SAN FRANCISCO LAW SCHOOL'S
LETTER TO THE STUDENTS

Thank you for taking a concerned approach to your legal education. Your desire and motivation to succeed are essential as San Francisco Law School moves forward in its second century of education.

There are several changes in the San Francisco Law School curriculum for 2008-2009. Each has a central premise - that San Francisco Law School and its Faculty have been, and continue to be, committed to addressing the needs of the student population.

As you know, several changes to the curriculum have been made over the last few of years. Similarly, changes will occur in the upcoming academic year as well. All change involves making choices. The changes made by San Francisco Law School are designed choices to benefit the entire law school program.

The following are the curriculum changes for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Fourth Year . For the past few years, Advanced Legal Analysis has been offered during the Spring semester. Last year, San Francisco Law School expanded this course to two hours, although the Fourth Year students were charged only for one unit. This course's reduced price will remain in effect for 2008-2009.

Starting this year, Federal Taxation will be reduced to a 3 -unit course - offered exclusively in the Fall semester. Advanced Legal Writing will remain also in the Fall, while UCC and Choice of Law will remain in the Spring. In Spring 2009 (and again in Spring 2010), the Law School will hold an additional examination skills and legal reasoning class for the Fourth Year class. The details of this Spring class are being worked out as this goes to print.

Many of you have already decided to spend the summer concentrating on multi-state skills. This is an excellent summer project. Please watch your e-mail for online assistance for multi-state questions sponsored by our Fourth Year instructor, Emerson Stafford.

Third Year . San Francisco Law School will continue with dual teachers in Moot Court. In addition, the Law School has added a writing clinic which will meet each week throughout the summer to assist you in refining your brief writing and legal analysis for this course. In the Fall, there will also be several oral argument sessions prior to presentation at the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals in October. Otherwise, the courses for the Third Year will remain the same.

Second Year . San Francisco Law School is introducing a new Legal Research class this Fall. Imbedded in this class will be sessions on electronic research. The Spring semester will continue development of research and analysis skills through the preparation of small legal assignments and documents.

The Law School will also continue its Second Year Real Property Writing Program in the Spring Semester. Additionally, as offered last year for mid-term preparation, San Francisco Law School will be holding extra reviews sessions in both property and constitutional law.

The biggest change, for Second Year students, is that Remedies will be a 3-unit course offered in the Spring of your Fourth Year.

First Year . Continuing this year's program, the First Year students will have a full year Legal Writing class focused on IRAC and legal analysis. Increased emphasis will be given to the use of CALI , our computer assisted legal support program.

First Year students are encouraged to start doing multi-state questions during the summer after your First Year. Please watch your email for online assistance for multi-state questions sponsored by our Fourth Year instructor, Emerson Stafford.

There is no substitute for your commitment and dedication to your legal education. Enhancing your knowledge of the law and mastering legal writing are the keys to success both in law school and ultimately on the Bar examination.

Jane L.O'Hara Gamp

Dean, San Francisco Law School

May 14, 2008