$100
for 4 classesWhat's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
This class provides an introduction to the United States legal system. We'll learn how laws are made, the differences between civil and criminal law, and how courts work. We'll also explore the Constitution and Amendments. Students will receive basic instruction in US law, their legal rights, and the history of our legal system. Class discussion will focus on legal concepts such as fairness vs justice. Course topics will include: Week 1: Rights and responsibilities Fairness vs Justice Criminal vs. Civil law The US court system Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments Week 2: Criminal Justice Criminal Law Enforcement Civil Law Enforcement Rights of the Accused Criminal Trials Cruel and Unusual Punishment and the Eighth Amendment Week 3: Civil rights Equal Protection Due Process Judicial decision making Week 4: Sovereign Immunity States vs Federal Laws Civil Law - how does it work Case studies
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Juris Doctor in Political Science and Government from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Government from SUNY at Albany
⚖️ JUDGE
⚖️ LAWYER
🌟 LAW/COLLEGE Professor
👮🏼♀️ FORMER PROSECUTOR
🧑🎓 JURIS DOCTORATE SUNY at BUFFALO
📜 B.S. SUNY at ALBANY
🚑 EMT/FIREFIGHTER
I am a judge, a former federal prosecutor, policy counsel, refugee officer, and college and law school professor. My bachelor's degree is from the State University of New York at Albany in Political Science and History, with a minor in Economics. I also earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Buffalo.
I was the former Deputy Chief Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focusing on National Security cases and counter-terrorism. I was also the technology attorney and National Security and Litigation Division Counsel for DHS in Washington, DC. I’ve worked as a historian and researcher providing advice to the National Archives and to the DHS History/Law Library in Washington, DC. I have lived and worked in Africa and Asia, processing refugees seeking to come to the United States. I am also volunteer firefighter and licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
I strive to teach social studies, civics, and history in a way that inspires and entertains while fostering curiosity and critical thinking. As a proud father of three, I’ve spent the past couple of years getting used to the post-Covid homeschool experience.
I love teaching and Outschool allows me to share my passions for various subjects with young minds. I've taught (as a guest) both middle, elementary, and high school social studies, government civics, technology, and history. I’ve taught at the University of Maryland and am currently an adjunct law professor at Catholic University School of Law in Washington, DC. I have also taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in Brunswick, Georgia and have published in several academic legal journals and publications
I see history as a way of understanding the past, processing the present, and helping to shape the future. Students in my class will experience a world war from the perspective of a conscript. They’ll see the New York City skyline through the eyes of a young immigrant arriving on a steamship at Ellis Island. They'll experience life in a refugee camp in Kenya from someone who lived there. I bring history to life by telling the stories of those who lived it. I present real-life examples of how our government works and affects our lives.
Reviews
Other classes by Nelson Vargas, JD; Law/Hist. Professor
Other classes by Nelson Vargas, JD; Law/Hist. Professor
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