Course Schedule

Federal Income Taxation (FIT) presents an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. The aim of the course is to present the fundamental principles and policies underlying the federal income tax and to convey the style and flavor of tax law thinking. As a survey, FIT will touch on all the major issues, such as what is gross income, what expenditures are deductible, what is the appropriate taxable unit, what is the function of "basis," and what is the appropriate timing of income and deductions. Specific topics that will be covered in reasonable depth include: the definition of gross income, including the specific inclusion and specific exclusion provisions, business and investment expense deductions, the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and recoveries for personal injuries, income attribution, the taxation of the family (including divorce taxation), the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery, capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges, and various tax policy issues (including horizontal and vertical equity, economic efficiency, optimal tax theory, the tax expenditure concept, and a comparison of an income tax base with a cash flow consumption tax base). The grade for this course will be based entirely on a final, open book examination.

Required Textbooks:

(1) Joseph M. Dodge, J. Clifton Fleming, Jr., Francine J. Lipman & Robert J. Peroni, Federal Income Tax: Doctrine, Structure, and Policy (Carolina Academic Press 5th ed. 2019)—ISBN 978-1-5310-1311-0

(2) Federal Income Tax—Code & Regulations—Selected Sections, Robert J. Peroni, Coordinating Editor (Wolters Kluwer/CCH 2022-2023 ed.)

Recommended Textbooks (Optional):

(1) Marvin A. Chirelstein & Lawrence Zelenak, Federal Income Taxation (West Academic/Foundation Press) (Concepts and Insights Series)

(2) Donald B. Tobin & Samuel A. Donaldson, Principles of Federal Income Taxation (West Academic) (Concise Hornbook Series)

This is a four-credit course. There are no prerequisites. No prior background in accounting, economics, math, or finance is needed or expected.

Federal Income Tax (FIT) is an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. It covers the fundamental principles of the federal income tax. It will address all the major issues, such as what gross income is, which expenditures are deductible, the appropriate taxable unit, the function of "basis," and the timing of income and deductions. Specific topics will include: employee fringe benefits, business deductions (e.g., travel), hobby losses, personal deductions (e.g., medical expenses and charitable contributions), the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and life insurance proceeds, taxation of the family, the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery (e.g., installment sales and depreciation), capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges and rollovers, and tax accounting (e.g., the cash and accrual methods).

The instructor will emphasize use of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations. 

This Federal Income Tax course uses a problem-based method to study core federal income tax doctrine, including the concepts of taxable income, adjustments to income, and when and to whom income is taxed. In addition, the course explores the policy choices presented by an income tax system, including equity, efficiency, administrability and political considerations. Federal Income Tax develops the universal lawyering skill of working with a statute-based body of law, in conjunction with administrative guidance and cases.  It asks how the income tax affects decisionmaking and interacts with the project of giving advice as a lawyer. The course is a gateway to more advanced tax offerings.

Federal Income Taxation (FIT) presents an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. The aim of the course is to present the fundamental principles and policies underlying the federal income tax and to convey the style and flavor of tax law thinking. As a survey, FIT will touch on all the major issues, such as what is gross income, what expenditures are deductible, what is the appropriate taxable unit, what is the function of "basis," and what is the appropriate timing of income and deductions. Specific topics that will be covered in reasonable depth include: the definition of gross income, including the specific inclusion and specific exclusion provisions, business and investment expense deductions, the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and recoveries for personal injuries, income attribution, the taxation of the family (including divorce taxation), the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery, capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges, and various tax policy issues (including horizontal and vertical equity, economic efficiency, optimal tax theory, the tax expenditure concept, and a comparison of an income tax base with a cash flow consumption tax base). The grade for this course will be based entirely on a final, open book examination.

Required Textbooks:

(1) Joseph M. Dodge, J. Clifton Fleming, Jr., Francine J. Lipman & Robert J. Peroni, Federal Income Tax: Doctrine, Structure, and Policy (Carolina Academic Press 5th ed. 2019)—ISBN 978-1-5310-1311-0

(2) Federal Income Tax—Code & Regulations—Selected Sections, Robert J. Peroni, Coordinating Editor (Wolters Kluwer/CCH 2021-2022 ed.)—will be published in early to mid July 2021—new edition must be ordered

Recommended Textbooks (Optional):

(1) Marvin A. Chirelstein & Lawrence Zelenak, Federal Income Taxation (West Academic/Foundation Press 14th ed. 2018) (Concepts and Insights Series)—ISBN 9781640208247

(2) Donald B. Tobin & Samuel A. Donaldson, Principles of Federal Income Taxation (West Academic 8th ed. 2017) (Concise Hornbook Series)—ISBN 9780314287861

This is a four-credit course. There are no prerequisites. A prior background in accounting, economics, math, or finance is neither needed nor expected.

Federal Income Tax (FIT) is an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. The aim of the course is to present the fundamental principles underlying the federal income tax. As a survey, FIT will touch on all the major issues, such as what is gross income, what expenditures are deductible, what is the appropriate taxable unit, what is the function of "basis," and what is the appropriate timing of income and deductions. Specific topics will include: employee fringe benefits, business deductions (e.g., travel, entertainment, and education), hobby losses, personal deductions (e.g., medical expenses and charitable contributions), the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and life insurance proceeds, taxation of the family (including divorce), the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery (e.g., installment sales and depreciation methods), capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges and rollovers, tax accounting (e.g., the cash and accrual methods), and the "tax benefit" rule.

The instructor will put great emphasis on using both the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations. 

This Federal Income Tax course uses a problem-based method to study core federal income tax doctrine, including the concepts of taxable income, adjustments to income, and when and to whom income is taxed. In addition, the course explores the policy choices presented by an income tax system, including equity, efficiency, administrability and political considerations. Federal Income Tax develops the universal lawyering skill of working with a statute-based body of law, in conjunction with administrative guidance and cases.  It asks how the income tax affects decisionmaking and interacts with the project of giving advice as a lawyer. The course is a gateway to more advanced tax offerings.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

Federal Income Taxation (FIT) presents an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. The aim of the course is to present the fundamental principles and policies underlying the federal income tax and to convey the style and flavor of tax law thinking. As a survey, FIT will touch on all the major issues, such as what is gross income, what expenditures are deductible, what is the appropriate taxable unit, what is the function of "basis," and what is the appropriate timing of income and deductions. Specific topics that will be covered in reasonable depth include: the definition of gross income, including the specific inclusion and specific exclusion provisions, business and investment expense deductions, the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and recoveries for personal injuries, income attribution, the taxation of the family (including divorce taxation), the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery, capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges, and various tax policy issues (including horizontal and vertical equity, economic efficiency, optimal tax theory, the tax expenditure concept, and a comparison of an income tax base with a cash flow consumption tax base). The grade for this course will be based entirely on a final, open book examination.

This course provides a general framework – both theoretical and practical – to identify, analyze, and understand the tradeoffs that government regulators make when deciding financial and securities markets policy. You will develop the tools to understand the market failures and inefficiencies that lead to these choices, as well as their consequences on capital raising, investor welfare, securities trading, corporate governance, and financial stability.

At the end of the course you should understand how the legal and economic boundaries between investors, companies, and financial intermediaries give rise to incentives and behaviors that (1) fuel financial innovation, (2) lead to market abuses and fraud, (3) engender systemic risk, and (4) drive the need for continuous regulatory calibration to promote and maintain orderly and efficient markets. 

General topic areas are fixed, but the learning exercises and assignments will be guided by current market developments and practices among asset managers, securities dealers, banks, public corporations, and investment companies. Students are expected to carry a significant reading and writing load throughout the semester.

Topic areas covered     

• A brief history of financial markets
  • Evolution of banking, from Medici to Morgan; development of public securities markets; panics, crises, and the rise of capital market regulators
• The policy and politics of making rules
  • Congress, regulatory agencies, and the courts; identifying market failures; understanding the policy tradeoffs
• Securities fraud and misconduct
  • Insider trading, offering fraud, and financial misreporting; defining abusive market practices; detection methods and market surveillance
• Financial market stability
  • Causes and consequences of systemic risk; private market finance and shadow banking; international regulatory cooperation
• Technology disruptions and financial innovation
  • Approving new financial products; algorithmic trading and machine learning risks; FinTech and democratizing finance
• Social responsibility in securities regulation
  • Disclosure of ESG factors; pursuit of human rights; promoting diversity and inclusion

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law.  Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises.  It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.  The class is only available on a pass/fail basis.  It is designated as a skills course.  Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law.  Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises.  It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.  The class is only available on a pass/fail basis.  It is designated as a skills course.  Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law.  Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises.  It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.  The class is only available on a pass/fail basis.  It is designated as a skills course.  Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law.  Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises.  It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.  The class is only available on a pass/fail basis.  It is designated as a skills course.  Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law.  Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises.  It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.  The class is only available on a pass/fail basis.  It is designated as a skills course.  Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.

This one-credit pass/fail offering will meet on four consecutive Fridays this Spring for three hours each session. Each of these meetings will center on a different aspect of the tentacular system by which foods are selected and grown for human or animal consumption both distantly and locally with the benefit of water and other resource entitlements; regulated by some government entity for a public purpose; allocated and distributed by means of markets or public programs; and either salvaged or wasted at the end of the mass market production and consumption cycle. 

Topics that will be laced in may or are sure to include: food equity and food justice; food as health and medicine; early nutrition; animal and lab-made proteins; science, drugs, and politics; and climate transitions, related agricultural challenges and crises, and the human climate niche. 

The course is designed to be highly inter-disciplinary and will emphasize new as well as traditional  experiences that include reading, discussing, sharing, tasting, and collaborative learning in various modes. It will include guest-experts, an optional field trip, and, possibly, an optional off-site dinner to be prepared by class members and me, though you don't have to cook it to eat it.  

Students from non-Law departments and programs may take the course pass/fail or, if a pass/fail course is unavailable to them, for one credit graded on the standard scale, derived from their performance of the requirements below. 

Course requirements:

1--Attendance throughout all four meetings. "Attendance" entails well-focused, pertinent class contributions and may not include the use of devices, including cell phones and laptops, for activities not of direct and immediate relevance to this class. Activities of the latter kind are a sufficient ground for failing this course.

2--Three brief writings, two to be completed in class, one likely to be a group exercise. 

This new one-credit offering will explore topics related to the accelerating food and water challenges facing our country, our community, and people all over the globe. These topics are likely to include: climate effects on arable land and irrigation water; rising soil salinity; nutrified water flows; food waste; food labeling; extensive and intensive industrial agriculture, including for animal production; locovorism; food cultures; “novel” proteins; and future foods. Our topics are sure to include the quickening moral demands for justice for animals; a human “right to food”; and a more equitable, healthy, and secure food system for all. With these emergent drivers spinning the wheel of fortune, American food law and policy are being called on to respond. These responses in the teeth (so to speak) of consumer preferences, scientific developments, political pressures, and market movements will provide key reference points for the course. 

We will draw on work being done in food law clinics and food research institutes housed in law schools around the country. Expert guests, some from these settings, will help to shape the workshop experience.

The course design—a “lab” of experiences, ideas, and ideals--is intended to provide an inter-disciplinary offering to law students and those from a variety of other fields.

There is likely to be an optional field trip (or two) and an optional final dinner, off-site, to be prepared by the instructor, possible guests, and members of the class. These extra meetings won’t count (at all) toward a student’s grade in the course. 

Course requirements:

1--The class will meet in four Friday sessions of three hours each. Full attendance is mandatory.

2—For Law students, the course is offered pass/fail.

3—Students from non-Law departments and programs may take the course pass/fail or for one graded credit (available only in cross-listed sections that do not allow pass/fail). The latter option will require the satisfactory completion (no bots allowed) of a research and writing assignment that may be administered on a one-time in-class basis, attendance required, at a time separate from the four class sessions.

This course will examine the constitutional, statutory, and jurisprudential principles applicable to the foreign relations of the United States.  Topics include the constitutional allocation of foreign-affairs powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; the power to make and unmake treaties and other international agreements; foreign relations in the federal courts; interbranch disputes over the conduct of foreign relations; the role of the states in foreign relations; the power to declare war and direct military forces in the field; and the status of international law in the American constitutional order.  Students will be evaluated based on class participation (20%) and an open-book final exam (80%).

What happens when a beloved sports team trades one city for another? Dive deep into the legal drama, high-stakes negotiations, and emotional fallout that accompany the relocation of professional sports franchises. In this course, you'll explore the tension between team owners, cities, leagues, and fans through real-life case studies such as the Oklahoma City Thunder's controversial move from Seattle, the Oakland Raiders' storied journey to Las Vegas, and the St. Louis Rams’ departure to Los Angeles.

Through these cases and more, students will unravel the intricate web of legal obligations, from stadium contracts to league relocation policies, and navigate the intense regulatory battles teams face when uprooting a franchise. The course will also examine the ethical dilemmas involved—how does a team balance its financial interests with its responsibility to its fanbase? And what role do city officials play in these high-profile relocations?

Students will engage with topics such as the role of municipal bonds in stadium financing, antitrust considerations, league governance structures, and the impact of relocation on local economies. By the end of the course, you’ll understand the legal frameworks that shape these decisions and be prepared to critically assess the future of franchise movement in the evolving sports landscape.

If you’re passionate about sports or the business of professional teams, this course will provide you with the knowledge and insight to appreciate—and perhaps one day influence—one of the most dynamic aspects of sports law.

This two-credit writing class centers upon the most critical political law controversies that will arise during the course of the 2024 presidential election, from the campaign trail through Election Day! Topics include: the roles and responsibilities of major and minor political parties; campaign lies and election-related misinformation; the influence of — and public transparency around — big money in politics; problems with the electoral college; and the spike in election law litigation generally, including post-election contests. For each issue, students will first learn the relevant foundational law — typically, rooted in the U.S. Constitution and, in particular, guided by the First Amendment. Then, the class will explore modern controversies, drawing heavily from the events of the 2024 election cycle as they unfold and hearing, at times, directly from practitioners.

Students will be evaluated on: (a) their robust participation in class, including debates and hypothetical exercises rooted in real-world dilemmas facing election lawyers and campaign counsel; and (b) a series of 4-5 page essays assigned throughout class.

There are no prerequisites, although as an upper-level offering the class assumes students have successfully completed at least one course in constitutional law. The class is structured to complement, and not duplicate, Professor Marziani’s fall “Election Law and Policy” seminar.

This two-credit writing class centers upon the most critical political law controversies that will arise during the course of the 2024 presidential election, from the campaign trail through Election Day! Topics include: the roles and responsibilities of major and minor political parties; campaign lies and election-related misinformation; the influence of — and public transparency around — big money in politics; problems with the electoral college; and the spike in election law litigation generally, including post-election contests. For each issue, students will first learn the relevant foundational law — typically, rooted in the U.S. Constitution and, in particular, guided by the First Amendment. Then, the class will explore modern controversies, drawing heavily from the events of the 2024 election cycle as they unfold and hearing, at times, directly from practitioners.

Students will be evaluated on: (a) their robust participation in class, including debates and hypothetical exercises rooted in real-world dilemmas facing election lawyers and campaign counsel; and (b) a series of 4-5 page essays assigned throughout class.

There are no prerequisites, although as an upper-level offering the class assumes students have successfully completed at least one course in constitutional law. The class is structured to complement, and not duplicate, Professor Marziani’s fall “Election Law and Policy” seminar.