Curriculum

Law School Is A (Daily) Commitment

Law School Is A (Daily) Commitment

More than a few undergraduate students are scared by the commitment that succeeding in law school seems to demand. They seem to believe that success is directly related to committing every hour of their day, at least, that they are awake, to studying, preparing for, and attending class. Is the notion that law students do not have any free time a myth or a reality? Perhaps, a better way of looking at it is that law school is not some unrealistic hourly commitment, but a daily commitment. Making a commitment involves dedicating yourself to something, whether it is a cause or individual. Any...

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Five Aspects Of The CDTA That Make It A Special Experience

Five Aspects Of The CDTA That Make It A Special Experience

The California Desert Trial Academy is a special place. At least those of us who have experienced it feel this way. We’re confident that you will feel the same way once you have the opportunity to visit the CDTA and discover all that it has to offer. Here is a list of those aspects of academic life at the CDTA that make it special. *Most law schools educate, the CDTA educates, trains, and develops attorney-advocates While the vast majority of traditional law schools view teaching the substantive law as their only function, the CDTA goes beyond this and offers regular instruction in...

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The Components Of Lawyer Competence – Part Two

The Components Of Lawyer Competence – Part One

The licensing structures of most, if not all, state bars do not necessarily assess all the various and minimum aspects of lawyer competence. Research suggests that essay and multiple-choice exams with stressful time constraints are neither satisfactory nor effective formats for measuring competence as these tests truly simulate nothing close to the practice of law The components of lawyer competence include both hard and soft skills. The former include the substantive knowledge of the law while the latter represent analytical and interpersonal skills necessary in all walks of life. The following addresses components of minimum competence that are “softer” than “harder”...

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The Components Of Lawyer Competence – Part One

The Components Of Lawyer Competence – Part Two

Lawyers, especially attorney-advocates, must possess minimum competence to serve clients and the interests of the public-at-large. The following are six components of minimum competence that relate to the more technical side of the practice of law. The ability to communicate orally and in writing Attorneys must possess both the verbal and written skills to communicate with lawyers and clients equally. An attorney who cannot clearly and concisely communicate his or her legal position on behalf of a client, especially when it is viably strong, is like a fisherman with a full boat of fish but no paddle to get back to shore....

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CDTA’s Courtroom Atmosphere

CDTA’s Courtroom Atmosphere

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) is a modern, 21st Century law school. We provide legal instruction with an emphasis on transforming law students into not just lawyers, but effective attorney-advocates. One way that the CDTA facilitates this unique focus on the training of attorney-advocates is how each class provides a courtroom, rather than a classroom, atmosphere because it is in a real courtroom setting. Every class in each subject is presented by one of CDTA’s experienced professors in CDTA’s modern courtroom facilities. In fact, class sessions at CDTA typically include more than one legal scholar. These professionals interact with students...

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A CDTA Student’s Checklist For Year Four

A CDTA Student’s Checklist For Year Four

Year Four of the CDTA’s unique, distinct curriculum includes 3.5-hour weekly sessions on the following subjects: Trial Advocacy Wills & Trusts Business Associations Community Property Legal Memorandum & Brief Drafting Remedies   Like traditional law schools, CDTA’s curriculum is designed to teach students the substantive law of core subject areas. In year four, students delve into business entities (Business Associations), the marital (Community Property), testamentary, and inter vivos dispositions of property (Wills & Trusts), and the enforcement of clients’ rights (Remedies). Unlike traditional law schools, CDTA emphasizes training and developing students to be capable and competent advocates in any courtroom. In year four,...

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The Soft Skills: Critical Thinking

The Soft Skills: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking has been the subject of much debate and discussion since the time of ancient Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato. Critical thinking in the context of the practice of law requires law students to learn to question and analyze what they see, hear, read, think, and feel with the understanding that first impressions are often wrong conclusions and often change after studious, meticulous analysis. Critical thinking is one of several soft skills that attorney-advocates must utilize to meet the needs of their clients. The California Desert Trial Academy’s (CDTA) unique learning platform emphasizes that students learn the soft skills in...

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Tips To Improve Legal Writing

Tips To Improve Legal Writing

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) accepted its first class of students in 2012, focusing on a more logical, practical approach to legal education in the 21st Century. This focus emphasizes the same extensive educational platform as traditional law schools while considering the traditional deficiencies of today’s law school graduates. At CDTA, not only do we educate students, but we also train and develop them to be exceptional trial advocates. Attorney-advocates must not only have the oral skills to represent clients in the courtroom, but they must possess the necessary writing skills as well. Lawyers are often judged professionally on interpersonal...

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About CDTA’s 2nd Year Curriculum

https://cdtalaw.com/cdta/about-cdtas-first-year-classes/

As it provides a wide focus over a four-year period, CDTA’s broad curriculum allows second-year students to focus on three important core subjects for their full second year of law school. CDTA students are introduced to the law of property, specifically real property, and instructed on important components of trial and litigation, evidence and civil procedure. CDTA’s evening class schedule facilitates the intuitive organization of course materials for study and outline. Traditional schools tend to overwhelm students with multiple core subjects in their first year of law school. Breaking it up into two years strengthens focus and provides more time for...

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CDTA: Going Beyond The Basic Curriculum

CDTA: Going Beyond The Basic Curriculum

The California Desert Trial Academy meets the needs of modern law students. Those who are looking for a different approach to legal education need not look any further than the CDTA. Our four-year Juris doctorate program allows many older students the time and opportunity to obtain a legal education. Most traditional law schools teach only substantive core courses, cramming them into a three-year schedule. Rather than providing a traditional three-year curriculum that offers basic classes, the CDTA offers a four-year period of legal study that goes beyond traditional core subjects. As part of its standard curriculum, CDTA provides students with instruction...

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