Part-time Legal Education Alternative at Southwestern
PLEAS (Part-time Legal Education Alternative at Southwestern) is one of only a very few part-time day programs designed to accommodate students with child or elder care responsibilities. Established in 1981, the four-year PLEAS schedule is typically arranged to enable parents and guardians to attend law school while their children are in school. PLEAS students attend classes with traditional full-time students, taking the designated curriculum during the first two years of study (read about the cutting-edge curriculum). There are many opportunities for elective courses and externships during the final two years.
PLEAS students benefit from a special mentoring program under the leadership of the PLEAS faculty advisor, Professor Anahid Gharakhanian. Students meet as a group with the PLEAS faculty advisor throughout the four years of the program and are encouraged to arrange individual meetings with the Professor to plan out their course of study as well as obtain guidance with respect to various areas of law school life.
Required Courses for PLEAS
For the first two years of the program, PLEAS students are enrolled in the designated curriculum. During years three and four, they complete a few additional required courses and may choose from a wide range of elective courses and externship opportunities. PLEAS students take 8 to 11 units each semester and attend two summer sessions in order to complete the units required for the J.D. degree within four years. A minimum of 87 units is required for graduation. Tuition, fees and course requirements for PLEAS are similar to those in the evening program.
| First Year | Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contracts I | 3 |
||
| Criminal Law | 3 |
||
| LAWS I 1 |
3 |
||
| Contracts II |
2 | ||
| Torts |
4 |
||
| LAWS II |
3 | ||
| TOTAL | 9 |
9 |
|
| Second Year | |||
| Civil Procedure I |
2 |
||
| Constitutional Law I |
3 |
||
| Property |
4 |
or 4 |
|
| Civil Procedure II | 3 | ||
| Constitutional Law II | 3 | ||
| Electives 2 |
2+2/3 |
or 2+2/3 | |
| TOTAL | 9-11 |
8-11 |
|
| Third Year | |||
| Business Associations | 4 | or 4 | |
| Evidence | 4 | or 4 | |
| Second, Third or Fourth Year | |||
| Constitutional Criminal Procedure 3 |
3 |
or 3 |
|
| Legal Profession 3 |
2 or 3 |
or 2 or 3 |
|
| Upper Division Writing Requirement | 2 or 3 |
or 2 or 3 |
|
| Professional Skills Requirement | 2 or 3 | or 2 or 3 |
|
| Summer Options |
|
|---|---|
| Constitutional Criminal Procedure 3 |
3 |
| Legal Profession 3 | 3 |
1 Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills
2 Elective choices including such courses as Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Copyright Law, History of American Law, Legal Profession, and Public International Law, among others
3 If not taken as elective in second year (required for graduation)
