Tulane Law is proud to offer a curriculum that mixes traditional and specialized legal studies.
Our Curriculum
Like other national law schools, Tulane provides courses in conventional areas like commercial law, family law, wills and trusts, real estate, taxation, public law and litigation. But we also offer programs in uniquely focused areas, including civil law, international and comparative law, admiralty and maritime law, environmental law and sports law.
Tulane’s first-year program emphasizes developing core analytic and legal writing skills. Faculty teach required first-year courses in classes of approximately 75 students to encourage close participation in the give-and-take of Socratic discussion. Using the case method, you will dissect judicial decisions, respond to professors’ and classmates’ questions and carefully consider competing arguments. Legal research and writing professors also teach courses in sections of 26 to 28 students. In these core classes, you will develop the writing strategies and skills to succeed in practice.
After your first year, you are free to design your own curriculum from an array of electives. Tulane offers specialized courses in conjunction with our certificate programs, which approximately one-third of students complete. Many students also earn academic credit through in-depth training opportunities outside the classroom. Some choose to hone their writing and editing techniques by joining one of our eight legal journals. Others compete in trial and appellate moot court teams to train in oral and written advocacy. Real-world experience is also easy to come by in our law clinics, which are open to third-year students. Our clinics, Trial Advocacy course and boot camp skills-training program teach you key skills to succeed in your future practice.
Areas of Study
Tulane is proud to offer leading national programs in unique, concentrated areas of law. The law school provides five distinctive programs in which students may earn certificates of specialization: Civil Law, International and Comparative Law, Maritime Law, Environmental Law and Sports Law.
Beyond the certificate programs, Tulane holds core courses in alternative dispute resolution; constitutional law; consumer law; corporate and commercial law; civil law and procedure; criminal law and procedure; energy law; legal ethics and professionalism; family law; health law; labor and employment law; property and real estate law; administrative and regulatory law; state and local government procedure; tax law; and advanced legal writing. Faculty in both specialty and traditional areas of study are nationally and internationally recognized for their contributions to their fields. As an upper-level student, you have the freedom to choose from our broad range of course offerings and can select any combination of classes. Add to the mix our clinics, Trial Advocacy course and boot camp skills-training program, and you’ll get the tools to tackle legal practice after graduation.
Civil Law Program
Tulane Law’s capacity to teach the world’s two preeminent legal systems is one of our greatest strengths. If you intend to practice in common law jurisdictions, you’ll find the same extensive course offerings at Tulane as at other national law schools. However, if you plan to practice internationally or in civil law jurisdictions, Tulane offers an assortment of civil law classes you won’t find at just any law school. We celebrate our Louisiana roots and take pride in fostering exceptional civil law scholarship. Students may take either common or civil law courses, and many take a mix of both to expand their legal knowledge and practice potential.
