Course Schedule

This course provides an introduction to the law that governs corporations and unincorporated business associations. Among the topics this course may cover are the law of agency, which provides the foundation for discussion of the most common business associations; legal issues related to partnerships and LLCs; and corporations, including limited liability, piercing the corporate veil, the business judgment rule, fiduciary duties, and basic concepts in securities law.

A student may not receive credit for both Business Associations for LLMs and Business Associations or Business Associations (Enriched) or Corporations.

This course is an introduction to the basic legal rules governing corporations. The course will focus on publicly held corporations. Among the topics covered will be fiduciary duties, conflict-of-interest transactions, executive compensation, reorganizations and control transactions, shareholder voting rights, and shareholder derivative suits. Issues relating to partnerships and securities law may also be reviewed. A student may not receive credit for both Business Associations for LLMs and Business Associations or Business Associations (Enriched) or Corporations.

This course is an introduction to the basic legal rules governing corporations. The course will focus on publicly held corporations. Among the topics covered will be fiduciary duties, conflict-of-interest transactions, executive compensation, reorganizations and control transactions, shareholder voting rights, and shareholder derivative suits. Issues relating to partnerships and securities law may also be reviewed. A student may not receive credit for both Business Associations for LLMs and Business Associations or Business Associations (Enriched) or Corporations.

Many law school courses deal with the role of the “outside” lawyer as advocate for the client in a litigation setting or in counseling clients more generally.  By contrast, this course deals with the compliance function—described by one author as the function that establishes and confirms “conformity between . . . action and a rule or standard,” the latter being determined by law, regulation or an organization’s policies.  The compliance role within an organization principally focuses on avoiding problems (and resultant crises for the organization) by establishing policies designed to ensure that personnel conform to legal and regulatory requirements, counseling personnel when questions arise and establishing “early warning” systems to detect and respond to instances of possible malfeasance. It is also one of the organizational roles currently providing the most employment opportunities for lawyers—a law degree (or bar admission) may not technically be required to serve as a compliance officer, but it is increasingly seen by organizations as desirable, and is often becoming a requirement. The course will examine the role of the compliance function within a corporation or other organization and its relationship to other organizational roles and to regulatory agencies.  It will also examine a number of current or recent situations in which problems—crises for the organizations involved—have been uncovered and will consider how more effective compliance programs might have unearthed them earlier, in time to avoid the crisis. Quite often (and contrary to the popular image), the best service a lawyer can perform for her client, but one that is invisible to public awareness, is to foresee a potential issue and adopt changes that avoid its occurrence. This course will provide some of the tools useful in that endeavor. The course will require two short (2-3 pages) papers and one longer paper (10-15 pages) in lieu of an exam.

This colloquium-style course will explore the legal challenges and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will read a range of materials that will include law review articles and congressional testimony. This course is interdisciplinary and will feature guest lecturers who are professors at the University of Texas.

The pandemic affected a wide range of public and private laws. Topics we will explore include public health and science implications of COVID-19, how the pandemic exacerbated inequalities for marginalized or vulnerable populations, how privacy, criminal, election, or other public laws were re-examined (or revised) during the pandemic and how private relationships between landlords and tenants or banks and customers were affected during the pandemic.

We may also consider how federal and state tax, employment, and anti-discrimination laws protected or harmed people during the pandemic, how dispute resolution and judicial systems were derailed or re-imagined during the pandemic, and how emergency declarations (including stay-at-home or business shutdown orders) were crafted, applied (or struck down) during the pandemic.

This class will focus on how stagnant wages. economically and racially segregated neighborhoods and public schools, the lack of household savings, and soaring consumer debt has created economic inequality gaps that cause American workers to struggle to become middle class and achieve the American Dream.

 Using the lens of the coronavirus pandemic, we will explore how laws and policies over the last 50 years have forced some Americans into a contingent workforce where they are deemed gig, contractor or temporary workers (not full-time employees) who are poorly paid and receive inadequate employee benefits. We also will explore K-12 public schools systems and why children receive radically different educational services based largely on their parents’ household income or whether they have access to the Internet and private academic tutoring. These K-12 educational deficiencies now make it harder for lower- and middle-income students to attend colleges, particularly elite colleges, that will help them succeed financially.

 One class meeting consists primarily of small group discussions and course materials will be of diverse types, including media clips, excerpts from law review articles, government reports, empirical studies, news articles and blog entries. Evaluation is based on a series of short assignments and a final paper.

This course will discuss the central legal issues in the creation and growth of the state-authorized THC-cannabis and Hemp-cannabis industries in the US.  This course will explore the patchwork of licensing regimes and regulatory requirements for THC-cannabis and Hemp-cannabis businesses.  This course will also explore the tension that exists between federal and state laws and how this tension creates unique challenges in farming, manufacturing, distribution, advertising, and banking among other issues of commerce.  This course will also discuss the future of cannabis regulation from a federal, state, and local perspective.  Students will be expected to participate in discussion each week and in group projects taking place during class.  This course has no textbook and no specific prerequisites.  No technical background is required.  This course is designed for students to gain a practical understanding of how attorneys and other professionals work in these new and growing industries that are constantly in regulatory flux. 

This course will discuss the central legal issues in the creation and growth of the state-authorized THC-cannabis and Hemp-cannabis industries in the US.  This course will explore the patchwork of licensing regimes and regulatory requirements for THC-cannabis and Hemp-cannabis businesses.  This course will also explore the tension that exists between federal and state laws and how this tension creates unique challenges in farming, manufacturing, distribution, advertising, banking, insurance, and employment-related matters among other issues of commerce.  This course will also discuss the future of cannabis regulation from a federal, state, and local perspective.  Students will be expected to participate in discussion each week and in periodic group projects taking place during class.  This course has no specific prerequisites.  No technical background is required.  

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

This course uses economic analysis to understand the institutional workings of the securities and investment business and its legal regulation (especially recent developments therein). The main focus of this course is on securities intermediaries -- those who trade, facilitate trade, or manage investments on account of others -- as opposed to primary offerings (which are covered in a typical Securities Regulation class). Topics include securities trading and market regulation, banking and shadow banking, securitizations and asset-backed securities, broker-dealer duties and conflicts, and investment advisers and investment company regulation. The course utilizes a case study approach, with examples drawn from recent events. The class will be a combination of lecture, class discussion, and student group presentations. The goal of the course is to ensure that students have a good economic understanding of how and why the law applies to them once they are (or are representing) investment bankers, traders, or investment advisers.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students. This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with intellectual disability), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students. Grades will be based upon an open-book final examination.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with intellectual disability), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students who are not taking the class credit/fail, and will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement. Grades will be based upon an open-book final examination.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with intellectual disability), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students who are not taking the class credit/fail, and will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement. Grades will be based upon an open-book final examination.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with intellectual disability), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students.  This course will satisfy the constitutional law II requirement.

The 28000 section of this course will be taught in person but with the option of occasional remote participation via Zoom.  If students require all remote participation, they must register for the 28001 section of this course, which is identical but web-based.

This course taught in seminar style will examine some general jurisprudential and philosophical/moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The class will study the historical evolution of capital punishment, focusing primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation, the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty). The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students. The grade will be based on a final exam, three short papers submitted during the semester (one per month), and class participation.

The ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Cases (2003) state that “the responsibilities of defense counsel in a death penalty case are uniquely demanding, both in the knowledge that counsel must possess and in the skills he or she must master.” This advanced death penalty course studies various aspects of capital trial defense that must be mastered to meet contemporary standards of practice. The course addresses defense counsel’s duty to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the client’s social history; counsel’s duty to identify and investigate issues of trauma, race, culture, and mental health presented by the client and the case; counsel’s duty to pursue a negotiated settlement of the case; and counsel’s duty to develop an integrated theory of the case. Classes alternate between traditional lectures and class discussion of assigned readings, presentations by occasional guest speakers, and workshops in which students will apply course reading and instruction to a series of lawyering assignments related to an actual pending capital case.

The ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Cases (2003) state that “the responsibilities of defense counsel in a death penalty case are uniquely demanding, both in the knowledge that counsel must possess and in the skills he or she must master.” This advanced death penalty course studies various aspects of capital trial defense that must be mastered to meet contemporary standards of practice. The course addresses defense counsel’s duty to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the client’s social history; counsel’s duty to identify and investigate issues of trauma, race, culture, and mental health presented by the client and the case; counsel’s duty to pursue a negotiated settlement of the case; and counsel’s duty to develop an integrated theory of the case. Classes alternate between traditional lectures and class discussion of assigned readings, presentations by occasional guest speakers, and workshops in which students will apply course reading and instruction to a series of lawyering assignments related to an actual pending capital case.

The ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Cases (2003) state that “the responsibilities of defense counsel in a death penalty case are uniquely demanding, both in the knowledge that counsel must possess and in the skills he or she must master.” This advanced death penalty course studies various aspects of capital trial defense that must be mastered to meet contemporary standards of practice. The course addresses defense counsel’s duty to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the client’s social history; counsel’s duty to identify and investigate issues of trauma, race, culture, and mental health presented by the client and the case; counsel’s duty to pursue a negotiated settlement of the case; and counsel’s duty to develop an integrated theory of the case. Classes alternate between traditional lectures and class discussion of assigned readings, presentations by occasional guest speakers, and workshops in which students will apply course reading and instruction to a series of lawyering assignments related to an actual pending capital case.