This course explores the basic principles of Anglo-American criminal law, including the constituent elements of criminal offenses, the necessary predicates for criminal liability, the major concepts of justification and excuse, and the conditions under which offenders can be liable for attempt. Major emphasis is placed on the structure and interpretation of modern penal codes.

This course looks at the way the judicial system operates once criminal charges are filed. Topics include bail and preventive detention, the right to the effective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial discretion and plea bargaining, the right to trial by jury, appeals from criminal convictions, and habeas corpus review.

This directed study is one part of a two-part full-time externship combining academic study and work experience under the supervision of a faculty member and an educational, charitable, governmental or nonprofit host organization.

This course is a semester-long independent research project resulting in a substantial research paper supervised and graded by a selected law school faculty member.

This course is a semester-long independent research project resulting in a substantial research paper supervised and graded by a selected law school faculty member