Course Schedule

This course divides the semester into roughly four parts.  In the first quarter of the semester, we start by examining oil production, globally, within OPEC and OPEC+, and finally within the US, and particularly Texas.  We next discuss the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), its constitutional and statutory underpinnings, along with noteworthy Texas Supreme Ct. cases involving the RRC and significant oil, natural gas, and pipeline-related issues .  We finish this section by examing several interesting RRC rules and orders.  The second quarter of the semester explores regulated transmission and distribution of natural gas and electricity. We examine the elements of a successful rate case and review numerous cases (both Texas and Federal courts) examining Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), RRC, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) treatment of various elements of a rate case.  In the third quarter, we will discuss renewable energy development, including the creation of CREZ (competitive renewable energy zones), and the steps which led Texas to become the nation's #1 wind energy state. The final quarter of the semester will focus on EPA regulations and US Supreme Ct. cases related to energy and the environment.  In particular, we will examine the role of Chevron deference (Chevron v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837, 1984),  as interpreted by past and present Supreme Courts, in agency decision making.  

Throughout the semester, we will have guest lecturers from the RRC, PUCT, ERCOT, and various industry and environmental groups. 

Your performance in this course will be evaluated on the basis of an open book, take home, mid-term exam (administered over spring break), a closed book, take home, final exam (administered during finals weeks, with 24 hours to compete), and in-class (or online) active participation; the percentages are 30%, 60% and 10%, respectively.  There is no textbook for this class.  Reading assignments and discussion material will be posted on Canvas in advance of the pertinent class. You should assume that the reading requirement is moderate.  No more than two absences will be allowed (without express prior approval of the instructor.)  

This course divides the semester into roughly four parts.  In the first quarter of the semester, we start by examining oil production, first globally, then OPEC, and finally the US and Texas.  We next discuss the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), its constitutional and statutory underpinnings, along with noteworthy Texas Supreme Ct. cases involving the RRC and important oil, natural gas, and pipeline-related issues .  We finish this section by examing several interesting and important RRC rules and orders.  The second quarter of the semester explores regulated transmission and distribution of natural gas and electricity. We examine the elements of a successful rate case and review numerous cases (both Texas and Federal courts) addressing Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), RRC, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) treatment of various aspects of a rate case.  In the third quarter, we will discuss renewable energy development, including the creation of CREZ (competitive renewable energy zones), and the steps which led Texas to being the nation's #1 wind energy state. The final quarter of the semester will focus on EPA regulations and US Supreme Ct. cases related to energy, especially those cases addressing regulation of greenhouse gases. In particular, we will examine the role of Chevron deference (Chevron v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837, 1984) in agency decision making.  

Throughout the semester, we will have guest lecturers from the RRC, PUCT, ERCOT, and various industry and environmental concerns. 

Your performance in this course will be evaluated on the basis of an open book take home mid-term exam, a closed book final exam (with 24 hours to compete), and in-class participation; the percentages are 30%, 60% and 10%, respectively.  There is no textbook for this class.  Reading assignments will be posted on Canvas well in advance of the pertinent class.  Your instructor may put together a packet of reading material which can be picked up prior to each 'quarterly' section of the semester-- this is still under review.  You should assume that the reading requirement is moderate to heavy.  No more than two absences will be allowed (without express prior approval of the instructor.)  As well, class participation is critical to obtaining the highest possible grade.

Taught by former Texas legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions - both officially and otherwise. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment or rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. Emphasis centers on the way ideas work their way through the Legislature and become policy for the State of Texas, including Constitution, statutes, rules of the House and Senate, and political realities that influence the process.

Taught by former Texas legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions - both officially and otherwise. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment or rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. Emphasis centers on the way ideas work their way through the Legislature and become policy for the State of Texas, including Constitution, statutes, rules of the House and Senate, and political realities that influence the process.

Taught by former Texas legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions - both officially and otherwise. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment or rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. Emphasis centers on the way ideas work their way through the Legislature and become policy for the State of Texas, including Constitution, statutes, rules of the House and Senate, and political realities that influence the process.

This course will be taught entirely in the classroom

Taught by former Texas legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions - both officially and otherwise. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment or rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. Emphasis centers on the way ideas work their way through the Legislature and become policy for the State of Texas, including Constitution, statutes, rules of the House and Senate, and political realities that influence the process.

This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.

Taught by former Texas legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions - both officially and otherwise. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment or rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. Emphasis centers on the way ideas work their way through the Legislature and become policy for the State of Texas, including Constitution, statutes, rules of the House and Senate, and political realities that influence the process.

This course provides an overview of Texas Marital Property Law with a focus on practical aspects of representation during a divorce. Substantive topics include characterization, valuation, and division of the marital estate at the time of divorce, along with marital property agreements such as Premarital Agreements, Partition or Exchange Agreements, and Separate Property Conversion Agreements.

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The TVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the TVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

The TVL Practicum is an elective course that is open to all grad students at UT. Students in the TVL Practicum are put into cross-disciplinary teams where they get the opportunity to work and learn alongside students from different colleges throughout the University. Over the course of the semester, each team works on consulting projects with two early-stage startup companies. Students learn valuable skills such as conducting market validation, competitive analysis, and go to market strategies.

Previous business experience or experience working with startups is not necessary. Students come to TVL to gain that experience. The Practicum provides an opportunity for students to get an inside look at how startups work. This experience can provide a lot of insight to students considering a future working in tech or at a startup.

Many of the law students in the TVL Practicum take the class because they are planning to work in transactional law or mergers/acquisitions and this can give them an inside look at the day-to-day operations of early stage startups and the challenges they face.

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The TVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the TVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

The TVL Practicum is an elective course that is open to all grad students at UT. Students in the TVL Practicum are put into cross-disciplinary teams where they get the opportunity to work and learn alongside students from different colleges throughout the University. Over the course of the semester, each team works on consulting projects with two early-stage startup companies. Students learn valuable skills such as conducting market validation, competitive analysis, and go to market strategies.

Previous business experience or experience working with startups is not necessary. Students come to TVL to gain that experience. The Practicum provides an opportunity for students to get an inside look at how startups work. This experience can provide a lot of insight to students considering a future working in tech or at a startup.

Many of the law students in the TVL Practicum take the class because they are planning to work in transactional law or mergers/acquisitions and this can give them an inside look at the day-to-day operations of early stage startups and the challenges they face.

Students are encouraged to attend an information session before applying to be accepted into the TVL Practicum. We have a couple more opportunities for students to learn more about the course. 

Also, we will be hosting an all-day Open House on March 23rd where students, staff and faculty can learn more about the TVL Practicum and the other programs offered at Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs.

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The TVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the TVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The TVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the TVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The TVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the TVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs (JBTVL) is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The JBTVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the JBTVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs (JBTVL) is a university-wide initiative to accelerate startups in taking their innovations to market while transforming graduate students into entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The JBTVL Practicum is a cross-disciplinary networking and learning program that connects graduate students interested in entrepreneurship with Texas-based startup companies. Students participate in semester-long consulting projects solving important problems alongside the company’s founders in a hands-on approach using the academic foundations of entrepreneurship and business modeling. Students learn valuable skills such as project management, client relations, team collaboration, market validation, competitive research, price modeling and business analysis.

This course is for students who have completed the interview process and have been selected to participate in the JBTVL Practicum. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during information sessions prior to the interview process each semester.

This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course requires meeting during the scheduled class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

This is a Business School course, cross-listed with the Law School. This course will be taught online. Contact the professor for additional details.

This course is for students who have completed the interviewing process and have been selected to work in Texas Venture Labs. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during the communications sessions before the interviewing process each semester. This course is housed at McCombs and open to students in other colleges that have cross listed it. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to support technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and innovation, while providing a unique and directly applicable educational experience for participating students. Our purpose is to provide the intellectual horsepower to promote new venture creation at UT Austin, through education and mentoring; market and business plan validation; team-building and networking; and providing direct links to resources and funding. Students taking this course will be directly involved in delivering these services. This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course will require meeting during the schedule class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

This course is for students who have completed the interviewing process and have been selected to work in Texas Venture Labs. Full course requirements and qualifications will be reviewed with students during the communications sessions before the interviewing process each semester. This course is housed at McCombs and open to students in other colleges that have cross listed it. The interview process is mandatory and instructor permission is required to take this course. Texas Venture Labs is a university-wide initiative to support technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and innovation, while providing a unique and directly applicable educational experience for participating students. Our purpose is to provide the intellectual horsepower to promote new venture creation at UT Austin, through education and mentoring; market and business plan validation; team-building and networking; and providing direct links to resources and funding. Students taking this course will be directly involved in delivering these services. This is a full semester course that can only be taken for a grade. The course will require meeting during the schedule class time and work to be conducted in between classes. For more information and details on the interview process for this course, visit the website (https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Centers/Texas-Venture-Labs/Students).

This course will focus quite intensively on some of the central issues surrounding Civil War and then Reconstruction.  They include (but will not be limited to) secession; presidential emergency powers (including the power to emancipate slaves); whether Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee (among many others) committed "treason" and, if so, whether they should have been tried (ane executed?); the allocation of decisionmaking power as to "reconstruction" (i.e., president v. Congress); grounds for impeaching Andrew Johnson; the provenance of, especially, the 14th Amendment; and early decisions interpreting the "Reconstruction Amendments."   Although some cases will be assigned, we will also be reading articles and books relevant to these topics.  Each student will be required to write two response essays (of 12-1500 words) to  given weeks' reading of your choice, which shall count for half of the final grade.  The other half will be based on a two-hour final examination.  I will feel free to take class participation into account for anyone at the cusp between two grades.

Class Description

This class should be considered essential for any student intending to practice criminal law, whether as a prosecutor or defense attorney. In the 21st century, the vast majority of requests for criminal investigative warrants or subpoenas seek to obtain digital data. The law governing these requests all stems from the Fourth Amendment, written before any of this data was even imaginable. This one-hour class will provide students with an overview of the constitutional, legal, and technological issues that judges and practitioners face when submitting, reviewing and challenging these search and surveillance requests. The seminar will include lectures by the professors, guest lectures by legal and technical experts (such as FBI forensic specialists, in-house counsel at the large tech firms that hold the sought-after data, and attorney representatives from main Justice and the Electronic Frontier Foundation).

Assessment Method

The class will be offered Pass/Fail. Student assessment will have two components: (1) class participation throughout the course and (2) three short writing assignments. The writing assignments will require the students to prepare memoranda (approx. 3-4 pages) addressing legal and practical questions raised by the presentations and materials discussed in class. Each assignment will ask students to consider an issue from a different perspective, corresponding to the perspectives of the guest speakers (the Department of Justice, the criminal defense bar, privacy advocates, and the tech firms). Each assignment will coincide with a guest speaker representing each of these interest groups.

This course explores the enduring debates in antidiscrimination law that have occurred historically and which continue to the present day, with a particular focus on racial discrimination. The topics covered will include the list of classes that are protected by law, the circumstances under which discrimination may be lawful, and the evidentiary burden for proving discrimination. Through class discussion, we will attempt to determine the principles that underlie all of antidiscrimination law. One of the themes of the course will be the necessity of civil discourse for achieving the long-term goals of civil rights law, and students will be expected to model such discourse in class discussions. Grading will be based on writing assignments and participation in a mock oral argument.

No textbook required.

This reading group will examine the Supreme Court’s evolving approach to administrative law. From delegation to deference to structural separation of powers, the Roberts Court has begun changing administrative law in fundamental ways—a process that remains ongoing and that promises to have profound consequences for the nation for generations to come. Relying on both original sources and scholarly commentary, we will read and discuss the Court’s cases to better understand what is happening and where it will likely lead.

In reviewing the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, William Blackstone concluded that “the remedy is now complete.”  But that hasn't stopped the habeas remedy from evolving.  Blackstone’s writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum bears little resemblance to the one that individuals routinely seek in federal courts today.  This course will explore the history of the Great Writ and its evolution from the common law demand that a “gaoler” bring a prisoner before a court into the modern habeas doctrines that implicate broad and complex questions of constitutional and statutory law.  Along the way, we will cover the Suspension Clause, executive detention in wartime, the law of immigration and deportation, and collateral attacks on criminal judgments.  The habeas writ poses important structural questions about the balance of power between the federal branches and between the federal and state courts.  But it’s practical too:  This course should prove valuable to students planning to clerk on the federal courts or planning to work in criminal prosecution, capital defense, national security, or immigration.  Grades will be based on a final exam.