This course will serve as an introduction to the vocation of lawyering and all that it entails. Students will be expected to read cases and participate in class discussions, just as they would in law school. After a basic introduction to the American legal system and its criminal and civil procedures, students are introduced to the core curriculum of an American law school education. This course is designed to stimulate students' interest in international relations and foreign policy. As a result of their experiences in the class, they become more astute observers of the international scene and understand better the problems the world faces.
Strong emphasis is placed on both historical background and the realities of the modern world scene.
Students are assigned readings and gain considerable experience in utilizing library sources emphasizing a wide variety of viewpoints. Much attention is given to the development of critical thinking, and a large portion of the course is devoted to activities that promote student involvement. Students engage in seminars, serve as prosecutors, defenders and court members in mock World Court cases, and become involved in a major simulation modeled on the United Nations, utilizing debate, compromise and decision-making. Study these laws and you have at your disposal a powerful tool for making personal decisions and understanding the world around you. This course offers students a theoretical and personal framework for understanding the depths of human behavior as it is influenced by other people and by the social situation.