Introduction to Legal Methods - FALL 2009 NIGHT STUDENTS
7/1/09
Your grade in this course consists of four components: (1) your score on the contracts briefs and rule synthesis
assignment (10%); (2) your score on the torts intent briefs and rule synthesis assignment (15%); (3) your score
on the practice exam, including outline (10%); and (4) your score on the final exam (65%).
REQUIRED TEXT: Law School Exams: Preparing and Writing to Win (Aspen 2007) by Charles R. Calleros which can
be purchased at The Law Bookstore located at 1775 W La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801, Phone: (714) 491-2665
or from the publisher at
http://www.aspenpublishers.com/Product.asp?catalog_name=Aspen&product_id=073556356X.
Assignment Requirement: All briefs for this course are limited to 1.3 pages or less, using 12 Times New Roman
font, single spacing, and 1 inch margins. (.3 pages equals 16 lines, including blank lines between typing lines).
There will be deductions for failure to follow these requirements.
STUDENTS SHOULD COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNED READINGS FROM THE CALLEROS TEXT BEFORE CLASS BEGINS.
Date
Day 1
Wed., Aug. 5,
6:30 - 10:00
p.m.
Topic
Reading Assignment
Writing Assignment
(to complete prior to class)
(due in class)
Read: Law School Exams:
Preparing and Writing to Win
Chapters 1 - 4. Read the
following torts cases from
Introductions and ice breaker. Getting
your student packet: Dupler
ready for law school. Class preparation
v. Seubert ; Lopez v.
and participation. Analyzing statutes.
Winchell’s Donut House, and
Brief Dupler v. Seubert as class. Brief
Lopez v. Winchell's Donuts House in pairs McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc.
then discuss as class.
Brief McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores in pairs
then discuss as class. Synthesizing
rules. Rule synthesis of Dupler v.
Seubert, Lopez v. Winchell’s Donut
Day 2
Thurs., Aug. 6, House , and McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores, Read: Law School Exams:
Inc. False imprisonment review
6:30 - 10:00
Preparing and Writing to Win
p.m.
exercises. Outlining course materials.
Chapters 5- 6
Fri., Aug. 7
NO CLASS - STUDY DAY
Owen v. Tunison and
Fairmount Glass Works v.
Crunden-Martin Wodenware
Co. from your student
packet.
Day 3
Sat., Aug. 8,
9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
MANDATORY ORIENTATION - you
will be directed to a room when you
arrive
1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
Discuss Owen v. Tunison and Fairmount
Glass Works v. Crunden-Martin
Wodenware Co. briefs. Peer review of
Fairmount Glass Works v. CrundenMartin Wodenware Co. Rule synthesis of
Owen v. Tunison and Fairmount Glass
Works v. Crunden-Martin Wodenware Co.
Contract review exercises. Know your
audience. Taking law school exams:
getting primed for the task; techniques
common to all essay questions; factRead: Law School Exams:
based essay questions with uncertain
Preparing and Writing to Win
answers. Exam writing workshop.
Chapters 7-10
Brief and synthesize a
rule for the following
contract cases from your
student packet: Owen v.
Tunison and Fairmount
Glass Works v. CrundenMartin Wodenware Co.
Briefs and rule are due
at Orientation by no
later than 9:00 a.m.
These briefs are worth
10% of your grade.
Bring two copies of
Fairmount Glass
Works v. CrundenMartin Wodenware Co.
brief - turn one in at
9:00, save the other
one for class at 1:00.
Student organizations presentation
and sign-ups. Dinner served. (6:30 7:15 in Room 109). Receive back
graded briefs of Owen v. Tunison and
Fairmount Glass Works v. CrundenMartin Wodenware Co. Discuss briefs of
Polmatier v. Russ, Seaburg v. Williams ,
and Hall v. McBryde. Discuss rule
synthesis. Peer review of Hall v.
McBryde . Exam taking strategies. Write
Day 4
Mon., Aug. 10, practice exam on Dupler v. Seubert ,
Lopez v. Winchell’s Donut House, and
6:30 - 10:00
McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in pairs.
p.m.
Read Polmatier v. Russ ,
Seaburg v. Williams , and
Hall v. McBryde from your
student packet.
Brief and synthesize a
rule for the following
torts cases from your
student packet:
Polmatier v. Russ ,
Seaburg v. Williams ,
and Hall v. McBryde .
These briefs and rule
are worth 15% of your
grade. The briefs and
rule are due at 6:30.
Bring two copies of
Hall v. McBryde brief
to class.
Receive back graded briefs and rules of
Polmatier v. Russ, Seaburg v. Williams,
and Hall v. McBryde. Discuss Dupler v.
Seubert , Lopez v. Winchell’s Donut
House , and McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc. practice exam as class and review
sample answer. Taking law school
exams: essay questions of a different
kind; objective questions. Write practice
exam on Owen v. Tunison and Fairmount
Glass Works v. Crunden-Martin
Wodenware Co. as pairs. Discuss practice
exam as class and review sample answer.
Individually write graded one-hour
practice exam on Polmatier v. Russ ,
Seaburg v. Williams , and Hall v.
McBryde (10% of grade). Peer review
Day 5
of practice exam. Additional practice
Tues., Aug. 11, exams will be made available on
Read: Law School Exams:
6:30 - 10:00
reserve at the library beginning at
Preparing and Writing to Win
p.m.
5:30 p.m.
Chapters 11-12
Wed., Aug. 12
NO CLASS - STUDY DAY
Day 6
Thurs., Aug.
13, 6:30 10:00 p.m.
Receive back graded practice exam.
Discuss practice exam and view sample
answer. Individually write two-hour
practice exam. Discuss practice exam
and view sample answer.
Fri., Aug. 14,
6:30 - 9:30
p.m.
FINAL EXAM and course evaluation
Final exam is 65% of
your grade.