The theories and purposes of punishment, the relationship between law and morality, definitions of criminal intent, principles of necessity, justification and excuse, and inchoate crime and group criminality may also be studied. This course is an introduction to the basic rules of evidence, which govern the proof of facts in criminal and civil trials, with a focus on the Federal Rules of Evidence. Classroom method focuses on discussion of selected problems and cases, and aims at providing a foundation for advanced courses in trial advocacy and criminal procedure, while providing all students with a common grounding in the basic rules of evidence. Professor Goldstein's class is exclusively problem focused. A study of the codified law as it relates to the federal taxation of the income of individuals, this course emphasizes the concepts of gross income, taxable income, deductions, credits, and tax consequences of divorce.
Special emphasis is given to the federal tax policy considerations inherent in resolving tax issues.
A survey of selected topics such as administrative practice before the Internal Revenue Service and the Tax Court may be included in the course. The full-time Legal Research and Writing faculty work closely with students in smaller classroom settings introducing case briefing, case synthesis, and analysis through a series of research and writing assignments. Students learn how to research legal issues, frame legal arguments, and analyze legal problems. In addition to learning traditional research methods, students are also trained to use computer-assisted legal research including Lexis and Westlaw. This full-year course culminates in an oral argument in a simulated court setting, during which each student argues a motion based on a brief written by the student.