Academics

Additional Required Courses

In subsequent years of study, additional required courses solidify the foundation laid in the first year. Students also select elective courses to broaden their scope or to concentrate in specific legal fields.

Basic Federal Income Taxation

This course gives a complete analysis of various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, together with interpretative material issued by the Treasury and significant judicial decisions relating to income tax problems of individuals. Consideration will be given to concepts of gross income, identification of the taxpayer, deductions, exemptions and credits.

Constitutional Law

This course introduces the student to the fundamental principles of the law of the United States Constitution. Attention is given first to structural matters; that is, to governmental authority and its allocation under the Constitution, including consideration of federalism and separation of powers. Thereafter, the course focuses on constitutional guarantees of rights, privileges and immunities, including due process, equal protection and the various guarantees found in the First Amendment.

Corporations

The legal nature, promotion and formation of the consideration of various business forms: partnerships, limited partnership, LLP, LLC and the modern business corporation. The structure of corporate management and the distribution of powers among directors, officers and shareholders; the acquisition of corporate assets and distribution of corporate earnings; the fiduciary obligations of management and their enforcement by shareholders; derivative suits and other actions; and rights and remedies arising under the Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Evidence

An analysis of the nature of judicial proof and a study of the theory and application of the rules regulating the admission and exclusion of testimonial and documentary proof by judicial tribunals in adversary and non-adversary proceedings. Consideration is given to the Federal Rules of Evidence for U.S. Courts and Magistrates.

Professional Responsibility

This course consists of a careful archaeology of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. These rules are designed to make for what has been called a professionally safe lawyer. These rules regulating the conduct of the lawyer are considered in terms of the duties owing to clients, the courts, society, third parties and other lawyers. In addition, the course will address the deeper issues of the stresses and strains of lawyering under the pressures of technological capitalism and how to sustain personhood in such times. In this portion of the course, one will be engaged in working out one’s own self-understanding and identity professionally, historically and psychologically.

Sales and Leases of Goods

This course provides complete coverage of Articles 2 (Sales) and the new Article 2A (Leases) of the Uniform Commercial Code as well as fundamental coverage of the Convention on International Sale of Goods (CISG) which became law in the United States in 1988 and supplants the Uniform Commercial Code as United States Law in International Transactions involving the sale of goods. The course is structured in a problem format to place the student in the position of the practicing lawyer.