Foundations of Law and Practice

This unit introduces students to the basic sources and purposes of law, the structure of court systems, and distinctions between civil and criminal processes. It also covers fundamental consumer and family law topics—contracts, dispute resolution, when and how to obtain legal representation, family formation and responsibilities, and employment-related legal issues—to prepare learners for more advanced study and applied practice in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the sources, purposes, and functions of law and differentiate between civil and criminal law while mapping the structure and jurisdiction of federal, state, and local court systems.
• Evaluate common legal processes—contracts, litigation, small claims, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration—and apply basic contract elements and dispute-resolution strategies to realistic scenarios.
• Determine when legal representation is advisable by assessing attorney roles, the attorney-client relationship, methods for locating and vetting attorneys, and the benefits and risks of self-representation.
• Apply foundational family and employment law concepts to explain rights and responsibilities related to marriage, parentage, child support, guardianship, adoption, surrogacy, childcare, job applications, and conditional job offers.