First Year Classes

Small class sizes at Washington University
School of Law

The first year of law school challenges students to "to think like a lawyer," analyze cases and statutes, and take part in ongoing classroom dialogue. As a student-centered law school, Washington University has created a first-year curriculum that assists students in meeting these challenges while fostering the intellectual excitement, supportive environment, and commitment to teaching excellence that our tradition values. Our classes provide opportunities for participation in discussions and individualized teacher-student contact, while helping students get to know their classmates better.

Each semester our first-year students study only four courses, including Legal Research Methodologies and Legal Practice, rather than the five courses typically required at other law schools. Our approach allows students to explore more thoroughly each subject covered. The six substantive courses in our first-year curriculum are: Contracts, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law. Each of these courses meets four days per week and earns four credit hours.