Florida Coastal School of Law: What to Expect Your First Semester

Being accepted to law school is an exciting experience, but it can also be nerve racking. Every lawyer you know is probably telling you stories about their own personal experiences, but unless they have attended the school you will be attending, they might not be able to shed much light on what your first semester will be like.

If you are planning to attend Florida Coastal School of Law this fall, you will be required to take five classes that are first year required courses during the fall semester. Generally, all law schools have the same first year requirements, but the classes might be given in a different order at another school. At Florida Coastal, your first semester will consist of Contracts, Property, Criminal Law, Torts, and Lawyering Process.

Contracts is a class that teaches first year students the basic necessities for the formation of a contract--offer, acceptance, and consideration. In addition, Contracts class discusses the problems that may occur during the offer and acceptance process including capacity to consent, counteroffers, and revocations. Many students find Contracts to be the most difficult class, however, although I received an A in the class, I found it to be the most boring. During your second semester at Florida Coastal, you will be required to take Contracts II.

Property teaches first year law students about the history of property, then delves into the problems associated with then finders of lost objects, and finally explores the unfair nature of adverse possession. By far, the most difficult aspect of Property class is future interests. It will make your head spin and you will be convinced that you will never get the hang of it. Be sure to buy the future interest workbook and flashcards as these study aids will make finals substantially easier. You will be required to take Property II in your second semester.

Criminal Law class will enlighten you on the subjects of crime and punishment. I found this class to be the most difficult because there are so many categories of crimes and some of the categories such as accomplice liability and conspiracy are difficult to differentiate. By the time you are finished with this class, you will hate the words "Common Law" and "Model Penal Code." Thankfully, you are only required to take one semester of Criminal Law at Florida Coastal.

Torts class teaches students about the finer points of negligence and intentional torts, plus defenses and damages. This class was actually interesting even though most students--including myself---go into it believing that tort lawyers are nothing but ambulance chasers. However, tort law is necessary in today's world and students come out of the class understanding that necessity. Torts II is a required class for your second semester at Florida Coastal.

Lawyering Process is a class that is designed to teach students how to be lawyers. Students are required to participate in mock client interviews and conduct research for their potential clients and cases. And then there is the dreaded memo--a written assignment that requires extensive research and writing and counts for the majority of your final grade. You are required to take Lawyering Process II in your second semester.