Course Schedule

From data protection and regulatory compliance to high-stakes incident-response scenarios, cybersecurity has become a major field of legal practice over the past decade.  At the same time, policymakers find themselves constantly struggling to encourage better cybersecurity across society and respond to hostile cyberactivity from foreign powers.  Unfortunately, both lawyers and policymakers are often lost at sea when it comes to the technical aspects of such problems.  This makes it much harder to counsel, plan, and respond, not to mention the challenge of simply understanding what the CISO means when a major incident begins to unfold.  For this reason, the Strauss Center’s integrated approach to cybersecurity training for law and policy students emphasizes foundational understanding of the key terms, concepts, and actions associated with offensive and defensive cybersecurity.  One does not need to learn to code, but one does need to understand and communicate effectively across the technical divide.   

This course is designed from the ground up to close that gap for non-technical students.  Lectures, simulations, and other course materials will expose students to real-world and academic cybersecurity technical fundamentals, leaving them with a complete conceptual model of basic cybersecurity technologies.  The course will also consider how these concepts apply in the context of major statutory and regulatory regimes, such as HIPAA.  Students who complete the course will be in a far better position to perform the role of lawyer or policymaker in connection with this increasingly important and ubiquitous set of challenges.  

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shifting the cybersecurity landscape. The course will discuss and have hands-on live demonstrations of AI use by good actors and bad actors. New cybersecurity vulnerabilities incurred due to AI are also covered.

From data protection and regulatory compliance to high-stakes incident-response scenarios, cybersecurity has become a major field of legal practice over the past decade.  At the same time, policymakers find themselves constantly struggling to encourage better cybersecurity across society and respond to hostile cyberactivity from foreign powers.  Unfortunately, both lawyers and policymakers are often lost at sea when it comes to the technical aspects of such problems.  This makes it much harder to counsel, plan, and respond, not to mention the challenge of simply understanding what the CISO means when a major incident begins to unfold.  For this reason, the Strauss Center’s integrated approach to cybersecurity training for law and policy students emphasizes foundational understanding of the key terms, concepts, and actions associated with offensive and defensive cybersecurity.  One does not need to learn to code, but one does need to understand and communicate effectively across the technical divide.   

This course is designed from the ground up to close that gap for non-technical students.  Lectures, simulations, and other course materials will expose students to real-world and academic cybersecurity technical fundamentals, leaving them with a complete conceptual model of basic cybersecurity technologies.  The course will also consider how these concepts apply in the context of major statutory and regulatory regimes, such as HIPAA.  Students who complete the course will be in a far better position to perform the role of lawyer or policymaker in connection with this increasingly important and ubiquitous set of challenges.  

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shifting the cybersecurity landscape. The course will discuss and have hands-on live demonstrations of AI use by good actors and bad actors. New cybersecurity vulnerabilities incurred due to AI are also covered.

This class will include both academic introductions to technology law and hands-on, practical exercises that will accustom students to typical work handled by (or for) in-house counsel at technology companies. Areas of focus include: (1) Intellectual property principles and clauses arising in technology transactions, (2) Types of licensing and commercial agreements common in technology, (3) Drafting and negotiating technology agreements with a focus on key terms and conditions, (4) Mergers & acquisitions (an introduction and basics), and (5) Privacy, cybersecurity, social media, and other current topics in technology law. Class instruction will involve: (1) analysis and discussion of intellectual property and commercial issues, (2) analysis and discussion of example technology agreements, and (3) workshop exercises involving drafting and negotiating key clauses within technology agreements. A primary goal of this class is to expand the substantive business and legal knowledge of the students while providing practical deal-making skills easily transferrable to attorneys who support technology companies.

This class will include both academic introductions to technology law and hands-on, practical exercises that will accustom students to typical work handled by (or for) in-house counsel at technology companies. Areas of focus include: (1) Intellectual property principles and clauses arising in technology transactions, (2) Types of licensing and commercial agreements common in technology, (3) Drafting and negotiating technology agreements with a focus on key terms and conditions, (4) Mergers & acquisitions (an introduction and basics), and (5) Privacy, cybersecurity, social media, and other current topics in technology law.

Class instruction will involve: (1) analysis and discussion of intellectual property and commercial issues, (2) analysis and discussion of example technology agreements, and (3) workshop exercises involving drafting and negotiating key clauses within technology agreements.

A primary goal of this class is to expand the substantive business and legal knowledge of the students while providing practical deal-making skills easily transferrable to attorneys who support technology companies.

 This class will include both academic introductions to technology law and hands-on, practical exercises that will accustom students to typical work handled by (or for) in-house counsel at technology companies. Areas of focus include: (1) Intellectual property principles and clauses arising in technology transactions, (2) Types of licensing and commercial agreements common in technology, (3) Drafting and negotiating technology agreements with a focus on key terms and conditions, (4) Mergers & acquisitions (an introduction and basics), and (5) Privacy, cybersecurity, social media, and other current topics in technology law.

Class instruction will involve: (1) analysis and discussion of intellectual property and commercial case law, (2) analysis and discussion of example agreements, and (3) workshop exercises involving drafting and negotiating documents underlying technology transactions.

 A primary goal of this class is to expand the substantive business and legal knowledge of the students while providing practical deal-making skills easily transferrable to attorneys who support technology companies.

This class will include both academic introductions to technology law and hands-on, practical exercises that will accustom students to typical work handled by (or for) in-house counsel at technology companies. Areas of focus include: (1) Intellectual property principles and clauses arising in technology transactions, (2) Types of licensing and commercial agreements common in technology, (3) Drafting and negotiating technology agreements with a focus on key terms and conditions, (4) Mergers & acquisitions (an introduction and basics), and (5) Privacy, cybersecurity, social media, and other current topics in technology law.

Class instruction will involve: (1) analysis and discussion of intellectual property and commercial case law, (2) analysis and discussion of example agreements, and (3) workshop exercises involving drafting and negotiating documents underlying technology transactions.

 A primary goal of this class is to expand the substantive business and legal knowledge of the students while providing practical deal-making skills easily transferrable to attorneys who support technology companies.

This class will include both academic introductions to technology law and hands-on, practical exercises that will accustom students to typical work handled by (or for) in-house counsel at technology companies. Areas of focus include: (1) Intellectual property principles and clauses arising in technology transactions, (2) Types of licensing and commercial agreements common in technology, (3) Drafting and negotiating technology agreements with a focus on key terms and conditions, (4) Mergers & acquisitions (an introduction and basics), and (5) Privacy, cybersecurity, social media, and other current topics in technology law.

Class instruction will involve: (1) analysis and discussion of intellectual property and commercial case law, (2) analysis and discussion of example agreements, and (3) workshop exercises involving drafting and negotiating documents underlying technology transactions.

 A primary goal of this class is to expand the substantive business and legal knowledge of the students while providing practical deal-making skills easily transferrable to attorneys who support technology companies.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of cybersecurity. No background is assumed. If you want to learn how this stuff works, this course was made for you.

The course is intended for graduate students in law, public affairs, and other non-technical disciplines. We will explore topics like cryptography, authentication, malware, and social engineering. Note that this course does not address legal or policy questions, as those are the subject of the separate Cybersecurity Foundations course taught by Professor Chesney. Both courses are part of the larger Strauss Center program promoting cross-disciplinary training related to cybersecurity across the graduate school community at UT.

Cross-Listing The course is divided into three segments. The first segment introduces the “idea” of a war against terror, a notion that is widely thought to be nonsense. This idea is examined by focusing on developments in terrorism; in warfare; and in the changing nature of what counts as victory---that is, the objective of warfare. The second segment of the course is devoted to the discussion of the relationship between law and strategy in the domestic context. This discussion includes treatments of the US constitutional issues; developments in the practice of intelligence collection and analysis; a discussion of the ends and means justly available to governments; and an discussion of various approaches by which we might meet the challenge posed by 21st century, global terrorism. The third segment of the course explores the relationship between strategy and law in the international context. This segment discusses various US strategic doctrines; the idea of sovereignty in international law; proposals for global governance; and the difficult task of waging war in the three conflicting but related theatres of terror: the struggles to prevent market state terrorism, protect against gross diminution of humane conditions, and preclude the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The outcome of these struggles---the wars against terror-- will determine whether the new, emerging constitutional order of the market state will be composed of states of consent or states of terror.

Cross-Listing The course is divided into three segments. The first segment introduces the “idea” of a war against terror, a notion that is widely thought to be nonsense. This idea is examined by focusing on developments in terrorism; in warfare; and in the changing nature of what counts as victory---that is, the objective of warfare. The second segment of the course is devoted to the discussion of the relationship between law and strategy in the domestic context. This discussion includes treatments of the US constitutional issues; developments in the practice of intelligence collection and analysis; a discussion of the ends and means justly available to governments; and an discussion of various approaches by which we might meet the challenge posed by 21st century, global terrorism. The third segment of the course explores the relationship between strategy and law in the international context. This segment discusses various US strategic doctrines; the idea of sovereignty in international law; proposals for global governance; and the difficult task of waging war in the three conflicting but related theatres of terror: the struggles to prevent market state terrorism, protect against gross diminution of humane conditions, and preclude the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The outcome of these struggles---the wars against terror-- will determine whether the new, emerging constitutional order of the market state will be composed of states of consent or states of terror.

Cross-Listing The course is divided into three segments. The first segment introduces the “idea” of a war against terror, a notion that is widely thought to be nonsense. This idea is examined by focusing on developments in terrorism; in warfare; and in the changing nature of what counts as victory---that is, the objective of warfare. The second segment of the course is devoted to the discussion of the relationship between law and strategy in the domestic context. This discussion includes treatments of the US constitutional issues; developments in the practice of intelligence collection and analysis; a discussion of the ends and means justly available to governments; and an discussion of various approaches by which we might meet the challenge posed by 21st century, global terrorism. The third segment of the course explores the relationship between strategy and law in the international context. This segment discusses various US strategic doctrines; the idea of sovereignty in international law; proposals for global governance; and the difficult task of waging war in the three conflicting but related theatres of terror: the struggles to prevent market state terrorism, protect against gross diminution of humane conditions, and preclude the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The outcome of these struggles---the wars against terror-- will determine whether the new, emerging constitutional order of the market state will be composed of states of consent or states of terror.

Cross-Listing The course is divided into three segments. The first segment introduces the “idea” of a war against terror, a notion that is widely thought to be nonsense. This idea is examined by focusing on developments in terrorism; in warfare; and in the changing nature of what counts as victory---that is, the objective of warfare. The second segment of the course is devoted to the discussion of the relationship between law and strategy in the domestic context. This discussion includes treatments of the US constitutional issues; developments in the practice of intelligence collection and analysis; a discussion of the ends and means justly available to governments; and an discussion of various approaches by which we might meet the challenge posed by 21st century, global terrorism. The third segment of the course explores the relationship between strategy and law in the international context. This segment discusses various US strategic doctrines; the idea of sovereignty in international law; proposals for global governance; and the difficult task of waging war in the three conflicting but related theatres of terror: the struggles to prevent market state terrorism, protect against gross diminution of humane conditions, and preclude the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The outcome of these struggles---the wars against terror-- will determine whether the new, emerging constitutional order of the market state will be composed of states of consent or states of terror.

Cross-Listing The course is divided into three segments. The first segment introduces the “idea” of a war against terror, a notion that is widely thought to be nonsense. This idea is examined by focusing on developments in terrorism; in warfare; and in the changing nature of what counts as victory---that is, the objective of warfare. The second segment of the course is devoted to the discussion of the relationship between law and strategy in the domestic context. This discussion includes treatments of the US constitutional issues; developments in the practice of intelligence collection and analysis; a discussion of the ends and means justly available to governments; and an discussion of various approaches by which we might meet the challenge posed by 21st century, global terrorism. The third segment of the course explores the relationship between strategy and law in the international context. This segment discusses various US strategic doctrines; the idea of sovereignty in international law; proposals for global governance; and the difficult task of waging war in the three conflicting but related theatres of terror: the struggles to prevent market state terrorism, protect against gross diminution of humane conditions, and preclude the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The outcome of these struggles---the wars against terror-- will determine whether the new, emerging constitutional order of the market state will be composed of states of consent or states of terror.

A study of how government regulates citizens and business in Texas, including an analysis of the powers and procedures common to state agencies in Texas. Special focus is given to the power of agencies to regulate by the adoption of rules and the holding of due process hearings (including contested case hearings under the Texas Administrative Procedure Act). Further, the course will look at judicial review by the courts over agency actions and "open government" laws relating to governmental actions and records.

This practice-oriented course involves the preparation of a hypothetical civil case for trial in Texas State Court, from initial pleading and motion practice, through written discovery, to taking fact and expert depositions, drafting motions for summary judgment and trial preparation, among other things. Professors Incerto and Oakes will be assisted by seasoned lawyers and state court judges, most of whom have decades of trial experience. Each class will cover one or more case development topics progressing towards trial, and will offer advice, observations and suggestions on case preparation requirements and strategy. The course is taught on a pass/fail basis. There is no final examination. Class attendance is mandatory, and a satisfactory level of performance on written assignments is required to pass the course. This course is best suited for 2nd and 3rd year students interested in state court litigation. Having completed state court procedure and evidence courses is a plus, but not a prerequisite.

This practice-oriented course involves the preparation of a hypothetical civil case for trial in Texas State Court, from initial pleading and motion practice, through written discovery, to taking fact and expert depositions, drafting motions for summary judgment and trial preparation, among other things. Professors Incerto and Oakes will be assisted by seasoned lawyers and state court judges, most of whom have decades of trial experience. Each class will cover one or more case development topics progressing towards trial, and will offer advice, observations and suggestions on case preparation requirements and strategy. The course is taught on a pass/fail basis. There is no final examination. Class attendance is mandatory, and a satisfactory level of performance on written assignments is required to pass the course.

This course is best suited for 2nd and 3rd year students interested in state court litigation. Having completed state court procedure and evidence courses is a plus, but not a prerequisite.

This practice-oriented course involves the preparation of a hypothetical civil case for trial in Texas State Court, from initial pleading and motion practice, through written discovery, to taking fact and expert depositions, drafting motions for summary judgment and trial preparation, among other things. Professors Incerto and Oakes will be assisted by seasoned lawyers and state court judges, most of whom have decades of trial experience. Each class will cover one or more case development topics progressing towards trial, and will offer advice, observations and suggestions on case preparation requirements and strategy. The course is taught on a pass/fail basis. There is no final examination. Class attendance is mandatory, and a satisfactory level of performance on written assignments is required to pass the course.

This course is best suited for 2nd and 3rd year students interested in state court litigation. Having completed state court procedure and evidence courses is a plus, but not a prerequisite.

This practice-oriented course involves the preparation of a hypothetical civil case for trial in Texas State Court, from initial pleading and motion practice, through written discovery, to taking fact and expert depositions, drafting motions for summary judgment and trial preparation, among other things. Professors Incerto and Oakes will be assisted by seasoned lawyers and state court judges, most of whom have decades of trial experience. Each class will cover one or more case development topics progressing towards trial, and will offer advice, observations and suggestions on case preparation requirements and strategy. The course is taught on a pass/fail basis. There is no final examination. Class attendance is mandatory, and a satisfactory level of performance on written assignments is required to pass the course.

This course is best suited for 2nd and 3rd year students interested in state court litigation. Having completed state court procedure and evidence courses is a plus, but not a prerequisite.

This course involves the preparation of a hypothetical civil case for trial, from the initial pleading to trial preparation, including preparing for and taking fact and expert depositions and drafting motions for summary judgment, among other things. The class will also cover what every new lawyer needs to know about e-discovery and the use of social media. Mr. Incerto and Mr. Oakes will be assisted by federal magistrates, state court judges and seasoned trial lawyers, most of whom have decades of trial experience. Each speaker will offer advice, observations and/or suggestions on case preparation and strategy. The course is taught solely on a pass/fail basis. There is no final examination. Class attendance is mandatory, and a satisfactory level of performance on all written assignments is required to pass the course.

The couse is best suited for 3rd year and advanced 2nd year students interested in a litigation practice.