Programmatic Learning Outcomes

JURIS DOCTOR PROGRAM

Legal knowledge:  Students will be able to identify, explain, and apply the law in both core subjects and in the students’ own chosen area(s) of interest.
Research:  Students will be able to use relevant authority to address and analyze legal issues with current and accurate sources, given the time and financial limitations of law practice.
Critical reading:  Students will be able to understand, interpret, and critique legal documents and authority. 
Critical thinking, legal analysis, and problem-solving:  Students will be able to identify relevant facts and analyze, synthesize, and apply relevant legal authority to generate solutions, develop strategies, make reasoned arguments, and reach conclusions.
Communication/Advocacy:  Students will be able to communicate and advocate in the written and oral form in a manner that is timely, clear, concise, organized, technically accurate, audience-sensitive, and persuasive.
Professionalism:  Students will be able to identify, explain, apply, and model the rules of professional ethics and responsibility.
Law practice readiness:  Students will be able to perform frequently recurring litigation and transactional tasks, to oversee the financial and managerial requirements of practicing law, and to collaborate with others in performing tasks and reaching solutions.
Cross-cultural lawyering: Students will be able to recognize inter-cultural issues, demonstrate cultural sensitivity, and utilize appropriate lawyering techniques to prepare themselves to practice in an increasingly global and pluralistic society.
Serving the underserved:  Students will be able to understand and value the importance of ensuring equal access to the system of justice for those who because of economic, cultural or social barriers, cannot afford or secure legal counsel.
 

U.S. LAW LL.M. PROGRAM

U.S. Legal System and Law Practice: Students will understand fundamental principles regarding common law, law practice in the United States, and the overall structure and functioning of the U.S. legal system.
Legal knowledge:  Students will be able to identify, explain, and apply the law in core subjects tested on the California and Washington State Bar examinations.
Research:  Students will be able to use online legal research tools to locate and apply relevant authority to address and analyze legal issues.
Critical reading:  Students will be able to understand, interpret, and critique legal documents and authority. 
Critical thinking, legal analysis, problem-solving, and writing:  Students will be able to identify relevant facts and analyze, synthesize, and apply relevant legal authority to generate solutions, develop strategies, make reasoned arguments, reach conclusions, and communicate in written form.
Professionalism:  Students will be able to understand the history, goals, structure, values, and rules of professional ethics and responsibility of the United States legal profession.
Bar preparation: Students will be able to demonstrate competency in completing multiple choice questions, essay questions, and a performance test similar to those on the California and Washington State bar exams.