Solo & Small Firm Practice

The Solo and Small Law Firm Program of Concentrated Study is designed for students who desire to practice law as a sole practitioner or in a small law firm. Effective and competent lawyers who are sole practitioners or who work in small law firms must have the ability to analyze and work with substantive legal doctrines in a variety of areas. Practitioners develop a special expertise over time. Therefore, students are encouraged to take a broad set of courses that emphasize different areas of the law, but also to study one or two areas in greater depth, and to customize their course of study in light of their future career goals.

Areas of Focused Study Course Requirements

Commercial and Banking Law

  • Banking Law
  • Bankruptcy Law
  • Commercial Law: Sales
  • Insurance Law
  • Payment Systems
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Secured Transactions

Government

  • Administrative Law
  • Land Use Planning
  • Legislation: Public Policy & Statutory
  • Interpretation
  • State & Local Government Law

Land and Natural Resources

  • Agricultural Environmental Law
  • Agricultural Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Farm and Ranch Tax
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Water Law

Employers and Employment

  • Employment Law
  • Labor Law
  • Legal Control of Discrimination

Entrepreneurship & Infrastructure Development

  • Accounting for Lawyers
  • Business Planning
  • Construction Law
  • Construction Law Practice
  • Corporate Tax
  • Cyberlaw
  • Domestic Telecommunications Law
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Patent Law
  • Unfair Competition

Families, Health & Education

  • Education Law
  • Elder Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
    (if not taken as a required course)
  • Family Law Practice
  • Juvenile Law
  • Law of Provider & Patient

Required Courses

  • The Business of Law: Building a Successful Practice (3 hr)
  • Clinic (Civil, Immigration, Criminal or Entrepreneurship)

Four of the following courses:

  • Business Associations (3 or 4 hr)
  • Criminal Procedure (3 hr)
  • Family Law (3 hr)
  • Individual Income Tax (4 hr)
  • Wills & Trusts (3 hr)