An introduction to federal and state court organization, jurisdiction, and procedure, including pleading, joinder of parties and claims, pretrial discovery, pretrial disposition of cases, judgments, res judicata, collateral estoppel, and other subjects. Primary emphasis is on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and its counterparts which have been adopted by many states.

The agreement process; interpretation; consideration and its equivalents; illegal bargains; the statute of frauds; remedies for breach of contract; failure of condition; impossibility of performance and frustration of purpose; third-party beneficiaries; assignment of rights and delegation of duties; and discharge. Relevant sections of Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code are included in study of each topic.

A basic study of specific crimes at common law and under modern statutes; general principles of criminal liability; defenses; selected problems in criminal law administration from investigation and arrest through trial.

The fundamentals of written legal analysis, citation, and written and oral advocacy.

Continuation of Legal Writing I.

An introduction to the study of law, designed to give students the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for their other first-year courses. Topics covered will include a review of American history and civics, the place of law among methods of ordering behavior, an overview of the American legal system, legal methodologies, legal concepts, theoretical frameworks for law, and the role(s) of law students and lawyers. Pass/Fail.

A basic survey of the law of property, with emphasis on real estate; estates in land; divided interests; adverse possession; introduction to future interests; landlord-tenant; commercial transfers of land, including the real estate contract, the deed, the recording system, and title insurance; restriction of land use through private arrangement and public regulation.

An introduction to statutes and agency decisions and the central role they play in modern government. The course covers the nature of statutes and agency regulations, how they are generated, and how they are interpreted.

Liability for intentional harm to person or property and for similar harm caused by negligent conduct.

In the spring semester of the first year, students will select one elective course from the list of available qualifying courses.