Course Descriptions, Labor Law - Moot Court
LW783 — Labor Law — 3 Hours
An examination of decisions and statutes relating to the rights of workers to act in combinations; legal aspects of strikes, picketing and related activities; and problems of state-federal law relating to labor disputes.
LW717 — Law and Accounting — 2 Hours
The course explores accounting theory and practice. The focus is on what lawyers need to know to engage effectively in a wide range of practice areas including, but not limited to, corporate and securities law, family law, bankruptcy, probate, trust and estate law, administrative law and regulated industries. In these fields of practice, as in others, financial information presented in an organized manner is essential for industry and governmental decision making. It is accounting theory put into practice which provides the rules and rationale for the presentation of this financial information.
LW853 — Law and Economics — 2-3 Hours
An introductory exploration of the application of economic analysis to legal problems. Basic economic principles will be discussed and analyzed in a legal context, but no prior work in economics is necessary. A fundamental goal is to explore and understand the applications as well as the limitations of economic analysis to law.
LW812 — Law and Human Rights — 3 Hours
The seminar explores the competing perspectives on the concept of human rights, the libertarian versus the authoritarian view, and their impact on the domestic legal orders of member states. The seminar also examines the role of law as an “effective weapon,” used by states, to protect as well as to violate human rights. The case study focuses upon apartheid, genocide, torture and mass-scale expulsions.
LW738 — Law and Mental Disability — 3 Hours
This course is designed to explore the relevant legal processes and the civil, constitutional, and criminal issues affecting persons with mental health disabilities. The course will examine the jurisprudence of criminal and civil aspects of mental disability, with special attention paid to Kansas law. The course is bifurcated into criminal and civil sections with further emphasis on competency and criminal responsibility in Section I, and involuntary civil commitments and related issues in Section II.
LW806 — Law and Religion Seminar — 2-3 Hours
A survey of the historical relationship and contemporary developments in the interaction between law and religion. Several religion-based legal systems are introduced. Each student selects a religious denomination for examination of its law-related policies. Each student selects a specific approved topic for in-depth treatment, submits a research paper and makes an oral presentation.
LW761 — Law Colloquium — 1 Hour
This course covers topics of interest in a non-traditional manner. The class is open to both students and attorneys. It is expected that more than one professor will be responsible for convening the course and there probably will be small discussion groups if the size of the class permits. The requirements regarding attendance and written projects are announced in advance. The core topic of this course can change each time it is offered, but might include legal issues related to persons of color, subject areas that are pertinent to sexual orientation, ageism, disabilities, poverty, and the environment. Topics previously covered include Feminist Jurisprudence, Professionalism, Critical Race Theory, NAFTA, and Comparative Human Rights. Credit, no-credit. The spring 2012 Law Colloquium will meet starting February 1, 2012 and ending March 14, 2012. From 6:00-6:50, faculty and students will meet together in room 114; from 7:00-7:50, students and faculty will break into small discussion groups. The course will explore professionalism in the legal profession in a variety of contexts. The emphasis of this course will underscore that professionalism goes beyond just the ethical practice of law. Students will be asked to consider the traditional components of professionalism which include, civility, integrity and courtesy, but they will also be challenged to explore other aspects, such as, cultural literacy in the legal profession, the business aspects of professionalism, the causes of the decline in professionalism, and aspirational goals of professionalism, including the role of legal education.
LW866 — Law in Literature — 2 Hours
This course provides a perspective on the legal system quite different from any other in the law school curriculum. Fictional accounts of law-related subjects are read and discussed to develop an understanding and appreciation of selected creative writers’ perceptions of various aspects of the legal system. Literary works such as Melville’s Billy Budd and Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are illustrative of the required reading in the course; specific selections vary from year to year.
LW771 — Law Journal Research and Writing I — 1-2 Hours — Graded.
LW772 — Law Journal Research and Writing II --1-2 Hours — Credit, no-credit.
LW771 and LW772 are offered only to students who have successfully completed their comments and who have written or will write a note, as certified by the Managing Board of the Law Journal. Students who take these courses must enroll in at least one graded hour (LW771) and may enroll in an additional one or two hours, credit, no-credit (LW772). Students who enroll in two hours, credit, no-credit (LW772), may also enroll in one additional graded hour (LW771) for a total of one to four hours. Performance is graded by the Law Journal Faculty Adviser, after consultation with the Managing Board, based on successful completion of the entire Law Journal experience.
LW764 — Law Journal Senior Staff Editing — 1-2 Hours
This course is offered to students who have completed their comments, are members of the Law Journal’s Senior Staff and approved by the Law Journal Faculty Advisory Committee. Students electing this course are primarily responsible for the editorial and substantive integrity of material published in the Washburn Law Journal. Students may enroll for one or two hours credit for editing functions. Law Journal Senior Staff who write a note may also enroll in Law Journal Research and Writing II and receive an additional one or two hours credit. Prerequisite: Law Journal Research and Writing I. Graded.
LW927 — Law of Armed Conflict — 3 Hours
This course will cover the law of armed conflict (also commonly referred to as international humanitarian law, or jus in bello), which is the international law regime that governs the conduct of armed forces in the course of hostilities. The course will run from an examination of the development of the underlying principles and rationales, through to the decisions of modern war crimes tribunals, and is aimed at providing a solid understanding of the legal regime.
LW824 — Law Practice Management — 2 Hours
The areas of study include perception of the legal profession, legal profession trends, small law office survival, products and services, case planning, fee contracts, fee arrangements, common ethical complaints and methods to avoid them, civility in the profession, marketing and promotion of legal services, firm performance evaluation, financial analysis of the firm, strategic planning, modern law office technology, use of law clerks and paralegals, pro bono obligations, and human resource management.
LW925 — Law Practice Technologies — 2 Hours
Hands-on survey of selected software, technologies and skills utilized in legal practice. The course will expose students to practical suggestions associated with selecting and using specific applications as well as relevant legal and ethical issues. Meets 2.5 hours per session for 11 weeks.
LW875 — Legal Analysis, Research and Writing I — 3 Hours
Introduction to fundamental legal thought and the art of lawyering, including legal process, legal reasoning, case analysis and synthesis, statutory construction, introduction to legal research, and objective legal writing, with a focus on office memoranda.
LW876 — Legal Analysis, Research and Writing II — 3 Hours
Further development of legal analysis and research skills and an introduction to legal advocacy through persuasive legal writing, such as trial and appellate briefs, and oral argument.
LW942 — Legal Analysis, Research and Writing for Foreign Exchange Students — 2 Hours
This course would be a required legal analysis, research, and writing course for foreign exchange students studying at Washburn Law. The purpose of the course is to teach the foreign law students the basics of legal analysis, research and writing using the U.S. legal sources. The material in the class would cover the basic research resources in the United States and the students would write a research paper using U.S. legal materials. Prerequisite: Must be a foreign exchange student at Washburn.
LW776 — Legislation — 3 Hours
This course examines the pros and cons of regulation through legislation, social, economic and political forces which influence legislative action, principles of statutory interpretation and problems of statutory drafting.
LW801 — Legislative Workshop — 1 Hour
This course explores the legal framework of the legislative process in Kansas. Course work includes analyzing legal questions which arise in the legislative process and the drafting of legislative documents. In addition, speakers from the staff of the Revisor's Office and Legislative agencies discuss with the class their experiences and approach to providing staffing services for the Legislature. Credit, no-credit.
LW 912 — Litigation Strategies — 3 hours
This is a skills course designed to teach students planning, case analysis, and strategy skills in the preparation of a complex case. Students will follow a complex civil or criminal case through initial interview and pretrial stages and conclude with jury selection and opening and closing arguments. Students will develop case budgets, find expert witnesses and consultants, and prepare for depositions and trial testimony. Throughout the course students will be required to think and act like lawyers as they plan, organize, and prepare their case for trial. Students will work on a simulation of an actual case that one of the faculty members' law firms took to trial; students will develop the case for trial under the guidance of a practicing attorney familiar with the case who will serve as a co-instructor of the course. Prerequisites: Evidence and Trial Advocacy.
LW820 — Local Government Law — 2 Hours
Study of city, county, school district and other special district governments, and the relationship between citizens and those governmental bodies. Topics include basic organization and powers of local governments, including the police and home rule powers, taxation and spending issues, land use matters, employment matters, public contracts, tort claims, civil rights actions, and intergovernmental relationships.
LW817 — Mediation — 2 Hours
This is a practicum designed to equip law students with skills as a mediator and to provide them with an in-depth examination of the technical, legal and ethical aspects of mediation in the context of civil, domestic and child custody disputes. Components of the course will focus on child development needs, family systems, psychological aspects of divorce, domestic violence, drafting agreements and the role of the lawyer as an advocate in mediation. The course will employ mediation exercises, role plays, simulations, self-critique and group discussions to demonstrate and evaluate effective communication skills, bargaining strategies, mediation styles and intervention techniques. Recommended: Alternative Dispute Resolution.
LW944 — Mergers and Acquisitions — 2-3 Hours
Mergers and Acquisitions will involve the study of a wide variety of transactions in both publicly traded and private company contexts. The class will explore the legal, economic, business, and tax issues involved in structuring mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, spin-offs, divestitures, and related transactions. The course will cover the mechanics of these transactions under both Delaware (the predominant state for publicly traded companies) and Kansas law, as well as the theoretical underpinnings and case law giving rise to standard practices. Significant time will be devoted to directors' duties and shareholder rights related to or arising out of both invited and hostile transactions. Prerequisites: Business Associations preferred.
LW933 — Military Family Law — 1-2 Hours
This course will explore issues relating to military families, including the Service Members Civil Relief Act, paternity, support, divorce, pensions, and jurisdiction. Prerequisite: Family Law.
LW952 — Mineral Title Examination — 1 Hour
This course teaches the law and technique associated with examining title to oil, gas, and other mineral properties. The faculty for this course will include practicing oil and gas lawyers with specific expertise in title examination. In addition to addressing issues associated with examination of titles for private lands, the course will also examine the unique issues encountered when examining title to minerals on federal, state, and Indian lands. Prerequisite: Oil and Gas Law.
LW762 — Moot Court — 1-2 Hours
Participation as a team member in any major Moot Court competition. Each team member to receive credit must make a substantial contribution toward not only the team brief but also the oral argument and participate as a team member in the competition. No more than one hour credit will be given for any competition and the same competition in different years can support no more than two hours credit. Credit, no-credit.
