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L.S. Pre-law |
LS:
Pre-Law:
Course
Syllabus
POS/PLA 440 Special Topics in Law Leadership in Law and Politics
Course Syllabus Summer M-F 2:00-3:20@K-300 The
objective
of
this
course
is
to
teach
pre-law
and
political
science
students
the
art
of
leadership
in
the
law
and
in
politics. Film
will
supplement
the
reading The
students
are
expected
to
read
and
master
the
texts
listed
above. Students
are
also
required
to
participate
in
class
discussions. Students
will
demonstrate
proficiency
in
the
course
materials
by
writing
two
and
presenting
one
paper
on
leadership,
incorporating
the
film
with
a
topic
below. The
papers
should
be
4-6
pages
long
and
are
due
two
class
periods
following
the
assignment. Poor
grammar
will
reduce
the student's
grade. The
papers
and
presentation
count
50%,
and
the
final
counts
50%
of
the
grade.
Papers
must
have
a
Works
Cited
page
incorporating
3-6
sources.
Each
student
will
also
write
a
paper
detailing
his
or
her
strengths
and
weaknesses. I. Leadership
as
a
Law
Student & as
a
Practitioner. LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will learn the qualities needed to become a leader in the legal community and in politics as well as the laws of leadership. ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required to master the course materials. More than three unexcused absences will result in a lowered grade. More than four absences will result in a WP or a WF for the course. Remember that eighty percent of life is showing up. CHEATING: Cheating
will
not
be
tolerated. Anyone
caught
cheating
will
receive
an
F
for
the
course. Hard
work,
not
cheating,
is
the
key
to
success. The
professor
will
use
the
Socratic
method
and
film
as
legal
text. Class
discussion
is
expected
and
is
a
very
important
part
of
the
learning
process
in
this
class. Special service and reasonable accommodations are available to those students who furnish the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities the necessary documentation. Also, notify me at the first class about the specific nature of any services or accommodations which you are requesting. I will do my absolute best to assist you. COURSE
SCHEDULE Week Two: Leadership as a Law Student and Leadership as a Practitioner: View and discuss: The Paper Chase and The Firm. Incorporate both text in the film discussion. Week Three: Ethical Leadership in Politics and Law: View and discuss: The Contender and Erin Brockovich. Incorporate both texts in the film discussion. Week Four: Leadership in Litigation: View and discuss: A Civil Action and Legal Eagles. Incorporate both texts in the film discussion. Week Five: Leadership in Military Law: View and discuss: A Few Good Men and Rules of Engagement. Incorporate both texts in the film discussion. Week Six: Leadership in Society and Politics: View and discuss: Primary Colors and The Candidate. Incorporate both texts in the film discussion. Week
Seven:
Review
and
Relate
Law
and
Politics
with
the
Qualities
of
a
Leader. THAT'S
MY PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP ANYWAY We’ll read about several qualities of a leader. The following are a few characteristics I believe that a leader should exemplify. There are many philosophies of leadership and this is only one of them; it happens to be mine. 1. Love the Creation and its Creator. We all live on one planet and in one universe; therefore, we all - leaders and followers alike - need to be conservationists. Contrary to popular culture, we do not have an unlimited supply of everything. It also seems unlikely to me that the intricacies, the interdependencies, and the miracles of our universe are somehow an accident. I believe in a Creator and I believe that it is important for all of us to come to terms with that Creator. The Christian faith has provided the avenue of a relationship with God for me, but I certainly respect the right of others to find a different avenue for that relationship. 2. Take Responsibility for Failures and Give Credit for Successes. In today’s culture too many people are looking to assign blame for their own failures. How often do we hear someone say, “It’s my fault?” Most of the time, we hear people say it is somehow someone else’s incompetence which caused the lack of success. A real leader will step up and own responsibility for mistakes. It is equally important to spread the accolades when there is a favorable outcome. A wise person once said it is incredible how much gets accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit. 3. Always Live Below Your Means. Too many of us do not ask whether we can afford some new item; rather, we ask whether we can squeeze another payment into our budget. After a while, we end up paying most of our income as interest to someone else. That interest payment makes that someone else, not us, well off financially. As a general rule, we should incur debt for two things only: Education and Real Estate. Both of those investments pay dividends over time. Everything else, like cars, big screen TVs, and fancy furniture, depreciates quickly. If we live below our means, money will never be a problem. Leaders should be financially responsible and set an example for others. 4. Speak Out Against Injustice Wherever You Find It. It is too easy to dismiss the problems of someone else by saying "their" problem does not concern us. However, keeping in mind that we are all in this journey together, an injustice to one of us diminishes all of us. You do not have to be a community leader to make this world a better place. Never let injustices, no matter how slight, come to your attention without a clear comment and appropriate action. Be a Jackie Robinson-type leader. 5. State the Truth as You Understand it, but Realize That it is Your Truth. Each of us sees the world from our own igloo and through our own spectacles. An educated person realizes that there are many truths and many perspectives. Reasonable and well-informed people should simply agree, at times, to see things differently. In life, you need to find out what you believe to be true but be respectful of the opinions of others. Once you find truth, live by it and lead by it. 6. Give Everyone the Benefit of the Doubt. Treat people with kindness and respect, at least until they give you sufficient cause to treat them differently. People make mistakes. Accept their apologies and forgive them from your heart. But always remember the old adage: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." 7. Set Your Goals High and Work as Hard as You Can to Achieve Them. Someone once told me that you need to conceive it and believe it before you can achieve it. Reduce your goals to writing and make them specific. Make certain that your goals are driven by altruism and service, rather than by pure self-interest. After you set your goals, remember that it is hard work and sacrifice which will allow you to achieve those goals. Write a mission statement at your first opportunity. 8. It’s the Small Successes which Lead to the Big Successes. My grandmother told me many times that if I watched the pennies, the dollars would take care of themselves. What she meant was that if we pay attention to the little things, then the big things will come our way. Those who are in a position to promote us and to advance our careers tend to notice the small details, like being on time, completing a task before the due date, or exceeding the stated expectations. If you take care of the details, success will come your way. When you achieve success, remember that someone helped you. Repay them by helping someone else. "To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Bessie Stanley
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