Support For Academic Success
UCLA School of Law is committed to providing academic assistance for all its students so that they develop the skills needed to be successful advocates. Through a comprehensive network of classes, presentations, and workshops designed to stimulate learning and amplify the classroom experience, the Academic Support Program enhances students’ learning skills by developing individualized and efficient methods of studying, comprehending, and writing in the law school environment. Long known for its innovate and effective approach to academic support, the program is run by Professor Pavel Wonsowicz, who has served as both the President of the Association of Academic Support Educators and as the Chair of the American Association of Law Schools’ Academic Support Section.
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LAW 101
All first-year students at UCLA School of Law take Law 101, a one-credit overview to the best practices for legal study, in their first week of law school. The class serves as an introduction on how to meaningfully engage with the rigors of legal study by using tort law as an overview.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT WORKSHOPS
Several workshops are offered in the fall semester. These workshops serve as a comprehensive exploration of the skills needed to succeed during the first year of law school. All 1Ls are encouraged to attend.
GAT STUDY GROUPS
Second- and third-year students with excellent academic records are hired as Graduate Assistant Tutors (“GATs”) to conduct study groups in the fall. The GATs help students to develop effective study skills and to learn how to approach questions on exams.
CRIMINAL LAW
First-year students may elect to take Professor Wonsowicz's section of Criminal Law in the spring semester. Students work on their analytical and writing skills through classroom exercises, practice exams, and a midterm. Students receive course credit; admission to the course is by permission of the instructor. Applications are available during the first week of the spring semester.
ACADEMIC COUNSELING
Professor Wonsowicz is available to counsel students on study skills, outlining, and exam techniques. They can also discuss course selection for the second year.
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WILLS & TRUSTS ACADEMIC SUPPORT SECTION
Second- and third-year students may elect to take Wills & Trusts with Professor Goodman. Students work on their analytical skills through a midterm and many short in-class problems. Selected students may also attend a weekly study group with Professor Goodman.
EVIDENCE ACADEMIC SUPPORT SECTION
Second- and third-year students may elect to take Evidence with Professor Wonsowicz. Students work on their analytical skills through a mid-term and many short in-class problems. Selected students may also attend a weekly study group with Professor Wonsowicz.
REMEDIES ACADEMIC SUPPORT SECTION
Second- and third-year students may elect to take Remedies with Professor Patrick Goodman. Students work on their analytical skills through a mid-term and many short in-class problems. Selected students may also attend a weekly study group with Professor Goodman.
ACADEMIC COUNSELING
Professor Wonsowicz is available to counsel students on study skills, outlining, and exam techniques. He can also discuss course selection for the second and third year.
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BAR WORKSHOPS
Professor Wonsowicz runs a series of bar workshops open to all students in their final semester which focuses on the best practices for studying for the bar and methods for taking multiple choice questions, writing bar essays, crafting a performance test answer, and answering integrated question sets. He also runs a second series of smaller bar workshops for selected students where the selection is based on a student’s GPA.
WRITTEN LEGAL ANALYSIS COURSE
Taught by Professor Goodman, this course for students in their final semester explores the fundamentals of effective written legal analysis. Through repetition and feedback, students practice committing sound legal analysis to writing in a clear and organized manner, with a strong emphasis on practice-oriented application of law to fact. An application is required to enroll.