BASICS OF LEGAL WRITING (English 3010)
Credit Hours: 3
CEUs 3.85

Course Description:

This upper-level course will introduce the rigors of legal writing to undergraduate and graduate students.  The course will give students practical knowledge of the skill set required to successfully apply to and matriculate through law school.  The process involves the integration of grammar and mechanics and the technical aspects of legal writing—the result being that students will have a more realistic view of the writing utilized in the legal profession.  In an effort to illustrate the connectivity of fundamental writing skills to legal writing, the course will move the students through completing a LSAT writing sample, writing a personal statement for a law school application, and thereafter, completing some first-year law school legal writing assignments, while emphasizing the importance of proper grammar and mechanics.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST YEAR LAW EXPERIENCE
(Poly Science 4880)
Credit Hours: 3
CEUs 3.85

Course Description:

The course will explore the same substantive legal doctrine and case law that first year law students cover.  The class will begin with an introduction to the United States legal system.  In developing this understanding, we will focus on defining the concept of law, understanding the distinction and origins of the English and common law systems, and explaining the concept of stare decisis.  After equipping students with this foundational background, we will immerse them in a highly Socratic experience based on the standard first year law school curriculum where students focus on contracts, criminal law, torts, and property.  Additionally, this class will explore ways in which the law interacts with the real world.

• Did Nike infringe on the photographer’s rights, who captured the photo and allegedly instructed Michael Jordan on how to execute the “jumpman” pose, during a magazine photo shoot at the 1984 Olympics, when Nike allegedly used the same photo to create the world renowned jumpman logo?
• How was Lil Wayne able to use copyright and trademark laws to force Yung Thug to change the anticipated name of his last mix tap from Carter 6 to Barter 6?
• Did Samsung, in creating its smartphone products, infringe on patents owned by Apple and what legal processes, rules and mechanisms operate to aid in the resolution of this dispute?

During this class we will consider “front page” as well as culturally specific legal issues and more importantly, how the law can be used as a tool to resolve these complex and thought provoking disputes.  At the conclusion of this course, students will be equipped with an introduction to the foundational tools that they may one day use to help resolve these problems.

Both classes will be taught virtually using telepresence and HD video conferencing.  Though students need not be in a particular brick and mortar together during class time, they must all be connected to the internet and logged on virtually at the same time. Each class is interactive and students will have an opportunity to engage with their colleagues and professor.

Undergraduate per course:

Summer I: Resident: $405.00       Non-resident: $1,425
Summer II: Resident: $405.00       Non-resident: $1,425

Fall 2019: Resident: $466.00       Non-resident: $2,054.38

CEU per course:  $198.00

For registration information click here.

Requirements:

In order to participate in any NCCU Law Distance Education Course, students MUST possess the following equipment:

1. A desktop or laptop computer with webcam. Computers MUST have broadband connection with minimum speeds of 768kbs, upload and download capability. Wireless connections are not recommended.
2. All students must download the appropriate software for Mac or PCs.
3. All students are responsible for obtaining their log-in credentials through the
   MyLaw intranet portal (mylaw.nccu.edu).
4. All students are required to test their connection prior to the beginning of the course. You may schedule your connectivity test up to 2 weeks before the start of class. Click on the link to schedule a test: Schedule Computer Test.
5. Students who do not establish satisfactory connectivity for the course will not be  allowed to participate in the program.
6. All students are required to review the Netiquette video. The video offers a quick review of expectations for classroom attendance, behavior, dress code; etc. review video