Juris Doctor: Daniel Webster Scholar Honors (J.D.)
Program Overview
The Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program is a practice-based program that prepares students for immediate entry into legal practice upon graduation. Students participate in six DWS-specific courses that incorporate substantial simulation, and are evaluated for bar admission based on their performance throughout the two-year program, which serves as a substitute for the traditional bar examination. The program aims to provide students with a range of legal skills, including legal analysis and reasoning, written and oral communication, professionalism, and client counseling and management. Graduates are prepared for careers in various legal fields, including litigation, corporate law, public interest law, and criminal law.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Description:
The Daniel Webster Scholar (DWS) Honors Program is a practice-based program designed to prepare students for immediate entry into legal practice upon graduation. Admitted students participate in six DWS-specific courses that incorporate substantial simulation, including:
- Pretrial Advocacy
- Trial Advocacy
- Negotiations and Dispute Resolution
- Business Transactions
- A miniseries covering six areas, such as Family Law and Conflict of Laws
- A client counseling capstone course that integrates and builds upon skills acquired throughout the program Students apply for the program at the end of their first year and commence their studies in the fall semester of their second year. Participants in the program are evaluated for bar admission based on their performance throughout the two-year program, which serves as a substitute for the traditional bar examination.
Objectives:
The program aims to provide students with the following skills:
- Legal analysis and reasoning
- Written and oral communication
- Professionalism
- Legal research
- Public service
- Problem-solving
- Client counseling and management
- Factual investigation and analysis
Outline:
Course Schedule:
First Year
Fall
- Civil Procedure (4 credits)
- Contracts (4 credits)
- Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research I (3 credits)
- The Legal Profession (1 credit)
- Torts (3 credits)
Spring
- Constitutional Law I (3 credits)
- Criminal Law (3 credits)
- Fundamentals of Law Practice or Fundamentals of Intellectual Property (3 credits)
- Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research II (3 credits)
- Property (4 credits)
Second Year
Fall
- DWS Pretrial Advocacy (4 credits)
- Constitutional Law II (3 credits)
- Professional Responsibility or Evidence (3 credits)
- Administrative Process or Business Associations I (3 credits)
- Personal Income Taxation (3 credits)
Spring
- DWS Trial Advocacy (3 credits)
- DWS Miniseries (2 credits)
- DWS Negotiations & ADR (3 credits)
- Professional Responsibility or Evidence (3 credits)
- Administrative Process or Business Associations I (3 credits)
Third Year
Fall
- DWS Business Transactions (3 credits)
- Criminal Procedure I: The Law of Criminal Investigation (3 credits)
- Legal Residency or Law Clinic (6 credits)
- Elective Courses (0-5 credits)
Spring
- DWS Capstone (2 credits)
- Legal Residency or Law Clinic (6 credits)
- Elective Courses (4-9 credits)
Assessment:
Assessment methods in the program include:
- Class participation
- Oral presentations
- Written assignments
- Exams
- Client counseling exercises
- Simulations
- Capstone project
Teaching:
Teaching Methods:
The program utilizes a combination of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Role-playing
- Simulations
- Problem-solving exercises
- Client counseling
Faculty:
The program's faculty consists of experienced legal professionals who provide students with practical insights and mentorship.
Careers:
The program prepares graduates for careers in various legal fields, including:
- Litigation
- Corporate law
- Public interest law
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Estate planning
- Environmental law
- Intellectual property law
- Health law
