Curriculum

Curriculum

Curriculum Blends Theory and Skills Development

With its focus on practical skills and legal theory, Gonzaga’s new curriculum will prepare you for the day-to-day realities of a legal career.

Our approach emphasizes skills training and professionalism from the first semester of law school through the last, while also providing a solid grounding in legal theory and philosophy.

First year

In our required first-year litigation and transactional skills labs, you will draft complaints and contracts, engage in discovery, interview clients, and develop the skills future employers will expect of you.

Our required legal theory class, Perspectives on the Law, ensures that you understand the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the law. We aim to produce lawyers, who are well-rounded, effective, and thoughtful counselors and advocates.

Meanwhile, we do not neglect traditional doctrinal first-year studies. You will take focused versions of such traditional first-year courses as Torts, Civil Procedure, and Property.

And beyond

After the first year, you can choose from a wide variety of classes that emphasize practical skills, theory, or a combination of both.

As a capstone experience, you will be required to engage in experiential learning, serving real clients while working with practicing lawyers or judges. You may complete this requirement in our legal clinic, or in community placements through our externship program.

We also offer several specialized dual-degree opportunities.

Graduation requires 90 course credits, plus 30 hours of public service work. Please consult the Academic Rules in our Student Handbook for more detailed information on our graduation requirements.

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