First-year curriculums at law schools typically cover a very structured and comprehensive body of law. This includes civil procedure, jurisdiction, standing to sue, motions, pretrial procedure, lawsuit structure and trial results, as well as constitutional law, including detailed analysis of the Bill of Rights, constitutional freedoms, enforceable promises, and rules of nonperformance. Generally, law students will spend about ten hours per week on civil procedure, while a full week is reserved for constitutional law.
Moot court
Moot Court is a competitive competition that allows law students to sharpen their advocacy skills. It simulates a trial setting, with judges and jurors made up of practicing attorneys and sitting judges. In addition to law school students, Moot Court teams often involve high school and junior high students in the process. Most law students find time to participate in at least one Moot Court competition a semester. Moot Court teams can apply for membership in the Order of Barristers, a national advocacy honor society.
Electives
Electives in law are an excellent way to give yourself a grounding in the subject. Electives do not always require an exam or 40% assignment, but rather can be based on your personal interests. If you enjoy public speaking or research essays, opt for an elective that focuses on those skills. Alternatively, if you are comfortable with 60 percent exams, opt for electives that require no final exam. If you’re not sure which electives to take, here are some suggestions:
Exams
Students in law school should practice for exams well in advance. Law exams are designed to test their understanding of the subject matter. Students should not seek help during the exam or appear to be in need of it. Law students should abide by the Standard of Academic Integrity for Exams, which requires students to avoid the appearance of cheating or improper practices. Students should make use of study guides and outlines to prepare for exams. This will give them a head start on the rest of their classmates.
Constitutions
Earlier in human history, constitutions were drafted by individuals, not governments. They were drafted using principles laid down by others. The preamble, or passionate introductory statement, of a constitution sets out its purpose and guarantees certain basic rights to its citizens. These principles have remained unchanged from one constitution to the next. Today, the preamble is found in every country’s constitution. Here are some examples of preambles from various countries.
Common law
The common law is a body of unwritten rules and precedents established by the courts. Its development has largely been driven by the development of a system of remedies for common legal disputes. The common law’s beginnings can be traced back to the late 12th century, when the King’s Court introduced new rules and procedures. This period is considered the effective beginning of the common law. It has played a crucial role in shaping our legal system.
International law
Historically, the development of international law has been influenced by two schools of thought. The first school is known as the positivist school, which embraced the newly developed scientific method to explain human behavior. The second school of thought is known as the naturalist school, which favored the idea that human beings have natural rights. This school was largely successful in the past century, but is now viewed as somewhat outmoded. The positivist school is more in line with the views of empiricism and rationalism.