Learning Outcomes

• Thorough knowledge of the basic rules of law as contained in the law school’s core courses: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Professional Responsibility, Property, and Torts.
• Significant specialized knowledge in areas of interest beyond the core courses, and experience with advanced study.
• Understanding of the legal system, sources of law, and the processes through which law is created, applied, and changed.
• Understanding of the policies underlying laws, the impact of legal rules on society and its members, and the methods used to resolve legal disputes.

Graduating students will be able to:

• Identify relevant legal issues, synthesize relevant legal rules, and develop sound legal and policy arguments to address the issues.
• Identify legally significant facts applicable to legal issues, and create and execute a factual development and investigation plan.
• Create efficient and productive legal research strategies, organize and effectuate their research, and review and alter their strategies as required.
• Work effectively to engage in and assist others in problem solving, including resolving uncertain, indeterminate, and unstructured situations.
• Critically analyze the social and moral context in which a legal issue arises.
• Draft basic legal and other documents that are accurate, organized, audience appropriate and responsive to the legal issue presented.
• Orally communicate in a professional manner that is audience appropriate.

Graduating students will be able to:

• Articulate the sources, structure, and substance of law governing the ethics of the legal profession.
• Identify, apply, and conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of professional conduct for attorneys, and the values of competence, integrity, and accountability.
• Fulfill a lawyer’s commitment to improving access to the legal system and offering pro bono legal services.

Graduating students will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in a live-client or other real-life practice setting, in which they developed professional identity and values, proficiency in organizing and planning their work, and the ability to engage in self-directed, independent learning.
• Experience in simulated legal work, including negotiating a legal agreement, in which they developed basic skills of strategic planning and collaboration.
• Experience in delivering a persuasive oral argument.
• Development of the ability to engage in self-reflection, consider multiple points of view, and critically analyze the legal system and legal institutions.
• Exposure to diverse viewpoints and experiences that promote the development of empathy and the interpersonal skills necessary to succeed as professionals.