LAWS 542 - Advanced Legal Analysis

Credits: 2

This course takes an explicit, problem-based approach to legal analysis in order to deepen students' ability to synthesize legal authorities and to formulate and critique legal arguments. Topics covered will include theories of legislative and regulatory interpretation, sources of "public policy" arguments, and an exploration of stare decisis and the weight of published, unpublished, and "depublished" judicial opinions. Throughout the semester, students will work through numerous exercises that require the analysis, synthesis, and application of legal authorities. Some exercises will require students to perform their own legal research; others will be based on the "File" and "Library" format of the NCBE MultiState Performance Test; and still others will ask students to critique the analysis in existing memoranda and briefs. All exercises will require intensive, focused, repeated reading of statutes, regulations, cases, or some combination thereof.

Note: This course satisfies the professional skills course graduation requirement.

For first year students entering Fall 2016, this course satisfies the experiential course graduation requirement.

Basis of Grade: Short written exercises throughout the semester; take-home exam.

Form of Grade: Letter

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