The upper-level curriculum is broad and diverse and in a typical academic year embraces 80 to 90 courses and seminars. It is designed to afford students opportunities to study many different subjects but also to permit the student whose academic or professional goals are well defined to undertake intensive study of particular fields of law.

For most students, the second year of law study is best centered on introductory courses broadly covering major fields within the practice of law. These courses serve a number of important purposes: they build on first-year courses, serve as a foundation for more intensive study in the third year and facilitate formulation of career goals and objectives.

Corporations, Employment Law, Evidence, Federal Income Tax, Sales and Secured Transactions are courses best taken in the second year. Students with interests in Family Law, Trusts and Estates and Criminal Procedure should take these courses in the second year if possible.

For most students, the third year of law study is best spent taking courses that refine one's understanding of materials previously encountered. The third year is the time to sample new subject matter fields and jurisprudential approaches and to consider taking non-law school subjects that complement legal studies. The third year is also the time to pursue individual interests through clinical placements, performance-based courses and self-initiated projects. For some students, the third year may provide an opportunity to specialize by taking advanced courses in specific subject matter areas. A decision to specialize should not be made lightly. Experience indicates that many students who do select courses with a view to specialization do not, on graduation, concentrate their professional activities in the intended field. Specialization also entails the disadvantage of forgoing a more balanced course selection and a broader legal education. For a student with strong interests in a particular field, moderate rather than intensive specialization may be an appropriate compromise. However, for students with well-defined career or academic objectives, more intensive specialization may be entirely appropriate.