Introduction to American Law

Limitations on registration: Incoming LLMs only

Method of Evaluation: Proctored Exam, Written Assignments

This course surveys the first year curriculum through a selection of important state and federal cases and statutes through which we examine doctrine in the fields of fields of constitutional law, contract law, criminal law, and aspects of civil and criminal procedures. IAL seeks to condense and investigate the first year curriculum for students already trained in a foreign legal system. Attention will be given to the differences between a civil and common law systems. The course is organized around the theme of "American Exceptionalism," or why the American legal system operates so differently from other legal systems in key areas of law. We will focus on issues as the importance of race in American culture and legal culture, the question of gun control, and because this is 2017, legal issues involving elections, such as the right to vote and redistricting.