2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Experiential Learning |
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LAW - 649 Pre-trial Civil Litigation
(3 hrs.)
In Pretrial Civil Litigation students explore the pretrial process in federal civil litigation, including interviewing clients; drafting pleadings, written discovery and motions for summary judgment; taking and defending depositions; and presenting oral argument on motions for summary judgment. Students in this course use a simulated case file as the context for developing pretrial strategies and practical skills. Students work individually and in teams. This is an experiential learning course that incorporates in-class simulations and self-critique as components of the learning process. English
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LAW - 650 Interviewing and Counseling
(3 hrs.)
Explores the lawyer-client relationship in the context of the essential lawyering skills of interviewing and counseling. Focuses on the theories underlying these skills and the application of theory in performing various lawyer and client roles in simulated exercises. Also examines the connection between clients and the “case” that lawyers present on their behalf and the allocation of power between lawyers and clients.
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LAW - 651 Negotiation and Mediation
(3 hrs.)
The course explores the attorney’s role in the resolution of disputes through nonadjudicatory processes such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and mini-trial. The course focuses on theories underlying each form of dispute resolution and the lawyering skills necessary to implement effectively those processes. The lawyer’s role and required skills will be explored from the dual perspective of the attorney as advocate and as impartial dispute resolver.
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LAW - 657 International Trade Law I
(3 hrs.)
This course analyzes the U.S. and multilateral legal regime (WTO) for regulating international trade in goods, services and intellectual property. The course begins with a brief introduction of international trade theory. It then examines the U.S. constitutional aspects of international economic relations and the legal structure of the WTO and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It next analyzes specific aspects of international trade regulation, including tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers; the most-favored-nation obligation; free trade areas and customs unions; national treatment obligation; trade and environmental policies; escape clauses, safeguards; and adjustment policies; dumping; subsidies and countervailing duties; and U.S. retaliation against “unfair” trade practices.
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LAW - 693A Advanced Antitrust: Practicum
(1 hr.)
The one-credit practicum and associated two-credit advanced antitrust course will study legal and economic issues that arise in horizontal merger analysis under the antitrust laws, during enforcement agency review and litigation, along with advocacy issues that arise in litigating merger challenges in federal court. The course aims to prepare studentsto join a team investigating (for the government) or advocating (for the firms) a proposed merger and contribute immediately. Co-Requisite: Advanced Antitrust: Mergers (LAW-693) Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: : Antitrust Law (LAW-692)
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LAW - 694 Criminal Trial Advocacy
(3 hrs.)
The Criminal Trial Advocacy course is based on trial simulations, practical instruction, learning by doing, and feedback from faculty and fellow students. The course focuses on case theory, trial strategy and tactics, opening statements, examination of witnesses, and closing arguments. In this course student-attorneys try three fictitious cases. Students try the final case in a courtroom before a real judge and jury panel of undergraduate students. Cases are tried under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Evidence. Each section has two instructors, a judge and a law professor or attorney experienced in litigation. Special features of these classes are in-class discussions by a professional actor on the use of techniques to communicate more effectively and a homicide detective on the basics of criminal investigations. LAW-507 Criminal Law LAW-508 Criminal Procedure and LAW-633 Evidence
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LAW - 695 Civil Trial Advocacy
(2-3 hrs.)
The Civil Trial Advocacy course is based on trial simulations, practical instruction, learning by doing, and feedback from faculty and fellow students. The course focuses on case theory, trial strategy and tactics, opening statements, examination of witnesses, and closing arguments. In this course student-attorneys try three fictitious cases. Students try the final case in a courtroom before a real judge and jury panel of undergraduate students. Cases are tried under the Federal Rules of Civil procedure and Evidence. Each section has two instructors, a judge and a law professor or attorney experienced in litigation. Special features of these classes are in-class discussions by a professional actor on the use of techniques to communicate more effectively and a homicide detective on the basics of criminal investigations. LAW-501 Civil Procedure LAW-633 Evidence
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LAW - 708B Plea Bargaining
(3 hrs.)
The vast majority of criminal convictions - more than ninety percent - come not from a public trial verdict, but rather after a closed negotiation process ending in a guilty plea. In this course, Students examine plea bargaining and guilty plea jurisprudence, theory, and practice. They consider debates over the utility, coercive aspects, and constitutionality of plea bargaining and guilty pleas. Students also explore the role of the prosecutor, defender, and judge in plea bargaining, including ethical considerations for these institutional actors. Other topics include the collateral consequences of guilty pleas; procedural justice and cognitive bias in the plea process; and negotiation theory in the criminal context. The class will visit criminal court to observe guilty pleas, and all students will also plan for, conduct, and critique a recorded plea negotiation simulation.
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LAW - 716 Environmental Litigation
(2 hrs.)
This course explores the procedural, substantive, and tactical considerations in federal environmental litigation and provides practical litigation skills through in-class and homework assignments. The course will focus on one or more actual environmental cases in federal court. In addition to studying the substantive law and the key federal procedural rules, students will improve their litigation skills by drafting a complaint, drafting wirrten discovery, participating in a mock deposition, and arguing a dispositive motion.
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LAW - 733 Fact Witness Deposition
(1 hr)
This course offers intensive training in the applicable law, strategy, skills, and techniques of deposition practice as they pertain to fact witnesses. The course combines traditional lectures and demonstrations with learning-by-doing excercises. Students will have opportunities to prepare, take, and defend depositions, with substantial feedback and criticism. Students must take LAW 501 Civil Procedureprior to enrolling in this course. English
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LAW - 734 Expert Witness Deposition
(1 hr)
This course offers intensive training in the applicable law, strategy, skills, and techniques of deposition practice as they pertain to expert witnesses. The course combines traditional lectures and demonstrations with learning-by-doing excercises. Students will have opportunities to prepare, take, and defend depositions, with substantial feedback and criticism. English
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LAW - 735 Litigating in a High-Tech Courtroom
(1 hr)
This course offers intensive training in the use of technology in the courtroom, such as Trial Director and Power Point, to enhance opening statements, closing argumnets, direct, and cross-examination. The course combines traditional lectures and demonstrations with learning-by-doing excercises. Students demonstrate the above skills while using technology and receive feedback and criticism from professors. English
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LAW - 747 Labor Law Topics
(3 hrs)
This course aims to give you an overview of the important topics in labor law as it evolves in the 21st century. The introductory labor law class is not a prerequisite for this course. This class will cover the basics of labor law while also reviewing some of the more advanced topics in labor law. The course will begin with an examination of the basic principles of labor law and venture into how labor law intersects with other areas of law in the 21st century context. The course will cover selected topics in labor law from public and private sector, negotiations, pensions, grievances and arbitrations. This course will review hypotheticals and engage in a negotiations simulation at the end of the course.
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LAW - 777 Legislative Practice Seminar
(3 hrs.)
A seminar focusing on the federal legislative process and the elements of policy, law, and politics that drive that process, taught by faculty members with extensive background in the federal legislative and policy arena. The seminar also emphasizes key skills vital to success in the legislative arena, including research, writing, legislative drafting, negotiation, and oral presentations. This course satisfies the Upper Level Professional/Experiential Skills Requirement.
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LAW - 847 Appellate Courts and Advocacy
(2-3 hrs.)
Covers appellate advocacy in civil cases, with an emphasis on federal courts. The bulk of the course is devoted to brief writing and oral argument techniques. Also provides an overview of appellate procedure, including jurisdiction, finality, the collateral order doctrine, interlocutory appeals, mandamus, standards of review, and issue preservation and harmless error.
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LAW - 849 Legal Drafting
(2-3 hrs.)
Has two primary focuses. First, it teaches the principles of preparing transactional (i.e., nonlitigation) documents. Students can expect to draft several contracts of varied length and subject matter. Second, the course provides opportunities for students to draft litigation pleadings, such as a complaint or an answer, to which they are not exposed in Legal Rhetoric (Legal Method). The emphasis is on hands-on exercises and individualized critique of student work. Prerequisite: Legal Rhetoric: Writing and Research I and II.
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LAW - 852 Nonprofit Organizations
(2 hrs.)
Introduces the regulation of nonprofit organizations from both the federal tax and state fiduciary regulatory standpoints. Students consider the major aspects of nonprofit regulation, including substantive law, and the major public policy controversies over the proper role of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations emerging today.
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LAW - 860 Criminal Defense: Theory and Practice
(2-3 hrs.)
Taught through a combination of lecture, discussion, and simulation, the course is designed to teach the fundamentals of zealous, client-centered criminal defense advocacy. The first part of the semester will focus on the role of the criminal defense attorney, defense ethics, and selected legal issues in defense practice. The second part will focus on the application of defense theory and client-centered advocacy in the pretrial and trial context through simulated exercises, including the initial client interview, opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, and closing arguments. Permission required Prerequisite: Criminal Procedure (LAW-508). Recommended: Evidence (LAW-633). Instructor permission required for enrollment.
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LAW - 878 Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony
(3 hrs.)
This class is a practical course designed to enrich students’ understanding of the interaction between the Federal Rules of Evidence and science in a trial setting. Through a series of exercises, students are exposed to expert scientific evidence in deposition and trial contexts. In addition to these simulation exercises, the course has an instructional component which includes presentations by guest lecturers who are specialists in various scientific fields such as forensic pathology and toxicology, digital information, and trace evidence. LAW-633 Evidence
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LAW - 913 Trial Advocacy: Litigating in the High-Tech Courtroom
(2 hrs.)
Students explore through lecture, demonstration, and discussion the accumulation, organization and presentation of proof in the high-tech courtroom. The course includes an examination of evidentiary and procedural rules as they relate to visual advocacy, computer technology, and digital graphics. Students organize electronically stored information using CaseMap, take videotaped depositions, and prepare and present visual evidence using PowerPoint graphics, and Sanction trial presentation software. The course culminates in a mock jury trial presided over by a Federal Judge. LAW-633 Evidence Students must have a non-MAC laptop for use during class becausethe software can only be used in a Windows environment.
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LAW - 929 Advanced Legal Research
(2 hrs.)
This course builds upon basic legal research skills and prepares students to conduct sophisticated legal research in upper level courses and law practice. Topics include understanding sources of legal authority, finding and evaluating primary and secondary sources, conducting legislative history and administrative law research, using practice materials, and doing specialized topical research. Students also receive advanced training on online legal databases. Students will learn to evaluate and use various resources and develop research strategies and efficient research skills. Prerequisite: Blended or online version is available only to students who have earned at least 28 credits toward the JD degree. Students registering for the blended or on-line versions of this class must have completed at least 28 semester hours of law courses.
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LAW - 968 Trial Advocacy: Evidentiary Foundations and Objections
(3 hrs.)
A practical course designed to enrich students’ understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence and their application in a trial setting. Through a series of exercises, which simulate pretrial motions and witness examinations, students develop the skills to advocate for or against the admissibility of evidence at trial. LAW-633 Evidence and LAW-694 Criminal Trial Advocacy or LAW-695 Civil Trial Advocacy
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LAW - 980 Advanced International Law and Peace Negotiations
(3 hrs.)
Provides students with an opportunity to explore the legal intricacies of peace negotiations, post-conflict constitutions, and war crimes prosecutions. The particular cases examined by students are constantly updated to ensure they are dealing with contemporary conflicts. Specific issues covered include ceasefires; human rights; refugee law; state structure; power sharing; fiscal devolution; demobilization and reintegration; reconciliation; international tribunals; peacekeeping; and self-determination.
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LAW - 988 Legal Drafting: Wills and Trusts
(2 hrs.)
The primary focus of this course is the drafting of dispositive documents, wills and trusts instruments. While substantive law will be considered to the extent necessary to put the drafting in context, the course will concentrate more on the skills of drafting to make the client’s intent clear, learning how to accomplish a testator’s or grantor’s goals through the drafting of documents.
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LAW - 990 International Business Negotiations
(2-3 hrs.)
The purpose of the course is to provide students with an opportunity to gain insight into the dynamics of negotiating and structuring international business transactions, to learn about the role that lawyers and law play in these negotiations, and to give students experience in drafting communications and actual negotiations. Students will also learn about the legal and business issues that may arise in joint ventures and licensing agreements. The thrust of this course is class participation and active involvement in the negotiations process. Students are expected to spend time outside of class, often working in teams of two or more, to prepare for class discussions involving the written exchanges as well as preparing for the live negotiations. Class discussions will focus on the strategy for, and progress of, the negotiations, as well as the substantive legal, business and policy matters that impact on the negotiations.
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LAW - 994 Litigating in the Digital Age: e-Discovery
(2 hrs.)
The ubiquitous use of computers, the Internet and Internet-related technology has dramatically changed the litigation landscape. Information sources are growing rapidly, including social media, voicemail, instant messaging, removable media, blogs, smart phones, etc. The courts have focused responsibility for solving the problems, and complying with the requirements of discovery (“eDiscovery”), squarely on the shoulders of litigation counsel. This course provides a basic understanding of the legal and practical parameters of eDiscovery and electronic case management. This skills-based course examines the legal and technological issues surrounding the use of electronically stored information during the litigation process. Students conduct mock interviews of company CIOs and brief and argue motions involving eDiscovery issues. Students also review and evaluate efforts made by professional groups and the courts to create reasonable parameters allowing parties to comply with their discovery obligations and ethical responsibilities while implementing a fundamental change in the adversary system from one of confrontation to one of cooperation.
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LAW - 997 Strategic Litigation in International Human Rights Law
(2 hrs.)
This seminar is an opportunity for both LLM and JD students to analyze, understand, and gain experience in some basic aspects of strategic litigation in the area of international human rights. Students will work in three areas of international human rights: corruption and due process of law; rights and conditions of incarcerated people in Latin America; and discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The seminar will involve the analysis and work on real cases before the Inter American system of Human Rights or the United Nations’ body treaties and the presentation, when possible, of amici briefs or participation in written and oral presentations of the ILP’s own cases. Spanish is notrequired.
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MLS Courses |
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LGLS - 600 Introduction to Courts & Law
(3 hrs.)
This course provides students with a working knowledge of the vocabulary and fundamental concepts of the institutional and substantive aspects of U.S. legal practice so that they may understand the problems and challenges of interacting with the legal system. This course also provides students with a foundation in select areas of law, including: constitutional law, federal courts and jurisdiction, civil procedure, and professional responsibility.
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LGLS - 601 Introduction to Regulatory Law & Compliance
(3 hrs.)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental legal principles in the areas of statutory and regulatory interpretation, enforcement, and the principles of effective compliance programs. The course analyzes the processes of adopting, reviewing, and enforcing governmental regulations and the development and oversight of an effective in-house compliance program. This includes studying the judicial review of agency regulations as well as administrative adjudication. Finally, students will also learn about the rule-making process.
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LGLS - 602 Negotiation & Communication
(1.5 hrs.)
This course provides students with a practical skill set to effectively engage at the workplace to get things done. The course covers various forms of negotiation strategies, and it prepares students to become effective communicators. The course will be conducted in a markedly hands-on format, including simulations and mock negotiation session.
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LGLS - 603 Drafting Policies, Procedures & Contracts
(3 hrs.)
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of drafting contracts, policies, and procedures, and emphasizes the development of drafting skills. This course will review the elements of an effective contract, contract structure and interpretation, key clauses, risk allocation, and enforceability. With respect to drafting legal and compliance policies and procedures, students will learn fundamental compliance principles and gain experience in drafting effective compliance policies and procedures that serve to ensure compliance with applicable laws. Students will gain hands-on experience in drafting and emphasis will be placed on understanding the legal and compliance purposes of the documents being drafted and how to draft with clarity and precision. The course will be conducted by a combination of lecture and student drafting both in team and individual settings.
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LGLS - 604 MLS Immersion: Negotiation
(1.5 hrs.)
The immersion program offer students the chance to expand on the relationships they develop in the online classroom, working closely with classmates and professors in a simulation setting. Students also hear from business and legal practitioners, collaborate with peers through group assignments, and explore the professional culture of Washington, D.C. Students are responsible for all immersion travel and accommodation expenses and arrangements.
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LGLS - 605 Ethics in the Law and Public Policy
(3 hrs.)
This course provides students with an overview of the moral and political values that inform the policies and political processes in the United States. Particular emphasis is put on the status of the non-elected public officials who face the challenges of working in a world shaped by politics. Many topics covered during this course are studied through the double lens of ethics and politics. To help guide the comprehension of the social realities, the course provides students with an introduction to various moral theories that have shaped contemporary policy debates, a consideration of the principal values that animate American politics, and issues and dilemmas in professional ethics.
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LGLS - 610 Criminal Justice
(3 hrs.)
This course examines the scope and nature of crime in the United States from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective, focusing on the uses and limits of the criminal justice system. The course analyzes concepts of criminal process and the main elements of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections. It covers the main institutional features, challenges, and critiques of the processes through which suspects are apprehended, tried, and punished. The course encourages critical thinking about past and current trends and policy questions affecting the criminal system. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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LGLS - 620 Business Associations
(3 hrs.)
The Business Associations course is designed to introduce students to the various types of business entities, from a sole proprietorship to a large publicly held corporation, as well as other entities such as partnerships and limited liability companies. Each entity has its own requirements and restrictions, especially large publicly held corporations. The course also covers the advantages and disadvantages of conducting business in the various entities.
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LGLS - 621 Government Contracting
(3 hrs.)
This course will provide students with an overview of the procurement laws, regulations, and principles governing the formation of US federal contracts. Students will gain a working knowledge of government contract law and policy applicable to sealed bids, negotiated procurements, simplified acquisitions, overseas contracts, and the forums for challenging federal procurements. Students will learn fundamental compliance principles and how they intersect with applicable laws and regulations. Through drafting and other hands-on exercises, students will learn practical legal and compliance skills that are foundational to the development, implementation, and maintenance of effective compliance programs. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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LGLS - 622 Banking & Financial Services Compliance
(3 hrs.)
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of banking and financial services compliance and the intersection of these principles with applicable laws and regulations. This course surveys the basic laws, regulations, and policies that constitute U.S. banking and financing regulation. Students will also learn the key elements of effective banking and financial services compliance programs, including drafting and implementing compliance policies and procedures, educating through training, auditing and monitoring, and detecting and remediating compliance failures. Through drafting and other hands-on exercises, students will learn practical skills that are foundational to the development, implementation, and maintenance of effective compliance programs. Emphasis will be placed on learning practical legal and compliance skills and techniques relevant to the banking and financial services industries. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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LGLS - 623 Anti-Corruption Law
(3 hrs.)
This course will analyze causes and consequences of corruption, international anticorruption conventions criminalizing transnational bribery and enhancing public sector transparency, integrity and accountability and the extent of and challenges to enforcement. It will also discuss private sector compliance programs, development assistance integrity measures and sanctions programs, and multilateral and multi-stakeholder transparency initiatives. Through drafting and other hands-on exercises, students will learn practical legal and compliance skills that are foundational to the development, implementation, and maintenance of effective anti-corruption compliance programs across a variety of industries. Emphasis will be placed on learning practical legal and compliance skills and techniques. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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LGLS - 624 Human Resources Compliance
(3 hrs.)
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of human resources and benefits management compliance and the intersection of these principles with applicable laws and regulations. This course surveys the basic laws, regulations, and policies that constitute human resources and benefits management. Students will also learn the key elements of effective human resources compliance programs, including drafting and implementing compliance policies and procedures, educating through training, auditing and monitoring, and detecting and remediating compliance failures. Through drafting and other hands-on exercises, students will learn practical skills that are foundational to the development, implementation, and maintenance of effective compliance programs. Emphasis will be placed on learning practical legal and compliance skills and techniques relevant to the human resources and benefits management departments of an organization. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later. Introduction to Regulation & Compliance LGLS 601
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LGLS - 630 Health Care Law & Compliance
(3 hrs.)
This course provides students with a foundation in health care law and compliance. Topics include the common law principles and federal and state regulations aimed at securing patient autonomy, quality of care, and access to care, as well as the requirements of accrediting bodies, licensing agencies, and third-party payers. Introduction to Regulation & Compliance LGLS 601
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LGLS - 631 Information Privacy & Data Security Law
(3 hrs.)
This course will explore the legal, policy and compliance principles surrounding the use and disclosure of personal data and the core principles for information privacy and security. Key topics include: litigation and enforcement, vendor relationships and de-identification, the legal and compliance concepts surrounding big data, developments in privacy and data security compliance, including the evolving principles governing security breach notification and the privacy and data security challenges arising from mobile applications. Introduction to Regulation & Compliance LGLS 601
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LGLS - 632 Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Contracting & Compliance
(3 hrs.)
This course will provide students with a foundation in health care fraud and abuse statutes, regulations and agency and industry guidance. Students will explore the principal federal health care fraud and abuse laws: the federal anti-kickback statute (“AKS”), the physician self-referral law, commonly known as the “Stark” Law, Civil Monetary Penalties Law (“CMPL”) and the civil false claims act (FCA). Students will examine compliance principles within the fraud and abuse framework and apply these principles to common compliance vulnerabilities and challenges, including fair market value considerations. This course will delve into fraud and abuse compliance failures that serve as a predicate for FCA and other agency enforcement actions. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later. Introduction to Regulation & Compliance LGLS 601
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LGLS - 640 Cyber Law
(3 hrs.)
This course surveys critical subjects of Internet law and regulation, beginning with theoretical and jurisdictional questions, and proceeding to major substantive issues, including the regulation of intermediaries, privacy, speech, and computer access, among others. The approach considers the questions of (a) who regulates, (b) what content is regulated, and (c) what mechanisms are used to accomplish regulatory objectives. The class aims to provide a practical survey of key areas of Internet law, identifying the animating principles and major moving parts of relevant legislation and precedent. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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LGLS - 641 Electronically Stored Information - eDiscovery
(3 hrs.)
The ubiquitous use of computers, the Internet and Internet-related technology has dramatically changed the litigation landscape. Information sources are growing rapidly. The identification, collection, preservation and production of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) in response to discovery (“eDiscovery”) are some of the most challenging problems in litigation today. This course provides a basic understanding of the legal and practical parameters of eDiscovery and electronic case management. This course examines the legal and technological issues surrounding the use of electronically stored information during the litigation process. Students review and evaluate efforts made by professional groups and the courts to create reasonable parameters allowing parties to comply with their discovery obligations and ethical responsibilities in the adversary system. Pending Faculty Approval. Only available to MLS students starting April 2019 and later.
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