Program Learning Outcomes
Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law program of instruction is designed to equip students to lead and empower students to serve in a rapidly changing legal environment. To that end, we expect that:
PLO 1: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental
principles of the substantive law, policy, and procedure necessary through multiple
modalities for effective, competent, and responsible participation in the legal profession.
a) Graduates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Civil Procedure, Constitutional
Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts (all required substantive courses)
b) Graduates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how lawyers interpret the law in various professional environments, such as transactional practice, litigation, dispute resolution, regulatory practice, etc.
PLO 2: Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in legal analysis, reasoning, and problem-solving
skills through engagement with case law, statutes, regulations, and administrative
actions.
PLO 3: Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in research skills, such as factual
investigation, evaluating the relevance, reliability, and strength of legal authorities,
and awareness of both legal and nonlegal resources and tools.
PLO 4: Graduates will be able to communicate effectively and appropriately in written
and oral formats with a variety of audiences and in a variety of contexts.
PLO 5: Graduates will demonstrate competence in the professional values and legal
skills associated with problem-solving, advising and counseling clients, advocating
and representing clients, negotiating, working in teams, transactional planning and
drafting, and litigation.
PLO 6: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a lawyer's moral,
ethical, and professional responsibilities to clients, the legal system, and society,
including working to provide equal access to justice.
The cognitive apprenticeship (CA)
| # | Outcomes |
|---|---|
| CA 1 | Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of substantive law. |
| CA 2 | Students will demonstrate proficiency in legal analysis and critical reasoning. |
The professional lawyering skills apprenticeship (LS)
| # | Outcomes |
|---|---|
| LS 1 | Students will demonstrate proficiency in legal research and in written and oral communication. |
| LS 2 | Students will demonstrate professional lawyering skills. |
The moral, ethical, and professional identity apprenticeship (ME)
| # | Outcomes |
|---|---|
| ME 1 | Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a lawyer’s moral, ethical, and professional responsibilities. |
| ME 2 | Students will demonstrate awareness of their responsibility to society, including providing pro bono services. |