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Woodruff
Curriculum
The Woodruff Curriculum is one of the true hallmarks
of a Mercer education and will help distinguish you as a professional
throughout your career. Initiated in 1990, the philosophy behind
the curriculum was truly ahead of its time and is now looked upon
as a model by law schools across the country.
The History of the Woodruff Curriculum
Atlanta philanthropist George W. Woodruff bestowed $15 million to
Mercer's School of Law, along with a challenge to "...make a very
good law school even better." In response to this challenge,
Mercer faculty and administrators looked deeply into the practice
of law, how today's lawyers have been prepared, and how tomorrow's
lawyers could be better prepared. Their hard work and efforts were
realized by the launch of the Woodruff Curriculum, which has helped
to re-define the concept of legal education.
- Class sizes were reduced to levels that
place Mercer's classes among the smallest in the country
- Course requirements were revised to
place an even greater emphasis on practical skills, ethics, and
professionalism needed
for the practice of law
- A first-of-its-kind legal
writing program was launched and has since evolved into one
of America's finest
- Cutting-edge technology and resources
were added to an already comprehensive law
library
- The Woodruff
Scholarship was established to attract the sharpest minds
Recognized for Excellence
As a result of these efforts, Mercer's Walter F. George School of
Law is one of only a select group of schools in the country to have
received the Gambrell Professionalism Award from the American Bar
Association. The award cited the curriculum's "depth and excellence"
and its ability to "turn law students into professionals."
The Woodruff Curriculum
The First Year
The vision and foresight of the Woodruff Curriculum will become
evident on your first day at Mercer. Your first semester will begin
with Introduction to the Study of Law, a one-week course designed
to demystify the teaching methods and goals of law school. You will
then delve into such core courses as:
- Property
- Contracts and Sales
- Torts
- Criminal Law
- Civil Procedure
- Legal Profession
- Legal Writing and Research
- Legal Analysis
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisdiction and Judgments
And you will not have to wait to receive the
benefits of small classes—several first-year courses have
fewer than 25 students.
The Second Year
At the start of your second year, you will take a workshop on client
interviewing and counseling, and you will choose from elective courses
to fulfill requirements in two blocks. The Administrative Block
includes labor, environmental, immigration, and patent law, among
other topics. The Perspectives Block includes courses on legal history,
comparative law, and other subjects of broader scope. Evidence and
Federal Income Tax also are taken in the second year.
The Third Year
Your third year will begin with a workshop on dispute resolution,
followed by a core course, Law of Lawyering, in which you will grapple
with ethical and professional challenges in the life of a lawyer.
Your sixth and final semester will offer in-depth seminars on key
topics, as well as Advanced Skills courses that will deepen your
abilities in areas such as:
- Advanced Trial Practice
- Advanced Litigation
- Transactional Drafting
- Managing a Law Practice
- Case Settlement Negotiation
- Labor Arbitration
Required Courses
First Year—Fall Semester
Introduction to the Study of Law
1 semester hour
Contracts
4 semester hours
Criminal Law
3 semester hours
Introduction to Legal Research
1 semester hour
Legal Analysis
1 semester hour
Property
4 semester hours
Torts
4 semester hours
First Year—Spring Semester
American Constitutional System
4 semester hours
Jurisdiction and Judgments
3 semester hours
Legal Writing I
3 semester hours
Sales
3 semester hours
The Legal Profession
3 semester hours
Second Year—Fall Semester
Introduction to Counseling
1 semester hour
Civil Lawsuits
3 semester hours
Federal Income Tax
4 semester hours
Legal Writing II
3 semester hours
Statutory Law and Analysis
1 semester hour
Second Year—Spring Semester
Evidence
3 semester hours
Third Year—Fall Semester
Introduction to Dispute Resolution
1 semester hour
Law of Lawyering
3 semester hours
Third Year—Spring Semester
Remedies
3 semester hours
Sample Electives
Advanced Criminal Trial Techniques
Advanced Legal Research
Business Associations
Civil Rights Seminar
Environmental Law Practice
Feminine Jurisprudence
Health Care Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
Internet Law
Patent Law
Race, Racism and American Law Seminar
Sports Law
View
a full list of electives.
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