JURIS DOCTOR (JD)
JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The College of Law is committed to providing a quality legal education for its students, this commitment is demonstrated by studying under the guidance of experienced professors/lawyers. The student learns to apply the law to solve the real issues and problems that confront the client of today. Writing as a key communication skill is emphasized throughout the course of study for students at all levels.
JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – ADMISSIONS:
Applicants may qualify for admission to the JD program under one of four (4) following categories.
- Regular Degreed Applicants – An applicant who has received a Bachelor’s Degree from a state-approved, regionally or nationally accredited, or an equivalent foreign institution will be admitted as a Regular Degreed applicant.
- Regular Non-Degreed Applicants – Students admitted as regular Non-Degree Applicants are those who have completed at least two (2) years college work, which college work shall be not less than one-half of the collegiate work acceptable for a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved or regionally or nationally accredited institution. Students are also considered non-degree applicants if they have accumulated, with passing grades, at least sixty (60) college semester units (54 of those of substantive academic content) at an accredited or state approved college or university with an average grade at least equal to that required for graduation. This is in accordance with Rule VII, Section 1, of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California.
- Transfer Students – Applicants who have earned units from a state-approved or regionally or nationally accredited institution of law may transfer to the College of Law subject to evaluation of grades and courses taken. Applicants who wish to transfer should submit the application and have official transcripts of the completed coursework sent to the Registrar. After review of transcripts, applicants will be notified as to which units will be transferable.
- Special Student Applicants – Applicants, with fewer than sixty (60) college semester units may qualify as candidates for the study of law. This is in accordance with Rule VII, Section 1, of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California. The College Level Equivalency Program Examination (CLEP) will satisfy this requirement. The CLEP Test required for Law School Admissions must include English Composition, along with two (2) of the other four exam categories (Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences and History). Students must score fifty (50) or higher on each of the 3 exams. Visit www.collegeboard.com for more information.
LASD – IRVINE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW PARTNERSHIP:
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department consisting of over 10,000 sworn and civilian employees has initiated a consortium of local higher educational institutions to form what is commonly known as the “Star University.” Irvine University College of Law is a partner within this consortium of colleges and universities. It offers admission to the Juris Doctor degree program to members of the Sheriff’s Department and affiliated Los Angeles City and County employees who wish to undertake an educational program leading to eligibility to take the State Bar Examination. LASD students are admitted to the regular Irvine University College of Law program pursuant to State Bar standards but class schedules are adapted to meet the assignment requirements of law enforcement personnel. Some evening classes are conducted at the Sheriff’s Training Academy which is not far from the Cerritos campus.
JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:
Students must pass the FYLSX and complete eighty-four (84) prescribed units with a cumulative G.P.A of 2.0 or higher. Students must apply for graduation and meet all academic and financial requirements. The following is a sample schedule of a student enrolled in the JD program. The JD program offers evening and weekend schedules. A student completes an average of twenty-one (21) units each year.
JURIS DOCTOR COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – REQUIRED COURSES:
The College of Law has developed a four-year law study program with required courses to meet the educational standards as prescribed by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) for eligibility to sit for the State Bar Examination.
LAW 100/110 Contracts I and II (6 units)
The law relating to the formation of contracts, damages, statute of frauds, breach, rescission, mistake and ambiguity, liability, third-party beneficiaries, parole evidence, assignment of rights and delegation of duties.
LAW 120/130 Torts I and II (6 units)
The laws relating to civil liability for wrongs to persons and property, intentional wrongs, libel, slander, negligence, strict liability, vicarious liability, assumption of risk, and misrepresentation.
LAW 170 Legal Writing (3 units)
An introduction to legal analytical thought, including practical exercises in writing and the fundamentals of legal research that provides a foundation for writing examinations and legal papers.
LAW 180 Transactions in Goods (UCC) (3 units)
The law relating to sales, liabilities, and remedies of buyer and seller, implied and express warranties, and uniform commercial code.
LAW 190 Criminal Law (3 units)
The law and procedure relating to crimes against persons and property, conspiracy, defenses, and the rights of the accused.
LAW 200 Remedies (3 units)
The law governing the form and type of relief awarded by the courts in law and equity, damages, restitution, reformation, and injunctions.
LAW 210/220 Civil Procedure I and II (6 units)
A study of common law civil procedure and its modern development of rules relating to jurisdiction and venue, pleadings motion practice, discovery, and trials, with an emphasis of federal court procedures.
LAW 230/240 Real Property I and II (6 units)
The law relating to real property, freehold and non-freehold estates, future interests, conveyancing, use of land, and landlord-tenant relationships.
LAW 250 Criminal Procedure (3 units)
This course presents an overview of major issues presented in the administration of criminal justice, from the initial police investigation of a crime and apprehension of a suspect, through prosecution and trial.
LAW 260 Community Property (3 units)
The law relating to the classification of marital property as community and separate property, management and control of the community, liability for debts, dissolution of the community, and death of a spouse.
LAW 300 Wills (3 units)
The law as it relates to capacity, distribution, interstate succession, formation, alternation, and revocation of wills.
LAW 310 Trusts (3 units)
The law as it relates to the creation, alternation and termination of trusts, powers and duties of the trustee, beneficiary rights, charitable trusts, and resulting trusts.
LAW 320 Corporations (3 units)
The law as it relates to the study of the nature and character of business organizations including proprietorships, partnerships and corporations and how they are affected by state corporation laws, tax laws and federal securities laws.
LAW 330 Document Drafting (3 units)
This course introduces “Hard copy” use of federal and state statutes and codes, court and administrative case law, ordinances, administrative law sources and decisions and rules, and digests and annotations. This course also explores online searches for legal information allowing students to evaluate the resources one finds, and assess their value compared to traditional law materials.
LAW 340/350 Evidence I and II (6 units)
The rules of evidence including relevancy, hearsay and its exceptions, the best evidence rule, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, presumptions and burdens of proof.
LAW 360 Professional Responsibility (3 units)
The study of ethics for the attorney, including the code, case law, and CA State Bar rules.
LAW 400 Agency and Partnership (3 units)
The law relating to the formation, termination, and legal consequences of agencies and partnerships.
LAW 410/420 Constitutional Law I and II (6 units)
The law relating to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, powers under the Constitution, Due Process and Separation of Powers.
JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – ELECTIVE COURSES:
Along with the CBE generally prescribed curriculum, the College of Law requires additional elective units to be completed to develop a well-rounded law student. Students are expected to complete nine (12) elective units to complete the College of Law Juris Doctor degree program. The College of Law offers a variety of elective courses to broaden the law student’s breadth of knowledge as well as develop legal specialization.
LAW 500 Advanced Legal Research (3units)
Intensive review of legal research techniques and methods in development of pleadings, legislations, law review articles and authority for casework in such areas as torts, contracts, environmental law, administrative law, criminal law, and constitutional law.
LAW 505 Immigration Law (3 units)
This course is the law as it relates to admission requirements, exclusion, deportation, enforcement agencies, citizenship, and naturalization.
LAW 510 Trial Tactics (3units)
Development of confidence in presentation of a case in court; methods in picking a jury; delivery of summation; client control; Extensive use of video to eliminate negative styles of personal habits in speech and body language that detract from effective representation of a client.
LAW 515 Federal Income Tax (3 units)
The law as it relates to the major provisions of tax legislation, including cases and regulations examining their impact on individual taxpayers, businesses, investments and retirement plans. The emphasis is on strategic tax planning for investments, business entities, and individual planning opportunities. This presentation is designed to meet those needs by identifying features of recent developments having special meaning to the tax practitioner and return preparer. Practical solutions to problems of the general practitioner and tax planner will be emphasized.
LAW 520 Intellectual Property (3 units)
This course examines the law as it relates to intellectual property law core subjects: patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and trademarks. This course examines fundamental principles, their underlying policies, and how the laws inter-relate.
LAW 525 International Business Transactions (3 units)
Current legal issues in NAFTA and similar international treaties governing corporate governance and commercial relationships in a globalized world; emphasis on cross cultural understanding of contracts, partnerships, and other business relationships.
LAW 530 Bankruptcy (3 units)
This course covers the law as it relates to federal bankruptcy law. Students will learn about the rights and duties of debtors, together with the rights of secured and unsecured creditors, under the Bankruptcy Code. It will focus on the policy considerations that underlie the code, and the provisions of the code that apply in both business and consumer cases. Although the class pays particular attention to business reorganizations under Chapter 11, the course will also include sessions devoted to consumer debtors.
LAW 535 Elder Law (3units)
Legal issues under the Older Americans Act; health care benefits; nursing home issues; Social Security Act benefits and hearings; and older client family law matters.
LAW 540 Domestic Relations/Family Law (3 units)
This course reviews the law as it relates to the laws of marriage, annulment, divorce, child custody, and adoption. Expansion on Community property to include fault and no fault divorce, custody and related law.
LAW 545 Business Negotiations (3 units)
This course focuses on the art of negotiation, legal theories, practical skills, and the settlement conference. The aim of the course is to increase students’ awareness of communication within legal negotiations.
LAW 555 Secured Transactions in Land (3 units)
Financial and contract law issues related to transactions involving real property, long-term leases, and foreign investments in land; representation of lenders and investors in financing developments in undeveloped land.
LAW 560 Estate Planning, Probate (3 units)
The law as it relates to the basics of estate planning, a subject that many people fail to address as they approach retirement. It will familiarize you with the essential objectives of estate planning, its unique vocabulary, and the devices used to distribute property as intended by its legal owners while minimizing costs and taxes.
LAW 565 Environmental Law (3 units)
Recent legal decisions and issues under the Federal and State EPA acts; endangered wildlife species protection laws; and Native American protected sites.
LAW 570 Appellate Advocacy (3 units)
Intensive development of writing skills in preparation of appellate briefs; review of California approved citations for appellate writing; formulation of specific appellate project brief in selected legal area.
LAW 575 Cyber Law (3 units)
Legal issues involved in electronic communications; recent case decisions regarding responsibilities of providers of information or entertainment in web formats; individual privacy, employer rights, and copyright issues.
LAW 580 Lawyer Skills (3 units)
Introduction to the practical business skills and legal issues involved in small law office operations.
LAW 585 Appellate Advocacy (3 units)
This course is designed to examine all avenues of appellate advocacy, both state and federal, with a primary emphasis on the art of argument. While argument in trial courts and other venues will be addressed, the emphasis of those topics will be on the creation or presentation of a record for appellate purposes. The course features numerous exercises, both oral and written, and student participation in those exercises is required.
LAW 590 Law Practice Management (3 units)
This course examines practical considerations focusing on law office management, litigation management, and corporate practice.
LAW 595 Insurance Law (3 units)
An introduction to the essential legal concepts involved in risk management and underlying regulatory, judicial case law and statutory law governing insurance contracts.
LAW 600 Internship Program (up to 6 units)
The Law School’s Internship Program invites students to experience legal practice while enrolled as a law student. Students apply newly acquired legal knowledge to real world problems and this experience enriches the classroom experience. This synthesis of theory and practice builds professional confidence and competence and supports the transition from law school to professional employment.
LAW 605 Advanced Evidence (3 units)
The rules of evidence including relevancy, hearsay and its exceptions, the best evidence rule, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, presumptions and burdens of proof. The purpose of this course is to prepare the Attorney for the competent presentation of evidence in the courtroom. It will focus on the comparisons and differences between the Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code. Each student should focus preparation for the California Bar Examination and providing an understanding of the history, scope, and applicability of the rules of evidence.
LAW 610 Native American Law (3 units)
This course introduces the student to the tribal law system as it is currently structured within the State and Federal jurisdictional systems; treaties and compacts governing tribal relations to States are presented; and significant modern caselaw interpreting Constitutional issues.
