First-Year Courses
Designed to introduce the essential analytical skills needed for your upper-level courses, the first-year curriculum emphasizes the many sources of law that govern our society--judge-made common law, statutory law and regulatory law as developed by governmental agencies--and the two major systems of law in the United States--the civil justice system and the criminal justice system.
In your first year, you will develop the skills to read cases, read and interpret statutory and regulatory materials and understand the fundamental principles of the traditional first-year subjects. For each first-year course there is a corresponding tutorial in our Academic Support Program.
| Civil Procedure 948 | Law 102 |
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This course focuses on the strategic options federal law provides to persons attempting to resolve disputes through litigation. It introduces students to basic concepts involved in the federal civil adversary system, federal jurisdiction, choice of law, and finality. Students will explore in depth the policies governing, and the mechanics involved in, pleading, discovery, and disposition before trial. |
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| Constitutional Law 753 | Law 109 |
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A study of the structure of government, from the role of the courts and the concept of judicial review, through the distribution of power in the federal system and the allocation of power among the three branches of the government, followed by a study of individual rights protected by the Constitution. |
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| Contracts 1719 | Law 110 |
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This course explores legally enforceable promises, normally exchanged as part of a bargain between private parties. Among the topics that may be covered are: bases of enforcement, capacity to contract, contract formation, interpretation, conditions, excuse of performance, and remedies for breach. |
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| Criminal Law 952 | Law 101 |
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An intensive study of the basic doctrines underlying the criminal law, including actus reus and mens rea; the principal substantive and inchoate crimes; the accountability for the criminal acts of others; and the general defenses to criminal liability. |
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| Legal Skills I 756 | Law 111 |
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Legal Skills I and II compose the first year of a two-year course required of all students. Taught primarily in small student "law firms," the course's coverage includes professional responsibility, the nature of the legal profession, legal research and writing, and numerous legal skills including drafting, interviewing, negotiation, and oral advocacy. |
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| Legal Skills II 936 | Law 112 |
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Legal Skills I and II compose the first year of a two-year course required of all students. Taught primarily in small student "law firms," the course's coverage includes professional responsibility, the nature of the legal profession, legal research and writing, and numerous legal skills including drafting, interviewing, negotiation, and oral advocacy. |
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| Property 1720 | Law 108 |
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Property focuses on the rules for acquiring, using, dividing (in various dimensions), and losing rights over scarce resources. Most material concerns realty, with limited consideration of personal property. Property will introduce the rudiments of capture, finds, and adverse possession; landlord-tenant law; the system of estates; co-ownership; easements; and restrictive covenants. In addition to these private law subjects, the course will introduce zoning and takings. |
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| Torts 19 | Law 107 |
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A survey of the legal system's responses to problems arising from personal injury and property damage. Concentration on the legal doctrines relating to liability for harm resulting from fault and to strict liability. Analysis of the goals and techniques of accident prevention and compensation for loss. |
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