A Guide to Selecting Elective Courses

Law is a broad and diverse field, and the practice of most attorneys routinely involves several areas of the law. For example, many litigators become involved in cases dealing with corporate and other business law issues, and many civil practice lawyers do a substantial amount of family, real estate, and/or commercial law work. The type of law many graduates practice is often determined more by circumstance than by pre-defined interest. Thus, while in law school it is difficult to predict either what area(s) may interest you or what background knowledge will be most helpful in the early years of practice. Moreover, attorneys need more than substantive knowledge. A lawyer must have analytical skills and must be able to provide creative solutions, work collaboratively, negotiate effectively, and communicate clearly and persuasively.

For these reasons, the faculty believes that a broad-based legal education, including a sampling of courses from many areas, is the best preparation for the profession and practice of law. Students are urged to take one or more “perspective” courses, which provide a theoretical or historical approach to the common law, as well as one or more statutory courses. Your selections should include a sampling of courses from both the public law (e.g., Administrative Law, Land Use Law, Labor Law) and the private law (e.g., Commercial Law, Corporate Transactions, Intellectual Property) areas. You are also advised to gain practical insight and experience by taking one or more of the many “skills” or practice oriented courses and/or by participating in appropriate judicial externship or clinical programs.

Many students believe it is important to take all of the elective courses which cover subjects examined on the bar examination. Those subjects vary from state to state. In California, the bar examination includes Community Property, Corporations, Remedies and Wills & Trusts, all of which are elective courses. Additionally, many students find that the Legal Drafting course is particularly helpful in preparing for the “performance” test portion of the bar examination.

Apart from anticipating the bar examination, many faculty and probably most lawyers agree that it is advisable to take Corporations and Federal Income Taxation. The corporate form is pervasive and tax considerations impact much of what any lawyer does. Today, many disputes and transactions involve parties outside the United States. Lawyers need to understand the impact of globalization, and it is advisable to take one or more courses that focus on international or comparative law.

Although required courses are concentrated in the first year of the full-time program and the first and second years of the part-time program, Evidence and Legal Ethics are “floating” required courses – i.e., they must be completed prior to graduation, but, subject to availability, may be taken by full-time students at any time after the first year and by part-time students at any time after the second year. However, be advised that Evidence is a prerequisite to many elective courses as well as to clinical and judicial externship programs, so many students prefer to take it at their first opportunity.

Finally, keep in mind that the curriculum changes as courses are added or dropped depending on developments in the law. There are too many courses to offer every year, so some are offered in alternate years. For specific information, refer to the schedule of classes for a particular semester. Keep in mind that some electives have prerequisites (beyond the required first-year courses). Again, information about prerequisites may be found in the schedule of classes for a particular semester and in course descriptions.