J.D. Required Courses

FIRST YEAR COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Civil Procedure:  4010. 4 hours.

This course covers the lifecycle of a lawsuit in federal court, including the scope and nature of the federal courts' constitutional and statutory authority to decide cases. Topics include statutory and constitutional constraints on judicial power to render an enforceable judgment against a defendant, subject-matter jurisdiction, venue, pleading, joinder, discovery, summary judgment, trial and post-trial motions, and the preclusive effect of final judgments. The course also touches on choice of law, separation of powers, federalism, forum shopping, and the interpretation of Rules, statutes, and constitutional text.

Constitutional Law I: 4180.  3 hours.

This course addresses the meaning and impact of the Constitution of the United States, particularly with regard to the subjects of federalism, separation of powers, the judicial function and due process of law.

Contracts:  4030.  4 hours. 

Contracts provides an introduction to the law of legally enforceable promises under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the common law. Among other topics, the course considers offers and their acceptance; consideration, formalities, and promissory estoppel; the parole evidence rule and the statute of frauds; third-party enforcement; material breach of contract; and damages. Students are expected to be able to explain in writing how these and additional legal issues under the UCC and the common law apply to various complex factual scenarios.

Criminal Law:  4050.  3 hours. 

The historical development of criminal law as well as the analysis of the necessary elements of crimes and the consideration of the principal classes of crimes.

Lawyering I and II: 4040, 4041. 0.5 hour each.

Lawyering I: “Lawyering” covers various strategies and issues that are relevant to a long-term, healthy, and satisfying career in a dynamic profession. Topics may include the business of lawyering, professional-identity formation, cross-cultural competency, legal technology, wellness strategies, and professional communication skills. The course is pass/fail. Lawyering II: This course is a continuation of Lawyering I, covering various strategies and issues that are relevant to a long-term, healthy, and satisfying career in a dynamic profession. Topics may include the business of lawyering, professional-identity formation, cross-cultural competency, legal technology, wellness strategies, and professional communication skills. The course is pass/fail.

Legal Research I:  4072, 1 credit hour. 

Introduction to sources and strategies for basic legal research including finding cases, statutes, regulations, and secondary authorities. Introduction to sources and strategies for basic legal research.

Legal Writing I and II:  4071, 4081. 3 hours and 2 hours, respectively. 

Legal Writing I: Introduces the process of legal analysis and reasoning and teaches students to produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose, with an emphasis on objective analysis and writing. Legal Writing II: Course develops advanced skills of legal analysis and reasoning within the context of both objective analysis and legal argument. Students will produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose. Also covered are basic concepts, conventions, and formats for drafting legal documents.

Property: 4090.  4 hours.

This course addresses the recognition, development, and regulation of rights in real property and personal property, including the nature and function of possession and title, shared ownership, private and public rights, and transfers of property.

Torts:  4120.  4 hours. 

Covers intentional torts, which may include battery, assault, and possibly false imprisonment, trespass to land, and others. Certain defenses to intentional tort, such as consent and self defense, may also be covered. The bulk of the course is devoted to the tort of negligence, including the content of the duty of reasonable care, issues bearing on whether the defendant has breached that duty, the requirement that the plaintiff establish a causal connection between the breach and the plaintiff's harm, and proximate cause limits on liability.

First-Year Elective:

In the spring semester, 1L students will select their Elective from any upper level courses compatible with the 1L course schedule, excluding seminar, simulation, clinical, practical skills, and advanced writing courses, as well as courses for which the 1L students lack the necessary prerequisites. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that an appropriate number and variety of such courses are compatible with the 1L schedule.

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES

The Law and Ethics of Lawyering: 4300.  3 hours. 

This course deals with the ethical and legal principles that govern the legal profession.  Topics covered include, among others, the attorney-client relationship, the duty of confidentiality, the attorney-client privilege, conflicts of interest, ethics in advocacy, ethical issues in representing organizational clients, admission to practice, and advertising and solicitation.  Particular emphasis is given to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Restatement of the Law Governing Lawyers.

 

UPPER-LEVEL WRITING REQUIREMENTS 

1. 2L Drafting Requirement

2. Capstone Writing Requirement

 

PRACTICAL SKILLS REQUIREMENT

Six credit hours are necessary.