Dr. Christina A. Toras
Education
- B.A.: English, Youngstown State University
- J.D.: Capital University Law School
- M.A.: English, East Carolina University
Biography
Dr. Toras has 25 years of experience as a licensed practicing attorney, having served a 15-year term as general counsel and vice president of real estate at 84 Lumber Co., based in Eighty-Four, Pa. While at 84 Lumber, Dr. Toras' area of responsibility included the acquistion, development, permitting and construction of more than 200 retail facilities as well as matters relative to corporate financing, litigation and employment law. In addition, Dr. Toras served as general counsel at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa., where she managed land acquisition, new construction, liquor licensing and corporate contracts.
Dr. Toras is a member of the Washington County Bar Association and is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
In 2008, after having taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dr. Toras became a full-time faculty member at California University of Pennsylvania in the graduate and undergraduate legal studies programs. In addition to teaching, Dr. Toras serves as chair of the Department of Professional Studies and director of the Institute for Law and Public Policy.
Courses
Undergraduate:
- Litigation and Trial Evidence
- Real Estate Law
- Law, Business and the Workplace
- Aministrative Law
- Labor and Employment Law
Graduate:
- Law, Civil LIberties and the Constitution
- Law and Legal Method
- Law and Administrative Agencies
- Law and the Environment
- Law, Business and the Workplace
Affiliated Cal U Departments
Department of Professional Studies
Institute of Law and Public Policy
Research Interests
-
Case law and public policy
-
Presidential homeland security directives
-
Legalese vs. plain language in legal practice
-
Legal ethics
Service Learning Projects
- Serving as a special arbitrator, Allegheny Court of Common Pleas, Arbitration Division
- Serving as a head judge, American Mock Trial Competition
- Serving as a member of the Career Services Advisory Board, California University of Pennsylvania
- Serving as editor and advisory board member of the Homeland Security Review, a peer-reviewed publication of the Institute for Law and Public Policy
Academic Department(s)
- Department of Professional Studies
Academic Program(s)
- M.S. Legal Studies
- B.A. Jurisprudence
- B.A. Jurisprudence with Concentration in Legal Studies (Online)
Quotable
"I am a firm believer in paying close attention to my students and their progress. I accomplish this by maintaining an interactive classroom and by encouraging students to ask questions when they are in doubt. I see it as my responsibility to ensure that my students succeed and believe that each student is entitled to individual attention."
