Curriculum Overview
The curriculum at McGeorge is designed to develop highly skilled professionals who are prepared for the rapidly changing legal market. McGeorge's accomplished faculty challenges students. A legal education at McGeorge will push you academically within a supportive, empathetic environment where faculty and staff are invested in your personal success.
The First Year — A Solid Foundation
The focus of the first year is on building a solid foundation in the theory of law and mastering legal research and writing. All first-year students have a small-group classroom experience in Global Lawyering Skills I, which provides the opportunity to work intensively with a professor on analytical and advocacy skills. First-year students also take a spring Legal Profession class where they begin to shape their professional identity and bring their professional goals into focus. In the fall semester, a skills covers topics such as case briefing, note taking, outlining, and writing law school exams. This Analytical Skills Course is fully integrated with a substantive course, such as Torts or Contracts. Those students whose fall exam scores suggest that they would benefit from additional academic support are enrolled in Principles of Legal Analysis I in the spring semester.
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The First-Year Required Courses
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Day Division
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Evening Division
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| Analytical Skills Course (1) Civil Procedure (4) Contracts (4) Criminal Law (4) Global Lawyering Skills I (2,2) Legal Profession (1) Legislation & Regulation (3) Property (4) Principles of Legal Analysis I (1) — if applicable Torts (4) |
Analytical Skills Course (1) Civil Procedure (4) Criminal Law (4) Global Lawyering Skills I (2,2) Legal Profession (1) Principles of Legal Analysis I (1) — if applicable Torts (4) |
After the First Year — A Specialized Path of Study
Upper-division students choose among a broad array of elective courses where they get to focus on a more specialized path of study. Students may choose to add a Concentration, as well as considering competition teams, law journals, field placements or legal clinics. The usual course load during upper-level years is 14-16 units (Full-Time) or 9-10 units (Part-Time). Students must complete a total of 88 units, including a minimum of 72 which must be graded units.
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Upper-Division Required Courses
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Day Division
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Evening Division
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| Second Year Constitutional Law (4) Evidence (4) Global Lawyering Skills II (2,2) Second or Third Year Professional Responsibility (2) |
Second Year Constitutional Law (4) Contracts (4) Global Lawyering Skills II (2,2) Legislation & Regulation (3) Property (4) Third Year Evidence (4) Third or Fourth Year, or Any Summer 1 Professional Responsibility (2) |
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Legal writing is an essential skill for a successful legal career. Most McGeorge students satisfy the Upper-Division Writing Requirement by taking Global Lawyering Skills II during their second year. Full-Time students who work on the journal comment staff during their second-year have the option of waiving out of Global Lawyering Skills II. No waiver is available for Part-Time students who serve on the journal comment staff in their third year.
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Upper-Division Writing Requirement
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Day Division
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Evening Division
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| Second Year Global Lawyering Skills II (2, 2) or Comment Staff Writer on the McGeorge Law Review or McGeorge Global Business & Development Law Journal. |
Second Year Global Lawyering Skills II (2,2) |
Experiential Curriculum — Hands-on Legal Experience
There is no substitute for the real-world knowledge gained through experiential learning. As part of our commitment to teaching practical lawyering skills, all McGeorge students complete a Legal Clinic or Externship, and simulation and practicum courses where the focus is on learning by doing. Students learn to apply legal theory to practice, develop professional lawyering skills, and become a reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.
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Experiential Curriculum Required Courses
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Day Division
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Evening Division
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| Second or Third Year Legal Clinic or Externship (3 units minimum) Simulation and Practicum Courses (8 units total) |
Third or Fourth Year, or Any Summer 1 Legal Clinic or Externship (3 units minimum) Simulation and Practicum Courses (8 units total) |
Directed Study
McGeorge is committed to the success of each student. The Directed Study Program is designed to bolster a student's command of and confidence in core legal skills, with the goal of increasing success in law school and paving the way to passing the bar exam. Students who are in the lower 50% of their division after the first year are part of the Directed Study Program.
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Directed Study Required Courses (Students in the lower 50% of their division after first-year are part of Directed Study)
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Day Division
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Evening Division
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| Second Year Principles of Legal Analysis (1) Second or Third Year Business Associations (4) At least one of the following bar courses: Community Property (2), Criminal Procedure (3), or Wills & Trusts (3) Third Year Remedies & Principles of Law (3) Practical & Persuasive Legal Writing (2 P/F) |
Second Year Principles of Legal Analysis (1) Third Year Business Associations (4) Third or Fourth Year, or Any Summer 1 At least one of the following bar courses: Community Property (2), Criminal Procedure (3), or Wills & Trusts (3) Fourth Year Remedies & Principles of Law (3) Practical & Persuasive Legal Writing (2 P/F) |
1 Note: To stay on track for graduation, part-time students generally must take 2-5 units each summer.
Questions?
Office of Student Affairs
Email | 916.739.7089
