SMNR: Selected Topics in Admiralty and Maritime Law

• Semester: Spring 2021
• Course ID: 397S
• Credit Hours: 3
• Unique: 29620

Description

This course will be taught in person but with the option of remote participation via Zoom.  Please note that this course might become online-only in the event that actual in-person attendance during the semester consistently falls below a threshold to be determined in the exercise of reasonable discretion by the instructor and the Student Affairs Office.

This writing seminar will examine selected topics of interest regarding all aspects of maritime law ranging from commercial law to "torts at sea." The field of maritime casualties and transactions involves issues ranging across much of the basic law school curriculum including civil procedure, comparitive law, conflicts of law, constitutional law, contracts, creditors' rights, environmental law, federal courts, insurance, international law, legislation, products liability, property, remedies, torts and workers' compensation.

In the early weeks of the semester students will be introduced to the broad legal background in this field. Thereafter emphasis will be placed on writing skills with maritime law as the subject matter. Guidance will be provided regarding topic selection - topics will be suggested, but students may select their own topic subject to approval. Subsequent sessions will consist largely of discussions of ongoing student research, draft paper review and their presentations of the results of their original research.

A traditional seminar paper will be required. During the semester students will present rough drafts of the paper for discussion, analysis and feed back. Class presentation of the paper will be an important aspect of the learning experience.

Although the seminar may be taken on a pass/fail basis, students in need of a required writing seminar will be assigned a letter grade based on the quality of the paper and participation in class.

Prior study or experience regarding maritime law will afford some advantage, but such is not a prerequisite.