Have you ever wondered how lawyers think, and why they think differently from other people? Learn the skills necessary for successful legal reasoning and how to relate this knowledge to everyday problems. Attend federal appellate court proceedings and see these skills applied (and misapplied) in real life. At the end of the course, you will have a portfolio of documents that demonstrates your experience with legal analysis and writing.
The daily schedule for the “Legal Reasoning and Argumentation” course varies on the days students visit the court; there will be an earlier departure time from campus, and the lunch schedule may be adjusted.
PROGRAM DATES
June 16 – July 13, 2024
PREREQUISITES
None
DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session
COURSE OVERVIEW
Highlights
- Analyze real legal cases
- Attend the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals proceedings
- Learn how to prepare for, apply to, and succeed in law school
- Talk with USC Law alumni and/or admissions officers
Topic of Study
- Case analysis
- Legal reasoning
- Legal writing
- Oral advocacy
- Court systems and the development of law
- Law school admissions
Special Dress Code
On court visit days, students must follow a respectful, professional dress code (slacks, button-down shirt, dress/skirt, blouse) and wear closed-toe shoes. The following are not permitted: jeans, tank tops, extreme low-rise pants, low-cut tops, bare back or bare midriff, and flip-flops. Students will not be permitted to attend the court visits if they do not follow the dress code.