Introduction to the American Legal System

Catalog description

The course is required for the General LLM degree, except for LLM students who hold a JD degree from a US Law School. It is open only to General LLM students who do not hold a JD degree from a US Law School. Regular attendance of classes is required and will be monitored. The primary purpose of the course is to provide a survey and an analysis of the laws of the United States. It does this by exploring the basic foundations of American Law, its nature and theoretical underpinnings. Special emphasis is placed on principles in the American legal system that are distinctive and require particular attention from students who have been trained abroad. Among the topics to be covered by the course are the structure of the US court system; judicial review; the legislative system; federalism; separation of powers; consideration in contract; civil procedure; constitutional law; tort law, the common law; and criminal law. Students will also be instructed in some of the basics of American legal research. Class sessions consist of lectures and in-class discussions. Students are expected to participate in class discussions based on assigned readings. During the course students will be assigned at least two, short written exercises. The final requirement of the course will be a final examination.