Two Weeks 1 Semester Unit

In this introductory course, the student discovers the basic concepts of law and the history of the American system of jurisprudence and juristic theory that originated from, and was developed and formulated through, the common law of England and is now recognized as an organic part of the jurisprudence of most of the United States. Students are introduced to important legal terminology, basic legal analysis, and practice of the law. An orientation to legal writing is presented with an emphasis on case briefing skills.  Students will be required to submit case briefs, in the proper format as discussed in-class, for each of the three (3) substantive law subjects–Contracts, Torts and Criminal Law.  The students’ submissions will be evaluated to determine adequate competence.

Fourteen Weeks 7 Semester Units

Students will study both the common law contract principles relating to contracts for services and the Uniform Commercial Code contract principles relating to contracts for goods.. They will learn the rules governing the formation of contracts such as offer, acceptance, consideration & defenses, such as, the statute of frauds, capacity, illegality, misrepresentation/fraud, duress, unconscionability, undue influence and mistake. Students will also study contractual conditions, third-party rights, assignments, delegations & the law pertaining to the enforcement of contracts, liability & remedies for breach of contract.

Fourteen Weeks 7 Semester Units

This course is a survey of civil causes of action for which an injured party may seek redress and compensatory relief in court. Students will learn various theories of tort liability including intentional torts to person and property such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass and infliction of emotional distress. Students will also examine the law relating to causes of action for ordinary and professional negligence, wrongful death, products liability, and dignitary torts such as invasion of privacy, defamation, constitutional torts and nuisance. They will also examine strict liability causes of action such as pet ownership and products liability. Finally, students will examine tort defenses of privilege, mistake, self-defense, consent, necessity, immunity, contributory and comparative negligence and assumption of the risk.

Twelve Weeks 6 Semester Units

Students will examine the common law and the modern criminal justice systems including their theory of punishment, classification of crimes, criminal causation and elements of various crimes. Students will study the criminal culpability rules applicable to perpetrators such as principals, accessories & accomplices. Students will learn the elements of various crimes committed against persons such as homicide, assault, battery, rape and mayhem. They will also study property crimes such as larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses, receiving stolen property, robbery, burglary & arson. Further, students will examine the inchoate crimes of attempt, solicitation and conspiracy, and will also learn many affirmative defenses including mistake, self defense, consent, infancy, insanity, intoxication, duress, necessity, and entrapment.

Four Weeks 2 Semester Units

This course will provide an introduction to both the concepts behind and the practical applications of legal analysis and writing.  This course will include instruction in understanding and utilizing legal concepts in a factual setting. This course will introduce and develop the student’s skills in applying law to various fact patterns.  The student will learn the importance of being able to spot issues, recall relevant law and to articulate their analysis and reasoning in, what the California Bar Examiners refer to as, “a logical, lawyer-like manner.”  The skills learned in this class can be applied throughout law school and in the practice of law.  Students will be required to submit “Issue/Rule Statements” for each of the three (3) substantive law subjects–Contracts, Torts and Criminal Law (further information as to the content of the “Issue/Rule Statements” will be discussed in-class).  The students’ submissions will be evaluated to determine adequate competence.

Six Weeks 3 Semester Units

This course is designed to assist the student in their preparation for their final examinations by distilling all the information learned in the first-year substantive law classes and using this as a basis for improving their analytical skills. Essay assignments and multiple-choice questions will be used as teaching tools to simulate fact patterns and challenges which the student maybe confronted with in future examinations and as practicing attorneys.

All of the multiple-choice questions and essay exams will be of material never presented to the students in previous classes.

Every week students are required to write answers to two essays. Student answers MUST be submitted no later than the end of the week following the week the essays were assigned.  The answers the students submit for the questions will be returned with answer material.  The student’s answers will be evaluated to determine adequate competence.