The School of Law curriculum is challenging and intellectually demanding. It prepares the student to be an effective member of the legal profession, whether as a practicing attorney, member of the judiciary, or other legal professional in government, business, or education. The curriculum includes a writing program in each of the three years of full-time law study or four years of part-time law study, focusing on general legal writing, appellate writing, and advocacy writing. At North Carolina Central University School of Law, every student is offered an opportunity to become thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals of the law. The curriculum does not focus on the legal rules of any particular jurisdiction. As is true for most law schools, instruction is based on national materials and casebooks. Important North Carolina distinctions are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on the development of good legal analytical skills that are useful in any career choice.

Required First-Year Courses - Day Program

First Semester: Contracts I, Civil Procedure I, Property I, Legal Reasoning and Analysis I, and Torts I.

Second Semester: Contracts II, Civil Procedure II, Property II, Legal Research and Persuasive Writing, Torts II, and Criminal Law.

Required First-Year Courses - Evening Program

  Evening Program required courses are substantially the same as in the Day Program. Because first-year courses are offered in alternate years, an entering Evening student enrolls in Civil Procedure I and II, Torts I, and Legal Reasoning and Analysis I and Legal Research and Persuasive Writing (even years) and Contracts I and II, Property I and II, Legal Reasoning and Analysis I, and Legal Research and Persuasive Writing (odd years).

Required Upper-Level Courses

  Legal Letters (Day), Writing Seminar (Day), Business Associations (Day), Constitutional Law I, Constitutional Law II, Corporations (Evening), Decedents' Estates I, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Sales and Secured Transactions, Senior Writing (Evening), Statutory Interpretation*, and Taxation.

*A student may opt out of Statutory Interpretation if he or she has successfully completed Criminal Procedure, Decedents' Estates II,
Real Estate Finance, Commercial Paper and Family Law.
Strongly Recommended Upper-Level Courses: Agency-Partnership (Evening), Commercial Paper, Criminal Procedure, Decedents' Estates II, Family Relations, Remedies, and Trial Practice.

Strongly Suggested Upper-Level Courses

 Agency-Partnership (Evening), Criminal Procedure, Family Relations, Remedies, and Trial Practice I.

NOTE: Courses are required or strongly recommended because the subject areas are necessary for a well-rounded legal education and are covered by most bar examinations. Further, non-continuing semester courses will normally be offered only once during the academic year. A list of course offerings is made available to students well in advance of registration.

Electives

Elective courses are subject to change. From time to time, the School of Law offers courses that draw on the special interests and talents of faculty members and uniquely qualified adjunct professors. Not all electives are offered each year. In the Evening Program, elective course offerings are more limited due to the smaller size of the Evening Program. Electives are generally offered in the summer sessions.