First-Year Program
Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing
In the first-year writing sequence, students are assigned to small sections of approximately 25 students. Each faculty member develops a series of problems and hands-on workshops designed to teach basic analysis, research, and writing skills. In addition to working closely with faculty, students also draw upon upper-division legal writing fellows to facilitate their transition from novice to expert. Students produce a variety of research and writing papers over the first two quarters.
The first-year sequence culminates in a unique research and writing elective. During the Spring Quarter, students choose from a number of different capstone projects. The projects enable students to explore an area of personal or professional interest during their first year.
Past projects have included:
- Public Interest Law Practicum
- Asylum Law
- Human Rights Research
- Appellate Advocacy
- Judicial Clerkship Practicum
- Civil Rights / Disability Law and Policy
- Legislative Drafting
- Contract Drafting
- Legal Writing and Rhetoric
- Pre-trial Litigation Practicum
- Professional Responsibility Practicum
Elective capstone projects are taught by legal analysis, research, and writing specialists as well as by faculty in other fields of law.
First year students also have the opportunity to participate in a number of moot court competitions, including mock trial, contract negotiation and appellate advocacy.