Course Schedule

This class will introduce students to the intersection of blockchain technology, law, and policy. This entails a brief overview of blockchains and cryptocurrencies, as well as some of their most popular applications (DeFi, NFTs, etc) - students need not know anything about these technologies (or any technology) in advance. Students will also learn about: (1) the role of various regulators like the SEC and the Treasury Department, and how those regulators might think about cryptocurrencies; (2) the idea of code as a regulating force; and (3) the national security and foreign policy implications of cryptocurrencies. This class is designed to expose students to the breadth of issues coming out of blockchain technology, and will be focused on discussion rather than lecturing or presentations. 

Cryptocurrencies are eating the world. This course explores the evolving legal and regulatory landscape of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and smart contracts. We will examine the potential of cryptocurrency technology to disrupt traditional financial systems and underlying regulatory regimes and legal doctrine that underpins capital markets today. The course will also weigh the considerations for new legal frameworks and policy considerations. Key topics include the decentralized nature of blockchain, the rise of cryptocurrencies as alternative stores of value, and the challenges of integrating such technologies into heavily regulated areas of payments and financial services. We will also address concerns surrounding market volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and the potential impact on traditional financial institutions and monetary policy.

Required Textbook:

Stabile, Daniel T., Kimberly A. Prior, and Andrew M. Hinkes. Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology: U.S. Law and Regulation. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020.

This course will examine current controversies involving the federal government. It will focus on pending litigation that raises novel legal questions or calls settled doctrines into question. Topics will include, among others, deportation and habeas corpus; the First Amendment’s application to universities and law firms; and the President’s ability to remove executive-branch personnel. The course will meet for two hours on Monday afternoons for seven weeks, starting on September 8 and ending in late October. An exam will be administered during the usual class meeting time on Monday, Oct. 27. Grading is pass/fail. One credit.

In recent years, public education has taken on a significance in the nation’s dominant political discourse not seen in a generation. The truth of this can be seen in the increased attention public education has received in our state and federal courts. This course will explore contemporary case law governing the administration and role of public education in the United States, with a focus on First Amendment rights, the various stakeholders in public schools and the pressure points of conflict that have emerged between them. We will also discuss the future of public education and the various options for future education law policy in a field where every day might present a new Constitutional question.

In recent years, public education has taken on a significance in the nation’s dominant political discourse not seen in a generation. The truth of this can be seen in the increased attention public education has received in our state and federal courts. This course will explore contemporary case law governing the administration and role of public education in the United States, with a focus on First Amendment rights, the various stakeholders in public schools and the pressure points of conflict that have emerged between them. We will also discuss the future of public education and the various options for future education law policy in a field where every day might present a new Constitutional question.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes will teach students how public-interest lawyers devise and litigate strategic cases designed to set precedent. The class will examine major cases from the perspective of the lawyers who fought the battles, and consider questions like how do you select the right client, identify the right claims, and file in the right jurisdiction. The class will also talk about the right moment in history to bring suit. Students will learn how to use the media effectively. There will be particular emphasis on teaching real-world litigation skills and professional judgment. Each student will write an appellate brief as the final assignment. But to make the brief writing more collaborative, as it is in actual legal practice, students will be asked to submit draft sections throughout the semester and incorporate feedback from the instructor. Although the instructor is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which has a libertarian orientation, he strongly encourages students of all perspectives to join the class. We will look at cases across the ideological spectrum (and discuss how good constitutional lawyers build alliances across ideological boundaries). There is no exam. Pass/fail allowed.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes will teach students how public-interest lawyers devise and litigate strategic cases designed to set precedent. The class will examine major cases from the perspective of the lawyers who fought the battles, and consider questions like how do you select the right client, identify the right claims, and file in the right jurisdiction. The class will also talk about the right moment in history to bring suit. Students will learn how to use the media effectively. There will be particular emphasis on teaching real-world litigation skills and professional judgment. Each student will write an appellate brief as the final assignment. But to make the brief writing more collaborative, as it is in actual legal practice, students will be asked to submit draft sections throughout the semester and incorporate feedback from the instructor. Although the instructor is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which has a libertarian orientation, he strongly encourages students of all perspectives to join the class. We will look at cases across the ideological spectrum (and discuss how good constitutional lawyers build alliances across ideological boundaries). There is no exam. Pass/fail allowed.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes will teach students how public-interest lawyers devise and litigate strategic cases designed to set precedent. The class will examine major cases from the perspective of the lawyers who fought the battles, and consider questions like how do you select the right client, identify the right claims, and file in the right jurisdiction. The class will also talk about the right moment in history to bring suit. Students will learn how to use the media effectively. There will be particular emphasis on teaching real-world litigation skills and professional judgment. Each student will write an appellate brief as the final assignment. But to make the brief writing more collaborative, as it is in actual legal practice, students will be asked to submit draft sections throughout the semester and incorporate feedback from the instructor. Although the instructor is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which has a libertarian orientation, he strongly encourages students of all perspectives to join the class. We will look at cases across the ideological spectrum (and discuss how good constitutional lawyers build alliances across ideological boundaries). There is no exam. Pass/fail allowed.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes will teach students how public-interest lawyers devise and litigate strategic cases designed to set precedent. The class will examine major cases from the perspective of the lawyers who fought the battles, and consider questions like how do you select the right client, identify the right claims, and file in the right jurisdiction. The class will also talk about the right moment in history to bring suit. Students will learn how to use the media effectively. There will be particular emphasis on teaching real-world litigation skills and professional judgment. Each student will write an appellate brief as the final assignment. But to make the brief writing more collaborative, as it is in actual legal practice, students will be asked to submit draft sections throughout the semester and incorporate feedback from the instructor. Although the instructor is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which has a libertarian orientation, he strongly encourages students of all perspectives to join the class. We will look at cases across the ideological spectrum (and discuss how good constitutional lawyers build alliances across ideological boundaries). There is no exam. Pass/fail allowed.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes will teach students how public-interest lawyers devise and litigate strategic cases designed to set precedent. The class will examine major cases from the perspective of the lawyers who fought the battles, and consider questions like how do you select the right client, identify the right claims, and file in the right jurisdiction. The class will also talk about the right moment in history to bring suit. Students will learn how to use the media effectively. There will be particular emphasis on teaching real-world litigation skills and professional judgment. Each student will write an appellate brief as the final assignment. But to make the brief writing more collaborative, as it is in actual legal practice, students will be asked to submit draft sections throughout the semester and incorporate feedback from the instructor. Although the instructor is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which has a libertarian orientation, he strongly encourages students of all perspectives to join the class. We will look at cases across the ideological spectrum (and discuss how good constitutional lawyers build alliances across ideological boundaries). There is no exam. Pass/fail allowed.

The past two years have highlighted the growing cyber threat to entities of all types: corporations, hospitals, government institutions and small businesses, to name a few.  The day that attack comes is nothing short of a crisis, requiring all the right teams to assemble and navigate the obstacles such an attack may present.  Cyber response was once thought as the province of the information security department, but it has grown to include leaders from key departments such as law, human resources, public relations, business teams, compliance, risk, and privacy.  Additionally, vendors, such as a technical incident response firm and a crisis communications firm must be identified and engaged to help supplement existing resources.  This is the time for legal counsel to shine, as the lawyer's role is central to many of the most critical workstreams.    This practical skills course will provide an in-depth review of incident response and counsel's role.  Students will partake in a tabletop exercise to kick off the course and identify the areas of incident response.  Subsequent sessions will review each area through group discussions in a small-class setting.   Guest speakers will include seasoned incident response experts from the FBI or Secret Service, crisis communications firms and regulators.

The past two years have highlighted the growing cyber threat to entities of all types: corporations, hospitals, government institutions and small businesses, to name a few.  The day that attack comes is nothing short of a crisis, requiring all the right teams to assemble and navigate the obstacles such an attack may present.  Cyber response was once thought as the province of the information security department, but it has grown to include leaders from key departments such as law, human resources, public relations, business teams, compliance, risk, and privacy.  Additionally, vendors, such as a technical incident response firm and a crisis communications firm must be identified and engaged to help supplement existing resources.  This is the time for legal counsel to shine, as the lawyer's role is central to many of the most critical workstreams.    This practical skills course will provide an in-depth review of incident response and counsel's role.  Students will partake in a tabletop exercise to kick off the course and identify the areas of incident response.  Subsequent sessions will review each area through group discussions in a small-class setting.   Guest speakers will include seasoned incident response experts from the FBI or Secret Service, crisis communications firms and regulators.

The past two years have highlighted the growing cyber threat to entities of all types: corporations, hospitals, government institutions and small businesses, to name a few.  The day that attack comes is nothing short of a crisis, requiring all the right teams to assemble and navigate the obstacles such an attack may present.  Cyber response was once thought as the province of the information security department, but it has grown to include leaders from key departments such as law, human resources, public relations, business teams, compliance, risk, and privacy.  Additionally, vendors, such as a technical incident response firm and a crisis communications firm must be identified and engaged to help supplement existing resources.  This is the time for legal counsel to shine, as the lawyer's role is central to many of the most critical workstreams.    This practical skills course will provide an in-depth review of incident response and counsel's role.  Students will partake in a tabletop exercise to kick off the course and identify the areas of incident response.  Subsequent sessions will review each area through group discussions in a small-class setting.   Guest speakers will include seasoned incident response experts from the FBI or Secret Service, crisis communications firms and regulators.

The past two years have highlighted the growing cyber threat to entities of all types: corporations, hospitals, government institutions and small businesses, to name a few.  The day that attack comes is nothing short of a crisis, requiring all the right teams to assemble and navigate the obstacles such an attack may present.  Cyber response was once thought as the province of the information security department, but it has grown to include leaders from key departments such as law, human resources, public relations, business teams, compliance, risk, and privacy.  Additionally, vendors, such as a technical incident response firm and a crisis communications firm must be identified and engaged to help supplement existing resources.  This is the time for legal counsel to shine, as the lawyer's role is central to many of the most critical workstreams.    This practical skills course will provide an in-depth review of incident response and counsel's role.  Students will partake in a tabletop exercise to kick off the course and identify the areas of incident response.  Subsequent sessions will review each area through group discussions in a small-class setting.   Guest speakers will include seasoned incident response experts from the FBI or Secret Service, crisis communications firms and regulators.

Class meets: 1/25, 3/1, 3/8, 3/22, 4/19

The past two years have highlighted the growing cyber threat to entities of all types: corporations, hospitals, government institutions and small businesses, to name a few.  The day that attack comes is nothing short of a crisis, requiring all the right teams to assemble and navigate the obstacles such an attack may present.  Cyber response was once thought as the province of the information security department, but it has grown to include leaders from key departments such as law, human resources, public relations, business teams, compliance, risk, and privacy.  Additionally, vendors, such as a technical incident response firm and a crisis communications firm must be identified and engaged to help supplement existing resources.  This is the time for legal counsel to shine, as the lawyer's role is central to many of the most critical workstreams.    This practical skills course will provide an in-depth review of incident response and counsel's role.  Students will partake in a tabletop exercise to kick off the course and identify the areas of incident response.  Subsequent sessions will review each area through group discussions in a small-class setting.   Guest speakers will include seasoned incident response experts from the FBI or Secret Service, crisis communications firms and regulators.

Course meeting dates:

2/16: 4 hours (4-8pm)

3/2: 2 hours (4-6pm)

3/9: 2 hours (4-6pm)

3/23: 2 hours (4-6pm)

4/6: 4 hours (4-8pm)

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity. It is intended as a comprehensive introduction to the nature and functions of the various government and private-sector actors associated with cybersecurity in the United States, the policy goals they pursue, the issues and challenges they face, and the legal environment in which all of this takes place. The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity. Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge. In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs. To get a full sense of the course, check out the free course eBook, which Prof. Chesney wrote specifically for the course. You can find it here (an updated version will be available before the course begins). These materials have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity. It is intended as a comprehensive introduction to the nature and functions of the various government and private-sector actors associated with cybersecurity in the United States, the policy goals they pursue, the issues and challenges they face, and the legal environment in which all of this takes place. The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity. Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge. In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs. To get a full sense of the course, check out the free course eBook, which Prof. Chesney wrote specifically for the course. You can find it here (an updated version will be available before the course begins). These materials have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity. It is intended as a comprehensive introduction to the nature and functions of the various government and private-sector actors associated with cybersecurity in the United States, the policy goals they pursue, the issues and challenges they face, and the legal environment in which all of this takes place.

The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity. Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. 

No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge.  In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs.

To get a full sense of the course, check out the free course eBook, which Prof. Chesney wrote specifically for the course. You can find it here (an updated version will be available before the course begins). These materials have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity. It is intended as a comprehensive introduction to the nature and functions of the various government and private-sector actors associated with cybersecurity in the United States, the policy goals they pursue, the issues and challenges they face, and the legal environment in which all of this takes place.

The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity. Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. 

No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge.  In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs.

To get a full sense of the course, check out the free course eBook, which Prof. Chesney wrote specifically for the course. You can find it here (an updated version will be available before the course begins). These materials have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity. It is intended as a comprehensive introduction to the nature and functions of the various government and private-sector actors associated with cybersecurity in the United States, the policy goals they pursue, the issues and challenges they face, and the legal environment in which all of this takes place.

The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity. Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. 

No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge.  In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs.

To get a full sense of the course, check out the free course eBook, which Prof. Chesney wrote specifically for the course. You can find it here (an updated version will be available before the course begins). These materials have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.

This course is a deep dive into a broad range of legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity, intended as a comprehensive introduction to the topic and the many public and private institutions involved in it. 

The course is the cornerstone of the Strauss Center's "Integrated Cybersecurity Studies" program, which is a Hewlett Foundation-funded project to increase interdisciplinary education relating to cybersecurity, and the course materials I created for it have been shared and adopted widely around the nation.  Anyone interested in the course might also be interested in the Center's "Cyber Fellows" program, which you can explore here. The course also counts as the cornerstone for the LLM program's cybersecurity concentration, as well as for a planned graduate portfolio in cybersecurity studies. 

No technical background is required or assumed. Graduate students from across the campus are encouraged to enroll, too, as you do not have to have prior legal or policy knowledge.  In recent years, the class has drawn a substantial number of law students and LBJ students, as well as cohorts from computer science, engineering, the iSchool, and McCombs.  If you are in doubt and want to ask questions about it, please email me at rchesney@law.utexas.edu. 

To get a full sense of the course, check out the (free) course eBook, which I wrote specficially for the course and update each year to stay current.  You can find it here.

This course will provide an overview of cyber risk management concepts and techniques, and then provide a tangible deep-dive into real-world examples and scenarios. This will be a collaborative and case-based class over the course of the semester. We will walk through a set of risk identification, risk assessment, and risk management for case studies. Discussions will include an overview of cyber risk management frameworks, relevant regulations, and available tools. We will cover the latest thinking in risk-based assessments, including reporting audit issues, and designing internal controls. We will then cover risk management with governance models including the three lines of defense, and risk management techniques.

This course will provide an overview of cyber risk management concepts and techniques, and then provide a tangible deep-dive into real-world examples and scenarios. This will be a collaborative and case-based class over the course of the semester. We will walk through a set of risk identification, risk assessment, and risk management for case studies. Discussions will include an overview of cyber risk management frameworks, relevant regulations, and available tools. We will cover the latest thinking in risk-based assessments, including reporting audit issues, and designing internal controls. We will then cover risk management with governance models including the three lines of defense, and risk management techniques.

This course will provide an overview of cyber risk management concepts and techniques, and then provide a tangible deep-dive into real-world examples and scenarios. This will be a collaborative and case-based class over the course of the semester. We will walk through a set of risk identification, risk assessment, and risk management for case studies. Discussions will include an overview of cyber risk management frameworks, relevant regulations, and available tools. We will cover the latest thinking in risk-based assessments, including reporting audit issues, and designing internal controls. We will then cover risk management with governance models including the three lines of defense, and risk management techniques.

This course is a practical and practitioner’s introduction to cybersecurity and how Governments have tried to respond to cyber threats, risks and harms. It covers structural insecurities in the Internet, the main threat actors (both state and criminal), and the nature and method of harms in cyber space. It then covers how Governments have attempted, with varying success, to develop policies and frameworks to deal with emerging cyber threats. This covers both the domestic response: improving security of Government networks and regulating and/or incentivising the private sector, and the international response, covering attempts to develop strategies to deter and punish hostile state action as well as the pursuit of globally accepted norms. It is led by a former senior practitioner who set up and then led the National Cyber Security Centre in the United Kingdom.