Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Entering Student Initial Assignments
FALL 2004
REVISED 18-Jan-06
Listed below are initial assignments for entering students.
Students should be prepared accordingly.
CLASS
CIVIL PROCEDURE
§ 103.1
Cromer
CIVIL PROCEDURE
§ 103.2
Slomanson
CONTRACTS I
§ 101.2
Golden
CONTRACTS I
§ 101.1
Melden
CONTRACTS I
§ 101.3
Templin
CRIMINAL LAW
§ 105.2
Semeraro
CRIMINAL LAW
§ 105.1
Steinberg
ASSIGNMENT
Read in Text: 1-20; FRCP 1; U.S. Constitution Art. III, Am. 10.
No Initial Assignment.
Week One Assignment:
[PLEASE NOTE: The 2003 edition of the required supplement, Selections for
Contracts, begins with the original text of Articles 1 and 2 of the Uniform
Commercial Code (pp.7-91), followed by a section containing the revised text
of those articles (pp.93-172). In this initial assignment and the course syllabus
which will be distributed in class, references to the original text will simply be
by section number (e.g., §2-207). References to the revised text will be by
section number preceded by the letter "R," (e.g., §R2-207).]
Casebook pp.1-2; 22-52; 64 (beginning with "Rewards")-75
Uniform Commercial Code §§R1-103; R1-201(b)(3) & (12); 1-203; 2-102;
2-103(1); 2-106
Restatement 2nd of Contracts §§1; 71-83
Contracts as promises courts will enforce. The meaning of enforce in this
context. Consideration as a basis for making promises enforceable – promise
exchanged for performance or forbearance; promise exchanged for another
promise.
Assignment for first class: Wed., August 18.
All references to the rules are in Contract Law: Selected Source Materials
The other readings are in Knapp, Crystal, Prince, Problems in Contract Law:
Cases and Materials (hereinafter referred to as "Knapp")
1. Restatement (2nd) sections 1-4, 71-72
2. Knapp, "The Sources of Contract Law," pp. 3-8
3. Knapp, pp. 40-41, "Enforcing Exchange Transactions: The Doctrine of
Consideration"
4. Knapp, pp. 41-44, Hamer v. Sidway
5. Knapp, pp. 74-75, Kirksey v. Kirkse
Read in Text : pp 1-25.
Read in Text: Introduction, pp. 1-20; McKelskey v. Kemp, pp. 472-477;
Caldwell v. Mississippi, Handout. Please note that the class discussion will
focus on the cases rather than the introduction.
Introduction. Principles of Punishment. Read in Casebook: pp. 30-47.
Queen v. Dudley and Stephens (Casebook, pp. 48-50). Understanding
Criminal Law, pp. 1-26.
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CLASS
LEGAL WRITING I
§ 99.4
Berenson
LEGAL WRITING I
§ 99.1, 99.6
Berger
ASSIGNMENT
Read pages 1-32 (through Exercise 3A) in A Practical Guide to Legal Writing
and Legal Method (Dernbach) and read pages 1-14 in the Legal Writing I
Workbook. At the first class, you will be expected to turn in a written answer
to Exercise 1B on pages 7 and 8 of A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and
Legal Method. You should also answer the other exercise questions in
Dernbach, but need not turn in those answers.
This assignment is meant to get you “into the swing” of legal writing, and will
not be graded. Follow the book’s instructions in writing your answer: that is,
first, you are to decide each case and explain the reasons for your decision,
and second, you are to frame a rule that will reconcile your conclusions and
incorporate your reasoning. You should spend no more than one hour, and
two typed, double-spaced pages on this assignment. Please write in full
sentences and paragraphs.
Class 1: Read pages 1-32 (through Exercise 3A) in A Practical Guide to
Legal Writing and Legal Method (Dernbach) and read pages 1-17 in the Legal
Writing I Workbook. Follow the instructions in the Workbook to prepare the
case brief assigned at pages 15-17.
At the first class, you also will be expected to turn in a written answer to
Exercise 1B on pages 7 and 8 of A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and Legal
Method. The written answer to Exercise 1B is a diagnostic writing exercise
that will not be graded. Follow the instructions in Dernbach to write your
answer: that is, first, you are to decide each case and explain the reasons for
your decision, and second, you are to frame a rule that will reconcile your
conclusions and incorporate your reasoning. Because I will use your written
answers as a diagnostic tool, you should work independently, and you should
spend no more than one hour and two double-spaced pages on this
assignment. Use full sentences and paragraphs, and type or word process
your answer.
LEGAL WRITING I
§ 99.2, 99.5
Durst
LEGAL WRITING I
§ 99.3, 99.7
Keller
Please note that you should answer the other exercise questions in
Dernbach, but you need not be prepared to turn in the answers.
Read pp. 1-32 (through Exercise 3A) in A Practical Guide to Legal Writing
and Legal Method (Dernbach) and read pp. 1-17 in the Legal Writing I
Workbook. Follow the instructions in the Workbook to prepare the case brief
at pp. 15-17.
For our first class session, you should read and be prepared to discuss the
following:
(a) pages 1-14 (Introduction & Case Briefing) in the Legal Writing I Workbook
(WB);
(b) Suzanne E. Rowe, Legal Research, Legal Writing and Legal Analysis, in
WB (see Table of Contents for page numbers);
(c) pages 1-32 in A Practical Guide to Legal Writing & Legal Method
(Dernbach). You should work through all of the relevant exercises in
Dernbach (up to p. 32), but you will hand in only two exercises in class: Ex.
1-B (parts 1 & 2) and Ex. 3-A (Toad v. Ulrich case brief). You must bring
TWO copies each of these exercises to class (one to hand in, one to refer to
during class discussion).
These exercises will serve as diagnostic assignments that will not be graded.
Follow the directions in Dernbach; double-space and type (or word process)
your answers. You are limited to 2 double-spaced, standard font* pages for
each exercise. You should spend no more than 60 minutes on each exercise.
Do use full sentences and paragraphs; do not use spell-check or grammarcheck.
* For this assignment, standard font means Courier 12-point or larger OR Times New
Roman 13-point or larger.
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CLASS
TORTS I
§ 111.1
Delman
TORTS I
§ 111.3
Kass
TORTS I
§ 111.2
Waldman
ASSIGNMENT
Please read cases in the order assigned. Read the entire assignment for the
first class. Casebook: Concept of Intent, pp. 17-20, 25-28, 23-24; Battery, pp.
29-33; Assault, pp. 33-37. Read in Glannon: pp. 3-5, 6-20, 21-27, 28-38.
Prosser Casebook, pp. 1-20 (skip Spivey case) and pp. 22-28 (skip Talmadge
case). Do not brief the cases pp. 1-16. Understanding Torts Treatise, pp. 34, 5-7. [Optional: Glannon pp. 3-5]
Week One: Read in the Supplement, pp. 1-10 (do this first); in Understanding
Torts, pp. 3-7; in the Prosser casebook, pp. 1-16 (do not brief these cases);
17-20 (brief cases); notes on 22-23 (but no need to read Spivey v. Battaglia);
23-28 (brief cases).
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