Working in the area of tort litigation, students learn how to read, analyze and apply the law. An emphasis will be on legal reasoning as students learn how to develop logical and practical legal arguments. Students learn how to research on-line using both a computerized legal database as well as legal research on the Internet. The course includes a review of grammar basics, the Uniform System of Citation, and a series of written assignments ranging from simple case briefs and business letters to a complex research memorandum that integrates research, analysis and writing skills. Students will be drafting legal documents during class and as outside homework assignments, allowing for significant personal feedback on their writing from the instructor.
Instructors emphasize current legal events.
Written assignments include case briefs and other written exercises designed to increase students' understanding of the subject matters. This course is also offered online under the name Introduction to Law . Students enrolled in the Lawyer's Assistant Program can choose to take the Civil Law course online as an alternative to the traditional classroom format. This can only be done after being advised for the class by a program administrator. The pre-trial litigation process in civil matters is the subject of this course.