This course introduces the student to pleading and civil litigation practice, including the discovery process, summary judgment, and basic trial and post-judgment review.

This course examines principles controlling access to and jurisdiction of courts and choice of law.

A survey of the law of contracts including the evolution of the theory and law of contracts and the creation and termination of contract and quasi-contract rights. Some attention will be directed to the relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, comparative ideologies and systems governing agreements and expectations.

This course continues the survey of contract law with attention to contractual defenses, terms, conditions, effects, breach and remedies.

The purpose, effectiveness and methodology of the regulation of human conduct by the infliction or threat of infliction of criminal sanctions. The definitional elements of primary crimes, principles of responsibility, rules of justification, and accessory liability are examined.

This course provides instruction in legal research, analysis and writing. Students learn to use various sources of law and learn the analytical and organizational skills needed to produce objective legal memoranda.

In this course, students focus upon written and oral advocacy, legal history and philosophy, and personal qualities that are critical to success and effective interaction. The course builds upon the skills students learned in Lawyering Process I by teaching students how research, analysis, organization and writing are used to persuade. The course also includes an oral argument component designed to train students how to argue substantively and persuasively on behalf of a client.

PEP Year One begins in Orientation and continues with a series of sixteen (16) classes and events throughout the first year of law school.  Students earn 1 Credit, which is given at end of school year. 

In Orientation, students read and discuss Whose Monet? Subjects covered include:

• The lawyer's role both functionally and morally with clients,
• The nature and effect of common law in a civil law suit,
• The nature and effect of statutory law in a civil law suit,
• The various courts and their relationship,
• The course of a lawsuit – from fact-finding and legal research through trial and final disposition,
• Pleadings in a civil lawsuit,
• How to read and brief cases and parse statutes, and
• Society's expectation of lawyers.

Opportunities for formative assessment (without a grade) are incorporated into the PEP Curriculum where appropriate; most notably the final exam will be the Multistate Bar Exam Practice (MBEP), administered at the conclusion of the first year.  The MBEP consists of 100 multiple choice questions on subjects taken in your first year of law school. Formative assessment provides students with information to help students assess where they are doing well and where they need to do better. 

Students who abide by the attendance policy and participate in the activities over the course of the year will pass PEP.  Students who fail to meet these requirements will fail PEP and will be required to repeat it until they receive a passing grade.

Part I of a two-semester course examining the practice and theory of modern property rights and responsibilities. Within a historical context, this course is intended to prepare students to deal effectively with a wide range of issues regarding both real and personal property. The coverage will generally include but is not limited to the following: Acquisition of property by discovery, creation, capture, gift, and find; Adverse possession; Present possessory estates and future interests; Concurrent ownership.

Part II of a two-semester course. The coverage will generally include but is not limited to the following: Transfers of real property; The recording system; Easements and covenants.

A comprehensive survey of civil liability for harm to person or property including intentional torts (battery, assault, false imprisonment, trespass to land, trespass to chattel, and defenses) and negligence (duty, breach, causation, damages, and defenses).

A continuation of Torts I focusing on negligence, strict liability, products liability, vicarious liability, dignitary torts, and economic torts.