With its focus on practical skills and legal theory, Gonzaga’s 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.
Course Descriptions
The list below indicates how frequently courses are expected to be offered. It is intended as a guide only. The School of Law does not guarantee that courses will actually be offered as frequently as indicated or in the semester listed.
Download a PDF of the Course Content Descriptions
Elements of the Gonzaga Law Curriculum
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.
Second and Third Years
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.
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.
