The College of Law believes strongly that students should be well grounded in professional skills in order for them to transition as easily as possible into the practice of law. In furtherance of one of its Tenets, several components of the curriculum provide skills-based instruction.

Lawyering Skills Practicum (LSP) is divided into two courses: LSP I, a three-unit required course, and LSP II (California Trial Practice), which is a three-unit elective course. Both LSP courses are designed to allow a student to participate in nearly every aspect of a case in one semester.  

In LSP I, the simulated case commences when a student client, who has previously been given a script, describes the client's legal problem. The student client interviews a student law firm. During the interview the student firm determines the nature of the problem and arranges for representation and fee. The firm is then responsible for the routine presentation of the lawsuit. This routine may vary depending on the facts. It typically begins with research of the problem and the filing of a complaint or petition or, alternatively, an answer or response in either a civil or domestic matter.

Discovery follows and this portion of the student attorney's work takes approximately five weeks. At the conclusion of discovery, the litigant chooses mediation or arbitration as the means of terminating the litigation. Thereafter, a judgment must be prepared and the judge's approval attained. Grades in the course are based upon performance, not upon the judgment obtained.

LSP II, which essentially is California Trial Practice, presents students with a new legal problem to address. Students interview "clients," research, plead, discover, and prepare their cases, which culminate in a simulated jury trial. Students are required to make appropriate pre-trial motions, prepare jury instructions and exhibits, and develop trial tactics.  

LSP utilizes the law school’s moot courtroom, which is ideal for realistic trial advocacy exercises. The practicum teaches and strengthens professional skills so legal theories learned in class become real tools used to solve real problems.

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