Penn State Dickinson Law Required (LWREQ)

This course is designed to introduce students to the core principles of the American legal system while fostering the critical skills needed for law school and professional success. Students will learn how to read and analyze legal authority, brief cases effectively, and develop practical skills for navigating law school coursework. Alongside these academic foundations, the course integrates career services planning and professional identity development, empowering students to explore career opportunities and define their unique roles within the legal profession. By combining practical skill-building with career-oriented strategies, this course prepares students for both immediate success in law school and long-term achievement in the legal field. This one-credit course is a team-taught course with a faculty coordinator and contributions from various faculty and offices within the law school.

Primary objectives: 1. To better understand the relationship of our legal system to the lived experience of those who are subject to it. 2. To facilitate important conversations about our opportunities and responsibilities as lawyers to promote true equality for all Americans. 3. To help you begin the process of discerning what your individual response will be at this juncture of our country's history. How will you, given your talents, lived experience and legal training contribute to our country's future and greater equality for all Americans? 4. Help create a space where we can all have constructive, respectful conversations about difficult issues that are vital to the future of our country and our roles as lawyers. 5. Listen to and truly understand other students who have different experiences and perspectives.