| Academic Course Descriptions – J.D. Required Courses |
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Course descriptions for required and elective law courses offered at the Aristotle University College of Law are included below. The intent of the required core curriculum is to provide students with fundamental knowledge about substantive legal concepts and rules. This knowledge includes analysis of cases, statutes, and other sources of law; recognition of relevant facts from a mass of raw data; and effective oral and written communication and advocacy.
Advanced Professional Responsibility I & II (2,2 units) Prerequisite: Professional Responsibility. This is an advanced professional responsibility / legal ethics course which considers special and contemporary topics of professional attorney conduct and professional legal ethics. The case study method is used and the analysis of actual contemporary cases will be heavily relied upon to study advanced topics in professional responsibility. One focus of this course series will include the ethical responsibilities of public interest lawyers, “justice” as a goal in the lawyer’s work; representation of a client with mental health disabilities; representation of a child; the government attorney’s duties of zealousness and confidentiality. Another focus of this course will include the ethical conduct of corporate attorneys, and include considerations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, ethical obligations relating to whistle-blowing; exposure of corporate misconduct; and duties of confidentiality and the avoidance of conflict. Appellate Advocacy (2 units) Prerequisite: Evidence. Teaches students the fundamentals of brief writing and oral advocacy including preparation of an appellate brief and making oral arguments before an appellate tribunal. This course reinforces the study of the civil procedure aspects of appellate practice, state and federal courts, and appellate jurisdiction. Civil Procedure I & II (3,3 units) The study of civil procedure concerns procedural rules governing civil actions in state and federal courts from commencement through appeals. Topics generally include appearances, acquiring jurisdiction over individuals, court jurisdiction, parties, notice, service of process, court venue, joinder of parties, joinder of claims, counterclaims, cross-complaints, demurrers, answers, discovery, pleading contents, amendments, pre-trial and trial motions, appeals, judgments, res judicata, collateral estoppel, and conflicts between state and federal judicial systems. Students will learn the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and compare them to the California code pleading and practice requirements. Community Property (2 units) This course concerns the classification of separate and community property, the management and control of the community, liability for marital property, debts, and torts, problems related to the dissolution of the community, the rights of putative and meretricious spouses, and the distribution of property upon the death of a spouse. Constitutional Law I & II (3,3 units) This course entails the study of the United States Constitution. Important topics of consideration include, the separation of federal powers, the relation of the states to the federal government, states rights, the relation of the three branches of government, imposed limitations on the exercise of governmental power, specific federal government powers, taxation, interstate commerce, judicial interpretation and review; due process; equal protection, separation of powers, freedom of expression and association, and free exercise and establishment of religion, privileges and immunities, and the Bill of Rights. Contracts I & II (3,3 units) The study of the formation of legally enforceable contracts and their enforcement and the relationship of parties to a transaction in respect to such agreements. The course focuses upon formation, mutual assent, offer, consideration, substitutes for consideration, acceptance, mistake, reliance, capacity, equitable factors, illegality, the Statute of Frauds, interpretation, conditions, impossibility, unconscionability, frustration of purpose, performance, third-party contracts, assignments, delegation, breach, discharge, excuse of duties, specific performance, the Statute of Frauds, damages, remedies, and certain transactions governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) such those governed by Article II of the UCC. Corporations and Business Entities (3 units) This course explores corporation law, business associations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. The relationship and rights amongst management, shareholders and directors is critically examined as are close corporations, stock issuance, mergers and acquisitions, and Federal Securities Laws; the control and management of public corporations. Criminal Law (3 units) The study of criminal involves the study of the purpose and development of the common law of crimes and the elements of the widely recognized common law criminal offenses. This course examines the law of mens rea, assault, battery, mayhem, rape, murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, attempt, solicitation, larceny, burglary, robbery, fraudulent takings, receiving stolen goods, arson, statutory crimes, justification, excuse and mitigation and insanity. Criminal Procedure (3 units) Criminal procedure is the study of the constitutional issues as presented through the criminal justice system. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional restraints of police practices imposed by the Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), the Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination and interrogation), the Sixth Amendment (right to counsel), confessions, police interrogation, and the Miranda exclusionary rule. Evidence I & II (3,3 units) Some believe that this is one of the most important courses in preparation to becoming a practicing attorney. This course covers the Federal Rules of Evidence, the common law rules of evidence, relevancy and materiality, hearsay and its exceptions, burden of proof, presumptions, examination and cross-examination, impeachment, the role and functions of judge and of the jury, competence of witnesses, witness privileges, expert witnesses and their testimony, judicial notice, privileged communications, and scientific, demonstrative and documentary evidence. Family Law (3 units) The study of domestic law focuses on the rights and obligations of individuals in relation to the family, and especially considers the relationship of husband and wife, marriage, dissolution, pre-marital agreements, marital settlements, child support, spousal support, paternity, adoption, and the influence of medical technology on parental rights and duties and obligations. International Human Rights Law (3 units) This course explores the development of human rights law and the legal foundations, issues, and procedures for the advancement of human rights. This course will consider civil and political rights as well as economic, social, and cultural rights. International Law (3 units) This course will study the law of nations ("public international law"), defining legal rights and duties among nation states and international organizations. The system of norms, rules, institutions, and procedures that regulates the interaction between states and between states and individuals will be studied. This course may be offered in two course sequences, Introduction to International Law (1 unit) and Introduction to International Law (2 units). Introduction to Law (2 units) This course consists of an introduction to the process of legal analysis, the case method, legal research, the legal decision-making process, and an understanding of the state and federal court systems. This courses introduces students to the intellectual and analytical skills necessary to understand, interpret and apply substantive law. Legal Analysis, Research and Writing I & II (2,2 units) This course introduces the beginning law student to the techniques of legal case study, case briefing, legal research, factual analysis, issue analysis, and the judicial decision-making processes. Basic research using the law library, state and federal sources, as well as computerized legal research is conducted. Great care is taken to integrate and enforce substantive legal concepts within the students legal analysis, research and writing. Property I & II (3,3 units) The study of property considers both real and personal property. This course considers the rights and obligations that arise out of the legal ownership of possessory and non-possessory interests, tangible and intangible property, estates in land, the landlord-tenant relationship, conveyancing and transfers, marketable title, implied warranties, recording statutes, title insurance, adverse possession, equitable conversion, escrow, title insurance, recording statutes, land development, zoning, public and private control of land use, bailments, lost and misplaced property, gifts, and the gratuitous transfers of real property. Professional Responsibility (2 units) Professional responsibility covers the organization, rules and regulations which regulate the legal profession. Topics including the unauthorized practice of law, the attorney-client relationship, the attorney-client privilege, advertising, solicitation of clients, group legal services plans, compensation, fiduciary duties, trust funds, conflicts of interest, withdrawal from employment, zealous representation, disciplinary actions, canons of professional responsibility, and ethics, the standards and processes by which attorneys are disciplined, the Model Rules of the American Bar Association and the rules and statutes governing California attorneys. Remedies I & II (3,3 units) Remedies is the study of legal recourse. This course considers remedial values, goals, and mechanisms; development of equity jurisprudence; equitable principles, maxims, powers, and remedial devices; equitable remedies; equitable defenses such as estoppel, laches, fraud, mistake, and hardship; enforcement of decrees and judgments, contempt,; restitution and unjust enrichment; remedies for injuries to the person; remedies for interference with property interest; remedies for injuries to intangible business and personal interests; and compensatory and punitive damages. Torts I & II (3,3 units) Torts is the study of the consideration of whether an injured person should be compensated for harm caused by another person. Accordingly, the concepts of intentional torts, duty, breach of duty, causation, negligence, negligence per se, strict liability, product liability, nuisance, misrepresentation, defamation, slander, intentional interference with business relationships, the invasion of the right to privacy in tort, libel, slander, etc. are vigorously examined. Trial Advocacy (2 units) Prerequisite: Evidence. This course is designed to introduce the student to the art of legal advocacy. The course focuses on the theory underlying the preparation and presentation of a jury trial; opening statements; witness examination; closing arguments; direct and cross examinations; introduction of evidence; skills training in trial advocacy; and jury selection. Wills & Trusts (3 units) These courses considers the transfer of property upon death and includes topics such as formal and informal will formation, will execution, will interpretation, will revocation, the creation and enforcement of both private and charitable trusts, duties of trustees, fiduciary duties and responsibilities, estate planning, intervivos conveyance, intestate succession, gifts, interrelating testamentary and intervivos transactions and future interests. |