus and OutlineFAMILY LAWANGELIQUE G. BONANNO, CFLSSTUDENT HANDOUT/SYLLABUSREQUIRED TEXT ASSIGNMENT: REFERS TO TEXT BOOKADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT: REFERS TO SUPPLEMENTALMATERIALS STUDENTS MUST READ AND BRIEF PRIOR TO EACHAPPROPRIATE CLASS SESSION. ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS REFER TOCALIFORNIA CASES AND/OR CALIFORNIA STATUTES. ALL STUDENTSMUST READ COMPLETELY EACH ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT IN ITSENTIRETY.“IRMO” REFERENCES: IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF“FC” REFERENCES: CALIFORNIA FAMILY CODE SECTIONS“CCP” and/or “CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE” REFERENCES:CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE“EC” and/or “EVIDENCE CODE” REFERENCES: CALIFORNIAEVIDENCE CODETO STUDENTS: You will be required to read portions of the assigned text bookas well as additional outside sources such as California Cases, California FamilyCode Sections, California Code of Civil Procedure, and California Evidence CodeSections. This course will meet on Tuesday evenings. There will be 14 classsessions. Assignments below are identified by the actual classroom date.FOR OFFICE HOURS: PLEASE CALL 909-989-7284Email Communications: agblaw@msn.comCourse Content: This course will provide students with basic and fundamentallaw as it relates to the actual practice of Family Law in the Stateof California. This course will include, but will not necessarilybe limited to exploring the issues of “Status”, Date ofSeparation, Domestic Violence, Child Custody, ChildVisitation, Child Support, Spousal Support, Attorneys Fees,Judicial Counsel Forms, and Dissomaster or X-SpouseCalculations as applied to the practice of Family Law inCalifornia Courts. The required text will at times relate to outof state cases, however the course will then draw an analogy toCalifornia law. Discussion will include how the rule of law

differs or remains the same as applied in California Family LawCourts.This course will encompass not only required text andsupplemental reading assignments which must be read and fullybriefed before each session, but it will also provide an everyday application of the law to specific fact patterns.Students will also receive actual Judicial Council Forms whichare used in California Family Courts. Judicial Council Formswill be distributed so that each student will have essentially asample “start to finish” Divorce Package by the end of thecourse. Students will also receive several sample X-Spousecalculations when issues of support are addressed so they canfamiliarize themselves with the forms and understand how itapplies to a Family Law Case.Throughout the course and at varying times, (when timepermits) an “RFO” (Request for Order) fact pattern will bedistributed to students regarding certain topics covered in thecourse curriculum. Students will then be required to participatein an in-class mock Request For Order hearing. They will bedesignated as the attorney for either the Petitioner or theRespondent. They will then be required to argue the case basedupon whom they represent. The Professor will act as theJudicial Officer asking questions during the presentation andrequiring students to participate in a mock Court appearance.This will give students an idea of what it is like to actuallypractice and argue a Family Law case. Participation in thisprocess is mandatory.Finally, students will receive extensive anecdotes from theprofessor of actual Family Law cases and how the law wasapplied to the particular set of facts. Students will receiveinformation as to how the various Family Law Courts are thesame and how they differ from county to county in the SouthernCalifornia region. Students will receive information about localJudicial Officers and recommendations as to how to besuccessful when arguing a Family Law case in Court. Studentswill learn about how to assist and manage a client who is goingthrough a divorce, how to give clients reasonable expectationsabout their cases, when to mediate and when to litigate a case,and how to handle challenging clients. Time permitting, andbased upon availability, Professor reserves the right to bring in

a guest speaker, specifically a local San Bernardino CountyFamily Law Judicial Officer.This is NOT a Community Property Course. While there maybe some discussion as to minor property issues, that is not thesubject of this course.Course Objectives:To introduce students the fundamentals and legalprinciples of California Family Law, statutory law, case law,and California Judicial Council Forms.To articulate the law and then apply propositions of CaliforniaFamily Code to real and hypothetical fact patterns.To participate in mock Court appearances by reviewing a factpattern and thereafter being assigned as the attorney for eitherthe Petitioner or the Respondent to argue the case before peers.The student will make a formal “appearance” and then arguethe case in the setting of a mock Request for Order Courthearing.Competently identify and resolve issues in a Family Law matterand prepare students to be able to handle a case from start tofinish upon receiving admission to the California State Bar.Class Expectations:This course covers extensive material as it relates toCalifornia Family Law. It will not be possible to explore everyarea of the law, but it will be extensive. Review and briefing ofthe course material (including additional reading assignments)is mandatory. Each student is expected to read and brief all theapplicable assignments before coming to class.BOOK BRIEFING OR CANNED BRIEFS ARE NOTALLOWED.Students are expected to be present at each class session. Classattendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Tardystudents may expect to receive either a ½ absence or fullabsence as permitted in Administrative Guidelines.Each student may be required to participate in the mockRequest for Order hearing. Participation will vary dependingon amount of time expended in each class session.Students who are not prepared for class may be marked asabsent as per Administrative Guidelines. Students should be

on time for class and be prepared to remain in class for theentire session. Cell phone use is not permitted in class.Professor will use a Socratic Method. Students should beprepared to brief cases by identifying the Issue, Rule, Analysis,and Conclusion of each case. All students should be preparedto answer questions about the case even if they are not calledupon to “brief” the case.Class work must be your OWN work. While students areencouraged to study together outside of classroom time, youmust do your own work.The final objective is intended to provide legal principles andpractical applications about the actual practice of law this field.Students will learn the black letter law as it applies toCalifornia. They will then learn how to apply said law tovarious fact patters and changes in the fact patterns. They willthen be given an opportunity to argue as case in a mock hearingsetting.Respect of Others:There is no talking in class to other students. This isdisruptive to others who are listening to the lecture. Studentsshould use every effort to remain in class for the duration of theclass and not leave during the lecture as this is also disruptive toother students. If student needs to leave the classroom, it isrequested you do so quietly. Students who leave class early anddo not return may be marked absent. Students are stronglyencouraged to ask questions throughout lectures on any theorypresented in the course. Students should raise their hand ifthere are questions.Academic Integrity:Plagiarism or other fraudulent reprehension relative tothe originality of any part of any academic requirement in thecourse is not permitted. All course work must be that of theindividual student. Use of “canned briefs” is not permitted.Student Disabilities:Students with disabilities who require accommodationsmust comply with the notice and documentation requirementsof The College of Law. Students who wish to receiveaccommodation should, within the first month following initialregistration, make an appointment with the Assistant Dean ofStudents in order to become informed of these requirements. If

you wish to receive accommodation for a disability, you areresponsible for reviewing The Handbook for Students withDisabilities, which is available at the Registrar’s Office.Any student eligible for and requesting academicaccommodations due to a documented disability (or a suspecteddisability) is asked to contact the College of Law, Director ofStudent Affairs and Americans with Disability Act ComplianceOfficer, Jullie McCurdy, Ph.D. by email atjmccurdy@laverne.edu or by phone at 909.460.2046. Her officeis located on the first floor of the College of Law, Office #102.You can also contact Cindy Denne at the University of LaVerne Disabled Student Services office at 909.448.4938. Theoffice is located at 2215 “E” Street. In order to be consideredfor accommodations, disabilities must be documented and theproper medical evaluations must be submitted. We are here tohelp you succeed in law school. Visit us online es/Assignments:Class assignments are listed below. Each section isidentified with particularity as to the issues which will beaddressed on the particular class session.Office Hours:Professor is an Adjunct Family Law Attorney with a busyprivate practice. Professor is typically on campus 30-60minutes before class. Office hours are available upon request.Professor is available via telephone or email to set up officehours. Telephone and email contact information is listed withinthis Syllabus. Professor will be available most class days afterclass as well for individual questions and/or assistance.Additional requested time can be arranged by Professor andStudent upon request.Grading:Students will be graded on being prepared for classassignments, class participation, and a final exam. The final

exam will consist of a two hour written exam. It is a CLOSEDBOOK exam. No notes, documents, or other learning aids willbe permitted. Professor reserves the right to include within thefinal exam either one, two or three fact patterns. Final exam isintended to be completed within the time allotted.Review:Professor reserves the right to have a final review class or not.It is dependent upon time permitting.Final Thoughts: While Family Law is not a “bar tested” category, it isnonetheless one of the most common areas of the law.This class is intended to give you the tools you will need to beable to handle a Family Law matter. It is very common for newattorneys upon receiving admission to the California State Barto be questioned by a friend or family member regarding aFamily Law issue. It is also an area of the law which you maydecide to pursue upon completion of law school. Family Lawis one of the most extensive areas of the law as it encompassesmultiple theories. It is sometimes considered the last area ofgeneral practice. This particular area of practice can bechallenging at times, but is also EXTREMELY REWARDING;professionally, personally and economically. I wish towelcome you all to my class and look forward to exploringthese legal principles with you. I hope you will enjoy thiscourse as much as I enjoy teaching it.