INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM
W
e start your legal education with a rigorous grounding in legal analysis, legal doctrine, and legal writing. You’ll learn the fundamentals of practicing law while developing the targeted knowledge and skills new lawyers need to succeed in an ever-evolving legal profession.
In your second year, you’ll choose from a wide array of elective courses representing a range of career pathways. And in your final year, you’ll continue to focus on practice-oriented courses. Along the way, you’ll learn how to draft motions, briefs, memos, and other documents that are the cornerstones of real-world legal practice. Plus, you’ll have a wide range of opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field. Our innovative curriculum prepares you to make immediate and positive contributions in a range of settings:
FIRST-YEAR COURSES
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
SCHOLARLY WRITING REQUIREMENT
Pre-Fall Intersession (August 2023) Introduction to Law
Core Electives You must successfully complete at least five of the following courses:
This requirement is intended to ensure that you compose at least one scholarly writing for which you must analyze, synthesize, organize, and present legal material.
Fall 2023 Civil Procedure Contracts Legal Writing I Professional Development Torts (or Property)
Administrative Law Business Organizations Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Evidence Tax—Basic Federal Personal Income Trusts & Estates
Spring 2024 Criminal Law Constitutional Law Legal Writing II Professional Development Property (or Torts)
Other Electives You can select from hundreds of offerings to enhance learning in your areas of interest. Professional Responsibility In this course, you’ll learn how to practice law and serve your clients according to the rules of professional responsilbilty that all lawyers must follow.
JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS Accounting: J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.S. Business Administration: J.D./M.B.A. Bankruptcy: J.D./LL.M. Government and Politics: J.D./M.A. 14 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT Advanced Practice Writing This requirement ensures that you’ll attain proficiency in the type of practical writing assignments attorneys take on regularly. Applied Skills Designed to ensure that you attain proficiency in lawyering skills, in addition to drafting, in a real or simulated context, this requirement can be satisfied through our Clinics, Externships, Practicum, and Pro Bono Scholars Program as well as our Advanced Interviewing and Counseling, Advanced Trial Advocacy, Deposition Practice, Mediation: Representing Clients, Negotiation, or Trial Advocacy courses.