Academic Resources: Academic Achievement Program

Golden Gate University School of Law strives to ensure the success of every student. Academic Achievement supports every student at the Law School by helping to improve their academic performance and skills. The Academic Achievement department offers classes, advises students, provides skills workshops, and Foundations of Law program for all first-year law students.

RESOURCES FOR GGU LAW STUDENTS

Academic Achievement is committed to helping you succeed and to easing your transition into law school. We do this through our classes, the Foundations of Law program, regular Student Hours, and through one-on-one meetings. We encourage you to take full advantage of these resources throughout your time at the Law School.

FOUNDATIONS OF LAW

Foundations of Law will teach students the critical skills necessary for success in the first year, throughout law school, and bar study. These skills include outlining, working bar-style multiple choice questions, and exam-taking techniques. Students also have opportunities to practice their skills under exam-like conditions toward the end of the semester through a simulated essay exam and a simulated bar-style multiple choice exam. Foundations of Law will run throughout students’ first year of law school.

The program details the best practices for the study of law and materials are contextualized within the scope of students' other courses to ensure that the skills learned in Foundations of Law are immediately relevant. The program method is based on the science of learning (i.e., educational psychology) so students can succeed in independent learning and legal problem solving.

WORKSHOPS

Essential Skills for 1L Success Workshop Series

LEGAL ANALYSIS

Legal Analysis is an intensive skills-based course for first-year law students in their spring semester, designed to improve their academic skills in a small group setting with the one-on-one support of a skills professor. Specifically, the course focuses on the following essential skills for success: reading cases at a deep level, effective briefing, synthesizing course material down to a precise outline, using multiple choice strategies to get to the best answer choice, and engaging in a thorough analysis of the facts against the law. The course is hands-on; students are expected to turn in assignments regularly for feedback, and take timed and untimed practice exams.

The course takes place in lieu of the first-year spring semester 1L Lawyering Elective and is graded on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment in Legal Analysis requires approval from Academic Achievement and Student Affairs.

LEGAL METHODS

Legal Methods is an intensive second-year, fall semester skills-based course designed to build upon the academic skills learned in the first year. The course utilizes material students are currently learning in their second-year required courses, such as Constitutional Law I, to hone their ability to read deeply, synthesize effectively, and engage in thorough analysis. Additionally, students routinely practice the skill of self-assessment, thereby developing the ability to move their own learning forward. The course is hands-on; students are expected to turn in assignments regularly for feedback, and take timed and untimed practice exams. Most students who take Legal Methods see improvement in their GPA at the end of the semester.

The course is graded on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment in Legal Methods requires approval from Academic Achievement and Student Affairs.

ONE-ON-ONE ADVISING

Students may make appointments with any member of the Academic Achievement team to discuss study skills, exam strategies, legal analysis, learning tools, time management, substantive law, and/or get feedback on outlines and practice exams. Meetings can be conducted in person or via Zoom.

ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC RESOURCES

THEMIS BAR PREP PARTNERSHIP

GGU School of Law has partnered with Themis Bar Review to provide students with additional tools and support for both law school and bar exam success.

PAST EXAMS

The Law Library posts prior exams and best answers for five years for current professors, and for professors who have taught at the School of Law within the past three years. Older exams are available in bound volumes in the Law Library.

THE CENTER FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED LEGAL INSTRUCTION (CALI)

CALI offers a variety of lessons on substantive law and skills, complete with exercises. ALL GGU Law students receive CALI login account information at orientation. If you have additional questions about how to access CALI, please contact Dean Daw (mdaw@ggu.edu).

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT RESOURCES

Golden Gate University School of Law has a comprehensive network of resources to address students' needs.

Office of Accessible Education

The Office of Accessible Education coordinates accommodations for students with all types of disabilities, including temporary injuries or conditions. If a student knows they have a disability or think they may have a disability, they are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Accessible Education.