The Academic Readiness Program is designed to provide students with assistance in transitioning from college to the rigors of law school. Academic readiness activities begin in New Student Orientation and continues through the second year of law school. All students are required to enroll in the Introduction to Strategic Legal Methods course in both semesters of the 1L year. The course is pass/fail and is a graduation requirement.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation is required for all entering 1L’s at La Verne College of Law. Orientation includes an early introduction to the critical skills students will need as they prepare for the first day of classes. During orientation, students discover their individual learning styles, learn time-management techniques, and are introduced to critical reading and case briefing techniques. The skills classes during orientation provide a seamless transition for the continuation of skill development in Introduction to Strategic Legal Methods.
1L – Introduction to Strategic Legal Methods (ISLM)
ISLM uses a “building block” approach that begins with the most basic, but useful skills that help students manage learning in the first year of school so that they can be more efficient and productive with their time. The class sessions involve numerous in-class exercises with instant feedback, as well as practice essay writing with detailed graded feedback. Topics taught in the first semester include:
- How to critically read a case;
- Understanding course frameworks;
- Rule synthesis and drafting;
- Building course outlines;
- Introduction of IRAC;
- Issue-spotting;
- Rule development;
- Facts to Law Analysis;
- Essay writing strategies;
- Multiple Choice Exam Strategies; and
- Exam Practice. (Second semester as well)
2L – Strategic Legal Methods (SLM)
SLM takes skill development to a new level by increasing the depth of critical reading, critical thinking, and analytical writing related to exam preparation, exam taking, and lawyerly thought. Students are encouraged to integrate the analytical process they develop during lawschool into the mainstream of their life, particularly as it relates to the critical analysis of news and entertainment. Mechanisms for improving students’ performance on their law school exams include legal reasoning, problem solving, case reading, case briefing, case synthesizing, issue identification, fact interpretation, and proficient writing.
Academic Readiness Calendar on TWEN