Law (Electives) (LAWI)
LAWI 6000 International Comparative Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course introduces students to the major legal systems of the world. The first third of the course provides an overview of the major families of law encountered in various nations of the world today: common law (as exemplified by California and England), civil law (France and Germany), religious law (Egypt), and the extra-legal approach seen in various Asian countries (China). The rest of the course examines how each of these systems handles the same types of common legal situation: inheritance and succession, criminal behavior and contracts.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6010 Accounting and Financial Statements
[1-3 credit hours]
An introduction for students without prior accounting experience to the terms and concepts necessary to an understanding of the financial affairs of a client and to the variety of legal contexts in which the lawyer is likely to encounter accounting problems. Students will learn to perform basic financial analysis.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6020 E-Commerce
[1-3 credit hours]
This course will examine critical information technologies that provide a basis for electronic commerce. Topics include problems surrounding electronic commerce such as security, privacy, content selection and rating, intellectual property rights, authentication, encryption, acceptable use policies, UETA, UCITA and E-Sign.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6030 Administrative Law
[3 credit hours]
The law and operation of administrative agencies, including agency adjudication, rulemaking, and other forms of policy implementation. The course covers agencies’ place in the constitutional structure, legislative and executive controls on agency action, and judicial review of agency fact-finding, statutory interpretation, and exercise of discretion. The course examines state agencies as well as federal agencies and the federal Administrative Procedure Act.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6060 Sales and Leases of Goods
[2-3 credit hours]
A detailed study of sales of goods under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and a survey of both Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code (leases of goods) and the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Topics include contract formation and interpretation, warranties, express and implied terms, risk of loss, performance obligations and breach, and remedies for breach. Consideration may also be given to other state and federal laws affecting sales and leases of goods.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6070 Antitrust
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will cover the role of competition in a modern market economy, federal antitrust law, regulation and policies. Topics covered include horizontal restraints (price fixing, conspiracy, data dissemination, concerted refusals to deal, etc.); monopolization, attempts to monopolize, and oligopoly; problems concerning the relationship of antitrust to patent law; vertical restraints (restricted distribution, typing arrangements, exclusive dealing etc.); mergers (horizontal, vertical and conglomerate); selected Robinson-Patman Act problems, remedies and enforcement.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6080 Gender and the Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course covers issues of gender and the law with a primary focus on how the law addresses sex discrimination. Students will discuss constitutional and statutory protections against sex discrimination from a doctrinal and theoretical perspective. Subjects covered in this class include employment discrimination, family law, public benefits, domestic violence and sexual orientation and the law.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6090 Disability Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course examines the growing area of disability law. Topics to be covered include discrimination based on disability in employment and public accommodations, as well as the requirement for educational institutions to provide special education services to disabled students. Relevant federal statutes will be examined, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (with special emphasis on the ADA Amendments Act of 2009), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 6100 International Law
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the legal processes of the international community. The creation of law among nation states, the law-making activities of international organizations, the enforcement (and non-enforcement) of international law in both national and international forums, the limits of national jurisdiction, the responsibility of states for the injuries to the persons or property of aliens, and the rules governing international agreements are surveyed. Particular attention is given to the law of treaties and the role of lawyers in foreign policy decision making.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6110 Commercial Paper
[3 credit hours]
A study of payment systems. Initial emphasis is upon commercial paper (Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code) and bank deposits and collections (Article 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code), followed by credit cards (Truth in Lending, Consumer Credit Protection, and Fair Credit Billing Acts), commercial funds transfer (Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code), and consumer electronic funds transfer (Electronic Funds Transfers Act).
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6130 Business Enterprise Tax
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the federal income tax treatment of business enterprises (including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies) and their owners. The course considers the tax consequences of entity-owner transactions (formation and property contributions, distributions, redemptions and liquidations) as well as entity-level transactions (business operations, mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations).
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6200 Jurisprudence
[2-3 credit hours]
Jurisprudence is the philosophy of law. The two primary goals of this class are 1) to give students a basic background and understanding of important legal thinkers and theory and 2) to stimulate critical thinking through assigned readings and rollicking in-class discussions about concepts of law from Plato to present day. We will philosophically analyze concepts of precedence, interpretation, rights, civil disobedience, semantics, and virtues such as justice, desert and compassion.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6210 Copyright Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A substantive examination of the Copyright Act. This course will cover the fundamentals of copyright law and practice and the challenges to the existing copyright regime by new technologies.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6220 Civil Rights Litigation Simulation
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will explore how to litigate constitutional claims, and how to enforce individual constitutional rights, including 4th, 8th, and 14th Amendment claims. The course will cover the relevant case law for a doctrinal overview, as well as the historical and factual backgrounds to the landmark cases in constitutional litigation. The course will also involve simulated law practice problems and other exercises to provide a hands-on approach to the problems and issues that arise in litigating constitutional claims.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6260 Race and American Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course addresses the racial and legal history of the major racial groups in the U.S., including African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Whites. In addition to these histories, the course includes the following topics: competing definitions of race and racism; race, voting, and participation in democracy; developing notions of equality; segregation and education; and responses to racism, including resistance, coalitions, and healing.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6270 Creditor and Debtor Law
[2-3 credit hours]
Explores creditors' rights under state law including judgment liens, execution liens, fraudulent conveyances, set off, assignments to benefit creditors, and statutory liens. Debtor defenses under state and federal law including constitutional protections, exemptions, and counterclaims are evaluated. Following this overview of general creditor execution, the majority of the course is devoted to resolution of claims in federal bankruptcy law.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6280 Criminal Procedure-Adjudications
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of the criminal processes from arrest through sentencing and appeal. Topics covered include bail, preliminary hearing, grand jury, plea bargaining and guilty pleas, discovery, fair trial, free press, jury trial, sentencing, and double jeopardy.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6300 Employment Discrimination
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the main federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination and the policies underlying these laws, with the majority of time spent on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional topics and subtopics include sexual harassment, discrimination based on sexual orientation, defenses, and reasonable accommodation of religion.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6310 Employment Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the major state and federal employment laws affecting individual employees, excluding laws on unions and employment discrimination. Coverage includes the legal regulation of the hiring and firing process, testing and privacy issues, wage and hour laws, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, covenants not to compete, and related topics.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6330 Environmental Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an introduction to U.S. environmental law by examining major federal statutes and the policy goals underlying them. Key statutes explored include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Through analyzing and comparing different environmental statutes, students develop an understanding not only of the current environmental regulatory framework, but also of alternative approaches that may be employed to prevent pollution, clean up contamination, and protect the environment.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6350 Estate Planning
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the practical and tax aspects of estate planning. Emphasis is placed on the application of estate planning and wealth preservation techniques to commonly encountered estate planning problems.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6360 Estate and Gift Tax
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of the federal estate and gift tax structure and its impact on the gratuitous transfer of property. Income taxation of trusts and estates and the generation skipping transfer tax are also discussed.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6380 Federal Courts and Federal Rights
[3 credit hours]
An intensive examination of the jurisdiction of federal courts, the role of the federal courts within the federal government, and within our federalist system. Topics surveyed include the law applied by federal courts in civil actions, the original and removal jurisdiction of federal courts, the relationship of the federal courts to state courts, congressional power over federal courts, the enforceability of federal law against states, and states' sovereign immunity.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6390 Natural Resources Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an introduction to natural resources law and policy affecting both public lands and private property. Conflicts over natural resources, including their protection and use, are among the most contentious legal and policy issues of our time. Students explore the reasons why, the roles governmental authorities play in the management of natural resources, and the laws and policies pertaining to wildlife, preservation, conservation, protected lands, forestry, mining, oil and gas, water rights, and other natural resources. Key federal statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act are reviewed as well as cases, regulations, and commentary.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6400 American Legal History
[2-3 credit hours]
This seminar/course (students may elect either to write a paper or to take an examination) follows the profession's development from the American Revolution through the 1920's and the emergence of university-based professional education, the advent of new client constituencies including corporations, labor organizations, and anti-slavery and other social action groups, the development of standards of professional ethnic and racial minorities. The teaching approach emphasizes comparisons with current practice, critical use of original source materials and development of research and writing skills.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6440 Immigration Law
[2-3 credit hours]
The course is designed to present a survey of immigration and nationality law. It will cover issues of citizenship as well as admissions to the United States. The course will address issues of removal and deportation, as well as relief from removal.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6450 International Intellectual Property
[2-3 credit hours]
This course reviews: the main international intellectual property instruments (such as TRIPS, Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treat, European Patent Convention; Madrid Agreement, Berne and Rome conventions, WIPO treaties), and European main legislative texts (mainly regulations and directives) and main case law on patent, trademark and copyright. We also review the principal differences between the common law based system of copyright and the civil law system based on "droit d'auteur" (author's rights), with a special focus on electronic and Internet issues.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6460 Insurance Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of property, liability and life insurance, and the insurer-insured relationship from a legal vantage point. Numerous concepts are examined during the course, including insurable interest, concealment and misrepresentation, the duty of good faith and fair dealing, scope of coverage, policy interpretation, change of beneficiary, duty to defend, bad faith refusal to settle, measures of recovery, multiple interests coverage, subrogation and other insurance clauses. Several insurance policies are examined in detail.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Summer
LAWI 6470 Intellectual Property and Licensing
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the commercialization of intellectual property through the use of assignments and licenses. The course will cover intellectual property assignments and licenses, including express and implied licenses, the scope of licenses, bankruptcy issues, anti-trust issues and international licensing. The course will also cover intellectual property audits and patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark law to the extent an understanding of the rights and obligations inherent in such intellectual property classifications are necessary to effectively assign or license intellectual property. Students will analyze several licenses.
Prerequisites: (LAWI 6210 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 6710 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 6720 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 6900 with a minimum grade of D)
LAWI 6480 International Business Transactions
[2-3 credit hours]
This course introduces students to the issues, problems, and legal norms applicable to International Business Transactions. The course will examine various problems that occur in international business as a means of discerning pitfalls for the unwary, as well as the matters that must be considered to protect one’s client. The course will begin with an examination of the issues arising in a basic international sale and will progress through increasingly complex types of business interaction, including distributorships, franchising, licensing, joint ventures, and incorporating abroad. Through the course, there will be an emphasis on the U.S., foreign, and international laws and standards that may affect the transaction. The course will emphasize contract negotiation and drafting skills.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 6490 Juvenile Law
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the relationship between children, their parents, siblings, and the state in the lives of delinquent, unruly, dependent, neglected, and abused children. The role of the court, judiciary, attorneys, police, and social services historically, and in modern practice, will be examined as to the impact on families and individuals brought before the juvenile court. Special emphasis will be given to the theory of the juvenile justice system; the various court alternatives to adjudication; dispositional considerations and the attorney’s role in representing the child, parents, or serving as a guardian ad litem.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6500 Federal Income Tax
[3-4 credit hours]
After a brief consideration of the federal income taxation system, this course examines the conceptual problems in defining income. A detailed treatment of the more significant personal and business deductions, exemptions, and credits follows. Statutory methodology and policy considerations (including the tax expenditure concept) are developed integrally with substantive topics. In addition, the course considers the tax treatment of gains and losses from the disposition of property, including the capital gains preference and deferral of taxation. Tax shelters and attempts by Congress and the Internal Revenue Service to limit their utilization may be explored as well.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6510 Labor Law
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the law governing and policy issues surrounding the major facets of union-management relations in the private sector under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). These include union organizing, collective bargaining, contract enforcement, picketing, and the economic weapons of both sides, including strikes. The course also covers the procedural mechanisms by which rights under the NLRA are enforced and remedies for NLRA violations.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6520 Health Care Finance
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will cover the different problems presented by government regulation versus the private market model focusing on managed care (risk allocation, standard of care, consumer information), insurance (basic models of insurance and underwriting), health care licensing, and related ERISA issues as they affect the delivery of health care services.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6530 Consumer Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will study the practical application of Consumer Law including student loan law, credit card and debt collection law, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Lemon Law, Predatory Lending, etc.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6550 Health Care Fraud and Abuse
[2-3 credit hours]
The high cost of health care in the United States is exacerbated by rampant fraud and abuse on state and federal health care systems. This course presents an overview of legal and policy issues related to health care fraud and practical issues related to the prosecution and defense of heath care fraud-related suits. Pre- and post-litigation issues, such as corporate compliance programs, administrative investigations, and corporate integrity agreements, will also be explored. Course materials will cover major health care fraud and abuse statutes, including statutes addressing false claims, kickbacks, and self-referrals, as well as the regulatory regimes and administrative rulings that govern this area of the law. Students will be evaluated on one or more written assignments and exercises.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6560 Real Estate Transactions
[2-3 credit hours]
The course will address the purchase and sale, financing and leasing of real property. Students will draft various documents common in real estate transactions. Assignments will be reviewed, critiqued and revised in order to enhance drafting skills.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6570 Health Care Provider Liability
[2-3 credit hours]
This advanced torts course covers quality control in health care, medical malpractice, informed consent, medical confidentiality and institutional liability for medical injury. It includes causes of action against individual and institutional health care providers as well as third party payors, including insurers and managed care organizations. Tort reform issues are also addressed.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6630 Health Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an overview of the legal issues that arise in the health care field. Topics surveyed will include individual and institutional liability, public and private regulation, accreditation and licensure, hospital/medical staff relationships, and the challenge of achieving cost efficiencies, while also maintaining high quality care and improved access to care. Students will learn to identify key legal issues affecting the operation of a health care entity.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 6680 State and Local Government Law and Taxation
[2-3 credit hours]
An overview of the law relating to the administration of municipalities and their dealings with other local governmental units. Topics include the powers and problems of urban governmental units, federalism, corporate powers and police powers. Coverage includes the basic law and rules relating to the financing of local government and the various sources of tax revenue for local governments.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6700 Patent Practice and Procedure
[2-3 credit hours]
A hands-on course focusing on both regulatory requirements and attorney skills relating to representation of inventors before the Patent and Trademark Office. The course will follow a patent attorney’s relationship with an inventor and the written PTO responses, appeals, and finally, patent grant.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6710 Patent Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A survey of the legal protection of inventions. This course covers the requirements for obtaining and enforcing a patent and the rights of a patentee with respect to licensing, assignment, and patent misuse.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 6720 Intellectual Property Survey
[2-3 credit hours]
A preparatory course covering Copyright, Patent, Trademark and Trade Secret Law. A broad coverage of intellectual property law is useful for those students who want to learn the fundamentals of intellectual property law either as basis for more advanced courses or to integrate intellectual property law into other substantive courses.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6730 Pension and Employee Benefits
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of the law regarding employment benefits, such as ERISA, focusing on various forms of pension plans, and health and welfare plans. The law will address issues of plan qualification under the tax code and also applicable labor laws and regulations. Some familiarity with tax concepts would be helpful but is not required.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 6740 Public Sector Labor Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course covers various models of public sector labor relations laws, including but not limited to the Ohio public sector labor statute. It focuses on the differing degrees to which public sector unions in different jurisdictions can bargain, resolve bargaining impasses (through strikes or mediation and arbitration), and enforce contracts with employers. This course also stresses issues unique to the public sector, including constitutional rules, civil service statutes and the rights of individual public employees.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 6750 Products Liability
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the law relating to products liability. Particular emphasis will be given to strict liability in tort, with coverage of negligence and warranty-based products claims. Discussions will cover design and manufacturing defects and failure to warn. Applications to contemporary problem areas, such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and tobacco, will be explored.
Prerequisites: LAWD 6220 with a minimum grade of D- and LAWD 6510 with a minimum grade of D- and LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6780 Remedies
[2-3 credit hours]
The course in Remedies is about the bottom line. It is about what a court can do for a litigant who has been wronged or is about to be wronged. The most common remedies are judgments for money and injunctions against defendants to prevent them from wronging plaintiffs or to require them to undo wrongs. The course takes up questions such as the measure of relief, the relationship between legal and equitable remedies, declaratory remedies, benefit to the defendant as the measure of relief in restitution, punitive remedies, enforcing judgments, equitable defenses, immunities and federal interference with state law enforcement.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6790 Bar Exam Preparation
[2-3 credit hours]
This is a pre-bar preparatory course designed to introduce students to certain critical and analytical and writing skills, techniques, protocols, and frameworks that are essential to maximize bar exam preparation and ultimately pass the bar exam. Students will review outlines for selected substantive topics, complete in-class and at-home simulated bar exam tests and assignments, and receive feedback. Through the use of problems and exercises in a bar exam format, students will become familiar with techniques for answering multiple choice questions, essays, and performance tests that comprise the bar exam in Ohio and other states. It is reserved for third year students and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6800 Securities Regulation
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the disclosure requirements of the federal securities laws which apply when businesses raise capital and when their shares are publicly traded. It examines the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, selected provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and state blue sky laws. It covers extensively the structuring of exempt transactions for small businesses. The course is taught primarily from a transactional, rather than a litigation, focus.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C and LAWG 6010 with a minimum grade of D
LAWI 6810 Sentencing
[2-3 credit hours]
A survey of the law relating to the disposition of individuals convicted of crimes. Topics include sentencing authority, ex post facto laws, factual bases for sentencing, probation, parole, the death penalty, and state and federal sentencing guidelines.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C and LAWD 6300 with a minimum grade of C and LAWD 6110 with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6820 Land Use Planning
[2-3 credit hours]
This course explores the rapidly evolving area of public land use regulation in the context of private property development rights and constitutional protections of those rights. Regulatory areas examined include: zoning, subdivision controls, environmental land use controls, development exactions, aesthetic regulations, and growth controls, as well as land use planning requirements. First and Fifth Amendment issues are explored along with a variety of key public policy questions.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6840 International and Domestic Arbitration
[2-3 credit hours]
This course conveys a thorough understanding of the law and practice of arbitration: its practical, doctrinal, theoretical, and policy aspects both in the domestic and international spheres.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Summer
LAWI 6870 Sports Law
[2-4 credit hours]
A substantive examination of concepts and cases from legal disciplines which affect professional and amateur sports including antitrust law, labor law, contracts, tax, and civil procedure.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6880 Business Bankruptcy
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will explore basic principles of Federal Bankruptcy Law, with particular emphasis on corporate reorganizations under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Topics addressed will include business operations in Chapter 11; the rights and duties of a Chapter 11 debtor; allowance, disallowance, estimations, and subordination of creditor claims; the reduction of secured obligations to the value of collateral; debtor-in-possession financing; preference and fraudulent transfer avoidance actions; and using bankruptcy to effect a sale of assets. This course will also address special rules involving, among others, small business debtors, municipalities, and international (cross-border) insolvency cases.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 6900 Trademarks
[2-3 credit hours]
An introduction to the fundamentals of federal trademark law and practice with some discussion of common law trademarks and state trademark registration. This course will cover how trademarks are acquired, trademark registration and practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and trademark infringement. False advertising and other forms of unfair competition actionable under the Lanham Act also will be studied.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6930 Water Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the laws governing surface and ground water resources, with an emphasis on allocation and management issues. Because water is perhaps our most vital natural resource, and because it is often in scarce supply relative to demand, disputes over its use have been and will continue to be of crucial importance. Students explore common law, statutory, and constitutional issues at the state and federal levels, including the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Topics crucial to the Great Lakes region are particularly emphasized.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-
LAWI 6940 White Collar Crime
[2-3 credit hours]
A survey of the federal criminal law relating to crimes committed by corporations and non-traditional criminals. Topics include corporate criminal liability, wire and mail fraud, RICO, money laundering, false claims and false statements, tax crimes, environmental crimes, perjury, and obstruction of justice.
Prerequisites: LAWM 5000 with a minimum grade of C and LAWD 6300 with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 9000 International Comparative Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course introduces students to the major legal systems of the world. The first third of the course provides an overview of the major families of law encountered in various nations of the world today: common law (as exemplified by California and England), civil law (France and Germany), religious law (Egypt), and the extra-legal approach seen in various Asian countries (China). The rest of the course examines how each of these systems handles the same types of common legal situation: inheritance and succession, criminal behavior and contracts.
LAWI 9010 Accounting and Financial Statements
[1-3 credit hours]
An introduction for students without prior accounting experience to the terms and concepts necessary to an understanding of the financial affairs of a client and to the variety of legal contexts in which the lawyer is likely to encounter accounting problems. Students will learn to perform basic financial analysis.
LAWI 9020 E-Commerce
[1-3 credit hours]
This course will examine critical information technologies that provide a basis for electronic commerce. Topics include problems surrounding electronic commerce such as security, privacy, content selection and rating, intellectual property rights, authentication, encryption, acceptable use policies, UETA, UCITA and E-Sign.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer
LAWI 9030 Administrative Law
[3 credit hours]
The law and operation of administrative agencies, including agency adjudication, rulemaking, and other forms of policy implementation. The course covers agencies’ place in the constitutional structure, legislative and executive controls on agency action, and judicial review of agency fact-finding, statutory interpretation, and exercise of discretion. The course examines state agencies as well as federal agencies and the federal Administrative Procedure Act.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9060 Sales and Leases of Goods
[2-3 credit hours]
A detailed study of sales of goods under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and a survey of both Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code (leases of goods) and the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Topics include contract formation and interpretation, warranties, express and implied terms, risk of loss, performance obligations and breach, and remedies for breach. Consideration may also be given to other state and federal laws affecting sales and leases of goods.
Prerequisites: LAWD 9210 with a minimum grade of C and LAWD 9220 with a minimum grade of C
LAWI 9070 Antitrust
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will cover the role of competition in a modern market economy, federal antitrust law, regulation and policies. Topics covered include horizontal restraints (price fixing, conspiracy, data dissemination, concerted refusals to deal, etc.); monopolization, attempts to monopolize, and oligopoly; problems concerning the relationship of antitrust to patent law; vertical restraints (restricted distribution, typing arrangements, exclusive dealing etc.); mergers (horizontal, vertical and conglomerate); selected Robinson-Patman Act problems, remedies and enforcement.
Term Offered: Fall
LAWI 9080 Gender and the Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course covers issues of gender and the law with a primary focus on how the law addresses sex discrimination. Students will discuss constitutional and statutory protections against sex discrimination from a doctrinal and theoretical perspective. Subjects covered in this class include employment discrimination, family law, public benefits, domestic violence and sexual orientation and the law.
LAWI 9090 Disability Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course examines the growing area of disability law. Topics to be covered include discrimination based on disability in employment and public accommodations, as well as the requirement for educational institutions to provide special education services to disabled students. Relevant federal statutes will be examined, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (with special emphasis on the ADA Amendments Act of 2009), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9100 International Law
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the legal processes of the international community. The creation of law among nation states, the law-making activities of international organizations, the enforcement (and non-enforcement) of international law in both national and international forums, the limits of national jurisdiction, the responsibility of states for the injuries to the persons or property of aliens, and the rules governing international agreements are surveyed. Particular attention is given to the law of treaties and the role of lawyers in foreign policy decision-making.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9110 Commercial Paper
[3 credit hours]
A study of payment systems. Initial emphasis is upon commercial paper (Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code) and bank deposits and collections (Article 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code), followed by credit cards (Truth in Lending, Consumer Credit Protection, and Fair Credit Billing Acts), commercial funds transfer (Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code), and consumer electronic funds transfer (Electronic Funds Transfers Act).
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9130 Business Enterprise Tax
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the federal income tax treatment of business enterprises (including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies) and their owners. The course considers the tax consequences of entity-owner transactions (formation and property contributions, distributions, redemptions and liquidations) as well as entity-level transactions (business operations, mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations).
Prerequisites: LAWG 9500 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 9500 with a minimum grade of D
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9200 Jurisprudence
[2-3 credit hours]
Jurisprudence is the philosophy of law. The two primary goals of this class are 1) to give students a basic background and understanding of important legal thinkers and theory and 2) to stimulate critical thinking through assigned readings and rollicking in-class discussions about concepts of law from Plato to present day. We will philosophically analyze concepts of precedence, interpretation, rights, civil disobedience, semantics, and virtues such as justice, desert and compassion.
LAWI 9210 Copyright Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A substantive examination of the Copyright Act. This course will cover the fundamentals of copyright law and practice and the challenges to the existing copyright regime by new technologies.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9220 Civil Rights Litigation Simulation
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will explore how to litigate constitutional claims, and how to enforce individual constitutional rights, including Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment claims. The course will cover the relevant case law for a doctrinal overview, as well as the historical and factual backgrounds to the landmark cases in constitutional litigation. The course will also involve simulated law practice problems and other exercises to provide a hands-on approach to the problems and issues that arise in litigating constitutional claims.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9260 Race and American Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course addresses the racial and legal history of the major racial groups in the U.S., including African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Whites. In addition to these histories, the course includes the following topics: competing definitions of race and racism; race, voting, and participation in democracy; developing notions of equality; segregation and education; and responses to racism, including resistance, coalitions, and healing.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9270 Creditor and Debtor Law
[2-3 credit hours]
Explores creditors' rights under state law including judgment liens, execution liens, fraudulent conveyances, set off, assignments to benefit creditors, and statutory liens. Debtor defenses under state and federal law including constitutional protections, exemptions, and counterclaims are evaluated. Following this overview of general creditor execution, the majority of the course is devoted to resolution of claims in federal bankruptcy law.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9280 Criminal Procedure-Adjudications
[3 credit hours]
A study of the criminal processes from arrest through sentencing and appeal. Topics covered include bail, preliminary hearing, grand jury, plea bargaining and guilty pleas, discovery, fair trial, free press, jury trial, sentencing, and double jeopardy.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9300 Employment Discrimination
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the main federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination and the policies underlying these laws, with the majority of time spent on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional topics and subtopics include sexual harassment, discrimination based on sexual orientation, defenses, and reasonable accommodation of religion.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9310 Employment Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the major state and federal employment laws affecting individual employees, excluding laws on unions and employment discrimination. Coverage includes the legal regulation of the hiring and firing process, testing and privacy issues, wage and hour laws, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, covenants not to compete, and related topics.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9330 Environmental Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an introduction to U.S. environmental law by examining major federal statutes and the policy goals underlying them. Key statutes explored include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Through analyzing and comparing different environmental statutes, students develop an understanding not only of the current environmental regulatory framework, but also of alternative approaches that may be employed to prevent pollution, clean up contamination, and protect the environment.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9350 Estate Planning
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the practical and tax aspects of estate planning. Emphasis is placed on the application of estate planning and wealth preservation techniques to commonly encountered estate planning problems.
Prerequisites: LAWG 9710 with a minimum grade of D
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9360 Estate and Gift Tax
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of the federal estate and gift tax structure and its impact on the gratuitous transfer of property. Income taxation of trusts and estates and the generation skipping transfer tax are also discussed.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9380 Federal Courts and Federal Rights
[3 credit hours]
An intensive examination of the jurisdiction of federal courts, the role of the federal courts within the federal government, and within our federalist system. Topics surveyed include the law applied by federal courts in civil actions, the original and removal jurisdiction of federal courts, the relationship of the federal courts to state courts, congressional power over federal courts, the enforceability of federal law against states, and states' sovereign immunity.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9390 Natural Resources Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an introduction to natural resources law and policy affecting both public lands and private property. Conflicts over natural resources, including their protection and use, are among the most contentious legal and policy issues of our time. Students explore the reasons why, the roles governmental authorities play in the management of natural resources, and the laws and policies pertaining to wildlife, preservation, conservation, protected lands, forestry, mining, oil and gas, water rights, and other natural resources. Key federal statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act are reviewed as well as cases, regulations, and commentary.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9400 American Legal History
[2-3 credit hours]
This seminar/course (students may elect either to write a paper or to take an examination) follows the profession's development from the American Revolution through the 1920's and the emergence of university-based professional education, the advent of new client constituencies including corporations, labor organizations, and anti-slavery and other social action groups, the development of standards of professional ethnic and racial minorities. The teaching approach emphasizes comparisons with current practice, critical use of original source materials and development of research and writing skills.
LAWI 9440 Immigration Law
[2-3 credit hours]
The course is designed to present a survey of immigration and nationality law. It will cover issues of citizenship as well as admissions to the United States. The course will address issues of removal and deportation, as well as relief from removal.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9450 International Intellectual Property
[2-3 credit hours]
This course reviews: the main international intellectual property instruments (such as TRIPS, Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treat, European Patent Convention; Madrid Agreement, Berne and Rome conventions, WIPO treaties), and European main legislative texts (mainly regulations and directives) and main case law on patent, trademark and copyright. We also review the principal differences between the common law based system of copyright and the civil law system based on "droit d'auteur" (author's rights), with a special focus on electronic and Internet issues.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9460 Insurance Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of property, liability and life insurance, and the insurer-insured relationship from a legal vantage point. Numerous concepts are examined during the course, including insurable interest, concealment and misrepresentation, the duty of good faith and fair dealing, scope of coverage, policy interpretation, change of beneficiary, duty to defend, bad faith refusal to settle, measures of recovery, multiple interests coverage, subrogation and other insurance clauses. Several insurance policies are examined in detail.
Term Offered: Summer, Fall
LAWI 9470 Intellectual Property and Licensing
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the commercialization of intellectual property through the use of assignments and licenses. The course will cover intellectual property assignments and licenses, including express and implied licenses, the scope of licenses, bankruptcy issues, anti-trust issues and international licensing. The course will also cover intellectual property audits and patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark law to the extent an understanding of the rights and obligations inherent in such intellectual property classifications are necessary to effectively assign or license intellectual property. Students will analyze several licenses.
Prerequisites: LAWI 9720 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 9710 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 9900 with a minimum grade of D or LAWI 9210 with a minimum grade of D
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9480 International Business Transactions
[2-3 credit hours]
This course introduces students to the issues, problems, and legal norms applicable to International Business Transactions. The course will examine various problems that occur in international business as a means of discerning pitfalls for the unwary, as well as the matters that must be considered to protect one’s client. The course will begin with an examination of the issues arising in a basic international sale and will progress through increasingly complex types of business interaction, including distributorships, franchising, licensing, joint ventures, and incorporating abroad. Through the course, there will be an emphasis on the U.S., foreign, and international laws and standards that may affect the transaction. The course will emphasize contract negotiation and drafting skills.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer
LAWI 9490 Juvenile Law
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the relationship between children, their parents, siblings, and the state in the lives of delinquent, unruly, dependent, neglected, and abused children. The role of the court, judiciary, attorneys, police, and social services historically, and in modern practice, will be examined as to the impact on families and individuals brought before the juvenile court. Special emphasis will be given to the theory of the juvenile justice system; the various court alternatives to adjudication; dispositional considerations and the attorney’s role in representing the child, parents, or serving as a guardian ad litem.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9500 Federal Income Tax
[3-4 credit hours]
After a brief consideration of the federal income taxation system, this course examines the conceptual problems in defining income. A detailed treatment of the more significant personal and business deductions, exemptions, and credits follows. Statutory methodology and policy considerations (including the tax expenditure concept) are developed integrally with substantive topics. In addition, the course considers the tax treatment of gains and losses from the disposition of property, including the capital gains preference and deferral of taxation. Tax shelters and attempts by Congress and the Internal Revenue Service to limit their utilization may be explored as well.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9510 Labor Law
[3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the law governing and policy issues surrounding the major facets of union-management relations in the private sector under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). These include union organizing, collective bargaining, contract enforcement, picketing, and the economic weapons of both sides, including strikes. The course also covers the procedural mechanisms by which rights under the NLRA are enforced and remedies for NLRA violations.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9520 Health Care Finance
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will cover the different problems presented by government regulation versus the private market model focusing on managed care (risk allocation, standard of care, consumer information), insurance (basic models of insurance and underwriting), health care licensing, and related ERISA issues as they affect the delivery of health care services.
LAWI 9530 Consumer Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will study the practical application of Consumer Law including student loan law, credit card and debt collection law, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Lemon Law, Predatory Lending, etc.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9550 Health Care Fraud and Abuse
[2-3 credit hours]
The high cost of health care in the United States is exacerbated by rampant fraud and abuse on state and federal health care systems. This course presents an overview of legal and policy issues related to health care fraud and practical issues related to the prosecution and defense of heath care fraud-related suits. Pre- and post-litigation issues, such as corporate compliance programs, administrative investigations, and corporate integrity agreements, will also be explored. Course materials will cover major health care fraud and abuse statutes, including statutes addressing false claims, kickbacks, and self-referrals, as well as the regulatory regimes and administrative rulings that govern this area of the law. Students will be evaluated on one or more written assignments and exercises.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9560 Real Estate Transactions
[2-3 credit hours]
The course will address the purchase and sale, financing and leasing of real property. Students will draft various documents common in real estate transactions. Assignments will be reviewed, critiqued and revised in order to enhance drafting skills.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9570 Health Care Provider Liability
[2-3 credit hours]
This advanced torts course covers quality control in health care, medical malpractice, informed consent, medical confidentiality and institutional liability for medical injury. It includes causes of action against individual and institutional health care providers as well as third party payors, including insurers and managed care organizations. Tort reform issues are also addressed.
LAWI 9630 Health Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course provides an overview of the legal issues that arise in the health care field. Topics surveyed will include individual and institutional liability, public and private regulation, accreditation and licensure, hospital/medical staff relationships, and the challenge of achieving cost efficiencies, while also maintaining high quality care and improved access to care. Students will learn to identify key legal issues affecting the operation of a health care entity.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9680 State and Local Government Law and Taxation
[2-3 credit hours]
An overview of the law relating to the administration of municipalities and their dealings with other local governmental units. Topics include the powers and problems of urban governmental units, federalism, corporate powers and police powers. Coverage includes the basic law and rules relating to the financing of local government and the various sources of tax revenue for local governments.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9700 Patent Practice and Procedure
[2-3 credit hours]
A hands-on course focusing on both regulatory requirements and attorney skills relating to representation of inventors before the Patent and Trademark Office. The course will follow a patent attorney’s relationship with an inventor and the written PTO responses, appeals, and finally, patent grant.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9710 Patent Law
[2-3 credit hours]
A survey of the legal protection of inventions. This course covers the requirements for obtaining and enforcing a patent and the rights of a patentee with respect to licensing, assignment, and patent misuse.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9720 Intellectual Property Survey
[2-3 credit hours]
A preparatory course covering Copyright, Patent, Trademark, and Trade Secret Law. A broad coverage of intellectual property law is useful for those students who want to learn the fundamentals of intellectual property law either as basis for more advanced courses or to integrate intellectual property law into other substantive courses.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9730 Pension and Employee Benefits
[2-3 credit hours]
A study of the law regarding employment benefits, such as ERISA, focusing on various forms of pension plans, and health and welfare plans. The law will address issues of plan qualification under the tax code and also applicable labor laws and regulations. Some familiarity with tax concepts would be helpful but is not required.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9740 Public Sector Labor Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course covers various models of public sector labor relations laws, including but not limited to the Ohio public sector labor statute. It focuses on the differing degrees to which public sector unions in different jurisdictions can bargain, resolve bargaining impasses (through strikes or mediation and arbitration), and enforce contracts with employers. This course also stresses issues unique to the public sector, including constitutional rules, civil service statutes and the rights of individual public employees.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9750 Products Liability
[2-3 credit hours]
An examination of the law relating to products liability. Particular emphasis will be given to strict liability in tort, with coverage of negligence and warranty-based products claims. Discussions will cover design and manufacturing defects and failure to warn. Applications to contemporary problem areas, such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and tobacco, will be explored.
Prerequisites: (LAWD 9510 with a minimum grade of D and LAWD 9220 with a minimum grade of D)
LAWI 9780 Remedies
[2-3 credit hours]
The course in Remedies is about the bottom line. It is about what a court can do for a litigant who has been wronged or is about to be wronged. The most common remedies are judgments for money and injunctions against defendants to prevent them from wronging plaintiffs or to require them to undo wrongs. The course takes up questions such as the measure of relief, the relationship between legal and equitable remedies, declaratory remedies, benefit to the defendant as the measure of relief in restitution, punitive remedies, enforcing judgments, equitable defenses, immunities and federal interference with state law enforcement.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9790 Bar Exam Preparation
[2-3 credit hours]
This is a pre-bar preparatory course designed to introduce students to certain critical and analytical and writing skills, techniques, protocols, and frameworks that are essential to maximize bar exam preparation and ultimately pass the bar exam. Students will review outlines for selected substantive topics, complete in-class and at-home simulated bar exam tests and assignments, and receive feedback. Through the use of problems and exercises in a bar exam format, students will become familiar with techniques for answering multiple choice questions, essays, and performance tests that comprise the bar exam in Ohio and other states. It is reserved for third year students and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9800 Securities Regulation
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the disclosure requirements of the federal securities laws which apply when businesses raise capital and when their shares are publicly traded. It examines the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, selected provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and state blue sky laws. It covers extensively the structuring of exempt transactions for small businesses. The course is taught primarily from a transactional, rather than a litigation, focus.
Prerequisites: LAWG 9010 with a minimum grade of D
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9810 Sentencing
[2-3 credit hours]
A survey of the law relating to the disposition of individuals convicted of crimes. Topics include sentencing authority, ex post facto laws, factual bases for sentencing, probation, parole, the death penalty, and state and federal sentencing guidelines.
Prerequisites: LAWD 9300 with a minimum grade of C and LAWD 9110 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9820 Land Use Planning
[2-3 credit hours]
This course explores the rapidly evolving area of public land use regulation in the context of private property development rights and constitutional protections of those rights. Regulatory areas examined include: zoning, subdivision controls, environmental land use controls, development exactions, aesthetic regulations, and growth controls, as well as land use planning requirements. First and Fifth Amendment issues are explored along with a variety of key public policy questions.
Term Offered: Fall
LAWI 9840 International and Domestic Arbitration
[2-3 credit hours]
This course conveys a thorough understanding of the law and practice of arbitration: its practical, doctrinal, theoretical, and policy aspects both in the domestic and international spheres.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall
LAWI 9870 Sports Law
[2-4 credit hours]
A substantive examination of concepts and cases from legal disciplines which affect professional and amateur sports including antitrust law, labor law, contracts, tax, and civil procedure.
Term Offered: Spring
LAWI 9880 Business Bankruptcy
[2-3 credit hours]
This course will explore basic principles of Federal Bankruptcy Law, with particular emphasis on corporate reorganizations under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Topics addressed will include business operations in Chapter 11; the rights and duties of a Chapter 11 debtor; allowance, disallowance, estimations, and subordination of creditor claims; the reduction of secured obligations to the value of collateral; debtor-in-possession financing; preference and fraudulent transfer avoidance actions; and using bankruptcy to effect a sale of assets. This course will also address special rules involving, among others, small business debtors, municipalities, and international (cross-border) insolvency cases.
Term Offered: Fall
LAWI 9900 Trademarks
[2-3 credit hours]
An introduction to the fundamentals of federal trademark law and practice with some discussion of common law trademarks and state trademark registration. This course will cover how trademarks are acquired, trademark registration and practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and trademark infringement. False advertising and other forms of unfair competition actionable under the Lanham Act also will be studied.
Term Offered: Spring, Fall
LAWI 9930 Water Law
[2-3 credit hours]
This course focuses on the laws governing surface and ground water resources, with an emphasis on allocation and management issues. Because water is perhaps our most vital natural resource, and because it is often in scarce supply relative to demand, disputes over its use have been and will continue to be of crucial importance. Students explore common law, statutory, and constitutional issues at the state and federal levels, including the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Topics crucial to the Great Lakes region are particularly emphasized.
Term Offered: Spring, Summer
LAWI 9940 White Collar Crime
[3 credit hours]
White collar crime is variously understood to refer to economic and political crimes, crimes predicated on deceit or concealment, and crimes in corporate or other professional contexts. While the definition is imprecise, the legal profession routinely treats white collar crime as distinct from other crime; prosecutors and defense counsel often specialize in white collar matters. This course is divided into two parts. First, the class surveys some of the key substantive laws involved in white collar cases. Second, it examines the distinctive procedural issues in white collar cases, including sentencing.
Prerequisites: LAWD 9300 with a minimum grade of C
Term Offered: Fall