Course Descriptions, Debtor/Creditor Relations - Externship
LW718 — Debtor/Creditor Relations — 3 Hours
The focus of this course is on the problems incident to the disposition of the estate of a failing or insolvent debtor. It looks at problems relating to execution of judgments, fraudulent conveyances, compositions, assignments for the benefit of creditors, receivership, and problems arising under the Federal Bankruptcy Act.
LW915 — Decedents' Estates and Trusts & Future Interests — 4 Hours
This course addresses: (1) the law governing transfers of property at death, including intestate succession, wills and will substitutes, and the administration of estates; (2) the laws governing the creation, administration, and interpretation of trusts; and (3) important principles of the law of future interests frequently encountered in estate planning. Prerequisites: None. [Note: As of Fall 2006 this course replaces the separate courses Decedents' Estates and Trusts and Future Interests.]
LW756D — Directed Internship — 1-3 Hours
Once students have completed the clinic internship program, they may participate in a directed internship of one-to-three hours depending on faculty availability and approval. Directed interns may concentrate on one area of practice. Prerequisite: Clinic Internship. Credit, no-credit.
LW763 — Directed Research — 1-3 Hours
In-depth legal research and writing. Offered only upon prearrangement with a faculty member to direct the project and then with the Dean. Projects for three hours credit will rarely be approved and only for student work that substantially exceeds that required for most projects. See Standards for Directed Research.
LW716 — Divorce Practice — 2-3 Hours
An advanced seminar course that explores the practical aspects of drafting prenuptial contracts, property settlement agreements and child custody arrangements. Variable credit, see course schedule. Prerequisite: Family Law.
LW890 — Domestic Violence Seminar — 1-2 Hours
The course includes recognizing the signs of abuse; the cycle of violence; readings on domestic violence, representing the victim of domestic violence, advising a victim in divorce; effects of domestic violence on children; "battered women's syndrome" in criminal cases; working with other professionals and representing the abuser.
LW932 — Elder Law — 2-3 Hours
This course explores family problems of the elderly, including consideration of Social Security, divorce for those over 50, incapacity of a spouse, division of asset rules, medicaid and medicare eligibility, and trust and inheritance considerations.
LW786 — Employment Discrimination — 3 Hours
This course focuses on the theory and practice of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, and color. Sexual harassment law receives considerable attention. Coverage of process and procedure includes examination of the growing use of alternative dispute resolution to resolve discrimination claims. Other statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act are studied, but because their basic structure is parallel to Title VII, they require less discussion.
LW917 — Employment Law — 2-3 Hours
Federal and state laws touch the employment relationship from the moment an applicant enters a prospective employer's workplace until the relationship terminates. This course will introduce students to selected topics in employment law with a focus on common law and the federal statutory laws that modify the traditional employment relationship. Topics may include wrongful termination, the Fair Labor Standards Act, prevailing wage laws, and OSHA standards.
LW803 — Energy Regulation — 2-3 Hours
The production, sale, and distribution of natural gas and electricity are undergoing fundamental changes as legal and economic theorists seek more efficient approaches to regulating these energy sources. Students will learn public utility law and approaches to economic regulation while exploring the historical context of natural gas and electricity regulation. The regulatory cycle, consisting of periods of de-regulation followed by re-regulation, is evaluated in an attempt to develop theories regarding the optimum mix of competition-driven self-regulation and government intervention. Variable credit, see course schedule.
LW734 — Entertainment Law — 2-3 Hours
This course explores the entertainment industry and areas of the law which govern relationships within the industry. Students will generally have the opportunity to meet and be entertained by real entertainers and ask them questions regarding their professions. Students will also generally have an opportunity to play the role of attorneys in situations involving real entertainers. Intellectual Property should be taken concurrently with or prior to this course.
LW910 — Entrepreneurial Law — 3 Hours
This course is designed to complement and supplement the currently available business and transactional courses. It will be offered every other year, more often if scheduling permits. Students will begin by examining the concept of entrepreneurship and the characteristics of the entrepreneur. They will then explore the various stages of business development and legal counseling for entrepreneurs through reading materials, business planning, exercises, negotiation and counseling simulations, and a group project. The students will also analyze federal, state, and local laws and policy initiatives that impact small business development, including businesses owned by minorities and women. Finally, the students will build their business development and counseling skills by interacting with actual entrepreneurs. Prerequisites: Business Associations and Professional Responsibility. Recommended: Taxation of Partnerships and Partners; Taxation of Corporations & Shareholders; Transactional Drafting.
LW744 — Environmental Law — 3 Hours
A survey course in environmental regulation. The primary focus is on the structure and enforcement of major federal anti-pollution schemes such as the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Because these laws are implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, considerable time is spent understanding basic administrative law, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Statutes regulating solid and hazardous waste, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) are also covered, but students desiring in-depth examination of these acts should consider also enrolling in Hazardous Waste Regulation. Recommended: Administrative Law.
LW749 — Estate Planning — 3 Hours
The advanced course in estate planning involves planning all contingencies in the disposition of the client's property while arranging the assets to minimize risk of loss and to minimize income, gift, estate, and other transfer taxes. Much of the course will be conducted on a seminar basis. Prerequisites: Taxation of Individual Income, Decedents' Estates, and Taxation of Gratuitous Transfers (formerly Taxation of Estates and Gifts).
LW908 — European Union Law & Policy — 2-3 Hours
This course will provide a general introduction to the legal system of the European Union covering both its constitutional and institutional architecture. Consideration will also be undertaken of several substantive legal areas including competition law and policy. These topics will be considered in the context of European political integration and, where appropriate, the on-going tension in the trans-Atlantic relationship.
LW757 — Evidence — 4 Hours
The presentation of proof before judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals gives rise to questions regarding the admissibility of evidence. These questions are studied in the context of examination of witnesses, competency, privilege, relevancy, the hearsay rule, judicial notice, and the presentation of scientific and demonstrative evidence.
LW921 — Externship I — 2-4 Hours
The School of Law has created opportunities for students to obtain a meaningful educational experience outside of the classroom through externships with federal courts, state courts, government agencies, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations. During each enrollment period students will receive a list of the available externships and the specific requirements the student must be willing to meet to be considered for a particular externship. Some externship opportunities may require the student to apply for an available position, and be selected. Although the specific requirements for credit can vary among externship opportunities, all externships require certification of a minimum amount of student time on qualifying externship activities, regular attendance and participation in the classroom component of the course, satisfactory evaluations from the sponsor, and completion of all written work and evaluations. Grading is based on Credit/No Credit, and Credit requires a minimum performance of 'C' level (2.0) work. Prerequisites: A student may not participate before completion of at least one academic year of study. If required by the sponsor or the work expected of the student extern, certification as a Legal Intern under the Kansas Supreme Court Student Practice Rule must be obtained. Additionally, some placements may have other requirements. Note: Students who accept a position under Externship I for 3 or 4 credits are not eligible to take Externship II. [Supersedes previous Externship opportunities, Fall 2006] See Externship Program for more information.
LW922 — Externship II — 2 Hours
This course allows a student, who has completed Externship I for 2 credits, to do one more externship course with the same or a different sponsor. The same conditions, guidelines, and grading policy for Externship I apply, except that Externship II does not require participation in a classroom component. Prerequisites: Completion of Externship I. Students that took Externship I for 3 or 4 credits are not eligible to take Externship II. If required by the sponsor or the work expected of the student extern, certification as a Legal Intern under the Kansas Supreme Court Student Practice Rule must be obtained. Additionally, some placements may have other requirements. See Externship Program for more information.
