A Foundation for Success

Elon Law’s required curriculum is designed to give law students a firm foundation for success in the practice of law. Success on the bar examination should also flow naturally from diligent study. Curriculum is subject to change as the dean and faculty evaluate, develop and make enhancements to the academic program.

First-year Courses (required)

  • Civil Procedure – 5 credits; Fall Term
  • Contracts – 5 credits; Winter Term
  • Criminal Law – 3 credits; Winter Term
  • Criminal Law Lab – 1 credit; Winter Term
  • Introduction to Legal Research – 1 credit; Fall Term
  • Introduction to Legal Studies – 2 credits; August Term – 1 credit; Spring Term
  • Lawyering, Leadership & Professionalism – 1 credit; August Term; 1 credit Spring Term
  • Legal Method & Communication I – 2 credits; Fall Term
  • Legal Method & Communication II – 2 credits; Winter Term
  • Legal Method & Communication III – 2 credits; Spring Term
  • Property – 5 credits, Spring Term
  • Torts – 5 credits, Fall Term
  • Business Associations or Evidence – 4 credits; Spring Term

Upper-level Courses (required)

  • Bar Exam Foundations – 2 credits
  • Business Associations or Evidence – 4 credits; Fall Term
  • Constitutional Law I – 2 credits
  • Constitutional Law II – 3 credits
  • Professional Responsibility – 2 credits
  • Residency-in-Practice & accompanying course – 10-11 credits
    • Every Elon Law student spends one trimester of their second year doing a full-time “Residency” with a legal office—a private firm, corporate counsel office, public interest legal organization, judge’s chambers, or governmental agency. The Residency is designed to provide students with a number of benefits:
      • in-depth exposure to legal practice in an area of their interest;
      • experience working in a professional legal environment;
      • practical skills experience;
      • an opportunity for real-world application of legal doctrine learned in the classroom; and
      • connections and skills to make the student more attractive to employers after graduation.
    • During their Residency a student will also take a doctrinal or skills course, often related to the subject area in which the student is working. If the Residency is within commuting distance to Elon Law, the student will take the course in person. If the Residency is elsewhere, the accompanying course will be taken through distance learning technology.