Orientation Week for our first-year students includes an intensive introduction to the CaseArc program with a focus on professionalism, client interviewing, briefing cases, law school classes, and the American Legal System. Students also have the opportunity to observe a simulated criminal trial and a simulated appellate argument.
During the first year, the entering class is divided into three teams of about 70 students, then further broken down into Groups of about 20 students for writing instruction. Each Group is then divided into two Firms for skills instruction. Upper class students continue to work in small groups for skills instruction which is linked to substantive courses.
The CaseArc Integrated Lawyering Skills Program spans the entire law school experience. Students receive 5 credits for the first year and 4 credits for upper level CaseArc courses. In the capstone courses, students are awarded credit based on the type of course they elect. The following table shows the breakdown of the program.
CORE I
FIRST YEAR
In the first semester, students learn the most fundamental lawyering skills, such as interviewing, counseling, objective legal analysis and writing, and legal research.
Linked with:
- Criminal Law;
- Contracts; or
- Torts
CORE II
FIRST YEAR
During the Spring Semester, Core II introduces nego¬tiation skills, more advanced legal research, persua¬sive legal writing and analysis, and oral advocacy.
Linked with:
- Constitutional Law;
- Civil Procedure; or
- Property
CORE III
SECOND YEAR
During the second year, in Core III, students learn transactional lawyering skills, corporate legal skills including negotiation and transactional drafting, and entity representation.
Possible linkages (will vary by semester):
- Business Associations
- Wills, Trusts, and Future Interests
- Health Law
- Professional Responsibility
- Nonprofit Organizations
Strategic Representation and Communication
Also taken in the second or third year (after Core III), this course focuses on problem-solving and strategic thinking. Students begin to engage in the complex analysis involved in legal decision-making. Students iden¬tify and evaluate options to solve specific legal problems, develop strategies for accomplishing goals, evaluate ends/means considerations, and depending on the type of problem, function in the litigation or transactional contexts.
Possible subjects (will vary by semester):
- Criminal Procedure
- Estate Planning
- Intellectual Property Law
- Family Law
- Constitutional Law
- Consumer Law
- Health/Disability Law
- Landlord-Tenant Law
- Business/Nonprofit/Tax Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution