Legal Studies

LS 100 Introduction to Legal Concepts (back to previous page)
Overview of the American legal system in context of historical underpinnings. Structural make-up, purpose, and functions of legal system in American society; distinction between civil and criminal law systems. Introduction to major civil law substantive areas, including torts, contracts and property, legal concepts, and reasoning. 3 credits hours.

LS 201 Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibilities (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: PL 222. Study of legal ethics, including codes of professional responsibility and the legal professional’s responsibilities in different types of organizations and occupational settings. Analysis and discussion of case studies and role playing. 3 credits hours.

LS 226 Family Law (back to previous page)
A study of legal relations between husband and wife including marriage, annulment, divorce, alimony, separation, adoption, custody arrangements, and basic procedures of family law litigation. 3 credit hours.

LS 229 Legal Communications (back to previous page)
Familiarization with the kinds of legal documents and written instruments employed by participants in the legal process. Recognition and understanding of the purpose of writs, complaints, briefs, memoranda, contracts, wills, and motions. 3 credit hours.

LS 238 Civil Procedure I (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: LS 100. Study of procedural law governing civil legal actions. Includes overview of civil legal actions in state and federal courts with focus on legal principles that affect commencing and maintaining lawsuits. 3 credit hours.

LS 239 Civil Procedure II: Litigation (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: LS 238. An examination of civil litigation from commencement of a lawsuit through trial, including pleadings, motions, discovery, and evidence. A combination of theory and practice. 3 credit hours.

LS 240 Legal Research and Writing I (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: LS 100, E 105. An introduction to legal research and writing. Students will learn to find and use primary and secondary legal authority in the law library and computerized legal research databases to solve legal research problems and assignments. Further study of legal reasoning and case and statutory analysis. 3 credit hours.

LS 241 Legal Research and Writing II (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: LS 240, E 110. Through more advanced assignments, students further develop legal research, analytic, and writing skills. Includes research and analysis of realistic legal problems with preparation of opinion letters, legal memoranda, and briefs. 3 credit hours.

LS 244 Estates and Trusts (back to previous page)
An examination of the legal principles and techniques of effective estate planning and administration. Topics covered include inheritance statutes, preparation and execution of wills, and record keeping practices. 3 credit hours.

LS 301 Administrative Law and Regulation (back to previous page)
Study of the basic principles of law for government agencies, structure of federal and Connecticut agencies, and major laws governing these agencies, including the state and federal Administrative Procedure Acts and Freedom of Information Acts. Overview of the role of legal professionals in administrative practice with practical applications. 3 credits hours.

LS 310 Business Organizations (back to previous page)
This course studies the various types of business organizations, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, and joint ventures, and the legal requirements and required documentation for their formation, operation, and termination. Advantages and disadvantages of different forms of business entities will also be examined. 3 credit hours.

LS 326 Real Estate Law (back to previous page)
A variety of legal skills in real estate law. Special attention given to title, operations, mortgages, deeds, leases, property taxes, closing procedures and documents. 3 credit hours.

LS 328 Management and Administrative Skills (back to previous page)
An examination of the procedures and systems necessary to run a law office efficiently. Students will learn such administrative skills as how to interview clients, conduct legal correspondence and maintain legal records. Proven management techniques for keeping track of filing dates and fees, court dockets and calendars are also examined. 3 credit hours.

LS 330 Legal Investigation (back to previous page)
Examines skills needed to conduct investigations that are a routine part of the practice of law, such as principles of fact-gathering in a wide range of cases (e.g., criminal, divorce, custody, housing). 3 credit hours.

LS 350 Global Legal Systems (back to previous page)
This course will survey and compare major legal systems in the world, focusing on common law systems of the U.S. and Britain, civil law systems of Europe, the laws of the European Union, Islamic law systems, socialistic legal systems, and international law concepts. 3 credit hours.

LS 401 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Models and Practice (back to previous page)
Study of current models of conflict resolution, emphasizing mediation and restorative justice; applications in legal and organizational settings. Using simulations, students will learn basic negotiation and mediation skills. 3 credit hours.

LS 405 Environmental Law (back to previous page)
Study of environmental law and regulation at the federal, state, and local levels. Includes review of major federal environmental protection laws, state common law protections, local land use controls, and international law. Role of regulatory agencies and the courts examined. 3 credit hours.

LS 410 Counterterrorism and the Law (back to previous page)
This course will study the Patriot Act, FISA, and other counter-terrorism laws, the balance between security and protecting constitutional rights, including personal liberty, and how courts are deciding these cases. Historical context and public policy as well as legal issues will be considered. 3 credit hours.

LS 405 Environmental Law (back to previous page)
Study of environmental law and regulation at the federal, state, and local levels. Includes review of major federal environmental protection laws, state common law protections, local land use controls, and international law. Role of regulatory agencies and the courts examined. 3 credit hours.

LS 430 Cyberlaw (back to previous page)
Analysis of special problems arising from use of computers and the Internet. Exploration of topics such as the impact of mass data banks on the right to privacy, copyright infringement, personal and social security concerns, and the tension between the First Amendment and protecting vulnerable populations. 3 credit hours.

LS 450-459 Special Topics (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair. A study of selected issues of particular interest to the student and the instructor. 3 credit hours.

LS 498 Research Project (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: Senior standing and consent of department chair. The student carries out an original research project in a legal setting and reports findings. 1-6 credit hours.

LS 500 Pre-Internship (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Junior standing in Legal Studies. This course is designed to enable students to understand and prepare for the internship experience. Students will explore internship and legal career opportunities, develop job application skills, review professional office procedures and ethical responsibilities, and select potential internship placements in each student's area of interest. Students are required to complete this course prior to enrolling in LS 501/502. 1 credit hour

LS 501/502 Legal Studies Internship I and II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Senior standing and completion of common courses for the major. Pre-placement classroom review of professional office procedures, including maintaining applicable legal records and files, responsibilities in handling oral and written communications, ethical responsibilities, and time and workflow management; followed by internship placement. Regular class discussion sessions for analysis, problem solving, and skill building during the internship placement. 4 credit hours each semester.

LS 599 Independent Study (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: Consent of department chair. An opportunity for the student, under the direction of a faculty member, to explore and acquire competence in a special area of interest. 1-3 credit hours.