Learning Outcomes

Goal 1

Graduates should be able to apply well-developed analytical skills to resolve legal problems with at least a fundamental knowledge across a broad range of substantive doctrines.

Curriculum

In their first year, law students receive instruction in six substantive courses, in addition to Legal Writing and Legal Research. The study of appellate cases and classroom discussion is designed to build analytical skills, while also providing doctrinal coverage in the fields studied. In their second and third years, students are required to take a course in Professional Responsibility and are strongly encouraged to take Business Associations, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Wills, Trusts, and Estates. These ensure that all students are exposed to a range of core legal concepts.

• Learning Outcome 1
  By the end of their first year, students will be able develop and apply a reasoned analytical framework for identifying and resolving problems presented to them. 
• Learning Outcome 2
  By the end of their first year, students will be able to explain and apply basic civil litigation procedural rules.
• Learning Outcome 3
  By the end of their first year, students will recognize the need for and will have developed the ability to engage in life-long, independent learning, including the performance of independent legal research.
• Learning Outcome 4
  By the end of their second year, students will be able to relate concepts learned in different courses and apply critical thinking skills.
• Learning Outcome 5
  By the end of their third year, students will be able to analyze and solve complex real world legal problems. 
• Learning Outcome 6
  By the end of their third year, students will be able to demonstrate a more advanced understanding of the fundamental concepts and policies underlying at least one area of law.

Goal 2

Graduates should be able to effectively use basic practice, research, and communication skills.

Curriculum

First-year students develop their professional writing and research skills by taking legal writing and legal research. Each graduate is required to successfully complete at least six credit hours of courses designated as experiential courses, which include substantial instruction in practice skills and individual feedback on student skills performance. Skills taught in these courses include legal writing, advocacy, and drafting, as well as interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and methods of alternative dispute resolution. During Maymester and summer term, students may study international law in the Oxford-London program or take a variety of substantive and skills courses in Columbia. The law school provides faculty coaches for a variety of moot court and mock trial teams and hosts four law journals, each with at least one faculty adviser. These extra-curricular activities are important in the development of writing and oral advocacy skills for participating students.

• Learning Outcome 1
  At the end of the first two semesters, students will be able to locate and use basic paper and electronic reference sources and be able to perform basic legal research. 
• Learning Outcome 2
  At the end of the first two semesters, students will be able to communicate effectively using both objective and persuasive forms of legal writing. 
• Learning Outcome 3
  At the end of their second year, students will be able to engage in multiple forms of legal drafting.
• Learning Outcome 4
  At the end of their third year, students will be able to conduct a basic interview or counseling session with a client or witness and will have developed basic competency in skills as a negotiator, arbitrator, mediator, or advocate.

Goal 3

Graduates should have a strong sense of professional values and identity.

Curriculum

• Students take a professionalism oath at the start of law school and are introduced to mentors who are practicing members of the Bar. Three sections of a required professional responsibility course will be offered during the regular year. In addition, the school offers an elective seminar on current topics in professional responsibility. Specific professional responsibility issues are also taught pervasively within some of the other upper-level courses.
• Learning Outcome 1
  At the end of their first two semesters, students will recognize the need to comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct, other standards that govern the conduct and liability of lawyers, and the broader shared values of the profession. 
• Learning Outcome 2
  At the end of their second year, students will be able to apply the Rules of Professional Conduct and other law governing the behavior of lawyers and be able to explain the various roles performed by lawyers within the legal system.

Goal 4

Graduates should have at least one interdisciplinary perspective on the law and an understanding of the sources of law and legal change.

Curriculum

Each graduate must complete at least one course approved by the faculty as a perspective course, meaning that it provides study of legal issues in the perspective of another, related discipline or the study of international law or comparative legal systems. History, literature, health, philosophy, and environmental science are among the disciplines applied in these courses.

• Learning Outcome 1
  By the end of their third-year, students will be able, in an appropriate situation, to consider an issue using the principles of another discipline, in addition to traditional legal analysis.