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LAW-2374 U.S. Law, Legal Reasoning and Writing
Prof. Elizabeth Z. Stillman, Prof. Stephen C. Hicks,
2 credits day; 2 credits evening.
This course is required for full-time international LL.M. students and Exchange Students.
Students with a civil law background are required to take the course. Students who have a
common law background may also enroll in the course with the prior approval of the professors.
The course is not open to J.D. students.
The purpose of the course is to enable international students to understand the different legal
system and education that they will encounter in their studies in the U.S. It will provide an
overview of the U.S. Legal System, including the structure of the state and federal courts, and the
roles of the judges, lawyers and other professionals in the common law adversarial system of
legal procedure and dispute resolution. In addition, basic principles and terminology of common
law subjects will be introduced and explored through case law and other readings and legal
research skills, as well as exercises and simulations.
Particular attention will be given to the use of precedent, and methods of reading, analyzing and
synthesizing case law successfully, as well as understanding statutes and paramount
constitutional authority. Individual classes will also focus on methods of study, such as note
taking, briefing, outlining, problem solving, paper writing and multiple choice exams to assist
learning.
The course will be graded according to the satisfactory completion of exercises, problems,
research assignments and a comprehensive research and writing problem during the semester.
Prerequisite: Restricted to non U. S. LLM Students and Exchange Students
Enrollment is limited: 20
Elective Course
LLM Course
<<Course Updated: March 16, 2016>>