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Dear Students:

Over the last year the faculty has been considering adopting major curriculum reform. Most recently, a temporary change was adopted reducing Property to 4 credits, and requiring Constitutional Law during the 2nd semester of the 1L year. However, there are still several issues to be considered, including: (1) the imbalance between the credit loads of 1st and 2nd semesters of the 1L year, (2) student demand for more writing and skills instruction in the 1L year, (3) whether or not to integrate legal research and writing with substantive classes, (4) whether to keep small groups.

This semester, the Academic Committee will be submitting at least 3 proposals to the faculty for major curriculum reform. This is your one opportunity to have a voice in this decision. Below are two of the proposals. Please look at the proposals, and then take a short survey (12 questions) by Friday, November 14, by clicking here: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/81776/first-year-curriculum-reform-and-integrated-legal-research-and-writing-3ls-

Then, join the faculty on Thursday, November 20, at 12 noon in 2260 for a discussion about these proposals, and what you feel should be done to improve the current curriculum design. This is your opportunity to let the faculty know what is important to you, and what you feel is the best way to provide students with a quality education.

SO REMEMBER:

1. READ THE PROPOSALS BELOW
2. TAKE THE SURVEY BY THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
3. JOIN THE FACULTY FOR A DISCUSSION ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, AT NOON IN 2260

Any questions? Please contact jmmcnamara@wisc.edu. If you have your own proposal, please submit it through the survey, to Jessica McNamara through e-mail, or bring it to the discussion on Thursday, November 20.

 

Fall

Spring

Current 1L Curriculum

Civ Pro (4)

Contracts (4)

Crim (4)

Torts (4)

LRW (1)

Property (4)

Crim Pro (3)

Con Law (3)

Elective (3)

LRW (2)

17 credits

12 credits

Proposed

Curriculum #1

Common Law (3)

[Torts, Contracts OR Property]

 

Public Law (3)

[Con Law I or II, Legislation, OR Ad Law]

 

Civil Litigation (3)

[Civ Pro I OR Evidence]

 

Crim. Law (3)

[Substantive Crim Law]

 

Legal Writing & Skills (2) (paired w/ a small group course)

 

+1 credit = small course would meet for 4 hours and receive 4 credits, paired with LWS

 

 

Common Law (3)

[Torts, Contracts OR Property]

 

Public Law (3)

[Con Law I or II, Legislation, Ad Law, Int'l Law, Crim Pro, Fed Jur]

 

Civil & Criminal Adjudication (3)

[Civ Pro I, Evidence, Crim Pro, Civ Pro II, Fed Jur, Conflicts OR ADR]

 

Business Law & Transactions (3)

[Bus Orgs, IP, Prop Trans, OR Applied Contracts]

 

Legal Writing & Skills (2) (paired w/ a small group course)

 

+1 credit = small course would meet for 4 hours and receive 4 credits, paired with LWS

15 credits

15 credits

Proposed Curriculum #2

Civ Pro (4) [Procedure]

Crim Law (3) [Statutory Law]

Con Law (4) [Public Law]

Torts I (2) [Common Law]

LRW (2)

Contracts (4) [Common Law]

Property (4) [Common Law]

Crim Pro (3) [Procedure]

Torts II (2) [Common Law]

LRW (2)

15 credits

15 credits

Submitted by UW Law School Newsletter Admin on November 13, 2008

This article appears in the categories: Announcements, Student Organizations

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