Course Schedule

Insurance is one of the most important tools for the management of risk by both private and public enterprises. Insurance law is a hybrid of contracts and administrative law: parties enter contractual relationships which are regulated by the state. The course introduces students to the core principles and institutions of insurance. We will approach insurance law from a law and economic perspective, aiming to understand how insurance institutions affect economic behavior of insureds, insurers and their lawyers. Broad issues to be covered include fraud, moral hazard, adverse selection and other types of divergence of incentives. We will build on these theoretical issues and attempt to understand the various doctrines developed by common law courts as strategies to deal with these problems. In addition, the course provides knowledge of basic insurance law governing insurance contract formation, the interpretation of insurance contracts, insurance regulation and more, especially in areas such as property, life, health, disability, automobile (including uninsured motorist coverage), professional and liability insurance.

Insurance is one of the most important tools for the management of risk by both private and public enterprises. Insurance law is a hybrid of contracts and administrative law: parties enter contractual relationships which are regulated by the state. The course introduces students to the core principles and institutions of insurance. We will approach insurance law from a law and economic perspective, aiming to understand how insurance institutions affect economic behavior of insureds, insurers and their lawyers. Broad issues to be covered include fraud, moral hazard, adverse selection and other types of divergence of incentives. We will build on these theoretical issues and attempt to understand the various doctrines developed by common law courts as strategies to deal with these problems. In addition, the course provides knowledge of basic insurance law governing insurance contract formation, the interpretation of insurance contracts, insurance regulation and more, especially in areas such as property, life, health, disability, automobile (including uninsured motorist coverage), professional and liability insurance.

Insurance is one of the most important tools for the management of risk by both private and public enterprises. Insurance law is a hybrid of contracts and administrative law: parties enter contractual relationships which are regulated by the state. The course introduces students to the core principles and institutions of insurance. We will approach insurance law from a law and economic perspective, aiming to understand how insurance institutions affect economic behavior of insureds, insurers and their lawyers. Broad issues to be covered include fraud, moral hazard, adverse selection and other types of divergence of incentives. We will build on these theoretical issues and attempt to understand the various doctrines developed by common law courts as strategies to deal with these problems. In addition, the course provides knowledge of basic insurance law governing insurance contract formation, the interpretation of insurance contracts, insurance regulation and more, especially in areas such as property, life, health, disability, automobile (including uninsured motorist coverage), professional and liability insurance.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

Insurance is one of the most important tools for the management of risk by both private and public enterprises. Insurance law is a hybrid of contracts and administrative law: parties enter contractual relationships which are regulated by the state. The course introduces students to the core principles and institutions of insurance. We will approach insurance law from a law and economic perspective, aiming to understand how insurance institutions affect economic behavior of insureds, insurers and their lawyers. Broad issues to be covered include fraud, moral hazard, adverse selection and other types of divergence of incentives. We will build on these theoretical issues and attempt to understand the various doctrines developed by common law courts as strategies to deal with these problems. In addition, the course provides knowledge of basic insurance law governing insurance contract formation, the interpretation of insurance contracts, insurance regulation and more, especially in areas such as property, life, health, disability, automobile (including uninsured motorist coverage), professional and liability insurance.

This course will survey the four main fields of intellectual property law: copyright law, patent law, trademark law, and the law of trade secrets. In addition to legal doctrines, the course will examine economic and philosophical justifications to allow a better grasp of current law and possibilities for its reform. The course will also explore intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and internet environments.

This course will survey the fundamentals of the three main federal fields of intellectual property law: copyright, patent, and trademark law. Time permitting, we will also discuss some other subfields, such as trade secret law and publicity rights. In addition to the legal doctrines, the course will examine economic as well as other philosophical justifications in order to allow a better grasp of the current law and possibilities for its reform. Although new technology is not the main focus of the course, the class will examine some of the more important intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and internet environments.

This course will survey the fundamentals of the three main federal fields of intellectual property law: copyright, patent, and trademark law. Time permitting, we will also discuss some other subfields, such as trade secret law and publicity rights. In addition to the legal doctrines, the course will examine economic as well as other philosophical justifications in order to allow a better grasp of the current law and possibilities for its reform. Although new technology is not the main focus of the course, the class will examine some of the more important intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and internet environments.

This course will survey the three big areas of legal protection for intellectual property: copyright, patent, and trademark law.  It also reviews trade secret law briefly.  We study the legal rules and also the economic and moral justifications for giving legal protection to intellectual creations and information goods.  While this is not a technology-oriented course, it does explore some of the more important intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and Internet environment.  The course is well suited for students already committed to a career in IP law who want an overview of the field, as well as students who seek to learn more before deciding whether to pursue IP professionally and students who just find the field interesting and want an introduction.  The grade in the class will be based on an in-class final exam.

This course will survey the three big areas of legal protection for intellectual property: copyright, patent, and trademark law.  It also reviews trade secret law briefly.  We study the legal rules and also the economic and moral justifications for giving legal protection to intellectual creations and information goods.  While this is not a technology-oriented course, it does explore some of the more important intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and Internet environment.  The course is well suited for students already committed to a career in IP law who want an overview of the field, as well as students who seek to learn more before deciding whether to pursue IP professionally and students who just find the field interesting and want an introduction.  The grade in the class will be based on an in-class final exam.

This course will survey the three big areas of legal protection for intellectual property: copyright, patent, and trademark law.  It also reviews trade secret law briefly.  We study the legal rules and also the economic and moral justifications for giving legal protection to intellectual creations and information goods.  While this is not a technology-oriented course, it does explore some of the more important intellectual property issues raised by recent technological developments, especially in the digital and Internet environment.  The course is well suited for students already committed to a career in IP law who want an overview of the field, as well as students who seek to learn more before deciding whether to pursue IP professionally and students who just find the field interesting and want an introduction.  The grade in the class will be based on an in-class final exam.

Interested in how law regulates the activities of the CIA, the NSA, and other parts of the U.S. Intelligence Community? This is your class. No prior knowledge of the topic or these institutions is required, and students from any graduate program at UT are welcome to sign up. We will begin with an orientation to these institutions, their history, and their functions, and then we will explore the legal and policy issues they raise. Much of the course is concerned with surveillance and other forms of information collection (think NSA, Snowden, FISA, "unmasking," and the like). Other key topics include the law regulating "covert action," assassination, and working with "dirty assets." Note: there is no casebook for this class.  I've been curating my own materials for this for many years, in order to ensure that you get the very latest of the publicly-available information about the U.S. government's intelligence activities.  I'll provide the whole thing to you as a .pdf (but with the option of having me provide you a hard-copy printed version, on my dime, if you prefer). Feel free to email me (rchesney@law.utexas.edu) if you have questions.

This course seeks to provide a foundational understanding of the U.S. national security and intelligence system.  The course begins with how the U.S. national security system is structured, to include the critical role intelligence collection plays within that bureaucratic system.  The remainder of the course focuses on the structure of the Intelligence Community (IC) while probing deeper into the areas of what intelligence is, how intelligence is used, and lessons learns from both the successes and failures of intelligence in major U.S. security events.  The seminar weaves historic cases with current events to generate critical thinking and thoughtful discussion about the use and misuse of intelligence both in policy formulation and how policies are executed within the realities of a government bureaucratic structure.

The seminar will introduce studies to the elements of intelligence, to include collection and analysis, along with the case studies to demonstrate how intelligence was used with varying degrees of success.  Students with thus be introduced to the variety of intelligence disciplines (HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and so on) as part of the policy decision-making process.  Along with the intelligence disciplines, students will receive instruction on critical intelligence areas that include covert action and counterintelligence/counterespionage.  In addition, the course will include the moral and ethical dilemmas associated with all facets of intelligence in a democratic system of government, to include the balance of civil liberties with collection efforts and the need for secrecy in an open society.  These dilemmas will be accompanied by discussions about IC oversight mechanisms, to include a retrospective look at why stricter oversight came into being and why some of those oversight restrictions were reversed or reduced because of increasingly complex security concerns.

Course objectives include:

• Sharpen critical thinking and analytic skills
• Polish professional writing skills
• Practice professional briefings
• Practice teamwork in a context of mutual dependence
• Employ research skills to acquire a deeper understanding of an issue related to intelligence and national security.

If you loved Advocacy Survey and want to spend your career in the courtoom (or just want to be as prepared as possible for the occasional times that you will spend in the courtroom), this class is for you. Intensive Litigation Advocacy Skills is designed for the student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial skills. Here, students work all together but are also weekly divided into small groups allowing them to focus on the distinct skills you will need in a future litigation career. The course is almost exclusively experiential (i.e., skills-based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with typically more than 20 attorneys and judges who serve as instructors and guests each semester. This class is restricted to 3Ls only. Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

If you loved Advocacy Survey and want to spend your career in the courtoom (or just want to be as prepared as possible for the occasional times that you will spend in the courtroom), this class is for you. Intensive Litigation Advocacy Skills is designed for the student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial skills. Here, students work all together but are also weekly divided into small groups allowing them to focus on the distinct skills you will need in a future litigation career. The course is almost exclusively experiential (i.e., skills-based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with typically more than 20 attorneys and judges who serve as instructors and guests each semester.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

Anticipating a career in civil or criminal litigation? This class is designed for the advocacy student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial, arbitration and civil litigation skills. In the Intensive Advocacy course, students are divided into small groups and tracts allowing them to focus on the distinct skills for their preferred practice area. The course is almost exclusively experiential (skills based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with local attorneys and judges serving as instructors and guests.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

Anticipating a career in civil or criminal litigation? This class is designed for the advocacy student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial, arbitration and civil litigation skills. In the Intensive Advocacy course, students are divided into small groups and tracts allowing them to focus on the distinct skills for their preferred practice area. The course is almost exclusively experiential (skills based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with local attorneys and judges serving as instructors and guests.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

Anticipating a career in civil or criminal litigation? This class is designed for the advocacy student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial, arbitration and civil litigation skills. In the Intensive Advocacy course, students are divided into small groups and tracts allowing them to focus on the distinct skills for their preferred practice area. The course is almost exclusively experiential (skills based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with local attorneys and judges serving as instructors and guests.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

Anticipating a career in civil or criminal litigation? This class is designed for the advocacy student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial, arbitration and civil litigation skills. In the Intensive Advocacy course, students are divided into small groups and tracts allowing them to focus on the distinct skills for their preferred practice area. The course is almost exclusively experiential (skills based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with local attorneys and judges serving as instructors and guests.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only. It is a 4-credit class (1 credit letter graded; 3 credits pass/fail). Students can take the graded portion P/F if they so choose.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

Anticipating a career in civil or criminal litigation? This class is designed for the advocacy student interested in improving advocacy skills through intensive training exercises and immersion into trial, arbitration and civil litigation skills. In the Intensive Advocacy course, students are divided into small groups and tracts allowing them to focus on the distinct skills for their preferred practice area. The course is almost exclusively experiential (skills based), with students receiving constant feedback in a fun, safe environment. The class provides networking and possible employment opportunities with local attorneys and judges serving as instructors and guests.

This class is restricted to 3Ls only. It is a 4-credit class (1 credit letter graded; 3 credits pass/fail). Students can take the graded portion P/F if they so choose.

Prerequisites: Advocacy Survey and Evidence.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

This survey course is designed to provide you with a broad overview of the skills and understanding you will need to advise clients on business transactions involving more than one country.  There are no prerequisites: no prior knowledge of business or international law is required.

The course will examine different ways in which a business can structure its international business transactions (e.g. entering direct import/export agreements; appointing foreign agents or distributors; transferring technology to foreign licensees; and establishing or acquiring foreign direct investments), along with the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

We will analyze the unique contractual and regulatory issues presented by each type of transaction, focusing on relevant provisions of US law; multilateral treaties such as the World Trade Agreements (WTO) Agreements and the Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG); and regional agreements such as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly known as NAFTA).

Along the way, we will explore current policy debates on topics such as US-China trade relations; and the economic, social and security implications of the current legal framework for international trade and investment.