Externships
Externship – LAW 6900
4 Credits
This course is a semester-long placement with a court, governmental office or agency, public interest organization or business during which the student performs the tasks of a lawyer under the mentorship and direction of an on-site supervisor, who is also a lawyer, and the general supervision of a full-time externship supervisor at the School of Law. Each student will be assigned an externship related in some way to his or her track. The student is expected to engage in research, writing, and other legal experiences that are part of the regular work of the office in which she or he serves. The overarching goals of these experiences are to present the student with opportunities for substantial, supervised experience in analyzing legal problems, and finding creative and competent solutions to those problems by applying the skills and knowledge they have studied in law school, guided by a skilled and experienced practitioner. Students begin the experience with a workshop on professionalism and professional responsibility. They will then spend 12 weeks during the semester working at the placement an average of 16 hours per week. Where appropriate, students may be required to attend weekly colloquia as part of the externship during which their experiences can be analyzed. Students may not receive compensation for an externship. Upper-level. Credit Type B.
The School of Law encourages the development of externships in a broad number of areas. All externships must meet the criteria listed above and be approved by the Academic Affairs Committee. The following existing courses are approved as part of the Externship Clinic:
Health Care Law Externship
Supervised, practical application of previous, or concurrently, studied health care law. The externships provide students with field placement appointments with firms, organizations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations who work in the area of health care law. Externs are exposed to issues and perspectives related to health care organization, access, quality, and bioethical issues. Externs develop an understanding and appreciation of health law practice and policy, learn how theories operate in the real world, and develop legal writing and other professional skills. Prerequisites: Students must have completed, or be taking concurrently, Health Care Law.
Judicial Externship
This course is designed to allow students to function as active participants and observers in the judicial process and, simultaneously, to analyze and reflect on the function, purpose, and actual operation of the judiciary and the judicial system. Each semester, students are placed with various state, local, and federal judges to serve as judicial clerks. In conjunction with their fieldwork, students will attend each week a two-hour seminar focusing on the role and function of the judiciary. Questions concerning the nature and function of the judicial process also will be addressed.
Law and Technology Externship – LAW 6903
This course is designed to allow students to participate in a law firm or corporate law department, working on intellectual property matters assigned by their supervising attorney. Prerequisites: Two of the following courses: Intellectual Property Law (Copyright and Trademark Law); Patent Law; Protection of Computers and Software; Technology Transfer and Licensing; Computers, Society, and Law.
Capstones
Capstone Experience
This course is intended to be the culmination of the track experience, requiring students to integrate knowledge and skills obtained in earlier track courses. It combines substantive knowledge of a practice area with a practical lawyering focus. A rigorous writing experience is a key component of the course. Upper-level, fifth or sixth semester of study. All students must take a Capstone Experience or Law Clinic Intern course. Credit Type A.
The School of Law encourages faculty to create capstone experiences which reflect their areas of scholarly interest and cutting edge issues in the law. All capstone experiences must meet the criteria listed above and be approved by the Academic Affairs Committee pursuant to the School of Law’s Experimental Course policy. Experimental Capstones will be designated with course number LAW 6905. The following courses are approved as a permanent part of the Capstone experience:
Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Track
Advanced Dispute Resolution – LAW 6920
4 Credits
This course concentrates on varying substantive areas in which alternative methods of dispute resolution are frequently employed, such as tort or commercial disputes. Each semester, the course will focus in depth on a particular substantive area of the law. One or more simulated cases will be used to provide the students with practical, hands-on experience with this type of dispute. Each student will be asked to represent a hypothetical client from the outset of a dispute. At the discretion of the professor, students may also serve as neutrals. Areas of emphasis include negotiation, mediation, and arbitration processes.
Civil Rights and Liberties Litigation – LAW 6921
4 Credits
This course concentrates on varying problems associated with the protection of individual rights and liberties at both the state and federal levels. Each semester, the course will focus in depth on a particular issue or statutory scheme, such as employment discrimination, discrimination under the ADA, or discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. One or more simulated cases will be used to provide the students with practical, hands-on experience with this type of litigation. Each student will be asked to represent a hypothetical client from the initial interview through the various stages of the dispute.
Criminal Advocacy – LAW 6922
4 Credits
This course concentrates on varying topics in criminal law and procedure. Each semester, the course will focus in depth on one or more issues of state and/or federal criminal law. One or more simulated cases will be used to provide the students with practical, hands-on experience with this type of case. Each student will be asked to represent the government or the defendant from arrest through final disposition, including any sentencing procedure. Emphasis will be placed on the pretrial process, including arraignments, grand jury proceedings, discovery, suppression hearings, and plea negotiations. At the option of the professor, students may be required to participate in two simulations, one in which he or she acts as prosecutor and one in which he or she acts as defense counsel.
Complex Civil Litigation – LAW 6923
4.0 Credits
This course explores varying substantive areas involving large-scale litigation, such as antitrust law, environmental law, and mass torts. Each semester, the course will focus in depth on a particular substantive area, and the student will be asked to represent a party in a dispute relating to that area. The student will be asked to represent a hypothetical client from the initial interview through the final resolution of the dispute. Areas of emphasis include organization of voluminous discovery; pleadings; measurement of damages; settlement techniques; use of discovery; use of pleadings and briefs; trial approach and techniques.
Personal and Transactional Law Track
Advanced Commercial Transactions – LAW 6930
4 Credits
This course builds on the knowledge obtained in the required Commercial Transactions course and allows further study of Articles 2, 3, 4, and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Students will be asked to represent a hypothetical small business owner in various commercial transactions such as contracts, leases, and financing arrangements. In planning such transactions, students will research the applicable law, advise their clients, and prepare the documents and filings necessary to implement each transaction.
Business Planning for the Small Business – LAW 6931
4 Credits
Integration and application of corporate law, partnership law, tax law, and nonlegal business concepts in the organization, operation, and reorganization of various types of small business entities. The use of limited liability companies will be emphasized. Students will be asked to represent a hypothetical client seeking to organize and operate a small business. Preparation and revision of various documents will be a central component of this course, with focus on drafting techniques.
Commercial Real Estate Transactions – LAW 6932
4 Credits
This course examines legal and business issues common to commercial real estate transactions and utilizes a problem oriented approach with an emphasis on practice oriented skills. The course is comprised of four basic parts: acquisition, finance, construction, and leasing. Each of the four parts will include written assignments as a means for the students to synthesize what they have learned and to apply this knowledge in a manner similar to how attorneys operate when handling commercial real estate transactions.
Estate & Tax Planning – LAW 6933
4 Credits
A study of the federal income, gift, and estate tax consequences and non-tax legal aspects of inter vivos and testamentary gratuitous transfers and of planning for hypothetical clients in order to meet tax and non-tax objectives. Drafting various document clauses for instruments to implement clients' estate plans. Arrangements that will be studied include irrevocable trusts, powers of appointment for property management, and powers of selected creditors' rights.
Domestic Relations Practice – LAW 6934
4 Credits
This course builds upon legal concepts mastered in the basic course in Family Law and provides students with an opportunity to explore, in depth, selected topics in domestic relations law and practice. The topics covered may include: the attempt to structure the consequences of marriage and divorce by means of pre- and post-martial agreements; domestic relations litigation; post-divorce enforcement and modification of economic and child custody orders; and the unique ethical issues encountered in a domestic relations practice. Students will be asked to represent one or more hypothetical clients. In the course of this representation, they will be required to draft documents, engage in motion practice, appear at hearings, represent clients in negotiations or mediations, etc.
Intellectual Property, Cyberlaw and Creativity Track
Patent Practice and Procedure – LAW 6941
4 Credits
Study of rules of procedure for practice in the Patent and Trademark Office and of problems arising in patent practice, including: patent drafting, patent litigation, and counseling technology-based businesses. Students will be asked to represent one or more hypothetical clients.
Commercialization of Intellectual Property – LAW 6942
4 Credits
Study of the processes required to commercialize intellectual property created at research institutions and of the problems arising in this type of technology transfer. Students will be required to undertake all of the steps necessary to commercialize a product, including the negotiation and drafting of relevant agreements.
Clinic
Law Clinic Intern – LAW 6950
4 Credits
This course studies lawyer decision making by placing students in the role of lawyer in real cases and by analyzing decisions made in that role. The course consists of two parts, fieldwork and class sessions. In the fieldwork, students will assume the responsibility of representing clients in a variety of legal matters under the supervision of professors trained to work with clinic students. Clinic professors select cases based upon their educational value to enrolled students, and where possible students represent persons in need. Where appropriate, professors may choose to concentrate on specific types of cases, such as criminal law or landlord/tenant law. The class focuses on the role and skills of a lawyer using simulation, review, and discussion, and "case rounds" methodologies. A rigorous writing experience is a key component of the course. Prerequisites: Evidence and Intern's License. Upper-level, fifth or sixth semester of study. All students must take a capstone course or Law Clinic Intern. Credit Type A.