An Overview of the J.D.

Washington University School of Law has a broad-based curriculum that supplements traditional courses with hands-on clinical training, interdisciplinary learning, and global legal studies. Our curriculum provides a comprehensive education that prepares our students to practice anywhere in the United States and to address transnational legal problems as well.

First-Year Courses

Fall Semester

• Contracts (4 credits). An examination of the law governing formation, interpretation, and enforceability of agreements, with an emphasis on the remedies for breach of enforceable agreements.
• Property (4 credits). Real and personal property, the estate concept, some of the issues of landlord and tenant law, future interests, and easements.
• Torts (4 credits). Liability for intentional or accidental injuries to persons or property.
• Legal Practice I: Objective Analysis and Reasoning (2 credits).   Introduction to legal reasoning and writing, with an emphasis on predictive problem solving. [view site]
• Legal Research Methodologies (1 credit for year).  Introduction to legal research.

The union of faculty expertise, commitment
to teaching, and well-prepared students at
Washington University School of Law
ensures stimulating classroom discussions.

Spring Semester

• Civil Procedure (4 credits). Civil litigation, including pleading, discovery, pretrial motions, jurisdiction, parties, and judgments.
• Constitutional Law I (4 credits). Examination of federalism issues of the Constitution, including judicial review, the commerce clause, separation of powers, intergovernmental immunity, and related topics.
• Criminal Law (4 credits). General principles of crime, the function of criminal law, and analysis of specific crimes.
• Legal Practice II: Advocacy (2 credits).  Continuation of fall semester course, with an emphasis on persuasive argument and advocacy. [view site]
• Legal Research Methodologies (1 credit for year).  Introduction to legal research.

Each semester, each first-year student has one of the three substantive courses each semester in a small section of approximately 35 students, with the two other substantive courses meeting in sections of approximately 70 students. The fourth course each semester, Legal Research and Writing, is also taught in small groups and workshop style classes by full-time teachers who provide individualized feedback on each student's research and writing projects.

Upperclass Courses

After the first year students can begin to tailor their studies to fit their own individual interests. With the exception of the upper-class writing requirement, which any of our seminars will satisfy, and the required completion of one course from the Ethics Curriculum, students choose all their own courses. Faculty members, administrators, and upper class students provide guidance about course selection. Washington University School of Law has several areas of strength, including interdisciplinary learning; international law; corporate, commercial, and business law; intellectual property law and its clinical education and trial advocacy programs.