School of Law Kicks Off the Inaugural LL.M. in Prosecutorial Science Program

On Monday morning, July 30, 2007, following the previous evening's opening reception and welcome dinner, the inaugural class of Chapman University School of Law’s LL.M. in Prosecutorial Science program began the summertime on-campus portion of study. Parham Williams, Jr., Dean Emeritus of the law school at Chapman, served as the primary instructor for the course, with a variety of visiting guest speakers nearly every day of class that included the Honorable Bonnie Dumanis, District Attorney of San Diego County, and the Honorable Grover Trask, former CDAA president.

Class participants developed an instant camaraderie that will likely be with them for many years. A number of students lived on campus in Chapman's new student suites, providing an excellent opportunity to get to know each other outside of the classroom.  By the middle of the first week, all participants in this hand-picked group of veteran prosecutors were frequently seen discussing courtroom experiences, class material, or state and national laws. During the two weeks, the law school hosted receptions and lunches, giving the students a myriad of opportunities to mingle with the new Dean, faculty and VIP guests.

As the two-week course drew to a close, the students were seen diligently studying for the final exam, held on Friday, August 10.  A study group was held the night before, and after the final on Friday, the students departed for home, each expressing their sadness that this portion of the on-campus segment of program had come to an end.  The students will begin class in the fall, with two courses – Directed Research and Advanced Criminal Procedure:  Police Practice – offered in an innovative two-way distance learning format via PC, giving the students the opportunity to continue their jobs as prosecutors while working to complete the unique Chapman LL.M. degree.

After such a promising first course, Chapman anticipates great things for the future of the LL.M. in Prosecutorial Science program, the first of its kind in the country.