JD Certificate Program in Government Law & Policy
The Government Law & Policy Certificate Program is a 16-unit course of study and experiential learning, which supplements the Pacific McGeorge J.D. degree. Government Law & Policy Certificate students complete a series of required and elective courses, including the option of an externship, specially designed to equip new lawyers with the skills and knowledge base to succeed working in many types of legal practice throughout the government, in private sector positions dealing with government, and in traditional law firm jobs where knowledge of statutory and regulatory law is an increasing part of everyday practice. The Government Law & Policy curriculum includes training in statutory interpretation and drafting, the working of administrative agencies, and the special issues that confront local government entities, as well as training in government lawyering skills and study of particular areas of law involving issues of government structure and regulation. In a capstone seminar, students look in-depth at issues of government theory and practice, and fulfill the writing requirement for the Government Law & Policy Certificate.
Instructions regarding enrollment in the Government Law & Policy Certificate Program are included in registration materials or may be obtained by contacting the Capital Center for Government Law & Policy, at (916) 739-7104 or email the 
Capital Center.
- Required Courses (9 or 10 units)
- Administrative Law (3)
- Legislation (2 or 3)
- Local Government Law (2)
- Government Law Theory and Practice Seminar (2)
- Practical Skills Courses (2 to 6 units)
(At Least one of the following courses)- Administrative Adjudication Clinic (2)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
- California Initiative Seminar (2)
- California Legislature: Law Revision Seminar I, II (3,3)
- Field Placement (approved externship) (3)
- Legislative Process, Strategy and Ethics (Class and internship) (2, 2)
- McGeorge Law Review Legislative Review (1 or 2)
- Negotiations and Settlement Seminar (2)
- Electives (4 Units Minimum) (note: not all elective courses are available in every academic year)
At least one elective from the Governmental Structure category and one elective from the Governmental Regulation category:
Governmental Structure Units
- Civil Rights Litigation (2)
- Election Law (2 units)
- European Union Law (3)
- Federal Antidiscrimination Legislation (3)
- Federal Courts (2 or 3)
- Federal Indian Law (2)
- Fundamental Rights in Europe and the United States (2)
- International Organizations (1)
- Issues in Government Lawyering (3)
- Law and Politics (2)
- Law of Armed Conflict (2)
- National Security Law (3)
- State Constitutional Law (2)
Governmental Regulation Units
- Advanced Criminal Procedure (2 or 3)
- Antitrust Law (3)
- Banking Law (3)
- Bankruptcy (3)
- Bio Ethics and the Law (2)
- Elder Law and Social Policy (3)
- Employment Discrimination Law (2)
- Employment Law (2)
- Environmental Law (3)
- First Amendment (3)
- Health Law (3)
- Health Law Policy Seminar (2)
- Immigration and Nationality Law (3)
- Insurance Law (3)
- Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition (3)
- Labor Law (3)
- Land Use Planning (2)
- Mass Media Law (2)
- Natural Resources Law (3)
- Public Education Law (3)
- Public Health Law (1)
- Public International Law (3)
- Public Policy Development (3)
- Special Education Law and Practice (3)
- State and Local Tax (2)
- Toxics and Hazardous Substances (3)
- Water Law (3)
