Law Study Program

Bachelor of Science in Law (B.S.L.) and Juris Doctor (J.D.)

PART I

• Introduction to Law and Legal Writing (6 units) -- Introduction to the basic concepts of law and legal writing, 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.
   
  
• Criminal Law (6 units) -- A study of that branch or division of the law that relates to crimes and their punishments.
   
  
• Contracts (6 units) -- A study of the promissory agreements that exist between two or more persons or entities and that create, modify, or terminate legal relationships. The different classifications of such agreements and the requisite elements of each will be distinguished.
   
  
• Torts (6 units) -- An analysis of the private or civil wrongs or injuries which occur because of the violation of duties imposed by law and not by mere agreements between parties. The course analyzes cases involving injuries to persons or to reputation or feelings, as well as to injuries and damage to real and personal property. Specific topics such as negligence, defamation of character, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, and assault and battery will be discussed.

• Real Property (6 units) -- A study of the body of law relating to land and improvements thereon; as distinguished from movable personal property. The English Common Law as it relates to real property will be emphasized.
   
  
• Remedies (6 units) -- A study of the common law remedies afforded to private persons or entities in the civil courts insofar as their rights have been injured by the civil wrongdoing of another; as distinguished from the remedy of criminal prosecution for injury to the rights of the public.
   
  
• Criminal Procedure (6 units) -- A course analyzing the methods prescribed by law for the apprehension, trial or prosecution and fixing the punishment, of those persons who have broken or violated, or are supposed to have broken or violated the criminal laws.
   
  
• Agency and Partnership (6 units) -- A study of the legal aspects of the rights and liabilities of individuals involved in or dealing with agency relationships and partnerships. The course analyzes the creation of an agency, the master and servant relationship, the authority of an agent, dissolution and termination of a partnership and related agency and partnership concepts.

• Corporations (6 units) -- An analysis of the procedures involved in forming a corporation, as well as the rights and duties of directors, shareholders and corporate officers. Comparative attention is given to court-made legal principles as well as to the rapidly expanding impact of federal regulation of corporations and securities.
   
  
• Constitutional Law (6 units) -- Topics include separation of governmental branch powers, including the Case and Controversy Doctrine and powers of the President; division of powers between the federal government and the states; constitutional limitations on governmental regulations of economic interests and fundamental personal interests under the equal protection and due process clauses; due process and procedure; the state action concepts; and freedom of speech and religion.
   
  
• Evidence (6 units) -- A study of those rules of law that determine what testimony and documentary proof should be admitted or rejected in each case, and the weight to be given to the testimony and exhibits admitted.
   
  
• Civil Procedure (6 units) -- A course that studies the methods of enforcing rights and remedies in a civil lawsuit, including pleading, process, and practice whether in the state or federal court. The course analyzes the regular and orderly progress of a civil action from its commencement to the entry of judgment.

• Professional Responsibility (Ethics) (6 units) -- A study of the ethical duties and professional responsibilities that apply to members of the legal profession in California and under the American Bar Association Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct.
   
  
• Community Property (6 units) -- A survey of the law that relates to property owned together by husband and wife. Particular emphasis will be given to the California community property system and recent California developments in community property law.
   
  
• Administrative Law (6 units) -- A study of the rules and regulations related to commissions and boards created by legislative power. The governmental powers, legislative policies and purposes that serve as the basis for administrative law will be examined along with the administrative remedies available. (NOTE: Non-Bar students who intend to work with or practice before administrative agencies may take this course as an "add on" to Part Two or Part Three. No additional tuition for this course will be charged.)
   
  
• Wills (6 units) -- A survey of the fundamental rules and concepts governing estate planning and administration. Course coverage includes: intestate succession, family protection and the limits on the power of testation, execution, revocation and revival of wills, introduction to interpretation of wills, contracts to make wills, will substitutes, creation and modification.
   
  
• Trusts (6 units) -- A study of the law related to the creation, modification and termination of intervivos and testamentary private trusts, the nature of the beneficiaries' interests in private trusts, introduction to charitable trusts, introduction to the administration of trusts and, an analysis of the powers, duties, rights and liabilities of fiduciaries, management of assets, and fiduciary accounting.

• Medical Jurisprudence (6 units) -- A study of the science which applies the principles and practice of the different branches of medicine to the identification and determination of doubtful questions in a court of justice. Course coverage involves a mixed science of law and medicine, sometimes referred to collectively as "forensic medicine".
   
  
• International Law (6 units) -- A study of the law which directs the course of nations. The course provides an analysis of the customary law which regulates the exchange and communications between independent nations in peace and war.
   
  
• Military Law (6 units) -- A survey of the regulations for the governing of armed forces, particularly that branch of the law which respects military discipline and the government of persons employed in the military service of the United States.
   
  
• Space Law (6 units) -- A course that analyzes the accumulation of standards of international law regulating relations between states, and between states and international organizations, in connection with their conduct of outer space activities and the establishment of international legal policy regarding outer space and celestial bodies in accordance with basic principles of international law.
   
  
• Philosophy of Law (6 units) -- A study involved with the application of the rational techniques of the discipline of philosophy to the subject matter of law. Course coverage includes: the nature of law; moral theory and its application to law; crime and punishment; and, law and economics.
   
  
• Legal Research (6 units) -- A course that focuses on techniques used in finding appropriate books and other materials in the law library and through online research to draft legal pleadings such as complaints, demurrers, memorandums, supporting and opposing motions, points and authorities, and other documents (i.e., articles of incorporation, wills, trusts, petitions for dissolution of marriage or bankruptcy, etc.).
   
  
• Legal Writing (6 units) -- A course designed to develop logical and creative legal thinking and writing for legal practice. (This course should be taken concurrently with Legal Research.)
   
  
• Legal Practice (6 units) -- Practical training that allows students to create a meaningful purpose for themselves in the field of law, to choose an area of specialty, and to determine the kind of practice in which they would be most interested or best suited. Requires work in a law office under the internship of a lawyer, found by the student, who is willing to certify the scope, depth and length of the work experience. Also requires that the student prepare a paper discussing the ethical, social, practical and moral issues involved in such a practice. (Certain additional written work can, with prior written approval, be substituted for the work experience/internship requirement.)
   
  
• Toxic Substance Litigation (6 units) -- A course that analyzes the rights, problems and methods involved with enforcement of the causes of action that may potentially accrue to those individuals injured by the production or use of toxic substances.