Law School Curriculum

QUARTER UNITS:7

WEEKS: 11

Students will study common law contract principles relating to oral and written contracts for services. They will learn the rules governing the formation of contracts such as offer, acceptance and consideration; they will study contractual conditions, 3rd party rights, assignments, and the law pertaining to enforcement of contracts, liability and remedies for breach of contract. Students will also study contract defenses such as the statute of frauds, frustration of purpose, impossibility, illegality, unconscionability, fraud, incapacity, undue influence, coercion, and public policy. The class will also discuss interpretation and application of the Uniform Commercial Code in transactions in goods.

QUARTER UNITS:6

WEEKS: 9

QUARTER UNITS:10

WEEKS: 14

Offering criminal law classes online, ALU provides insight through this course as students examine the common law criminal justice system including its theory of punishment, the classification of crimes, criminal causation and the elements of various crimes. Those seeking California criminal law courses can turn to ALU for in-depth study of the criminal culpability rules applicable to perpetrators such as principals, accessories and accomplices. Students will learn the elements of various crimes committed against persons such as homicide, assault, battery, rape and mayhem in ALU’s online legal program in criminal law. They will also study property crimes such as larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses, receiving stolen property, robbery, burglary and arson. Further, students will examine inchoate crimes of attempt, solicitation and conspiracy, and they will also learn many affirmative defenses including mistake, self-defense, consent, corpus delicti, insanity, duress, necessity, coercion and entrapment.

QUARTER UNITS:5

WEEKS: 9

This course is a survey of civil causes of action for which an injured party may seek redress and compensatory relief in court. Students will learn various theories of tort liability including intentional torts to person and property such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass and infliction of emotional distress. Students will also examine the law relating to causes of action for ordinary and professional negligence, wrongful death, products liability, and dignitary torts such as invasion of privacy, defamation, constitutional torts and nuisance. They will also examine strict liability causes of action such as pet ownership and products liability. Finally, students will examine tort defenses of privilege, mistake, self-defense, consent, necessity, immunity, contributory and comparative negligence and assumption of the risk.

QUARTER UNITS:5

WEEKS: 9

QUARTER UNITS:2

WEEKS: *

This class will introduce students to the fundamental professional skills of necessary to the practice of law. The class is designed to develop basic analytic ability and written communication skills, which are necessary for success as a practicing attorney. To that end, the class will offer instruction in analyzing and synthesizing law from different sources using reasoning strategies commonly used by lawyers. The course will also offer instruction and practice in formatting, drafting, and editing common types of documents utilized by attorneys in the practice of law.

QUARTER UNITS: 2

WEEKS: *

This course expands upon and further develops the practical professional lawyering skills covered in Professional Skills I. Professional Skills IIA covers basic citation forms as established by the Bluebook, including the citation of constitutions, statutes, cases, books and periodicals, journals and law review articles, and web resources. Professional Skills IIB provides practical instruction in legal research, including research involving treatises, statutes, Restatements, uniform codes and laws, federal regulation, rules, digests, state and federal cases, and practice guides commonly used in state and federal court. The course also instructs students in conducting research using physical publications and electronic based legal research using Westlaw, including use of the Key Cite features to update legal authority. Professional Skills courses run concurrently with other courses.

QUARTER UNITS: 8

WEEKS: 12

The course provides doctrinal analysis of various common and modern law real property rules. Students will examine ownership, possessory and alienable rights, and other legal interests in freehold and non-freehold estates, future interests, land covenants, equitable servitudes and easements. Students will study the law related to the recordation, use and transfer of property interests, and landlord/tenant law.

QUARTER UNITS: 7

WEEKS: 12

This course is a two-part survey of the law of probate. Students will learn California probate law as it relates to the formation and validity of testamentary wills, intestacy succession, and disposition of probate assets. Then, students will study common law revocable and irrevocable trusts, and the statutory, doctrinal and decisional law pertaining to trust creation, modification and termination, trust management, the powers, duties and obligations of trustees, and beneficiary rights.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

Students will study the rights of the accused in criminal matters by examining various provisions of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. Students will learn the law governing searches and seizures, confessions, double jeopardy, the right to counsel, jury trials, speedy trials, pleas, exclusionary rules and the appellate rights of an accused to enforce constitutional guarantees.

QUARTER UNITS: 8

WEEKS: 12

This course is a didactic inquiry into the law governing American business enterprises. Students will study model, statutory and decisional law related to the formation and dissolution of partnerships, agency relationships, and private, public, close and limited liability corporations. Students will study the law governing public stock and securities transactions, dividends, mergers and hostile takeovers, and the rights of corporate shareholders. Students will study the respective roles, duties, liabilities, rights and remedies of shareholders and business decision-makers, including corporate directors, o fficers and subordinate employees.

Students will learn equitable and legal remedies that are available to civil litigants. They will learn how to allege, measure and define the scope of monetary damage awards, restitution, legal fees, constructive trusts and apportionments in tort and contract actions. Students will explore coercive remedies such as injunctions, specific performance, contempt, and declaratory relief.

QUARTER UNITS: 8

WEEKS: 12

This course teaches the standards that regulate the admissibility of proof at judicial proceedings placing special emphasis on the federal rules and general principles of evidence law. Students will study burdens of proof, relevancy, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, policy-based exclusionary rules, legal privileges, expert and lay opinions, scientific, forensic and demonstrative evidence, impeachment, authentication, character and habit evidence, and presumptions.

QUARTER UNITS: 8

WEEKS: 12

This course examines the rules governing civil proceedings and the jury trial system with emphasis on federal procedural rules. Students will study various phases of civil litigation and learn how to proceed with litigation in a court of law. Students will study the statutory and decisional law related to federalism, allocations of power between state and federal courts, personal and subject matter jurisdiction, rules of pleading, claim and party consolidation, venue, pre and post-trial motion practice, claim and issue preclusion, discovery, summary judgment, dismissals, and the appellate process.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course is a survey of attorneys?legal and ethical obligations, and standards that are attendant to the practice of law and the legal profession. Students will study model statutory codes and decisional law that define an attorney’s legal and ethical obligations to clients, the courts, opposing counsel and the profession. They will study various legal conflicts that may arise during client representation while fulfilling the varying roles of advocate, officer of the court, public icon, and working practitioner. Students will study the business and economic aspects of the practice of law, restraints on practice, the role of the judiciary and the state bar in enforcing attorney rules of professional conduct, and sanctions for violating the rules.

QUARTER UNITS: 8

WEEKS: 12

Students will study the United States Constitution, the three branches and structure of the federal government, limitations and scope of government power, judicial review, the role of the United States Supreme Court, the Bill of Rights, and personal liberties. Students will examine the constitutional distribution of power between the federal government and the individual states and personal liberties under the Due Process clauses with special focus on fundamental rights, equal protection, freedom of assembly, press, religion and speech.

QUARTER UNITS: 6

WEEKS: 10

Students will examine the law relating to California community and separate property, the division of marital assets upon divorce and death of a spouse, marital agreements, business assets, commingling of funds, property improvements, spousal liability for community and separate debts, education expenses, spousal rights to pension and disability income, lawsuit settlements, life insurance proceeds, and management and transfer of community property assets.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course is an advanced practical workshop designed to sharpen students' legal writing skills. Students will practice writing memoranda of law, points and authorities, bench memoranda, client letters, attorney communications, discovery responses, and trial and appellate briefs. Students will emulate associate, research, or private attorneys and respond to letters, task memos, or legal documents, from attorneys, clients, judges or special interest groups. Students will utilize sample client files, court documents and law libraries as their tools to gather and analyze facts, research and cite law, apply legal ethics, develop legal tactics, and render legal advice in their performance test answers.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course offers extensive instruction in both analytical and practical applications of the criminal justice system as it relates to the actual trial process. In addition to historical and constitutional procedural considerations, the class will follow a criminal trial through jury selection to the verdict phase of the modern criminal justice system. Students will also receive instruction in courtroom conduct and decorum as it relates to attorneys, including hypothetical situations and ethical considerations. Additional issues such as presentation and evidentiary procedures will be explored and clinical assignments based on the production of documents will be administered. At conclusion of the class, the successful student will acquire enough knowledge and experience in order to, at a minimum, assist in trial preparation including participating in discussions regarding trial procedures and document production.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course will cover the various facets of the First Amendment by initially examining the historical and philosophical roots which led to the necessity of written restrictions upon the Federal government in the areas of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and association. In particular the course will involve in-depth discussions regarding prior restraints, the free exercise and establishment clauses, and how the due process and equal protection clauses further influence the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings in this area. Students will then analyze Supreme Court decisions and through practical application apply the Court's rulings to contemporary issues including symbolic speech, public displays of religious symbols and political campaign contributions. Lastly, the course will delve into larger public policy concerns such as censorship, the separation of church and state, alternative religious beliefs and the power of the states to curb these rights in the interest of providing for the safety and welfare of its citizenry.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course is a survey of the law of various unincorporated business associations. Its purpose is to acquaint students with the fundamental legal elements of these business relationships and entities. This course will focus on the laws of agency, partnership and LLCs, including formation, termination, fiduciary responsibilities and raising capital concern. Finally, this course will examine some of the types of commercial practices and economic policies that have shaped this area of business entities law.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course will offer instruction regarding substantive black letter law and concomitant practical applications of legal and ethical considerations governing the professional responsibilities of the legal profession and its relation to the general practice of law. Students will be required to study and understand the moral and legal implications behind the California Rules of Professional Conduct, the California Business and Professions Code and the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct (the "Model Rules.") The course will also offer students an opportunity to apply various rules and regulations to actual examples of attorney misconduct to illustrate the ethical pitfalls inherent in the modern practice of law and to offer substantive direction as to avoid violations that could result in malpractice and disciplinary action. Additionally, this course will be helpful in preparation for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (the "MPRE") as well as the California General Bar Examination.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course considers the legal issues concerning future interests as they relate to changes in real estate and finance, while at the same time giving thorough instruction in the basic concepts of mortgage and conveyances. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to represent clients in matters regarding real estate and probate as they involve devises, bequests and secured interests with banks and lenders. Students will gain valuable knowledge as it relates to contemporary issues involving liabilities inherent in inheritance, real estate transactions and modern financing.

QUARTER UNITS: 3

WEEKS: 5

This course is an advanced writing and practical workshop in legal matters related to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Articles 2, 3, and 9. Students will receive in-depth instruction in basic rules of sales and transactions involving goods between merchants. Instruction will include basic concepts of interpretation regarding contract formation, performance, delivery, breach and damages as those terms are defined under the UCC. Students will also receive instruction in the legal theories behind the UCC, and how commonly accepted business principles influenced these rules regarding merchants and the sales of goods and its importance to the general welfare of our overall economy.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 5

This course is an advanced writing and practical workshop in legal matters related to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Articles 2, 3, and 9. Students will receive in-depth instruction in basic rules of sales and transactions involving goods between merchants. Instruction will include basic concepts of interpretation regarding contract formation, performance, delivery, breach and damages as those terms are defined under the UCC. Students will also receive instruction in the legal theories behind the UCC, and how commonly accepted business principles influenced these rules regarding merchants and the sales of goods and its importance to the general welfare of our overall economy.

QUARTER UNITS: 4

WEEKS: 6

This course will cover the various facets of Products Liability Litigation by initially examining the historical and philosophical roots which, in the absence of express contractual obligations, led to the necessity of judicially enforceable restrictions upon designers, 44 of 48 manufacturers and resellers in the areas of products liability litigation. In particular the course will involve in-depth discussions regarding US State and Federal court rulings, including the US Supreme Court, as well as statutory interpretation, in this area of tort law. Students will then analyze various court decisions and statutes, and through practical application apply the various court rulings and legal standards to contemporary issues including warranty, manufacturing, design and labeling defects. Lastly, the course will delve into larger public policy concerns such as Consumer Safety Acts, the role of trial lawyers as related to consumer protection issues, and general discussion regarding the future of tort reform.