Curriculum
The program of study at the School of Law is structured to prepare you for the practice of law in any American jurisdiction. You will begin with several required courses that form the foundation for more advanced legal studies:
- Advanced Legal Analysis
- Business Organizations
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Evidence
- Income Tax I
- Lawyering Skills I and II
- Professional Responsibility
- Property
- Torts
Download a sample program of study (PDF)
Concentration Programs
Legal education presents a broad array of options for graduates. The careers in which you can apply your skills are vast. Navigating the extensive course offerings to find the classes that will help you prepare the best for your career can be challenging. Western New England University has made this process much simpler with our seven concentration programs.
While students are not required to pursue a concentration, you may choose to focus your studies on a specific practice area. Course options for the second and third year are laid out in clear progressions, showing students the best paths to take to gain the expertise they will need.
Concentration programs include:
- Business Law Concentration
- Criminal Law Concentration
- Estate Planning Concentration
- Gender and Sexuality Concentration
- International and Comparative Law Concentration
- Public Interest Law Concentration
- Real Estate Concentration
Also see the School of Law's Areas of Interest listing to view a course progression for preparation for a career in other practice fields.
Legal Research and Writing
Legal Research and Writing is a required first-year course that teaches students the basic techniques of legal research, writing, and analysis—all essential tools of the lawyering profession. The full-time Legal Research and Writing faculty work closely with students in smaller classroom settings introducing case briefing, case synthesis, and analysis through a series of research and writing assignments. Students learn how to research legal issues, frame legal arguments, and analyze legal problems. In addition, students are also trained to use computer-assisted legal research, including Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw. This full-year course culminates in an oral argument in a simulated court setting, during which each student argues a motion based upon a brief he or she has written.
Upper Level Writing Requirement
All students must complete five writing units from upper level courses before graduation.
Experiential Learning Requirement
The experiential learning requirement at Western New England School of Law is designed to help give law students a chance to get real-world legal experience before graduation. Students entering in the Fall of 2014 and thereafter are required to complete 6 experiential learning credits.
Pro Bono Requirement
All students will be required to complete 20 hours of pro bono legal work prior to graduation. This requirement will give students the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting while supporting the School’s commitment to public interest lawyering.