Course Schedule
Classes Found
Federal Income Taxation
- TUE, WED, THU 9:05 – 10:12 am TNH 2.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 493Q
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Reverse-priority registration
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
This is a four-credit course. There are no prerequisites. No prior background in accounting, economics, math, or finance is needed or expected.
Federal Income Tax (FIT) is an overview of the federal income tax, mostly as it applies to individuals. It covers the fundamental principles of the federal income tax. It will address all the major issues, such as what gross income is, which expenditures are deductible, the appropriate taxable unit, the function of "basis," and the timing of income and deductions. Specific topics will include: employee fringe benefits, business deductions (e.g., travel), hobby losses, personal deductions (e.g., medical expenses and charitable contributions), the exclusions for gifts, bequests, and life insurance proceeds, taxation of the family, the tax treatment of loans, capital expenditures, methods of capital recovery (e.g., installment sales and depreciation), capital gains and losses, tax-free exchanges and rollovers, and tax accounting (e.g., the cash and accrual methods).
The instructor will emphasize use of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations.
Financial Methods for Lawyers
- TUE, THU 10:30 – 11:37 am TNH 2.139
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 292G
- Short course:
- 8/27/24 — 11/5/24
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
The class is designed for law students of all interests, including those who are undecided and those who are focused on a particular area such as litigation, public interest law, family law, regulatory work, criminal law, or business law. Financial Methods for Lawyers covers time value of money, expected value decision making, and investment in enterprises. It also covers the basic financial statement components: balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements. The class is only available on a pass/fail basis. It is designated as a skills course. Students earn points toward a passing grade through online quizzes, Excel spreadsheet and other exercises, and regular attendance.
From the Campaign Trail to the Courtroom: Political Law Controversies in the 2024 Presidential Election
- MON 3:55 – 5:45 pm TNH 2.123
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 296W
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
This two-credit writing class centers upon the most critical political law controversies that will arise during the course of the 2024 presidential election, from the campaign trail through Election Day! Topics include: the roles and responsibilities of major and minor political parties; campaign lies and election-related misinformation; the influence of — and public transparency around — big money in politics; problems with the electoral college; and the spike in election law litigation generally, including post-election contests. For each issue, students will first learn the relevant foundational law — typically, rooted in the U.S. Constitution and, in particular, guided by the First Amendment. Then, the class will explore modern controversies, drawing heavily from the events of the 2024 election cycle as they unfold and hearing, at times, directly from practitioners.
Students will be evaluated on: (a) their robust participation in class, including debates and hypothetical exercises rooted in real-world dilemmas facing election lawyers and campaign counsel; and (b) a series of 4-5 page essays assigned throughout class.
There are no prerequisites, although as an upper-level offering the class assumes students have successfully completed at least one course in constitutional law. The class is structured to complement, and not duplicate, Professor Marziani’s fall “Election Law and Policy” seminar.
Health and Global Security
- MON 9:00 am – 12:00 pm SRH 3.312
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School.
In this course we will examine the nature of disease and its impact on developing and developed societies. We examine the potential security threats posed by diseases like COVID 19 and investigate how nations respond to those threats. We will review the demographic, economic, political, and social costs of illness for individuals across the life course, institutions, governments, nations, and the world as a whole. We will learn how disease spreads and how organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other national and multilateral organizations respond to diseases that do not respect national borders. The class will follow a fairly standard seminar format and consist of readings with group discussion and presentations related to specific areas of health and global security.
Immigration
- WED 9:50 – 11:40 am JON 6.207
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 282H
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
This is a course in the substantive law regulating immigration to the United States and the regulation of non-citizens in the United States. Topics covered include the constitutional basis for regulating immigration, the roles of federal agencies in immigration adjudication, the immigration and removal (deportation) process, entry, relief from removal, general regulation of non-citizens, the refugee and asylum processes, and new developments. Students should expect to participate in in-class discussions and exercises. The final exam will be open book. LLM students will be required to take the exam; there will be no paper option.
Indigent Defense
- WED 3:55 – 5:45 pm CCJ 3.306
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 296W
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
America incarcerates people at a rate higher than most countries in the world and those incarcerated are disproportionately low-income and from communities that have been historically neglected and oppressed. Course materials will examine how the socio-economic and racial disparities in the population of people incarcerated in America reflects this country’s history of poverty, slavery, and segregation. The course will cover several theories about the drivers of mass incarceration and the legal and philosophical foundations of public defense.
This course will explore theoretical, philosophical, and practical elements of indigent criminal defense, exploring questions such as: How do criminal justice theory and practice interact? What can an individual lawyer do to further her client's interests within this context? What is the role of the public defender in criminal justice reform? How does a public defender maintain the long view on mass incarceration and socio-economic and racial inequalities in the criminal justice system while advocating for her individual clients? What roles and tools are available, besides line public defense, for future lawyers to fill and utilize in enacting the promise of Gideon?
Weekly reading assignments will explore these topics and students will be required to discuss their reflections during class discussions.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 292V
- Short course:
- 9/10/24 — 10/16/24
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
This class will meet on the following dates: September 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25; October 8, 9, 15, 16.
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.
Intensive Litigation Advocacy Skills
- WED 12:00 – 3:00 pm TNH 3.140
- THU 1:05 – 1:55 pm TNH 3.140
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 487V
- Experiential learning credit:
- 4 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Prof. keeps own waitlist
- Prerequisites: Evidence (83), Advocacy Survey (87D)
Description
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.
International Commercial Arbitration
- MON 3:55 – 7:05 pm JON 5.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 381V
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
International arbitration specialist practitioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards.
International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts review (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.
International Human Rights Law
- MON, WED 10:05 – 11:35 am JON 5.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 382Q
- Short course:
- 8/26/24 — 11/18/24
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the national, regional (Latin American, European, and African), and international case law. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. Students will be exposed to a broad spectrum of approaches to human rights—from conservative, libertarian, and liberal to critical race, feminist, Third World, and abolitionist. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal case on human rights to the rest of the class.
The early exam will be in the floating format with dates to be determined (it will start on/after November 15 and end before December 10).
This course is also open to non-law graduate and professional students with relevant background. The course contains the requisite coverage of Latin American materials for students pursuing MAs in Latin American Studies.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 197P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 1 hour
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
The Judicial Internship Program lasts for one semester and includes a weekly class and a concurrent internship in an approved court placement. Students research complex legal questions and draft memoranda, opinions and orders under the supervision of judges and their staff attorneys and law clerks. Students apply and extend their substantive legal knowledge and further develop their analytical, research, writing, and oral communication skills. Students also observe court proceedings and learn about court procedure and legal advocacy.
A fall or spring internship must extend over a period of at least 10 weeks between the first and last class day of the semester. Students work at the internship placement for at least 150 hours. Students who also enroll in the 1 credit Judicial Internship Program Supplement complete an additional 50 hours of work at the internship placement, for a total of at least 200 hours. Within these parameters, each intern arranges a mutually agreeable work schedule with the court. The internship must involve the student and the supervising attorney working in person; regular remote work is not permitted. Students and supervisors are expected to work together at their placement offices.
The weekly class covers a variety of topics relevant to the judicial process and working at a court, such as goal setting and reflection, judicial ethics, writing and communicating in chambers, judicial decision-making, statutory construction, and the organization and operation of the courts. Course requirements include reading assignments, class presentations, court observations, short reflective writing assignments, self-assessments, and timesheets. There will be a course packet available for purchase at the start of the semester. In addition to class meetings, students meet individually with the instructor several times during the internship to discuss their goals and review their progress.
Application Requirements: An application for approval to register is required. A student may not register until the instructor has approved the application. Before submitting an application to the instructor, a student must first apply for and obtain a judicial internship with an approved court in Austin. The student must be assigned to a specific judge on the court who agrees to participate in the Texas Law program. Approved courts include the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Third Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court (including the active and senior district court judges and the magistrate judges), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings, and the Travis County Probate Court. Many of these courts post internship openings on the Career Services Office's Job Bank on Symplicity. Others post information about internships on the court's website. Apply as soon as possible. Most courts accept applications and select interns for the fall semester during the prior spring semester, some as early as March. A few make their selections closer to the start of the semester. A student who wishes to intern for academic credit must obtain the internship and apply to the instructor in time to attend the first class meeting. For the application for approval to register and more information about the Judicial Internship Program, go to https://law.utexas.edu/internships/judicial-internship/.
This program is open to students who have completed the first two semesters of law school. Interns who receive academic credit may not be compensated. Students may enroll only once in a judicial internship for academic credit.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 497P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 4 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
The Judicial Internship Program lasts for one semester and includes a weekly class and a concurrent internship in an approved court placement. Students research complex legal questions and draft memoranda, opinions and orders under the supervision of judges and their staff attorneys and law clerks. Students apply and extend their substantive legal knowledge and further develop their analytical, research, writing, and oral communication skills. Students also observe court proceedings and learn about court procedure and legal advocacy.
A fall or spring internship must extend over a period of at least 10 weeks between the first and last class day of the semester. Students work at the internship placement for at least 150 hours. Students who also enroll in the 1 credit Judicial Internship Program Supplement complete an additional 50 hours of work at the internship placement, for a total of at least 200 hours. Within these parameters, each intern arranges a mutually agreeable work schedule with the court. The internship must involve the student and the supervising attorney working in person; regular remote work is not permitted. Students and supervisors are expected to work together at their placement offices.
The weekly class covers a variety of topics relevant to the judicial process and working at a court, such as goal setting and reflection, judicial ethics, writing and communicating in chambers, judicial decision-making, statutory construction, and the organization and operation of the courts. Course requirements include reading assignments, class presentations, court observations, short reflective writing assignments, self-assessments, and timesheets. There will be a course packet available for purchase at the start of the semester. In addition to class meetings, students meet individually with the instructor several times during the internship to discuss their goals and review their progress.
Application Requirements: An application for approval to register is required. A student may not register until the instructor has approved the application. Before submitting an application to the instructor, a student must first apply for and obtain a judicial internship with an approved court in Austin. The student must be assigned to a specific judge on the court who agrees to participate in the Texas Law program. Approved courts include the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Third Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court (including the active and senior district court judges and the magistrate judges), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings, and the Travis County Probate Court. Many of these courts post internship openings on the Career Services Office's Job Bank on Symplicity. Others post information about internships on the court's website. Apply as soon as possible. Most courts accept applications and select interns for the fall semester during the prior spring semester, some as early as March. A few make their selections closer to the start of the semester. A student who wishes to intern for academic credit must obtain the internship and apply to the instructor in time to attend the first class meeting. For the application for approval to register and more information about the Judicial Internship Program, go to https://law.utexas.edu/internships/judicial-internship/.
This program is open to students who have completed the first two semesters of law school. Interns who receive academic credit may not be compensated. Students may enroll only once in a judicial internship for academic credit.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 597P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 5 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
APPLICATION REQUIRED. Instructors: Robert Kepple and Erik Nielsen. The objective of this course is to educate students on the law and legal issues commonly encountered in criminal prosecution, and to familiarize the students with the unique duties and responsibilities of a criminal prosecutor not simply as an advocate, but as a minister of justice.
The course consists of a 2-credit classroom component and a 3-credit internship program in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. All credits are pass/fail. The course is open to students who have completed the first two semesters of law school, but enrollment is limited and preference is given to students who have completed 43 credit hours or who are in their second semester of their second year of law school, and who would be eligible to appear in court for the State under the supervision of a licensed prosecutor. It is recommended that students have completed Evidence prior to this internship.
The classroom component of the course will require students to study substantive and procedural law and issues commonly-encountered by criminal prosecutors, covering topics such as charging instruments, discovery, search and seizure, jury selection, public integrity prosecution, trial tactics, evidence, post-conviction DNA, and oral advocacy. Students will also spend significant time discussing the unique ethical responsibilities and duties of a public prosecutor, with focus on the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the National Prosecution Standards.
Each student will also be assigned to a trial court prosecution team or to the Special Victims Unit in the District Attorney's office and will be supervised by prosecutors assigned to the court and the Unit. Students can expect to gain active experience in all aspects of the day-to-day functions of the public prosecutor, including the charging decision, pleading, discovery, motions to suppress evidence, motions to revoke probation, and the trial of the case. Commensurate with experience and opportunity, students may have the opportunity to actively participate in the courtroom proceedings.
Students are required to fill out applications for admission to the course and will consult with the instructors in advance regarding their court placement. Students must complete 150 hours of placement work for their internship. Each student will arrange a mutually convenient work schedule with their supervising attorney. Students may not receive compensation for their internship.
Internship: Public Service
- MON 3:55 – 5:10 pm JON 6.257
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 497P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 4 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This public service internship course has two components: (1) a weekly class, and (2) an internship with a government or nonprofit organization that involves delivering legal services and performing other law-related tasks under the supervision of an experienced lawyer employed by the organization. Students engage in legal work in public service offices, gaining hands-on experience that they reflect upon and analyze in a weekly class. Assignments address topics relevant to the legal profession and professional identity, including ethics, advocacy and communication skills, and professional self-development.
In their internships, students will develop lawyering skills important to their current stage of professional development. Placement supervisors are experienced attorneys who broadly expose students to the activities of their offices, oversee varied and demanding assignments, and provide regular feedback on student performance. Students are required to work at least 150 hours at their internships during the semester, and students may not receive financial compensation for their internship work. The internship must involve the student and the supervising attorney working in person; regular remote work is not permitted. Students and supervisors are expected to work together at their placement offices.
The classroom component of the course is designed to enhance the educational experience of students by giving them the opportunity to reflect on their internship and to understand the broader landscape in which their internship is situated. Through the seminar, students will deepen their understanding of public service lawyering, ethical issues that confront public sector lawyers, and the role of lawyers in increasing access to justice.
Application Requirements: Students must submit an application for permission to register for the course. The course is open to students who have completed the first two semesters of law school. Before submitting an application to the instructor, a student must first arrange an in-person government or nonprofit internship based in the Austin area. The instructor is available to consult with students about possible placements, and some organizations post opportunities on Symplicity. Each placement and supervising attorney must be approved by the instructor prior to registration. A student who wishes to intern for academic credit must obtain the internship and apply to the instructor before the first class meeting.
Students who have previously received credit through any of the other internship courses (nonprofit, legislative, judicial, etc.) are eligible to enroll in this course. Credits: 4 (graded pass/fail)
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 297P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 2 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
No scheduled meeting time.
Internship – APPLICATION REQUIRED. Contact the instructor for information about applying. Students must register for both Semester in Practice internship courses (one for 8 credits and one for 2 credits – for a total of 10 credits). Students must intern in-person at their field placements for this course, no remote internships will be approved.
Students in this clinical internship immerse themselves in practice, developing their professional skills and studying the role of lawyers and legal institutions. The course addresses topics relevant to public service lawyering in varied settings, including professionalism, ethics, advocacy, access to justice, the legal profession, and legal institutions.
For placements in the U.S., students intern have the opportunity to intern full-time in government, nonprofit and legislative offices located outside of the Austin area.
For placements outside the U.S., students have the opportunity to intern full-time with specialized courts, international institutions, and nongovernmental organizations.
Placement supervisors are experienced attorneys who expose students to the legal activities of their offices, oversee varied and demanding assignments, and provide regular feedback on student performance. Each student consults with the instructor to arrange his or her field placement, and each placement and supervisor must be approved by the instructor prior to registration. An international placement may be arranged in consultation with the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice or arranged independently
Students are required to intern for 500 hours and may not receive a salary for their internship work, although they may receive a modest stipend to offset unusual living or travel expenses. Students are expected to complete a number of written assignments and maintain close contact with the instructor during the internship.
Interested students should review the course website (https://law.utexas.edu/internships/application-information//) and then email the instructor (Eden Harrington, eharrington@law.utexas.edu) to arrange a time to discuss the course.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 897P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 8 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
No scheduled meeting time.
Internship – APPLICATION REQUIRED. Contact the instructor for information about applying. Students must register for both Semester in Practice internship courses (one for 8 credits and one for 2 credits – for a total of 10 credits). Students must intern in-person at their field placements for this course, no remote internships will be approved.
Students in this clinical internship immerse themselves in practice, developing their professional skills and studying the role of lawyers and legal institutions. The course addresses topics relevant to public service lawyering in varied settings, including professionalism, ethics, advocacy, access to justice, the legal profession, and legal institutions.
For placements in the U.S., students intern have the opportunity to intern full-time in government, nonprofit and legislative offices located outside of the Austin area.
For placements outside the U.S., students have the opportunity to intern full-time with specialized courts, international institutions, and nongovernmental organizations.
Placement supervisors are experienced attorneys who expose students to the legal activities of their offices, oversee varied and demanding assignments, and provide regular feedback on student performance. Each student consults with the instructor to arrange his or her field placement, and each placement and supervisor must be approved by the instructor prior to registration. An international placement may be arranged in consultation with the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice or arranged independently
Students are required to intern for 500 hours and may not receive a salary for their internship work, although they may receive a modest stipend to offset unusual living or travel expenses. Students are expected to complete a number of written assignments and maintain close contact with the instructor during the internship.
Interested students should review the course website (https://law.utexas.edu/internships/application-information//) and then email the instructor (Eden Harrington, eharrington@law.utexas.edu) to arrange a time to discuss the course.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 297P
- Experiential learning credit:
- 2 hours
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
No class meeting information is available for this class. Students will arrange their work schedules with their supervisors. They are expected to work about 10 hours per week during the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.
Exams: None
Registration Information:
This course is restricted to upper class students only. U.S. Attorney Internship – APPLICATION REQUIRED. Application and/or instructions on how to apply for this internship can be accessed on the web: https://law.utexas.edu/internships/u-s-attorney-internship/course-information/
To apply, please e-mail a copy of your cover letter, resume and transcript (unofficial is fine) to Professor Klein and AUSA Daniel M. Castillo. Please also send copies of the above to usatxw.staffing@usdoj.gov. Students interested in the internship are encouraged stop by Prof. Klein’s office at TNH 3.207 (her office hours Wed. from 4:00 to 5:30 pm). You may call or text her at (512) 203-2257, or send her an e-mail at sklein@law.utexas.edu. Alternatively, you may call Daniel Castillo at (512) 916-5858, or send him an e-mail.
** This course meets the Professional Skills requirement for graduation. **
Course Description:
This internship program offers students the opportunity to apply for “for-credit” internship positions with the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. This course offers students a two-credit internship to be completed over the fall 2024 semester and a two-credit internship to be completed over the spring 2025 semester, resulting in a total of 4 credits (pass/fail) for the academic year. This internship program is not available during either summer session. Students are required to commit to a full academic year.
Students may wish to enroll in the fall three-unit Adv. Fed. Crim. Prosecution & Defense seminar, co-taught by Prof. Klein and Aleza Remis. Students may also be interested in the three-unit Federal Criminal Law course taught by Prof. Klein in the spring and the seminar taught by Judge Robert Pitman. Applicants may benefit from having completed either Criminal Procedure course, Evidence, any upper-level criminal law course, and any internship or clinic in the criminal justice field. None of those courses are required.
The internship component requires a commitment to work 10 hours per week for each semester, though not all hours must be completed at the office. The U.S. Attorney's Office is downtown at 903 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 334, Austin, Texas, 78701. Students will assist in the prosecution of federal criminal cases under the supervision Daniel M. Castillo and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Students should expect to spend at least one day per week at the office or in federal court. Students must commit to both semesters.
The application deadline for the next academic year is Monday, March 25, 2024. Interviews are conducted at the Career Services Office or over Zoom. Though students will know whether or not they are admitted before fall registration, the unique registration number for the fall 2023 internship will not be available until April 15, 2024.
Additional information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office is available at: www.usdoj.gov/usao/txwd/.
Students may also review https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/law-student-volunteer-academic-year-2024-2025.
Jurisdiction & Judgments
- MON, TUE, WED 10:30 – 11:20 am TNH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 381D
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
Jurisdiction & Judgments is a course in Conflict of Laws. Conflict of Laws addresses issues that may arise when a dispute or transaction has connections with more than one state or country. The subject is generally divided into three interrelated topics: (1) territorial jurisdiction (and related doctrines), (2) choice of law, and (3) recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. This course focuses on the first and third topics: specifically, territorial jurisdiction, forum non conveniens, forum selection clauses, and the recognition and enforcement of judgments rendered by the courts of other states and countries. Choice of law is the focus of a separate course titled “Conflict of Laws,” and is covered in Jurisdiction & Judgments only to the extent necessary to fully understand the topics that are the focus of this course. At the end of the semester, students should have developed a sound understanding of the law governing jurisdiction and judgments, including policy considerations that may shape further development of the law.
Jurisprudence
- MON, WED 3:55 – 5:10 pm TNH 3.126
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 385C
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
The course will be a study of central question in the philosophy of law: What is the nature of law? What distinguishes a legal system from other systems of norms? What place if any does morality have in a legal system? Do the norms of a legal system determine the decisions judges make in the cases before them? Are judges, that is, constrained by legal norms in reaching decisions in those cases? Are there norms or methods of legal reasoning that judges should follow in reaching decisions? Readings for the course will be a mix of historical and contemporary writings, including those of Aquinas, Hobbes, John Austin, H. L A. Hart, and Ronald Dworkin. No previous study of philosophy will be assumed.
Law and Economics of Capital Markets and Financial Intermediation
- TUE, THU 2:00 – 3:30 pm RRH 5.408
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 392H-2
- Cross-listed with:
- Business, Government, And Society
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This course focuses on intermediaries in the capital markets -- those who trade, facilitate structure, or manage securities investments. Modern capital markets are dynamic and innovative, as creative and highly paid bankers, investment managers, and their lawyers attempt to navigate an ever-changing economic and regulatory environment. Students will gain an understanding of the institutional workings of the securities business and its legal regulation, with an eye toward recent developments and interesting economic problems. Topics include:
· Pre-IPO trading, IPO underwriting, SPACs, and other IPO alternatives;
· Investment companies, investment advisers, and broker dealers.
· Efficient markets theory and implications for investment advising;
· Structure and marketing of asset-backed securities, such as CDOs;
· Banking, shadow banking, and the demand for safe assets;
· Banking competitors, such as crypto/stablecoins and money market mutual funds;
· Market making, payment for order flow, and “gamification” of retail trading.
The course utilizes a case study approach, with examples drawn from (relatively) recent events, which include Facebook’s pre-IPO trading, Tether, the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, Goldman’s ABACUS trade, the Lehman collapse, Robin Hood, and GameStop.
Evaluation is based on class discussion/participation and student group presentations.
This course is aimed at students who are planning to work as investment bankers, investment managers, broker/dealers, or legal advisors thereto, and the goal of this course is to equip students with an overview of the economic concerns that drive much capital markets activity and the consequent legal regulation that attempts to improve capital markets operation. This course is intended to be an accessible survey for all business and law students; no prior knowledge of economics, securities markets, or law is assumed.
Law of Commercial Real Estate Finance and Development
- MON, WED 2:00 – 3:30 pm RRH 4.308
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 396W
- Cross-listed with:
- Legal Environment Of Business
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
Taught by Paula Murray.
The legal framework of commercial real estate finance and development, including basic real estate law concepts, legal aspects of financing techniques and instruments, subdivision land-use controls, environmental regulation of real estate development, and other topics.
Law of Music Festivals and Events
- THU 9:30 – 11:20 am TNH 3.129
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 196V
- Short course:
- 9/5/24 — 10/17/24
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
A survey of a range of core legal practice areas, including copyright, trademark, insurance, employment, immigration, contracts (with artists, sponsors, vendors and others), and working with municipalities using the backdrop of a live festival event. Expect guest lecturers from within the industry.
Legal Analysis and Communication
- TUE 9:05 – 10:12 am TNH 2.123
- THU 1:05 – 2:12 pm TNH 3.126
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 380S
- Experiential learning credit:
- 3 hours
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to problem-solving through law-practice simulation. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, predictive written analysis, and oral presentation of research results.
Legal Analysis and Communication
- TUE 10:30 – 11:37 am TNH 3.127
- THU 2:30 – 3:37 pm TNH 3.127
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 380S
- Experiential learning credit:
- 3 hours
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to problem-solving through law-practice simulation. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, predictive written analysis, and oral presentation of research results.
Legal Analysis and Communication
- THU 10:30 – 11:37 am TNH 2.124
- FRI 11:50 am – 12:57 pm TNH 2.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 380S
- Experiential learning credit:
- 3 hours
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to problem-solving through law-practice simulation. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, predictive written analysis, and oral presentation of research results.