See also Litigation Law Sequence.
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 20% of the 84 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 I | 1st Yr. | Fall |
| Economic Foundations | 1st Yr. | Fall |
| Property | FT: 1st Yr./PT: 2nd Yr. | Fall |
| Trial-Level Writing | 1st Yr. | Spring |
| Torts II | 1st Yr. | Spring |
| Contracts II | 1st Yr. | Spring |
| Civil Procedure | 1st Yr. | Spring |
| Criminal Law |
FT: 1st Yr./PT: 2nd Yr. |
Spring |
| Appellate Writing | 2nd Yr. | Fall |
| Constitutional Law I | 2nd Yr. | Fall |
| Legal Drafting | 2nd Yr. | Spring |
| Constitutional Law II | 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. | Fall |
| 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 | FT: 2nd Yr./PT: 3rd Yr. | Fall/Spring |
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 | Fall/Spring |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | TBD |
| Appellate Practice or Appellate Advocacy |
Fall/Spring Fall/Spring |
| Conflict of Laws | 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 2004 and Fall 2005 -- 84 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 I | Torts I |
| Economic Foundations | Economic Foundations |
| Property | |
| First Year - Spring | First Year - Spring |
| Trial Level Writing | Trial Level Writing |
| Contracts II | Contracts II |
| Torts II | Torts II |
| Civil Procedure | Civil Procedure |
| Criminal Law | |
| Second Year - Fall | Second Year - Fall |
| Appellate Writing | Appellate Writing |
| Constitutional Law I | Constitutional Law I |
| Litigation & Dispute Resolution Theory | Property |
| Evidence | Elective |
| Elective | |
| Second Year - Spring | Second Year - Spring |
| Legal Drafting | Legal Drafting |
| Constitutional Law II | Constitutional Law II |
| Proof | Criminal Law |
| Professional Responsibility | Electives |
| Electives | |
| Third Year - Fall | Third Year - Fall |
| Trial Advocacy | Litigation & Dispute Resolution Theory |
| Litigation Law Track Thesis | Evidence |
|
Federal Courts |
Elective |
| Criminal Procedure | |
| Electives | |
| Third Year - Spring | Third Year - Spring |
|
Quantitative Forensics |
Proof |
|
Pretrial Practice |
Professional Responsibility |
| Electives | Electives |
| Fourth Year - Fall | |
| Trial Advocacy | |
| Litigation Law Track Thesis | |
| Criminal Procedure | |
| Federal Courts | |
| Elective | |
| Fourth Year - Spring | |
| Quantitative Forensics | |
| Pretrial Practice | |
| Electives |
See also Litigation Law Sequence.
