Introduction to Legal Studies — An introduction to the American legal system, including the history and working structure of government and the decision-making process of the courts. Focus is on the process of legal analysis and the case-method approach to the study of law.

Laws and the Judicial System of the United States — An introduction to the legal framework of the judicial system, including fundamental rules, court cases, concepts, and trends of key subjects in American law. This course will provide the necessary background in process and substance to understand future changes in American law.

Contracts I — An introduction to the law of contracts, including their formation and performance and the rights and obligations of contracting parties and other parties affected by contracts. Contracts I will address how contracts are formed and legal defenses that may result in a contract being unenforceable. It will also cover other ways a promise may be legally enforced.

Contracts II — Building upon Contracts I, Contracts II covers the interpretation of contract language, performance of contractual duties, remedies for a breach of contractual obligations, and the contractual rights of third parties.

Criminal Law I — A study of punishable acts and omissions at common law and modern statutory offenses, including a consideration of mental states, and the culpability of multiple parties.

Criminal Law II (Defenses) — Building upon Criminal Law I, Criminal Law II focuses on defenses and justifications to a criminal act.

Legal Writing I — Practical hands-on lab course in legal writing techniques focused particularly on writing law school/bar examination essay answers in the subject areas of criminal law, contracts, and torts covered in the Fall semester. Students work in small groups with Readers (all members of the Bar) for the purpose of developing and improving formatting, issue spotting, organization, content, and writing style skills.

Legal Writing II — Practical hands-on lab course in legal writing techniques focused particularly on writing law school/bar examination essay answers in the subject areas of criminal law, contracts, and torts covered in the Spring semester. Students work in small groups with Readers (all members of the Bar) for the purpose of developing and improving formatting, issue spotting, organization, content, and writing style skills.

Professional Responsibility — A study of the organization and regulation of the legal profession with a specific focus on the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Topics covered include requirements for admission to practice law, types of disciplinary measures, responsibility of the lawyer to clients, courts, the legal profession and the community, fee arrangements, and judicial conduct.

Torts I — Understanding of the obligations individuals owe according to the traditions of common law and subsequent developments including the broad range of categories of torts. Torts I focus on negligent torts.

Torts II — Building upon Torts I, Torts II focuses on intentional torts, strict liability, products liability, nuisance, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

Civil Procedure I — The primary learning objective for this course is an understanding of the fundamental principles of civil procedure in state and federal court. In addition, students are expected to understand how these principles apply in a variety of real-world settings. The Civil Procedure I course focuses on territorial jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, venue, choice of law, and introduction to pleading.

Civil Procedure II — Building upon Civil Procedure I, Civil Procedure II focuses on discovery, law and motion practice, right to jury trial, jury selection, preclusion doctrines, and right to appeal.

Criminal Procedure I — This course covers Criminal Procedure as embodied in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution, concepts of Due Process and Equal Protection. The course focuses on the practical application of these concepts as well as the constitutional analysis of criminal procedure. The basic principles of criminal procedure are primarily focused on the interaction of individuals with law enforcement during the investigative stages and some of the proceedings once arrested and charged with a crime.

Criminal Procedure II — Building upon Criminal Procedure I, Criminal Procedure II focuses on issues relating to Entrapment, Identification Procedures and the Grand Jury Proceedings.

Legal Research and Writing — Students develop the ability to locate, read, understand, analyze and communicate legal authority persuasively. The class will provide instruction on the purposes and process of legal research, using both traditional and book methods and Internet-based services. The student will engage in research exercises based on the facts and legal issues of hypothetical clients. The result of the student’s research will be used for practical application of actual legal authority to the client’s case. Written work product, such as legal memoranda, briefs, and pleadings, will be prepared using the student’s research and analysis. The final project will entail the preparation of a bench memo based on a hypothetical criminal appeal.

Real Property I — A comprehensive overview of the nature of real property. Topics that will be covered include exploring what encompasses real property, the right to exclude, the rights and duties of landlords and tenants, estates in land, deeds, adverse possession, easements, covenants, nuisance, restrictions on use, real estate transactions, mortgages, and water law.

Real Property II — Building upon Real Property I, Real Property II focuses on easements, covenants, nuisance, restrictions on use, real estate transactions, mortgages and water law.

Community Property — An introduction to the determination of community, quasi-community, or separate property and such property’s management and control, liability for debts, and division through termination of the marital relationship.

Agency — The nature of the principal-agent relationship, including tort and contract liabilities, the principles and problems of partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and other unincorporated businesses

Business Associations — A study of the nature and character of agency relationships, business associations including proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, their creation, termination, and management, and how they are affected by state corporation, federal securities, and tax laws.

Constitutional Law I — A study of the United States Constitution, including the theory and practice of judicial interpretation and review, separation of federal powers, the relation to the states to the federal government, specific governmental powers, various limitations imposed on the exercise of governmental power, and the protection of individual liberties. The course will cover the due process and equal protection clauses and the Bill of Rights.

Constitutional Law II — Building upon Constitutional Law I, Constitutional Law II focuses on the due process and equal protection clauses and the Bill of Rights.

Evidence I — The primary learning objective for Evidence I is an understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code including the purpose of evidence, rationale for the rules and instant recall of the rules and exceptions. Evidence I will cover the rules and exceptions pertaining to relevance and hearsay. The course will focus on the practical application of these evidence rules in trial by using cases and exercises from actual trial situations.

Evidence II — Building upon Evidence I, Evidence II will focus on the rules pertaining to character evidence, impeachment, scientific evidence, and privileges.

Advanced Professional Responsibility — An advanced study of the professional conduct, laws, and regulations applicable to the legal profession with a specific focus on the California Rules of Professional Conduct and California Business and Professions Code. Topics covered include: beginning and ending the lawyer-client relationship; advertising; fee arrangements; confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege; conflict of interest; duty of candor in litigation; and competence.

Legal Analysis — Practical instruction in preparing legal documents including legal memoranda, points and authorities, and briefs. Projects teach research, proper use of cases, and the drafting of persuasive and effective legal documents with instruction in applying these different writing techniques.

Remedies — Designed to teach students the comprehensive knowledge of legal and equitable remedies available in lawsuits. Students will be expected to have a practical working knowledge of remedies and have the ability to discuss potential forms of relief available in every case situation.

Applied Legal Reasoning — A review of courses studied in the first and second years of law school and designed to assist fourth-year students in their preparation for the upcoming bar examination. Class sessions include lecture, essay writing, and multiple-choice testing.

Trial Advocacy — Practical instruction designed to introduce students to the basic skills necessary to present a case in court in a competent, efficient, and convincing manner. The class is based on taking a trial and breaking it down into its fundamental components: case analysis, theory development, motions, jury selection, opening statement, direct examination, cross examination, closing argument, introduction of exhibits into evidence, strategy, and ethical considerations. The class emphasizes “learning by doing.” Students participate in classroom practice exercises of key trial components and conclude the course with the presentation of a full mock trial.

Wills & Trusts — A study of the planning, creation, and administration of trusts, the duties, powers and liabilities of the trustee, the interests of beneficiaries and creditors, and the modification and termination of trusts as well as the study of execution, revocation, and probate of wills, intestate succession family protection, and related problems.