JD Degree

The first year of law school introduces students to basic substantive legal concepts and to the fundamentals of legal analysis, research, and writing. All courses during the first academic year are prescribed.

Full-Time

Full time students will enroll in the following:

• Criminal Law  (3 units)
• Contracts (6 units)
• Torts (4 units)
• Property (4 units)
• Pleading and Civil Procedure (6 units)
• Legal Analysis, Research and Writing (4 units)
• Constitutional Law (3 units)

Selection and Class Size

Most first year courses are taught to sections of 75 - 80 students. One of the full year substantive courses is taught in small sections of between 36 and 40 students each. Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing is also taught in small sections.

Classes for full time students are taught during the day, on a Monday through Friday schedule.

Part-Time

Part time students will enroll in twenty-one units offered in the evening:

• Criminal Law (3 units)
• Contracts (6 units)
• Torts (4 units)
• Property (4 units)
• Legal Analysis, Research and Writing (4 units)
• (Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure will be taken by part time students during their second year of studies).

Class Size

Each part time entering class has about 60 - 70 students in the evening section. There are two evening sections of Legal Analysis, Research and Writing of about 30 - 35 students each.

Part time students are scheduled in the evenings, Monday through Thursday, with the first class at 6:00 p.m.

With few exceptions, all first year courses are taught by full time, tenured (or tenure track) members of the law faculty. Each section of Legal Analysis, Research and Writing is staffed by a full time instructor who is a member of the faculty and who has an office in the law school.

Academic Success Program

Students whose numerical predictors indicate that they might have academic difficulty may be eligible to participate in the Academic Success Program (ASP) during Fall Semester of their first year. This program provides a special in-depth orientation, academic assistance, study group, and individual counseling sessions throughout the fall semester. Students who have difficulty on their fall semester examinations will be referred to the program for individualized assistance and counseling throughout the Spring Semester.

Workshops and review materials are available to ALL first year students throughout the year.

Students who finish the first year in good standing, but who are in academic risk (based on grades at the end of the first year), are assigned during their second year to a special legal writing and analysis class. The purpose of this small and intensive class is to assist students who are at risk.

The ASP program also provides "Preparation for the Bar Examination" lectures for students in their final year of study.

The program is directed by a full time professional who has offices at Law House. Upper division students who participated in the program during their first year and who excelled in law school provide assistance and counseling.

Advanced Curriculum

Concentrations

Course Descriptions

Required Upper Division Courses

All students must complete the following prior to the end of their second year of legal studies:

• Constitutional Law I (3 units)
• Constitutional Law II (3 units)
• Appellate Advocacy (2 units)

While not required during the second year, Evidence is required for graduation and should be taken during the second year of studies (or third year for part time students).

The following are required for graduation, but can be completed at any time after the first year.

• Legal Profession (3 units, usually taught both Fall and Spring)
• Supervised Analytical Writing Requirement: this requirement may be satisfied by a seminar where a research paper is the basis for evaluation, Moot Court, Law Review, Computer & High Tech Law Journal, or supervised research.

Suggested Upper Division Curriculum

Students are encouraged to consider taking the following courses:

• Business Organizations (second year registration priority) tested on the California Bar Examination and a prerequisite to a number of upper division courses.
• Wills and Trusts (second year registration priority). Tested on the California Bar Examination, and a prerequisite to a number of upper division courses, such as Estate Planning and Will Drafting.
• Federal Personal Income Tax (second year registration priority). General course. Prerequisite to a number of advanced tax and business courses. If not taken during the second year, registration conflicts can develop.
• Remedies (third year registration priority). General course. Tested on California Bar Examination.
• Community Property (third year registration priority). Important for persons interested in property or estate planning. Tested on California Bar Examination.
• Criminal Procedure (third year registration priority). Focus on constitutional rights of accused. Needed for criminal law clinic. Tested on California Bar Examination.