Criminal Justice and Law

Introduction

The Criminal Law Program is designed to give students an overview of the American criminal justice system, to help them understand the fundamentals of public and private law, and to acquaint them with the historical and philosophical roots of contemporary American criminal law.

Students in this program learn to read challenging legal material, including cases and statutes, as well as works of legal history and philosophy. They also learn how to write briefs, analyze complex legal arguments, and write effective essays. The courses have in-class oral arguments and mock trials in which students have a chance to simulate the roles of judges, witnesses, and attorneys in the daily practice of law.