Part VI. Course of Study
18VAC35-20-160. Structure.
A. The program is a four calendar year course of study. A reader completes the program by passing all the prescribed courses and six elective courses in that period of time.
B. Each calendar year consists of 48 weeks during which the reader is required to study six subjects. A reader may not take more course work in any calendar year than is prescribed by this chapter, without prior board approval.
C. The program is structured so the reader may elect to study only one subject at a time and pass it before beginning the next subject, or may elect to study two or more courses during the same period. The minimum number of hours to be devoted to each subject is prescribed by regulation.
D. All courses in the program are to be graded as pass or fail only. "Pass" means that the reader has exhibited reasonable comprehension of the theory and practice of any given subject to the satisfaction of the supervising attorney and the board.
E. The supervising attorney shall use textbooks, casebooks, and other written, legal materials, selected from those in use at any of the ABA approved law schools in Virginia, to guide the reader through the subject matter of each course. The supervising attorney may use other appropriate materials with the prior approval of the board.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.1, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-170. Jurisprudence.
Every reader is required to take the jurisprudence course, which is a four-year reading program intended to familiarize the reader with legal history, philosophy, theory and biography.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.2, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-180. Professional responsibility and legal ethics.
Although professional responsibility is designated as a specific course to be completed during a reader's third year of study, it is expected that the supervising attorney will identify, emphasize and examine the reader on the ethical issues which arise during the study of every prescribed course and elective.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.3, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-190. First year.
To complete the first year of the program, the reader shall pass the following prescribed courses. The course entitled "Basic Legal Skills" shall be studied and passed first. Thereafter, the courses may be studied in any order.
|
| Course | Hours |
|
| Basic Legal Skills | 200 |
|
| Civil Procedure I | 200 |
|
| Torts | 200 |
|
| Contracts | 200 |
|
| Criminal Law and Procedure | 200 |
|
| Property, Real and Personal | 200 |
|
|
| 1,200 |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.4, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-200. Second year.
To complete the second year of the program, the reader shall pass the following prescribed courses, in any order:
|
| Course | Hours |
|
| Conflict of Laws | 100 |
|
| Constitutional Law | 200 |
|
| Corporations and Limited Liability Companies | 200 |
|
| Evidence | 300 |
|
| Agency and Partnership | 100 |
|
| Uniform Commercial Code | 300 |
|
|
| 1,200 |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.5, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-210. Third year.
To complete the third year of the program, the reader shall pass the following prescribed courses, in any order:
|
| Course | Hours |
|
| Equity (Remedies) and Procedure | 200 |
|
| Professional Responsibility | 200 |
|
| Domestic Relations | 200 |
|
| Wills, Estates, Trusts Probate | 300 |
|
| Virginia Civil Procedure | 200 |
|
| Personal Federal Income Tax | 100 |
|
|
| 1,200 |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.6, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-220. Fourth year.
The fourth year of the program is devoted to elective subjects. The reader, in consultation with the supervising attorney, shall develop a fourth year curriculum tailored to the reader's specific areas of interest. The reader shall then petition the board, at least six months prior to the commencement of the fourth year, for approval of the proposed fourth year course of study:
1. The petition shall be in writing and shall include a detailed course description for each subject intended to be studied, a suggested length of time for each subject, and an explanation of the reader's general goals for the fourth year;
2. The petition may omit course descriptions if the reader selects electives already designated on the "Recommended Electives" list; and
3. Under no circumstances will approval or recognition be given to courses directed to fulfillment of a continuing legal or other professional education requirement, or intended to provide preparation for a bar examination, or taught through correspondence or any equivalent. No credit shall be given at any time during the course of study for time spent studying bar review materials.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.7, eff. March 1, 1993.
18VAC35-20-230. Recommended approved electives.
The following electives have already been approved, have a course description and have been allocated a required number of study hours. They are recommended because they will broaden the reader's legal background, perspective, and skills:
|
| Course | Hours |
|
| Administrative Law and Legislation | 100 |
|
| Admiralty | 100 |
|
| Antitrust | 200 |
|
| Consumer Protection | 100 |
|
| Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy | 200 |
|
| Environmental Law | 200 |
|
| Insurance | 200 |
|
| Intellectual Property | 100 |
|
| International Law | 200 |
|
| Labor Law | 200 |
|
| Land Use | 200 |
|
| Legal Accounting | 100 |
|
| Local Government Law | 100 |
|
| Modern Land Finance | 200 |
|
| Securities Regulation | 200 |
|
| Taxation of Estates and Gifts | 100 |
|
| Trial Practice | 100 |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-3922 and 54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR168-01-04 § 6.8, eff. March 1, 1993.