The course, designed to introduce high school students to a legal system that touches their lives on a daily basis, concentrates on providing students with the skills to become problem-solvers through their knowledge of legal principles, primarily in the areas of criminal, tort, family, and individual rights law. The course examines the broad issues related to why we have laws and how such laws influence individuals and the society we live in. By drawing on students' knowledge, values, and experiences, the course connects them with the overall framework of the law to help them become better, and more active, citizens. Students work at a rigorous pace as they participate in activities in which they solve problems, and analyze case studies and hypothetical situations within the areas of criminal and civil law to develop the critical thinking skills that are necessary to succeed at a four-year college.