Legal Skills and Methodology (LAWC 301)
Legal Skills and Methodology is designed to enhance the core competencies of students in all key areas of legal practice. The course introduces Qatar University students to the core skills of legal analysis of legislation and case law, legal writing in both an objective and persuasive context, and fundamental modes of legal reasoning and argumentation. Legal Skills Methodology teaches students how to reason and write like lawyers. Students practice skills related to: (1) reading and briefing cases; (2) organizing written legal analysis into a standard format; (3) reading and writing case citations; and (4) communicating their findings in both written and oral formats.
Principles of Legal Research (LAWC 200)
The fundamentals of legal research course aims to provide students with basic skills related to the process of preparing and completing legal research in accordance with the requirements of the legal methodology. It also aims to develop the student's research capabilities by preparing applied research related to detailed topics in the course. The course includes the basics of legal research and its tools, collecting information and data from various sources and references related to selected topics in law majors, recording information and data, methods of documenting references, and conducting legal research in terms of form and objectivity.
Moot Court I and II (LAWC 460; LAWC 480)
Moot Court provides students with an opportunity to develop their oral and written advocacy skills. Students take part in simulated court proceedings, which usually involve drafting memorials or memoranda, participating in oral arguments, and answering judges' questions. The QU Moot Court program is dedicated to the development of practice-ready lawyers. Students are trained to serve as advocates in disputes that arise between governments and individuals. They develop their critical reading and analysis skills by researching actual legal questions in real jurisdictions. They also develop their persuasive writing skills by preparing written submissions for both sides of the legal issue. Finally, they develop the oral advocacy skills required to make a formal oral argument before an arbitral or judicial tribunal.
Externship (LAWC 409)
The Externship Program is a three-credit experiential course specially designed to expose QU students to different models of legal skills related to specific areas of law. Combining both practical and theoretical components, students acquire greater insight into the process of lawyering. They develop a sense of professional identity, reflecting on and learning from actual experiences in a supportive yet real-world environment. The out-of-classroom component requires students to work for a minimum of 120 hours over 10 weeks during either the Fall or Spring semesters. Employers assign real legal work, and provide real feedback to students on their assignments.
Law Clinic (LAWC 203)
The law clinic is designed to provide victims of trafficking access to legal assistance. It also provides law students with an opportunity to put what they have learned into practice in the service of vulnerable populations within Qatar. The course focuses on providing legal aid to migrant workers in Qatar, including domestic workers. In addition to this service model of clinical legal education, students work collectively on a project such as drafting a law, designing an action plan, or articulating a strategy in the different fields of the law that are of benefit to the society.
Advocacy Skills (LAWC 302)
Advocacy Skills refinines students' reasoning and persuasive writing skills as well as building their oral advocacy skills. After extensive guided preparation and practice in the subject area (courtroom proceeding, arbitration, negotiation, etc.), students write and give oral presentations.
Drafting Business Contracts (LAWC 459)
Drafting Business Contracts provides the future transactional lawyer with a foundation in drafting well-written contracts. It concentrates on six main areas: translating the business deal into contract concepts, drafting provisions of a contract, drafting clearly and unambiguously, drafting from the client's perspective, putting a contract together, and drafting ethically.
Legal Ethics (LAWC 499)
Legal Ethics provides students with an introduction to the conduct principles that govern the practice of law. The course focuses on the ethical principles a lawyer must adhere to, such as independence, transparency, integrity, preservation of professional secrets, and prevention of conflicts of interest. The course also covers the ethical duties of judges.
Anglo-American Legal Systems (LAWC 253)
Anglo-American Legal Systems provides students with background on common law legal systems, and places it in contrast to civil law legal systems. The course covers the historical evolution of modern-day common law legal systems. It also explores key theory, interpretation, and practice area issues in different branches of the law, with particular emphasis on criminal, contract, tort, and constitutional law.