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JD First-Year Orientation
Fundamentals
Many law students start their law school career with little knowledge of not just the legal system, but also with little knowledge of what is expected of them or how to get the most from their studying. At Concord, we answer your questions and put you at ease with the “Fundamentals” course, which starts shortly after admission to the law school. The course also provides incoming students with the opportunity to set up their computers appropriately and become familiar with the online learning platform.
Within a few weeks of admission, the new admittee receives access to the Pre-Start Orientation. The Orientation provides an overview of the Concord school site and step-by-step instructions on the various features they will be using during their first year. Once students become comfortable with the online environment, they are enrolled in the Fundamentals program.
Often the beginning of law school is a time when everything is new and seemingly unfamiliar. Through their Fundamentals lectures, Concord deans seek to reassure students that this is a common experience for new “1Ls” and that they will find a strong support system at the law school—from professors, Law Advisors, and fellow students. The forum also serves as an opportunity to promote the law school’s core values of professionalism and civility, which are central to the Concord mission.
Beyond the ethos and the mechanics of going to law school at Concord, the Fundamentals course provides background on the sources of “law,” the U.S. court system, and the use of cases in the law school curriculum. The Concord deans also begin to help build the skills required of a successful law student by introducing case briefing, the concept of “IRAC,” and various study tips.
A senior faculty member oversees the Fundamentals program. The professor becomes acquainted with the incoming students, answers questions, and is generally available as a source of information until the formal start of the first year.
Start of 1L Courses
Approximately three weeks prior to the start of the term, first-year students return to the Orientation modules for a final review of the program and platform. On the designated day, students receive access to their three first-year courses —Contracts, Torts and Criminal Law, Legal Writing and Test-Taking —and are welcomed by their professor and Law Advisor.
As often as not, entering students have already joined a student group set up for their section by upper-class student mentors. The student community is generous with their advice and committed to the success of their fellow students.
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