George Mason University School of Law

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Fall 2007 and Later:
Litigation Law Track Curriculum

See also Litigation Law Concentration.

Matriculation Fall 2007 and Later —89 credits required to graduate

The Litigation Law Track is designed to prepare students academically and practically for litigation practice or other careers relating to dispute resolution. This track program is not a clinical program, but is based upon a belief that solid professional competence requires a sound understanding of the theory and institutions underlying dispute resolution. Accordingly, the specialized track courses focus on the processes of dispute resolution and the lawyers' roles from an analytical perspective, as well as on practical advocacy skills. In other words, the track seeks to study both law and what lawyers do.

Approximately 25% of the 89 credits required for graduation must be in required litigation courses. The remaining course work of the track may be chosen from a variety of fields of interest to the student, thereby ensuring students substantial breadth in their professional training.

Chart of Litigation Law Track Course Requirements in PDF form

 

Litigation Law Track Course Requirements

Required General Law Courses

Course Name Required Time Semester
Traditionally
Offered
Intro to LRWA 1st Yr. Fall
Contracts I 1st Yr. Fall
Torts 1st Yr. Fall
Economic Foundations 1st Yr. Fall
Property FT: 1st Yr./PT: 2nd Yr. Fall
Trial-Level Writing 1st Yr. Spring
Contracts II 1st Yr. Spring
Civil Procedure 1st Yr. Spring
Constitutional Law: The Founding 
(formerly The Founders' Constitution)
1st Yr. Spring
Criminal Law

FT: 1st Yr./PT: 2nd Yr.

Spring
Appellate Writing 2nd Yr. Fall
Constitutional Law I: Structure of Government 
(formerly Constitutional Law I)
2nd Yr. Fall
Legal Drafting 2nd Yr. Spring
Professional Responsibility      Before Graduation Fall/Spring

Required Litigation Law Classes

Course Name Suggested Time Semester
Traditionally
Offered
Criminal Procedure FT: 3rd Yr./PT: 4th Yr.  Fall/Spring
Evidence FT: 2nd Yr./PT: 3rd Yr. Fall/Spring
Federal Courts FT: 3rd Yr./PT: 4th Yr. Spring
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Theory FT: 2nd Yr./PT: 3rd Yr. Fall
Litigation Law Track Thesis FT: 3rd Yr./PT: 4th Yr. Fall
Pretrial Practice FT: 3rd Yr./PT: 4th Yr. Spring
Proof FT: 2nd Yr./PT: 3rd Yr. Spring
Quantitative Forensics FT: 3rd Yr./PT: 4th Yr. Spring

Trial Advocacy   OR

 Trial Advocacy for Competitors

FT: 2nd Yr./PT: 3rd Yr.

Fall/Spring

Fall

Recommended Electives

Though not mandatory, the Track Coordinator recommends that Litigation Track law students take at least two of the recommended procedural electives and at least one of the recommended substantive electives listed below. Courses in italics denote the most important choices in each category.

Procedural Electives

Course Name Semester
Traditionally
Offered
Administrative Law             Spring
Advanced Criminal Procedure Fall/Spring

Advanced Trial Advocacy OR

 Advanced Trial Advocacy for Competitors

Fall/Spring

Spring

Alternative Dispute Resolution TBD
Appellate Practice OR
Appellate Advocacy
Fall/Spring
Fall/Spring
Conflict of Laws Fall or Spring
Mediation Spring
Remedies Spring

Substantive Electives

Course Name Semester
Traditionally
Offered
Antitrust   Spring
Business Associations Fall
Income Tax Fall
Intellectual Property Spring
White Collar Crime TBD


General Electives should be taken to reach the remaining credit hours needed to graduate.


Sample Schedules for the Litigation Law Track

The following schedules are illustrative of the general order in which students should take Litigation Law Track courses in order to complete the requirements of the program. Some courses might not be offered during the semesters indicated below, so be sure to check with the Records Office for a current schedule of classes.


Scheduling considerations for all students:

Sample Schedules for Litigation Law Track in PDF form

  

Matriculation Fall 2007 and Later-- 89 credits required to graduate

 

 

 

FULL-TIME DIVISION PART-TIME DIVISION
First Year - Fall First Year - Fall
Intro to LRWA Intro to LRWA
Contracts I Contracts I
Torts Torts
Economic Foundations Economic Foundations
Property  
   
First Year - Spring First Year - Fall
Trial Level Writing Trial Level Writing
Contracts II Contracts II
Civil Procedure Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law: The Founding Constitutional Law: The Founding
Criminal Law  
   
Second Year - Fall Second Year - Fall
Appellate Writing Appellate Writing
Constitutional Law I: Structure of Government
Constitutional Law I: Structure of Government
Evidence Property
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Theory Elective
Electives  
   
Second Year - Spring Second Year - Spring
Legal Drafting Legal Drafting
Proof Criminal Law
Trial Advocacy Electives
Electives  
   
Third Year - Fall Third Year - Fall
Litigation Law Track Thesis Evidence
Criminal Procedure
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Theory
Professional Responsibility Electives
Electives  
   
Third Year - Spring Third Year - Spring
Pretrial Practice Proof

Quantitative Forensics

Trial Advocacy
Federal Courts Electives
Electives
   
Fourth Year - Fall
Litigation Law Track Thesis
Criminal Procedure
Professional Responsibility
Elective
 
Fourth Year - Spring
Pretrial Practice
Quantitative Forensics
Federal Courts
Electives