Rutgers University School of Law -- Newark

Rutgers-Newark students are required to take two semesters of LRW for a total of three credits. Students attend one 75-minute class with their instructors each week. In the fall, they also attend nine one-hour seminars with third-year teaching associates, who focus on teaching research and citation. In the fall, students write an ungraded discussion section of a closed memo, a graded rewrite of the closed memo into a full memo, a graded research memo on a torts problem, and a graded research memo on a state criminal law problem. They also take a graded quiz on citation form. In the spring, students write an ungraded draft of an outline of a trial brief, a graded trial brief, and a graded appellate brief (students switch sides and write an appeal of the trial court’s opinion on their brief). Instructors provide very detailed comments on all written assignments. Teaching associates also provide detailed written comments on the use of research and citation form on every memo and brief. In April, students practice appellate oral arguments in class with their instructors and/or teaching associates. They then present a graded oral argument before a panel of attorneys.

Five instructors teach two day sections each of 16 to 18 students. The Director also teaches two day sections of 16 to 18 students and one evening section of approximately 35 students. A sixth instructor teaches another evening section of approximately 35 students. Instructors are considered "part-time" by the University, but work a full-time schedule and have faculty offices and administrative support. They are on one-year renewable contracts, but do not receive benefits, research grants, or developmental funds.

Contact: Prof. Ernest Nardone, LRW Director, enardone@kinoy.rutgers.edu