{"page_header":"Pre-LLM Course Descriptions","top_image":"","page_intro":"","page_content":"<h3><strong>First Semester<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<h5>LBR 420 Introduction to American Law and Government<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course will provide a foundational understanding of general American legal concepts, history, and profession, including professional responsibility. Students will also learn principles, functions, and basic political institutions of the American system of government at the state and national level. Students will engage in reading and classroom discussion that will be supplemented by field trips to state courts.<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 405 Legal Terminology<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course is designed to familiarize the student with commonly used legal terms. Emphasis is on the spelling, definition, pronunciation, and usage of legal terminology. Upon completion, the student should be able to comprehend, appreciate, and use legal terms.<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 401 Academic Skills for Graduate Studies<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course will cover basic academic skills and strategies needed to succeed in an English-language graduate program. The focus will be on strengthening study skills, listening and speaking effectively. Students will work on listening strategies that will help them to handle lectures and discussions from various disciplines, including taking coherent notes and writing summaries of and responses to complex questions. Students will develop conversational approaches allowing them to participate fully in academic life at the graduate level, including interacting with classmates and professors and participating in class discussion.<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 410 Legal Culture, Communications and Ethics<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course is designed to introduce the student to basic written and spoken legal communication skills. They will become familiar with basic forms of legal documents and their application and proper use. In addition, this class will provide a platform to engage students in discussion and review of current legal issues in the United States and around the world.<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 430 Legal English and Writing I<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course will assist students in developing the English language writing skills necessary to succeed in an LL.M. program and international legal practice. Part II of this course continues in the following semester. Students will learn to acquire effective reading strategies, to practice listening, to write using appropriate grammar and revise work based on instructor feedback, and to develop oral fluency and accuracy and hone pronunciation.&nbsp; Students will work on expanding general English skills using course materials that incorporate legal content and deal with law-related issues.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Second Semester<\/h3>\r\n<h5>LBR 520 Business Law and Legal Environment<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamentals of business law affecting consumers and business entities. Emphasis is on principles of law dealing with contracts, sales and commercial paper as well as the historical and cultural basis these principles are based on. Upon completion, the student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the legal issues affecting business transactions and their application to a business situation. &nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 511 Persuasive Advocacy<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course is designed to familiarize students with the art of persuasive writing and oral advocacy. Students will study examples of good and bad persuasive writing and practice written advocacy in a number of assignments. Students will learn the art of persuasion in the context of the courtroom. Exercises and simulations will focus on the basic skills of direct examination, cross-examination, opening statements and closing arguments. By the end of the course students should be more able to argue and more likely to win - whether inside or outside the courtroom.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 530 Legal English and Writing II<\/h5>\r\n<p>This course builds directly upon <em>Legal English and Writing I. T<\/em>his course further enhances student Legal English skills in reading and writing.&nbsp; Students continue to sharpen these skills with greater emphasis on legal materials.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h5>LBR 510 Legal Research<\/h5>\r\n<p>The Legal Research course teaches students the basic techniques of legal research, writing, and analysis. This course will introduce case briefing, case synthesis, and analysis through a series of research and writing assignments. Students learn how to research legal issues, frame legal arguments, and analyze legal problems. In addition to learning traditional research methods, students are also trained to use computer-assisted legal research including Lexis and Westlaw.<\/p>","callouts":[]}