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Check
out the catalog
For
a full discussion about attendance, academic and admissions
requirements for the Charleston School of Law, you should
refer to our course
catalog.
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First
year coursework -- all required courses
The curriculum is designed to provide students with
a solid grounding in the law and to enable them to be effective
legal professionals. The program of study reflects the demands
of the profession for a meaningful educational experience that
incorporates history, technology, ethics and professionalism,
and evolving trends and future challenges. The educational curriculum
is designed to qualify graduates for admission to the bar as well
as to prepare them to participate effectively and responsibly
in the legal profession. Development of problem solving skills,
research skills, efficiency, consistency, competency, and professionalism
are primary objectives of the Charleston curriculum.
First year courses are predetermined.
Contracts 510 and 515
(3 hours per semester)
The first semester is a study of the basic principles behind the
creation and enforcement of contractual obligation. Included are
fundamental notions of the enforceability of promises, offer and
acceptance or other forms of mutual assent in creating a bargain,
and the judicial enforcement of contractual and quasi-contractual
obligations including the remedies available such as damages or
equitable relief.
The second semester continues the topics of the first semester
with an emphasis on the law related to the sale and lease of goods,
particularly as effected by the Uniform Commercial Code and related
federal statutes. (back
to top)
Criminal Law 520 (3 hours)
A study of substantive criminal law including offenses committed
against society, individuals, property and social order as well
as the elements of crime, mens reas, actus reas, criminal responsibility
and capacity, justification, excuse and defenses, and punishment
including sentencing schemes. (back
to top)
Property 530 and 535 (3 hours per
semester)
A study of the basic concepts of real property law and conveyancing,
including historical background; estates in land, including the
fee simple, limitations on the fee such as the fee tail and modern
equivalents, the life estate, the estate for a term of years,
and other limited estates; concurrent ownership; future interests;
landlord and tenant; delivery, description, title covenants, and
limitations on title such as agreements running with the land
at law and in equity; easements; recording and title registration;
and environmental concerns. (back
to top)
Torts 540 and 545 (3 hours per semester)
The study of civil wrongs for which the common law provides a
remedy in the form of an action for damages. Topics include intentional
torts, negligence, and common law strict liability, products liability,
nuisance, invasion of privacy, defamation, business torts, and
other basis for civil tort liability, how damages are proportioned,
pleading and defending claims. (back
to top)
Legal Research and Writing 550 and
552 (2 hours per semester)
Introduction to use of a law library, research experience in primary,
secondary, and specialized sources of law, practice in proper
legal citation form, instruction and practice in legal writing
and analysis with primary emphasis on legal memoranda, the research
and writing of pretrial motions and appellate briefs with emphasis
on preparing and presenting arguments persuasively.
(back
to top)
Civil Procedure 560 and 565 (3 hours
first semester and 2 hours second semester)
An examination of the rules and statutes that govern the process
by which substantive rights and duties are enforced in our federal
and state courts. This includes consideration of the basic problems
of civil procedure designed to acquaint students with the fundamental
stages and concerns of litigation, e.g., jurisdiction, pleading,
discovery, trial, choice of law, and multiparty actions. (back
to top)
Professionalism 570 (Required all
3 years) (No Credit)
This lecture series is required of all students. It is an obligation
of the student's professional responsibility to regularly focus
on the law as a profession. While some lectures may be directed
to a particular class year (1, 2 or 3L), all students will participate
in approximately fourteen lectures scheduled throughout the year
of study on topics related to professionalism, ethics, the law
as a profession, the obligation of pro bono service, public service,
public interest law, the lawyer's obligation and responsibility
to serve others, gender and ethnic bias in the profession, and
Charleston and South Carolina legal heritage and leadership. The
lectures are presented by leaders in the legal profession, justices
and judges, the dean and associate deans, and members of the law
faculty. Students have the opportunity to meet with many guest
lecturers either before or after each lecture. Because the obligation
to attend is a matter of professional responsibility, no academic
credit is given for this lecture series.
