Our Curriculum

Lawyering Skills

Students are introduced to the foundational principles of legal analysis, research, and communication in the first semester in their writing course and in their substantive law courses. Students build up these foundational skills through the remainder of the curriculum.

Legal Writing I – First Semester

This course introduces legal research methods, analysis of legal concepts, and the art of legal writing. Students learn the research, analysis and writing process through an assigned series of open and closed memoranda.

Legal Writing II – Second Semester

This course develops persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy developed through moot court and other exercises. Students learn pleadings and other aspects of the pretrial process, preliminary and dispositive motions, and the appellate brief and oral argument.

Advanced Legal Analysis – Third Semester

This course develops the skills necessary for success in law school, on legal examinations, and in legal practice. Students learn how to read and analyze legal concepts, synthesize complicated materials, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, develop the essential skills for the mastery of their law school courses, and improve their legal writing skills. Professors teaching this course will use a doctrinal subject of their choosing (e.g., criminal, torts, corporation) and teach students the mastery of skills involved in identifying legal issues, understanding and using rules of law, and using and analyzing facts.

Other Required and Elective Courses

Learning to think and write like a lawyer is part of every course, not just writing courses. Analyzing and synthesizing case law, making reasoned arguments, and approaching problems with a critical eye happens in every course. WilmU law teaches lawyering skills within writing courses and in the context of substantive law courses.

Foundational Courses and Bar-Tested Subjects

We believe that there are certain courses that every law student should take to prepare them for the practice of law.  That's the reason 64 of the 86 credits for the J.D. consist of required courses,  We also believe that gaining knowledge of bar-tested subjects as part of law school, instead of learning the subject in bar-prep class, is a better way to prepare our students. That’s why every WIlmU student is required to complete 48 credits hours dedicated to bar-tested subjects.  

 

Bar Exams

Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)
The Uniform Bar exam (UBE) has been adopted by 41 of the 56 jurisdictions in the U.S. its Territories. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York are among the jurisdictions which have adopted the UBE.  WilmU law students are required to take all but one of the UBE-tested subjects.  Note: The Next Gen Bar Exam will replace the UBE (see below).

Delaware Bar Exam (Delaware)
Delaware has not adopted the UBE. The Delaware Bar Exam subjects include most of those tested on the UBE with the addition of Delaware specific law.  WilmU Law students taking the Delaware Bar exam will take Delaware specific courses as electives in the final year of law school.

Next Gen Bar Exam (Next Gen)
The UBE is in the process of being phased out and will be replaced by the Next Gen Bar Exam.  The Next Gen Bar Exam will be offered for the first time in 2026.  As of September 2025, 23 jurisdictions have adopted the exam, including Maryland.  The Next Gen Exam will test almost all of the subjects currently tested on the UBE but the format will change.  WilmU Law students are required to take all the subjects tested on the Next Gen Bar Exam.

 

View our full curriculum page.