Elective Courses

Core Mediation Training  (Required Elective)
It is a required course that may be taken during any semester offered. The course provides an introduction to negotiation, mediation, and arbitration skills, including the development of negotiation strategy and techniques. The course includes simulation exercises featuring bilateral and multilateral negotiation and mediation exercises. Students will be introduced to basic forms of international dispute resolution and cross-cultural, language, and gender dynamics in conflict resolution. The course may serve as a qualifying pre-requisite for participation in a mediation clinic coordinated with the court-directed mediation program of the Monterey County Superior Court.

Clinical Studies Program  (Required Elective)
The clinical studies requirement may be met through participation in one of the law school's sponsored advisory clinics or completed through legal and judicial internships available to second, third, and fourth-year students upon approval by the Dean of Clinical Studies.

The law school may add or delete from the elective course offerings each year based on enrollment, student preferences, and faculty availability. Most of the non-required courses are offered during the summer semester.

Administrative Law
This course covers the political and legal nature of the administrative process; legislative and executive control of administrative discretion; judicial review, its role, scope and basis; due process as to substance and process as to substance and procedure; standing and related issues; role of the Administrative Law Judge, including ex parte issues; conduct of a hearing; and access to private and public information.

Civil Litigation
Topics include drafting pleadings, law and motion proceedings, pretrial investigation, discovery, trial preparation, and participation in trial and post-trial motions. Students work on projects in all areas of civil trial practice in a seminar setting.

Employment Law
The legal aspects of relationships between employers and employees, emphasizing California law. An overview of “at-will” employment agreements, employment discrimination laws ( including sexual harassment), public policy, and “whistle blower” claims, employment-related torts (including privacy rights), plus an overview of wage and hour, health and safety, and workers' compensation laws.

Family Law
This course covers marriage and family, parent and child, termination of parental rights, adoption, marital breakdown, jurisdiction, judicial documents, domestic violence, custody, visitation, child and spousal support, and settlement agreements.

Gibson Appellate Advocacy
This course is the writing companion to the Moot Court course and is devoted to writing an appellate brief using a fictional case. Students must successfully complete this course to earn the concurrent dual JD/MLS degree.  

Immigration Law
This course addresses immigration and the Constitution, federal immigration powers, immigration categories, procedures, exclusion grounds, admission procedures, deportation, and non-immigrants.

Intellectual Property
A survey of the laws in the field of intellectual property. This course covers issues of defining, obtaining, maintaining, and enforcing patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights in the United States and internationally.

International Law
Topics include the sources of international law, international jurisdiction, the law of treaties, international liability (of states), regulation of the use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and the application of international law principles to current international events.

Land Use Planning
The course covers California and Federal statutes, regulations, and relevant case law governing the judicial and administrative bodies that deal with zoning and land development problems. Special emphasis is placed on representing clients in local forums.

Legal Analysis
This practical course focuses on learning to write clearly, effectively, and concisely. Students are required to complete written assignments, which help them sharpen their reasoning skills and improve their techniques for legal analysis.

Water Law
The development of water law in California, as well as riparian, appropriative, and hybrid water rights, developed in western states. Issues such as ground water, public water rights, various water institutions in California, regional water sources and water quality will also be taught.

Workers' Compensation
This course covers the concepts, nomenclature, and forms used in practice before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, its administrative agencies, and the California Appellate Courts.