Course Descriptions, Family Law - Juvenile Offender
LW728 — Family Law — 3 Hours
This course introduces the numerous subject areas which comprise family law today starting with the often complex federal and state laws and cases on how to define a family. In addition to the traditional topics, such as marriage, parent-child relationships, divorce, property division, maintenance, child custody and child support issues, the course covers premarital, cohabitation and postmarital contracts, paternity, adoption, assisted conception, the role of the lawyer in family law, and alternative dispute resolution. This course is a prerequisite for Divorce Practice and Family Law Seminar.
LW831 — Family Law Quarterly Junior Staff Editing — 1 Hour
This course is offered to second-year students who have met the requirements to become staff members of the Family Law Quarterly. Students edit articles accepted for publication. Students must serve a full year to receive credit. Credit, no-credit.
LW832 — Family Law Quarterly Senior Staff Editing — 1-2 Hours
Open to third-year students on the Family Law Quarterly staff who have been approved by the Faculty Adviser. Students are primarily responsible for the editorial and substantive integrity of material published in the Family Law Quarterly. Students may enroll for only one hour per semester. Credit, no-credit.
LW754 — Family Law Seminar — 2 Hours
This seminar explores the theoretical, sociological and psychological aspects of current legal issues in family law. Prerequisite: Family Law.
LW759 — Federal Courts — 3 Hours
An examination of the broad institutional restrictions on the federal courts in the federal system and the policies aimed at achieving a fair and efficient allocation of judicial power. The course explores the balance of power between the federal courts, the states and the two other branches of federal government. The issues examined in this course will have implications for federal practice in a variety of areas, including civil rights, bankruptcy, environmental, oil and gas, and real estate financing law.
LW787 — Feminist Legal Theory — 2-3 Hours
The goal of this course is to understand, analyze and apply feminist theory to the law. The course covers the historical development of feminist jurisprudence, current feminist theories and feminist methodologies. Students are expected to apply feminist theory to various substantive areas, professionalism, legal ethics, legal skills and legal education. Variable credit, see course schedule.
LW705 — Financial Institution Regulation — 2 Hours
This course will survey the regulation of financial institutions, including banks, securities and commodities brokers, and insurance companies, particularly in the context of financial market instability. The course will analyze investor and customer protections, key types of financial products, and the roles of market regulation. Finally, the course will assess several important reform initiatives, and the likely future of financial institution regulation. Prerequisite: Business Associations.
LW888 — Financial Issues in Divorce — 2 Hours
This course addresses financial issues associated with divorce including the identification, valuation, and division of property. Students will learn how to work with appraisers to value physical assets and complex intangible assets such as pensions, stock options, closely-held corporations, and businesses. The drafting, administration, and effect of pre-marital agreements will be addressed along with the taxation and planning aspects of divorce. Prerequisites: Family Law.
LW939 — Food Safety and Security Law — 2 Hours
This course examines the patchwork of federal, state, and local laws enacted in the U.S. to protect the food supply from accidental or natural contamination. It also examines the emerging body of law designed to secure the food supply against intentional contamination through agriterrorism. Considerable time will be devoted to studying the government agencies responsible for maintaining a safe and secure food supply and associated administrative law concepts.. The international aspects of food safety and supply will be examined at two levels: individual country initiatives and the international implications of individual country initiatives.
LW830 — Health Care Law and Policy — 3 Hours
Examination of the health care system in the United States with emphasis on the law and policy pertaining to the delivery of health care services on a national basis. Specific areas considered include such matters as access to health care, quality assurance, cost control and other topics of current interest.
LW815 — Immigration Law — 2 Hours
An examination of immigration law, procedure and professional responsibility in its practice. Moral and social implications of immigration policy. Related topics such as the right to communicate in this country in languages other than English, the rights of citizen children of undocumented parents, rights of refugees, amnesty, and employer sanctions.
LW826 — Independent Readings in Natural Resources Law — 1-2 Hours
A candidate in the environmental law certificate program may earn up to two hours credit for independent reading supervised by a faculty member. Offered only upon prearrangement with the faculty supervisor and the Dean. Credit, no-credit.
LW710 — Insurance Law — 2 Hours
An examination of federal and state regulation of the insurance industry. The course also looks at the nature of the insurance relationship, formation of insurance contracts and the claims process and defenses raised by insurers.
LW808 — Intellectual Property — 3 Hours
An introduction to patents, trademarks and copyrights, including creation and protection of rights in intellectual property and enforcement of rights against infringers. Coverage will include plant patents and Plant Variety Protection Act matters.
LW778 — International Business Transactions — 3 Hours
This course will provide an introduction to the rules governing international business transactions. It will cover basic U.S. trade rules, and the organization of the World Trade Organization and regional trading arrangements. Topics will include tariffs and non-tariff barriers, responses of domestic producers to import competition, and the resolution of trade disputes. The course will also focus on issues that arise in typical international business transactions, such as the choice between CIF and FOB contracts, the risks of international trade and allocation of risks by contract, and the use of letters of credit.
LW927 — International Criminal Law and the Law of War — 3 Hours
This course will cover international responsibility and remedies, bases of jurisdiction and immunity, state responsibility for injuries to aliens, dispute settlement, the use of force and the law of war, and international criminal law.
International Law SEE Public International Law (LW928)
LW827 — International Taxation — 3 Hours
An overview of the federal taxation of (1) the U.S.- related income of nonresident aliens and foreign corporations, and (2) the foreign-related income of U.S. taxpayers. Topics include: the source of income rules, the concepts of a "U.S. trade or business" and "effectively connected income," the foreign tax credit, Subpart F, inter-company pricing, and the role of tax treaties. Prerequisite: Taxation of Individual Income.
LW914 — Interviewing & Counseling — 2 Hours
This course will introduce students to a practice-oriented approach to interviewing and counseling. It will enable students to develop the skills involved in investigating facts and interviewing and counseling clients. Class work will include demonstration, critique, discussion, and practical exercises. Students will also investigate doctrinal, procedural, and evidentiary issues in order to discharge effectively their role in each step of the process. Course topics will explore: 1) how to recognize legal and non-legal dimensions of a client's problems; 2) how to develop fundamental skills, including effective listening and questioning; 3) how to gather information; and 4) how to understand the decision-making process and help clients make appropriate decisions. Students will also explore ethical considerations in interviewing and counseling. This is a letter-graded class. There will be a final project instead of an exam. Class is limited to 25 students.
LW799 — Jurisprudence — 2 Hours
An inquiry into the realm of legal philosophy. Students will analyze fundamental issues and major lines of thought in attempted resolution of those issues.
LW877 — Jury Selection and Voir Dire — 1 Hour
This course examines the art and science of jury selection through a study of the law and courtroom procedures pertaining to voir dire. The skills associated with jury selection will be taught, demonstrated, and practiced by having each student pick a jury for trial of a selected case scenario. General and specific questions on voir dire will be conducted by students acting as counsel and presided over by a judge. Student performance will be critiqued and the final grade will be assigned based on class participation and a final examination. Prerequisites: Trial Advocacy or ITAP.
LW 886 — Juvenile Offender — 2 Hours
This course will cover juvenile delinquency including purposes of punishment and juvenile justice; the juvenile courts; jurisdiction and disposition of juvenile court; procedural differences between delinquency process and adult criminal process; the role of the lawyer in the juvenile court process.
