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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.
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JURIS DOCTOR (JD) – ADMISSIONS
Applicants may qualify for admission to the JD program under one of four (4) following categories.
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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.
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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.
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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 140
Skills Assessment (3 units) Using fact
patterns, this course develops a students
analytical, and reading skills and applying those to
the law. Emphasizing writing skills, the course
improves an understanding of both of black-letter
law, issue-spotting and interpreting the call of the
question.
LAW 150/160 Criminal
Law I and II
(6 units) The law and procedure relating to crimes
against persons and property, conspiracy, defenses,
and the rights of the accused.
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 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
(4 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
(2 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.
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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 (9) 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, theories, techniques, and the
settlement conference. The aim of the course is to
increase students' awareness of communication and
negotiation skills. The course focuses on creating
an understanding of the issues of communicating
including verbal and non-verbal communication and
with different managerial styles.
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 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 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.
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DOCTORATE IN LAWS (LLD) - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The Doctorate in Laws (LLD) is an academic graduate studies program in law that differs from the traditional professional program of law study undertaken by students leading to a Juris Doctor degree. The LLD program of study combines elements of legal research with substantial coursework in subject areas also commonly studied in the JD degree program. This graduate program is suited for those persons who wish to pursue careers in teaching law, law school administration, legislative analysis, advocacy for legal policy changes, mediation or arbitration of disputes, international consulting on Anglo-American laws, facilitating commercial international trade, or other occupational activities requiring a grounding in law but not necessarily holding licensure to practice in California courts. Completion of this program will not qualify the graduate for eligibility to take the State Bar Examination in California. This program was authorized and approved by the State of California Bureau of Private Post Secondary and Vocational Education..
DOCTORATE IN LAWS (LLD) – ADMISSIONS
The LLD program requires a bachelor's degree in any undergraduate major. However, most applicants will have a Master’s Degree or an equivalent level of educational achievement.
DOCTORATE IN LAWS (LLD) – CURRICULUM
DOCTORATE IN LAWS (LLD) - GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
Students must successfully complete fifty-eight (58)
prescribed units. Additionally either pass the
comprehensive examination or prepare and defend a
doctoral thesis before the academic committee. Students
must apply for graduation and meet all academic and
financial requirements.
DOCTORATE IN LAWS - COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS
GL 100 A & B Seminar in
Contracts
(6
units) Studies in the creation, amendment
enforcement, and assignments of agreements in
personal and commercial settings including
international EC and NAFTA commercial trade
compacts.
GL 130 A & B Seminar
Torts
(6 units) Studies in civil liability regarding
personal injuries to persons and property, vicarious
and direct responsibility for damages, assumption of
risk, subrogation, and legal policies on risk
management.
GL 150 A & B Criminal
Law
(6 units) Studies in crimes, procedures and
penalties for offenses against the penal codes of
the US, California, and International Law.
GL 200 Remedies
(3 units) Studies in granting of relief such as
injunctions, restitution or specific remedy under
equity principles by courts for injured parties.
GL 210 Civil Procedure
A & B
(6 units) Studies in the common law civil procedures
utilized for dispute resolution including
jurisdictional, venue, pleadings, and in specialize
administrative court practices.
GL 260 Family Law
(2 units) Introduction to basic California laws governing
domestic relations management of community and
separate property, dissolution and child support.
GL 320 A & B Business
Organization Law
(4 units) Studies in various forms of business
organizational structures including partnerships,
sole proprietorships and corporations; formation,
termination and taxation issues.
GL 410 A & B American
Constitutional Law
(4 units) Studies of US Constitutional provisions
and significant case law affecting commerce,
personal liberties and political processes.
GL 600 Corporate Governance
(3 units) Studies of principles and practices of
corporate organizational governance and performance;
relationships between boards and management;
shareholder rights and responsibilities; ethical
issues; social – community responsibilities.
GL 605 Acquisitions &
Administrative Law
(3 units) Studies of procurement practices and
related administration of contracts; resolution
mechanisms for contractual disputes in funding and
performance; role of private and governmental
agencies in dispute resolution.
GL 608 Labor Law
(3 units) Studies in US Federal laws on labor
management issues; collective bargaining under NLRB
rules; impact of globalization on labor relations.
GL 610 Modern Legal
Philosophy
(2 units) Studies of legal theories and
understanding of current trends in legal thought for
domestic and international resolution of civil
disputes.
GL 611 Comparative Law
(3 units) Studies of different civil legal systems
compared to the Anglo-American common law.
GL 615 Research
Methodology
(1 unit) Development of understanding in use of
legal research techniques and resources for
exploration of selected study area.
GL 620 Doctoral
Dissertation A & B (option)
(6 units) Preparation of original written research
under guidance of academic committee; oral defense
of research conclusions.
GL 621 Comprehensive
Examination (option)
(6 units) Examination of key concepts as required by
academic committee.
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PARALEGAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE
The Certificate of Paralegal Studies program consists of a one year program of study requiring successful completion of 16 units of coursework in order to be awarded the Certificate of Paralegal Studies. The Paralegal Studies Program is authorized and approved by the State of California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. Graduates of the program typically seek work in private or public legal offices under the direction of an attorney performing a variety of tasks ranging from researching legal issues to interviewing clients on court cases. A shorter specialized paralegal course –Legal Form Administration - is also offered for those students
ADMISSIONS
Applicants to the Certificate of Paralegal Studies Program must hold a High School Diploma or GED at a minimum. Many applicants will have completed college courses or equivalent educational studies demonstrating their abilities to perform post secondary academic work. An interview may be required in some cases to complete the admissions process.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Student must complete seven (7) prescribed courses
with a cumulative G.P.A of 2.0 or higher. Students
can take additional 4 courses for specialization at
additional fees. Students must apply for graduation
and meet all academic and financial requirements.
CURRICULUM AND COURSE DESCRIPTION- Certificate of Paralegal Studies
PL 100 Torts (3 units) This course
teaches the basic theory of tort law. Students
will learn to evaluate types of liability, and
will become familiar with the concepts of
injuries and damages.
PL 110 Contracts (3 units) This course
teaches the basic principles of contract
formation. Students will learn about contract
enforceability, breach and remedies for breach,
third-party interests and choice of law.
PL 120 Criminal Law (2 units) This course
is an introduction to the basic California
criminal law, including misdemeanor and felony
law, as well as the criminal trial process,
including arraignments, preliminary hearings,
motions to suppress and dismiss, continuances,
standard of proof and sentencing, basics of the
appeal process, habeas corpus and bail
procedures.
PL 160 Civil Procedure (2 units) This
course is an introduction to procedural concepts
of civil litigation, jurisdiction, venue,
service of process, parties, pleading and
discovery, trial processes, and appellate
review.
PL 170 Legal Research (2 units) This
course is a study of the research techniques for
use in legal memoranda, motions and briefs. A
concise approach to manual and online legal
research will also be discussed.
PL 180 Wills and Trusts (2 units) This
course provides a theoretical and practical
understanding of the laws of inheritance and
estate planning.
PL 200 Law Office Organization (2 units)
This course describes the functional roles and
activities of attorneys, support staff, and
paralegals in a law office; Also teaches basic
professional rules applicable to all law office
workers.
Specialization courses
PL 130 Family Law (2 units) This course
acquaints the student with the basic areas of a
family law practice.
PL 140 Immigration (2 units) This course
is a study of the drafting of documents and
instruments related to the main areas of U.S.
immigration practice, including admission
procedures, exclusion, deportation, political
asylum and citizenship.
PL 150 Bankruptcy (2 units) This course
acquaints the student with the three most common
forms of bankruptcy: Chapters 7, 11, and 13.
PL 190 Unlawful Detainers (2 units) This
course reviews the rights and responsibilities
of a landlord or renter and to be familiar with
the Landlord Tenant Code. Students will
understand lease agreements and learn the
procedures for evicting a tenant and defending a
tenant who is being illegally evicted.
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This program introduces students to different areas
of law office work and commonly used legal forms.
Students are instructed in selection, content, and
preparation of forms for areas such as contracts,
real estate, motions and pleadings, bankruptcy and
immigration. The program is a specialized
application of paralegal studies intended for
prospective or current law office staff that work
under general oversight of attorneys requiring
skills in client services and case file
preparations. The program likewise prepares
students for varied entry level law-related
positions such as a court clerk, contracts file
administrator, process server assistant, or legal
department file clerk in loan, escrow, title
companies, or bank settings.
The Legal Form Administration Certificate Program is
offered during week days from 6:00PM to 9:00PM and
on week ends from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Students
complete the program coursework in five weeks of
study.
As part of the Paralegal Studies Program offered by
Irvine University College of Law, the LFA
Certificate Program is authorized and approved by
the State of California Bureau of Private Post
Secondary and Vocational Education.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
While all applicants must have a High School Diploma
or GED, the majority of successful applicants for
the program have some college work credits.
Admission decisions also consider an applicant’s
maturity and capacity to engage in post secondary
level education by a review of the overall personal
and work related information submitted by the
applicant. In some instances, a personal interview
may be requested to review the materials submitted
by the applicant for admission.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete 40 hours of course
instruction, pass all required academic
examinations, and meet their tuition obligations.
CURRICULUM AND COURSE DESCRIPTION
LEG 100 – Motions & Pleadings This course is
designed to orient the student in assisting in the
preparation and service of a civil law suit such as
unlawful detainers, negligence, personal injury,
various kinds of service of process, motions to
strike, demur, summary judgment on the pleadings,
and answers to complaints.
LEG105 – Real Estate This course teaches the
student the different types of listings, escrows,
disclosures and types of broker agencies. The
student will learn to summarize a buyer’s and
seller’s property purchase statement, describe the
applicable taxes on the real estate transaction,
recognize the issues involved in property
management. Emphasis is placed on understanding a
real property purchase agreement and legal mandatory
disclosures.
LEG 110 – Immigration This course introduces
the student to the most commonly used DOJ
immigration forms, local agency and Immigration
Court practices and procedures. The student will
learn the different types of visas and supporting
affidavits for employer sponsored workers, immediate
family and relatives, and fiancés. Change of status
petitions will also be studied.
LEG 115 – Bankruptcy This course acquaints
the student with forms used in Bankruptcy Law
Chapter 7 and 13. The student will learn the
foundational legal terms, exemptions, concepts in
processing of a bankruptcy case, commonly used forms
in creditor-debtor hearings, and analyzing affidavit
statements for hidden assets research.
LEG 120 – Contracts and Torts This course
teaches the basic principles of contract formation
and personal injury law. The student will learn
frequently used terms in contract and tort law
practice, how to assist in the preparation of a form
pleading for contract breach or personal injury with
damages or other remedies. Instruction in preparing
witness affidavits, review of accident reports and
proper compiling documents in a case file will be
given.
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