L105F Business Organizations I
This course examines the nature of agency and partnership relationships, including the rights, duties, and liabilities of principals, agents, and partners. This course also includes an introduction to corporations, limited liability companies, and other limited liability entities. (2 units)
L105G Business Organizations II
This course contains an in-depth examination of issues related to corporations, including problems of management, duties and liabilities of officers and directors, shareholder rights, securities fraud, and fundamental corporate changes. (2 units)
L111F Civil Procedure I
This course involves the study of constitutional, statutory, and common law bases of modern civil procedure in both state and federal courts. Emphasis is placed on personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, venue, transfer, forum non conveniens, and issues related to choice of law. State and federal rules of civil procedure are considered. (3 units)
L111G Civil Procedure II
This course involves the study of civil litigation from the commencement of an action through trial and appeal. Emphasis is placed on pleading, joinder, discovery, pre-trial motions, trial, motions after trial, appellate review, and preclusion. State and federal rules of civil procedure are considered. This course includes a review of the topics covered in Civil Procedure I. (2 units)
L115 Community Property
This course is an overview of marital property systems. It covers the community property system in California – characterization of assets, rights to management and control, resolution of disputes involving community assets, creditors’ rights, and distribution of the community property on death or dissolution. (3 units)
L125F Constitutional Law I
This course introduces the student to legal issues arising from the governmental structures governed by the United States Constitution, including the sources of federal power, the relationship between state governments and the federal government, and the relationships among branches of the federal government. It also explores the nature of, and limitations on, the judicial power of the federal courts, and certain rights protected by amendments to the Constitution. Topic areas include enumerated powers, separation of powers, implications of federalism, intergovernmental immunities, limitations on state regulatory power (the Dormant Commerce Clause, the Contract Clause, the Interstate Privileges and Immunities Clause), the Takings Clause, Procedural Due Process, Substantive Due Process, justiciability (the political question doctrine, standing, and related areas), and the Second Amendment. While the focus is on discerning applicable rules and applying them to fact situations, relevant constitutional policy and theory are examined to aid comprehension and deepen understanding of the lawyer’s role in our constitutional system. (3 units)
L125G Constitutional Law II
This course focuses primarily on study of those portions of the United States Constitution that protect critical human rights such as freedom of speech and of association, freedom of religion, and equal protection. The doctrine of State Action is also examined. While the focus is on discerning applicable rules and applying them to fact situations, relevant constitutional policy and theory are explored to aid comprehension and deepen understanding of the lawyer’s role in our constitutional system. (3 units)
L130F Contracts I
This course introduces students to the basic elements of consensual liability, including the fundamental principles of contract formation, performance, breach, and remedies. This course also includes an analysis and application of the Uniform Commercial Code. (3 units)
L130G Contracts II
This course continues to look at the elements of consensual liability and may include such other principles as restitution, advanced remedies, third party beneficiaries and parole evidence. (3 units)
L135F Criminal Law
The criminal law course provides an overview of the purpose of criminal law, the procedures by which it is enforced, and its substantive content, including offenses against the person, habitation and property, imputability and responsibility, modifying circumstances negating responsibility, and limitations on criminal capacity. The criminal procedure course reviews the constitutional principles regulating and limiting criminal procedures of arrest, investigation, discovery, accusation, trial, sentencing, punishment, and appeal. (3 units)
L135G Criminal Procedure
The criminal law course provides an overview of the purpose of criminal law, the procedures by which it is enforced, and its substantive content, including offenses against the person, habitation and property, imputability and responsibility, modifying circumstances negating responsibility, and limitations on criminal capacity. The criminal procedure course reviews the constitutional principles regulating and limiting criminal procedures of arrest, investigation, discovery, accusation, trial, sentencing, punishment, and appeal. (3 units)
L140F Evidence I
This course examines the rules of evidence, which includes common law and Constitutional principles as well as federal and California rules, relating to relevance, materiality, and the hearsay rule and its exceptions. (3 units)
L140G Evidence II
The course continues examining the rules of evidence relating to scientific evidence, the opinion rule, authentication and the best evidence rule, impeachment and rehabilitation, presumptions and burden of proof, parole evidence rule, and the conduct of the trial from opening statement to final argument. (3 units)
L151F Legal Methods I
This course is an introduction to legal methods, including case briefing, the impact of precedent, factual analysis, the importance of policy and the use of analogy. Distinguishing and synthesizing cases are also topics. Also covered are the purposes and sources of the law, court structures, and study techniques. (2 units)
L151G Legal Methods II
Students are taught how to locate, use, and cite all the major types of research materials available to the legal practitioner. The emphasis is on developing practical research skills. Writing skills are developed through briefs and exercises, and drafting of memoranda, complaints, and points and authorities. (2 units)
L155 Moot Court
This program is designed to further the skills of legal research, brief writing, and oral advocacy. Students are given a mock appellate case. Students research and write a brief for either the appellant or appellee. They are then coached for and participate in oral argument of their case before panels of judges selected from members of the Bar and bench. The course culminates in the annual George A. Hopper Moot Court Competition. Selected students who demonstrate exceptional skills are invited to participate in state and/or national moot court competitions. (2 units)
L158 Appellate Advocacy
The purpose of this course is to teach students the nature of appellate law in general, explain the processes, requirements, and formal briefs used in California Appellate law to the students, and to reinforce the legal research and writing skills that students have developed in their previous coursework through the completion of an Appellant’s Opening Brief.
The majority of class time will be dedicated towards teaching students how to write an Appellant’s Opening Brief utilizing a gradual series of benchmark assignments throughout the semester. This will be a gradual process through which the students can practice their legal research and persuasive legal writing skills. These benchmarks will be based on the contents of an Appellant’s Opening Brief and the research the students must perform in support of their brief. This course will also provide necessary preparation for the required Moot Court class offered during the Spring semester.
L160F Property I
Following an introduction to the general concepts of real and personal, the course examines adverse possession, estates in land, and future interests. The relation, rights, and duties of the landlord and tenant will also be covered. (3 units)
L160G Property II
This course continues the study of real property, exploring individual and societal rights to water, air, and natural resources. Conveyancing, easements, covenants, and servitudes are covered. Finally, the State’s ability to control land use or to take property is examined. (2 units)
L161 Real Property Drafting
This course gives students the opportunity to put their academic knowledge of Real Property law into practice by drafting various documents related to real property issues and transactions. The course will be graded Pass/Fail. (1 unit)
L165F Remedies I
Remedies focuses upon the development, nature, and scope of relief that a court may grant a party who has established its entitlement to a substantive right. Remedies I covers compensatory damages involving tort, contract, constitutional claims and dignitary harm. The course also commences an exploration of equitable coercive remedies and their basic requirements (2 Units).
L165G Remedies II
Remedies II continues the exploration of coercive equitable remedies, including the availability of preliminary injunctive relief. This course also covers declaratory relief, punitive damages, restitutionary remedies, and equitable defenses to remedies (2 Units).
L170F Torts I
This course explores the legal rules determining whether civil liability should attach to conduct resulting in harm to persons or property. Intentional torts - assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, trespass to land, trespass to chattels, conversion and their defenses are covered. Negligence, including duty, standard of care, breach, actual cause, legal cause, and damages is covered. (2 units)
L170G Torts II
This course continues the exploration of intentional torts and defenses and negligence as well as defenses to negligence. It also covers strict liability, product liability, defamation, invasion of privacy, nuisance, and their defenses. Other topics may include misrepresentation and intentional interference with economic relations and their defenses. Torts I is a prerequisite to Torts II. (3 units)
L175 Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning I
The course examines the transfer of assets at death through intestate succession and by will. The patterns of intestate succession and family membership determination are reviewed. The formalities of will execution, will contest, and revocation are studied. (2 units)
L175 Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning II
This course continues the study of the transfer of assets at death through probate alternatives. Formation of trusts, restraints on alienation of a beneficial interest in a trust, revocable trusts, charitable trusts, and fiduciary duties of trustees are considered. Instrument interpretation, protection against unintentional disinheritance, and other topics applicable to both wills and trusts are reviewed. (3 units)
L180 Professional Responsibility
This course explores the organization of the bar and regulation of the legal profession. Students will also be guided in the recognition of and response to the varying and sometimes conflicting duties of an attorney to client, court and society. (2 units)
L200 Advanced Research & Writing
This advanced program of legal analysis and legal writing will focus on writing projects beyond those covered in the beginning writing courses. Subject to the preference of the instructor, students may draft contracts, motions, pleadings, complex memoranda, statutes, wills and/or other types of legal documents. Professional writing style and the methods of powerful written communication are covered. (3 units)
The School reserves the right to modify or withdraw courses of instruction, or to change instructors at any time.