First-Year Curriculum

Units: 2

Introduction to the field of jurisprudence, the academic discipline devoted to answering the fundamental question: What is law? We will explore the many ways that scholars have attempted to define law and legal systems against a series of related concepts, including morality, authority, power, politics, planning, rationality, coercion, obedience, and violence. Critiques the prevailing theories and attempts to construct the elements for an original definition of law through a series of short written assignments.

Units: 2-3

Explores the history of the common law and the development of Anglo-American legal institutions. Focuses on the evolution of the jury system and the distinction between law and equity.

Units: 2

Introduces second-year students to essential lawyering skills of trial and appellate advocacy. Lawyering Skills III & Appellate Advocacy must be taken during the second year. Meets Lawyering Skills IV requirement.

Units: 4

An introduction to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Concepts addressed include relevance, categorical rules of exclusion, character evidence, competency and credibility of witnesses, hearsay and its exceptions, privileges, authentication, and scientific evidence. May also address judicial notice and civil and criminal presumptions.

Units: 4

Introduces students to the principles and policies of federal income taxation. Provides a framework for recognizing and dealing with tax issues and with tax-related strategies or transactions encountered in other legal practice specialties, including a basic understanding of the major theoretical and structural issues posed by an income tax, and the policy considerations involved in resolving those issues; a basic knowledge of the individual income tax treatment of various types of business and personal transactions and events (including taxation of compensation and fringe benefits, the taxation of various types of investment vehicles, debt-financed property transactions, installment sales, issues related to capitalization and cost recovery, timing issues, and selected issues regarding taxation of the family); the skills necessary to apply a complex statute; an understanding of the planning function provided by tax lawyers; the technical grounding necessary for further tax study or research.

Units: 3

Units: 3-4

Focuses on the law governing corporations, as well as the law of agency, partnerships, and limited liability companies. Discussion will include the choice of business form, distribution of power between mergers and owners, fiduciary duties of managers, shareholder voting, and the special problems of close corporations.

Units: 3-4

Examines constitutional law in the criminal context, focusing on the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Topics explored include the selective incorporation doctrine, the exclusionary rule, the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, and the Fifth and Sixth Amendment's application in the area of confessions and interrogation.

Units: 3

Units: 2

Explores the intersections between criminal law and psychiatry/psychology. Discusses psychiatric diagnoses and the roles of mental health professionals within the criminal justice system, including "evaluator" and "expert." Topics include competency to stand trial, the insanity defense, false confessions, mental health and drug courts, and sex offenses and offenders.

Units: 3-4

Considers the transmission of property when an owner dies: laws of intestate distribution that are applied where there is no will; the use of wills , including rules of execution, change and interpretation; and the intention and use of trusts, with emphasis on the role of trusts in estate planning.

Units: 2-3

The common process by which the law produced by government agencies is produced and challenged. Study of the constitutional limits on bureaucratic power and structure and examination the most important sections of federal and state statutes that impose uniform procedures for the promulgation of regulations and the decision of cases before administrative tribunals. Specific examples from the work of agencies such as environmental protection agencies, industrial and professional licensing boards, labor relations boards, workers' compensation tribunals, and schools. Includes federal and state law. For their grades, students are invited to take a final examination or to produce case notes suitable for law review publication.

Units: 2-3

Surveys modern real estate transactions, such as condominiums, cooperatives, sales and leasebacks, leasehold mortgages, FHA and VA financing, tax consequences, title insurance, construction loan agreements, and shopping center leases.

Units: 2

Creation of agency relationships; contractual liability of principals (disclosed and undisclosed), agents and third parties; tort liability of principals; fiduciary duties of agents; partnership: creation, rights, and duties of partners, dissolution of partnerships; limited partnerships; limited liability companies (LLCs).

Units: 2-3

Control of private economic power in the United States, focusing on the law regarding monopolies, mergers, and restrictive business practices as regulated by the Sherman and Clayton acts. Some attention to other federal antitrust legislation such as the Federal Trade Commission Act and state antitrust enforcement.

Units: 1-3

A substantive overview of topics heavily tested on the Virginia Bar Exam.

Units: 3

Analysis of the legal relationships among children, families, and the state. Focus on how the law balances the rights and interests of children, their parents and caregivers, and the state under both the federal constitution and state law. Topics include the status, rights, and obligations of parents and children, and abuse and neglect of children, including the termination of parental rights. We will consider important and complex questions, for example, the appropriate balance between family autonomy and state regulation, and the effects of race, class, and gender on the legal rules in this area.

Units: 2

Law relating to negotiable instruments, bank deposits and collections, and electronic money transfers, with emphasis on Articles 3, 4, and 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, and Regulation CC.

Units: 2-3

Explores the core concepts involved in (1) sales and leases of goods,(2) notes, checks, and electronic forms of payment, (3) credit transactions involving letters of credit and (4) credit transactions involving collateral other than real property. Emphasize principles rather than specific rules.

Units: 3

Explores how lawyers can contribute to environmental protection through litigation, regulation, and policy advocacy. From Supreme Court decisions to local issues such as water pollution in the James River, examines the interaction of Congress, federal agencies, the states, and the courts in making and enforcing environmental law. Explores the professional roles of environmental lawyers and the perspectives of your potential future clients (environmental groups, government agencies, and businesses). Course coverage includes U.S. climate change policy, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Superfund statute. Course may include guest speakers and/or field trip.

Units: 3

Explores the law which applies to parties and transactions involving two or more states, or two or more nations. Emphasis on the variety of choice of law methodologies employed by American courts, including both traditional and modern approaches to choice of law. Also addresses such other issues raised by interstate and international transactions as recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, long-arm jurisdiction, and constitutional limitations on choice of law decisions. Throughout the course, an attempt will be made to offer a comparative look at the way judicial systems of other nations deal with these issues. Assessment: The grade in this course will be based on one final examination, as well as class participation.

Units: 2-3

Introduction to the taxation of corporations and their shareholders, from formation of the corporation to liquidation. Builds on knowledge and skills acquired in the Federal Income Taxation course by examining the tax consequences of corporate events such as formation, capital contributions, distributions, redemptions, stock dividends, and liquidations. In addition, considers substance versus form questions in structuring corporate transactions, choice of business entity issues, the debt/equity distinction, tax shelters, and Congressional and administrative responses to taxpayer behavior. Class discussion focuses on problems designed to develop and test step-by-step understanding of corporate tax fundamentals. There is an examination at the end of the course.

 

LAWE600

Units: 3

Introduces students to the substantive knowledge, thought process, and writing skills needed for success on the Virginia Bar Exam. The learning methodology will be iterative, consisting of substantive lectures and materials followed by extensive practice-testing and analysis. Begins by reviewing the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) subjects; the majority of the course will then cover heavily-tested Essay Examination subjects. Practice-testing will use actual MBE and Essay Examination questions, and all substantive materials will be written by the instructor. Students will be able to quantify their progress during the semester, both individually and relative to their peers. All students will also meet individually with the instructor to discuss their progress and specific steps they can take to maximize their odds on the Bar Exam. Please note that this course is not remedial; on the contrary, the course will cover a significant amount of substantive information and will be fast-paced, particularly in the second half of the semester. Grading will be Pass/Fail based on timely and complete submission of weekly assignments and regular attendance. Students will be required to complete weekly assignments in order to pass the course.

Units: 3

Federal and Virginia procedures at various stages of a criminal prosecution, including bail, preliminary hearings, indictments, discovery, speedy trial, double jeopardy, plea bargaining, jury selection, venue, and jurisdiction.

Units: 3

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Units: 3

Legal and policy issues concerning race, gender, socioeconomic, and other types of diversity. Topics include Equal Protection law, affirmative action, employment discrimination law, the potential benefits of diversity, and problems that arise in diverse institutions and organizations.

Units: 2-3

Study of federal laws prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, and disability. The primary focus of the course will be on the theories of discrimination that have evolved under the various antidiscrimination laws. Also focuses on specific issues relating to particular types of discrimination such as sexual harassment, sexual orientation discrimination, retaliation and reasonable accommodation of religion and disability. Analyzes the policy underlying the laws and whether the laws are effectively achieving the statutory goal of eliminating workplace discrimination. Discusses the effective use of the federal rules of civil procedure in employment litigation. The grade will be based on a final examination and class participation.

Units: 3

Analysis of statutory and common law regulation of the employment relationship, including employer testing and information gathering, wage and hour regulation, OSHA, workers compensation, wrongful discharge and other common law actions challenging discharge, unemployment compensation, and ERISA. Consideration of what role the law should play in various aspects of the employment relationship.

Units: 2

Provides a primer on the tools and processes of legislative advocacy for lawyers. Students will learn from subject-matter experts and participate several advocacy simulations, including a final simulation in which students will draft a piece of legislation and present it to a committee made up of legislators, lobbyists, and other policy experts. A paper that outlines explaining the rationale behind the bill, along with lessons learned after the panel presentation, will accompany this final simulation. Graded Pass/Fail.

Units: 3-4

Prepares students to (1) interview the client, (2) conduct informal fact investigation, (3) choose the proper forum, (4) draft, file and serve a complaint, (5) respond to a complaint with an answer or motion to dismiss, (6) seek or resist discovery, whether informally or through motion practice, (7) evaluate opportunities for summary judgment, (8) obtain post-judgment judicial relief in the trial court, (9) evaluate the prospects of reversal through appeal, and (10) collect money owed on judgments Also includes the law of preclusion, the law of remedies, and basic choice of law rules. The course strongly emphasizes the practical over the theoretical, and breadth of knowledge over depth of knowledge.

Units: 3

Refines and builds on the skills covered in Trial Practice or Lawyering Skills by using more complex civil and criminal problems and files developed by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy for training the more experienced trial advocate. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of a case theory and the choosing of an appropriate case theme for the more complex case. Covers use of demonstrative evidence, including photographs, charts, white boards, overheads, videos, and computer simulations. Enrollment limited. While both civil and criminal problems will be used in the class, special emphasis is placed upon civil litigation and trying a complex civil case.

 

LAWR598

Units: 2-3

The nature of the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes and deal with issues that arise in connection with these taxes, such as valuing assets, calculating the tax, determining when a gift is made, qualifying for the gift tax annual exclusion, and determining which assets are included in the decedent's gross estate. Emphasis will be on general concepts and not on technical details.

Units: 2

Focuses on technologies that create uncertainties in the law of armed conflict and national security law. Basic understanding of these legal regimes. Explores complicated international and domestic regulatory issues including private actors control global communications systems, social media, satellites, and currencies, all of which are vulnerable to manipulation and increasingly autonomous systems and vehicles, such as drones and driverless vehicles, that can be weaponized by states or non-state actors to devastating effect. Develops the intellectual flexibility required to understand and respond to the challenges posed by new and emerging weapons or weaponizable technologies; identify and address related ethical concerns; and be better able to anticipate and respond to future developments. (No prior knowledge of the law of armed conflict, national security law, or technology is necessary.)

Units: 2-3

Nature and formation of a partnership; taxation of partnership income; transactions between related parties; termination of partnership; sale of partnership interest; distribution by partnership; special basis adjustment; and distribution to retiring or deceased partners. Also includes treatment of pass-through entities.

 

LAWE600

Units: 3

Explores the federal courts in detail, paying special attention to the scope of their constitutional and statutory powers. Building on concepts of Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure, addresses topics such as the federal courts' power to declare constitutional meaning, Congress' power to control federal jurisdiction, the relationship between federal and state courts, and the current scope of federal jurisdiction (including topics such as justiciability, federal question jurisdiction, and state sovereign immunity). Also introduces students to federal law pertaining to civil rights and habeas corpus actions, both of which are frequently litigated in federal courts.

Units: 3

Studies the economic, administrative, political, and constitutional constraints on state and local taxation ("SALT"). Does not concentrate on the laws of any particular state nor is any prior course in taxation required. Focuses on the various restraints imposed on the states' systems of taxation. Emphasis is on corporate income taxation and sales and use taxation, but some attention will be placed on individual income taxation..

Units: 2

Explores the themes rule of law v. equity; law, justice, and morality; the role of narrative; and the role of the lawyer in counseling and advocating for a client by reading literary texts (that may include classic texts, modern texts, graphic novels, etc.) and viewing some films/film excerpts. Variety of genres furthers the exploration of effective communication techniques and the role of narrative in different forms. Classroom discussions are designed to explore justice and the law through fictional stories, challenging students to reflect upon their role as lawyers in our legal system.

Units: 3

Combines both advanced legal research and writing instruction with a client-based experience. Provides students with an opportunity to explore advanced legal research in the public policy field, develop their writing skills in the context of creating an issue paper, and engage in client relations with nonprofit organizations from the greater Richmond community.

Units: 4

Provides students with opportunity to work directly with a law firm—including for-profit and non-profit firms—on a real-life market opportunity that the firm might pursue. Students will be embedded with lawyers and other professionals at the firm and, working together, develop a pitch for firm leadership on the advisability of particular opportunities. Consists of an introductory “bootcamp” on design and innovation (usually held over a weekend), bi-weekly meetings with the firm, and a capstone experience involving the final pitch to firm leadership.

Units: 3

Survey of intellectual property law, including copyright, trademark, patent and other subject matters. Serves as the foundation course for the specialist who wishes to pursue the Intellectual Property certificate, but also a good choice for the generalist who simply wants to learn the basics of intellectual property law.

Units: 2-3

Problems in international trade and investment; regulation of international trade by national governments and international agencies. Emphasis on lawyer's role in counseling firms engaged in international activities.

Units: 3

Basic principles, including sources of international law, settlement of international disputes, responsibilities and immunities of sovereign states, human rights, and the machinery of international law and justice.

Units: 3

Analysis of origin and scope of National Labor Relations Act and role of the National Labor Relations Board and the courts in interpreting the statute. Focus on right of employees to organize unions, choice of bargaining representative, strikes and picketing, and negotiation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreement.

Units: 2-3

Government control of use of land and eminent domain. Zoning, subdivision control, and urban redevelopment and planning.

Units: 3

Explores the history and original understanding of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. The aftermath of the Civil War witnessed the adoption of three revolutionary amendments that transformed the structure of American freedom. The Thirteenth Amendment eradicated slavery along with its badges and incidents. The Fourteenth Amendment established birthright citizenship and announced the nationalized protection of individual liberty. The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed black males the vote, not only in the South but throughout the United States. Studies original historical documents relating to the adoption and early understanding of all three Amendments and requires a paper exploring an aspect of this critical period in our constitutional history. Meets upperlevel writing requirement..

Units: 3

Units: 3

Designed to prepare students for TechLaw careers. Considers the interplay of law, technological design, norms, and the market as modalities of regulation; competing strategies for updating the law through courts, legislatures, administrative agencies, and international institutions; efforts by incumbent and newcomer industries to use the law to promote their preferred business models; and the legal implications of other political, economic, and social impacts associated with legally disruptive technologies.

Units: 3

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Units: 3

An exploration of individual rights in the federal constitution, covering the speech, press, and free exercise rights in the First Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms in the Second Amendment, and the rights of equal protection and due process in the Fourteenth Amendment.

Units: 2

Units: 2

Introduces students to basic business principles and then reinforces this knowledge through application to actual business settings. There are two parts to the course. Part I will be a series of online modules on the business disciplines of Accounting, Finance and Management, where student learning will be evaluated through online assessments. Part II will be five in-person class meetings during the week before the Spring semester, where each day will cover a different business case involving actual firms and the business disciplines of Accounting, Finance and Management. Student learning will be evaluated through a short write-up for each case, verbal participation during class, and a take-home project based on a comprehensive business case. After completing the course, students will have a greater ability to apply their business knowledge in actual business settings.

Units: 2-3

Analyzes the affirmative cause of action for personal injuries caused by defective products, applicable defenses, and other relevant theoretical, policy and practical issues. Emphasis is on strict liability in tort under Section 402A of the Restatement of Torts and national developments; however, relevant Virginia developments will be assessed.

Units: 2-3

Examines the legal and public policy considerations regarding intellectual property protection in various fields and industries. In particular, explores whether intellectual property protection and enforcement is beneficial and necessary for the creation, development, and commercialization of different ideas, expressions, and other intangibles.

Units: 3

Putting legal theory into the practical context of its ultimate remedy for the client, covers primarily equitable remedies Covers the equitable remedies of bills of peace, receiverships, injunctions to enforce contracts, injunctions to prevent torts, constructive trusts to prevent unjust enrichment, restitution, equitable defenses, contempt of court, etc and a broad range of general legal topics, including the remedies available for breach of contract, commission of torts, waste and nuisance to property, civil procedure (injunctions and contempt of court), etc. Looks at the broad areas of the law from the point of view of the remedy available to the litigant. Method of Assessment: The students argue each of the cases, and then there is class discussion. At the end of the course, each student will be required to write a 1,000 word essay on some topic of equity, and there will also be an examination.

Units: 2

Technical and legal aspects of scientific aids in the trial of civil and criminal cases. Scientific experts participate as guest lecturers.

 

LAWE599

Units: 2-3

Discussion of the theory of disclosure, examination of information that is important to investors ("material" in securities lingo), and investments that fall within the definition of a "security" under federal law. Considers, mandatory disclosure by public companies; antifraud statutes (some of which apply only to public companies and some to both public and private companies); Rule 10b-5 (complete with some insider trading law); the law governing public offerings of securities; the exemptions that permit a company to sell securities outside the elaborate registration process that governs public offerings; and the rules governing re-sales. Focuses exclusively on federal law and its variety (statutes, rules and regulations, court rulings, SEC staff bulletins, no action letters, comment letters, etc.). Also considers selected aspects of enforcement of the securities laws by the SEC, the federal criminal authorities, and private lawsuits. Attendance will be both recorded and required.

 

LAWE 602

Units: 3

Practice-oriented exposure to regulatory law and to legal careers working within and against government agencies. Assignments include client counseling, negotiating against the government, multi-stakeholder policy planning, writing and enforcing regulations, complaint drafting, and litigation settlement. Interactive class sessions will be devoted to problems drawn from environmental law, health, financial reform, and other areas. Grading will be based on writing assignments and in-class presentations. There is no final exam. Meets Law Skills IV requirement.

Units: 2

Units: 1

Expands the basics of legal research learned in first-year lawyering skills to specific legal issues in Virginia. Work with common Virginia primary and secondary legal resources used in all three branches of Virginia government and complete graded research problems drawn from current legal issues in the state. Pro bono and community engagement for class working with a local attorney to answer questions asked through the Virginia bar¿s pro bono legal answers portal.

Units: 3

Specialized course in Virginia civil procedure which covers the subject of procedure from the point of view of practice in the Virginia state courts. Covers every aspect of procedure from self-help, subject matter jurisdiction, active jurisdiction, service of process, venue, parties, pleading, discovery, pre-trial motions, motions at trial, post-verdict motions, judgments, costs, and appeals Taught by lecture and discussion.

Units: 3

Focus on the laws and policies that govern the exploitation of energy resources and the production and distribution of electricity. Includes an introduction to the structure of energy law, and in particular its unique hybrid of three types of laws: (1) natural resources laws (laws regulating individual energy resources such as coal and oil); (2) public utility laws; and (3) environmental laws. Also focuses on the laws and policies that affect resources most important to the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly the laws governing coal, natural gas, and electricity. Further study of electricity restructuring (deregulation) and the ongoing Virginia and federal experience with it (including innovative use of market mechanisms) and global climate change and its relationship to energy industries. Course Requirements: Class discussion, possible in-class simulations and exercises, and either a final paper or a final examination at the end of the semester.

Units: 3

A general introduction to international human rights. Issues covered include nature of concept of human rights; origin and development of the International Bill of Rights; thematic procedures available for protection of human rights in the United Nations; standards and methods for international fact finding on human rights; cultural relativity in human rights law; implementation of the International Covenants on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in the United States; the Inter-American Human Rights Process; and the ability of the United States to impact human rights in Third-World countries

Units: 2-3

Explores the rhetorical roots of argument, the “five types of argument” described by Wilson Huhn, and the psychology of persuasion. Using client hypotheticals based on labor and employment law, develops the skills needed to craft persuasive arguments in written and oral form. Students will write a persuasive brief and conduct oral argument.

Units: 2

In-depth analysis of pretrial lawyering skills using interdisciplinary materials. Explores interpersonal relationships, focusing on role of attorney in relation to client, the legal system (including other attorneys), and society. Classroom discussion and development of own skills through weekly audio- and video-taped simulations. Enrollment limited.

Units: 2

Introduction to the theory and practice of negotiations. Game theory, economic model bargaining, social-psychological theories and the problem-solving negotiation theory are each studied. Explores the different negotiation styles, techniques of preparation and information gathering, persuasion and the process of exchange in bargaining. Both dispute resolution and transactional negotiations are reviewed.

Units: 2-3

Designed for students generally interested in public policy issues as well as for those specializing in tax. Focuses on the policies and structures of a well designed tax system; examines the goals, politics, and history of tax reform; and provides an overview of the central policy issues raised by income-based and consumption-based tax systems.

Units: 2-3

Articles 2 (Sales) and 2A (Leases) of the Uniform Commercial Code, including the structure and methodology of the Uniform Commercial Code, as it is reflected in Articles 2 and 2A, and the Code's relationship to, similarities with, and differences from the general law of contract, property and tort.

Units: 3

Examines American constitutional law pertaining to religion, speech, and the media, including the law pertaining to aid for sectarian schools, prayer in public schools, conscientious objection, censorship, association, and access to trials and state secrets.

Units: 3

An introduction to the law governing contractually created interests in personal property used to secure payment or performance of obligations. Study of the creation, perfection, priority and enforcement of security interests in personal property under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Also includes an examination of relevant provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and some other state and federal statutes that affect security interests.

Units: 2

In this Law Skills IV pilot course, Application of contract law principles to the drafting of contracts through weekly written exercises, drafting assignments, and negotiations. Techniques to draft clear and accurate contracts and to effectively review contracts drafted by others. Several exercises will include ethical considerations in contract drafting. Meets Lawyering Skills IV requirement.

Units: 2-4

Focuses on the federal and state laws and regulations applicable to the health care industry, with a particular focus on the regulation of health care providers. Topics covered include: laws regulating referral relationships between health care providers (e.g., the federal anti-kickback statute, the federal Ethics in Patient Referrals Act and the Virginia Practitioner Self-Referral Act); the federal False Claims Act and the false claims provisions of the Social Security Act; application of the antitrust laws to health care providers; licensure of health care providers; and, state certificate of need laws.

Units: 3

Units: 3

Traces the history of voting rights law in the United States, considers how the passage of various Amendments to the United States Constitution and the passage and reauthorizations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have affected how voting rights are defined and provided by states, analyzes how those laws have affected how states distribute political power through redistricting, and studies how the development of voting rights law will likely affect the future of voting rights in America.

Units: 3

Legal research and analysis on cutting-edge, contemporary international law issues. Provide advice as requested by international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank. At the end of the semester, may present the outcome of the research projects to requesting parties in Washington, DC and/or New York.

 

LAWE643

Units: 2-3

If a cop frisks you when he shouldn't, can you collect damages from him? If a public school requires prayer before every class, what can you do stop the constitutional violation? If you call 911 and the dispatcher fails to dispatch an officer, have your rights been violated? These and many other questions are addressed in this class, the ultimate goal of which is to provide students with the knowledge necessary to enforce constitutional rights through litigation. Includes (1) several commonly-litigated constitutional rights (such as abuse by a police or corrections officer), (2) the types of defendants that can be sued, (3) the common defenses, and (4) the nature and scope of the available remedies. Also provides the opportunity to assess the underlying causes of official misconduct, the limits of litigation as a civil rights enforcement tool, and whether alternate means of enforcement might be preferable.

Units: 3

Study of what are generally considered to be business or organizational crimes. Topics to be explored may include: mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, public corruption, perjury (including false statements and false claims liability), money laundering, federal sentencing guidelines, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, grand jury practice and internal investigations.

Units: 2

Mediation from the perspectives of both the advocate and the mediator, giving participants insight into the mediation process and reasons for the elements of the process. Selection and evaluation of the mediation alternatives and potential mediators for a better case fit, increasing the likelihood of a successful mediation. Highly experiential.

Units: 2-3

Topics covered include an analysis of corporate financial statements; security pricing; and other investment topics. No preliminary ability in finance is assumed and basic skills such as the time value of money are introduced. Microsoft Excel is utilized for most calculations.

Units: 2

A survey course addressing legal issues presented by both professional and amateur sports in a variety of settings. Examines such issues as the legal concept of amateurism, the organization of amateur sports associations, and eligibility for participation as an amateur, especially in the context of intercollegiate athletics Also focuses on gender and disability discrimination issues, the organization of professional sports with the power of the commissioner and the organization of leagues. The application of antitrust law to amateur and professional sports will also be examined, along with issues presented by the representation of professional athletes and the enforcement of sports contracts. Criminal and tort liability issues presented by sports participation will also be discussed, along with workers compensation and drug testing issues.

Units: 1

Seeks to develop analytical and writing skills in the area of tax law through participating in the American Bar Association's Law Student Tax Challenge (LSTC). Requires two-person teams to solve a complex problem that might arise in everyday tax practice, and to prepare a memorandum and client letter on the problem. Should submission qualify, students must be willing to attend the ABA Midyear Meeting, typically held in late January. Co-requisite: Federal Income Taxation. Enrollment by permission only.

Units: 2

(Offered only in Cambridge Summer Program). Surveys institutions of the EU and examines substantive principles of EU law and their integration into the legal systems of member countries.

Units: 2

Introduces and compares several legal traditions, including the civil law, Islamic law and the legal systems of China and Japan. Emphasizing on the civil law tradition, examines shared legal roots in archaic/chtonic and Roman law and their distinct evolution in England, on the continent, and in Asia. Focusing on German law (contracts, tort, property and criminal law), introduces civil law methodology and logic as well as procedure. The final grade will mainly be based on a paper, which the student presents in class.

Units: 1

Units: 12

Units: 2

Introduction to one of the most controversial criminal justice issues of our time¿the death penalty. Historical examination of the forces that led to abolition of the death penalty in 1972 and reinstatement in 1976, ushering in the modern death penalty era. Survey of the most prominent issues associated with the death penalty, including its justifications, cost, constitutional regulation, execution methods, housing on death row, and claims of arbitrariness, disproportionate imposition on race and class grounds, inadequate capital defense, and potential for convicting the innocent. Considers the American death penalty from a global perspective to understand the movement toward worldwide abolition and why the United States is or is not a part of it.

Units: 13

Examination of statutory and constitutional employment rights of public employees in federal, state, and local government. Concentration on legal framework for union organization and collective bargaining rights of public employees. Comparative analysis of various approaches to government employee rights, including analysis of relevant public policy issues.

Units: 13

Units: 2

Issues of law and policy affecting the entertainment industry.

Units: 2

Specialized course in Virginia family law procedure concentrates on actual practice in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Equips the JDR practitioner with the particular procedural aspects of jurisdiction, venue, parties, and appeals in criminal, child support, delinquency, abuse and neglect/foster care and custody cases. Taught by lecture, discussion and practical exercises.

Units: 2-4

Explores what happens when a business or consumer defaults on debts. While most of the classes will deal with the Bankruptcy Code, we will also cover Virginia creditors rights law.

Units: 2-3

Focuses on the law governing corporate mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and proxy contests. Discussion will include transaction structure, purchase agreements, stockholder litigation, and relevant state and federal laws, with a primary focus on fiduciary duties in the context of buying and selling a business.

 

LAWE 602 with a minimum grade of D

Units: 3

Examines the legal rules governing family relationships and the policies and principles underlying them. Focuses on the following topics: who can marry; the rights, duties, and obligations of marriage; the state's interest in marriage; the dissolution of marriage; property distribution upon dissolution; the arrangements between divorced parents regarding the custody, support and visitation of children; and various jurisdictional issues relating to marriage, divorce, and custody. A central inquiry of the course will explore what a "family" is, and how the definition of "family" varies according to context, reflecting social values and policy goals. Also pays special attention to policy-based and theoretical questions about families, including how race, gender, and class affect the law's regulation of families, as well as the regulation of nontraditional families. Course materials will cut across multiple legal disciplines, such as constitutional law, criminal law, and contracts.

Units: 2

Exploration of this emerging field of law with an emphasis on the latest cases, legislation and legal theory behind it. Areas of study include anti-cruelty; dogfighting; cockfighting; standing; wills and trusts benefitting animals; factory farming; The Endangered Species Act; non-economic damages for harm done to companion animals; and litigation over the treatment and welfare of animals. Classes will incorporate real world contributions from many of those people directly affected by animal law, including veterinarians, prosecutors, activists and lawyers.

Units: 2

A practical survey of workers' compensation in Virginia. Focuses on providing a substantive overview of the law, combined with projects geared toward teaching students to handle actual workers' compensation cases, from the investigation and filing of a claim through hearing and appeal.

Units: 2

Policy clinic that is a unique collaboration between law students and professional prosecutors through a partnership with the Committee on Justice and Professionalism of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (VACA). Through readings and discussions with experienced prosecutors, judges, police, defense attorneys and others, students are introduced to the professional roles of prosecutors, to their ethical responsibilities, and to the challenges faced by modern prosecutors in seeking to do justice in a rapidly changing environment. Through research and analysis, students assist the VACA Committee in its efforts to study and address issues of importance to prosecutors and the public.

Units: 1

Explores the legal and policy responses to poverty in the United States and addresses how the law shapes the lives of poor people and communities. Special focus upon the Greater Richmond area, examining the extent of poverty, the root causes, and the historical development of social welfare policy. Focuses on the rights-based aspect of poverty law and various policies that attempt to ameliorate poverty.

Units: 2

(Offered only in Cambridge.) Consideration of various discrete issues of public international law, including statehood, boundaries, the law of war, jurisdiction and state responsibility, and their relation to municipal law.

Units: 2-3

An overview of corporate governance today and the frauds that prompted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("SOX"), particularly WorldCom and Enron. Includes most of the major SOX reforms and related changes in stock exchange listing standards. Also treats selected topics such as CEO pay, activist investors (such as hedge funds), investments by sovereign foreign wealth funds, and the role of attorneys in corporate governance today. In addition, considers what the recent credit crisis tells us about corporate governance and addresses the increasing role of government as a direct investor in corporations and as a newly empowered regulator of decisions that boards of directors and CEOs used to make by themselves. Each student must prepare a paper, putting it through two drafts and producing a final that meets all upper level writing requirement criteria. Students take no exam.

 

LAWE 602 with a minimum grade of D-

Units: 2

Introduction to the administrative law of veterans benefits. Focus on the public policy behind veterans benefits, the practical aspects of filing disability compensation claims with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and appealing the denials of such claims. Analysis of current legislative efforts to reform the veterans benefits system.

Units: 2

Delineates the ethical responsibilities of lawyers in family law cases. Issues related to the lawyer-client relationships: communication and confidentiality; conflicts of interests; controlling the case; ethical tactics; ethical negotiations; mediation; and other ethical duties of the family law practitioner are surveyed. Designed to encourage the study and elevate the standards of those who practice family law. There will be case studies and examples of issues that are presented to the practicing family lawyer on a day-to-day basis. The course will combine theory and practice as it relates to helping to guide the practicing lawyer through the maze of ethical issues that are constantly arising in the family law practice. This course is required for those students seeking the Certificate of Concentration in Family Law.

 

LAWE 707 with a minimum grade of D

Units: 2-3

A rapidly growing and promising practice area, corporate compliance involves the design, implementation, and monitoring of corporate policies and procedures for reducing the risk of violations within a company. Studies the role of compliance officers within the corporate structure and examines a sampling of federal laws that create especially acute compliance challenges, such as anti-corruption, environmental, health care, and employment law. Students will interact with practicing lawyers and compliance professionals to help understand a company's compliance challenges in practical terms.

Units: 2-3

Explores the theories of criminal punishment, the criminal sentencing process, and contemporary issues in sentencing. Topics include: the traditional justifications for criminal punishment--retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation--and the shifting historical prominence of these justifications; the factors that influence punishment, such as the characteristics of the offense and the offender; the role of judicial, executive, and legislative branch actors in setting sentencing law and policy; and the implementation of the federal sentencing guidelines. Also explores systemic sentencing issues, such as racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and modern sentencing reform efforts.

Units: 2-3

This course requires special approval for registration; contact the professor for details.

Units: 1-4

Uses an ongoing an international sports competition to addresses several salient international anti-corruption issues, including bribery, money laundering, bank secrecy, tax evasion, etc.

Units: 2

Reviews some of the major ethical considerations that confront prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys, including ethical considerations surrounding the discovery process, ethical pleading principles, joint defense agreements, inadvertent disclosures, resolving disputes with clients regarding trial tactics, communicating with clients effectively, and setting and collecting fees. Students will examine these and similar questions by studying case opinions, selected secondary materials, and applicable ABA Model Rules of Professional responsibility, and by participating in weekly discussion.

Units: 2-4

Examines laws that prohibit the bribing of foreign government officials for business purposes, focusing principally on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but also examining the UK Bribery Act, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and the UN Convention Against Corruption. Analyzes these laws from both a practice-oriented compliance perspective and a policy perspective.

Units: 2-3

Methods for responding to conflict or crime in a collaborative manner that prioritizes healing, prevention, and community-based reconciliation. Considers the theory of restorative justice and explore restorative practices in various U.S. contexts including criminal justice (adult and juvenile), educational institutions, and community-based reconciliation in the wake of systematic injustice. Explores the emergent conception of "restorative lawyering" and inquires into the potential role of restorative principles throughout the practice of law. Meets upper-level writing requirement.

Units: 3

Covers fundamental doctrines of patent law and is designed to serve as a basic course for those who wish to specialize in this field, as well as to provide a general background for a corporate or business practice. Topics will include eligible subject matter for patenting; conditions for patentability, including utility, novelty, non-obviousness, enablement, best mode, definiteness, and adequate written description; patent infringement; defenses; and remedies. Will study statutory aspects of patent law, as well as judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit Court. Further, course will consider justifications for the patent monopoly. An engineering or science background is not required to take the course.

Units: 13

This course requires special approval for registration; contact the professor for details.

Units: 5-7

Students placed with national and international corporations. Focuses on topics related to the role of in-house counsel, substantive issues related to the work of in-house counsel, and professionalism issues. See the Director of Externships for more details.

Units: 2

Explores legal research strategies and resources more comprehensively and in-depth than what is covered during first year as well as an increased emphasis on electronic resources. Review of primary American legal sources in all types of formats plus extensive coverage of legal research in selected subject areas, such as international law, federal taxation, and labor and employment law.

Units: 5-7

Placements that primarily involve litigation. The course focuses on the litigation process, trial techniques, and professionalism. See the Director of Externships for more details.

Units: 5-7

Placements are available with non profit lawyers as well as local, state, and federal government lawyers working on civil law matters. Opportunities are offered in the areas of litigation, public policy, legislative advocacy, and regulatory law. Two-hour classroom component required. Graded pass/fail. See the Director of Externships for more details.

Units: 5-7

Placements with state and federal prosecutors and public defenders. Students must have completed the requirements for third year practice certification for all placements, except the Capital Defender's Office, which handles death penalty cases. Two-hour classroom component required. Graded pass/fail. See the Director of Externships for more details.

Units: 5-7

Placements are offered in the chambers of both state and federal judges. Students assume the role of a law clerk. Opportunities are available at both the trial and appellate levels. Two-hour classroom component required. Graded pass/fail. See the Director of Externships for more details.

Units: 6

Students advocate on behalf of children appearing before area juvenile courts. In the majority of cases, students serve as defense counsel for youth accused of delinquency (criminal) offenses. Students are also occasionally assigned to work on other cases which involve children's issues such as abuse and neglect or custody.

Units: 2-3

Addresses the legal and policy issues that arise at the intersection of immigration law, criminal law, and criminal procedure. Explores how individuals perceived to have violated a criminal offense are treated in the immigration law system, how individuals thought not to be citizens of the United States are uniquely affected by criminal procedure norms and substantive criminal law, and how states and the federal government have sought to police criminal activity by noncitizens. Analysis of constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions concerning immigration and the procedural and substantive requirements concerning criminal proceedings as they affect noncitizens.

Units: 4

A hands-on opportunity to develop strategies for Virginia companies seeking to expand their businesses in foreign markets. Students meet with a Virginia business client to define the scope of their project, identify legal issues, research foreign and domestic laws, develop legal strategies, and then present their findings to the client’s executives and senior management. Law students team with MBA students from a participating business school to prepare international business plans and then co-present their work to the client. The teams prepare and deliver comprehensive presentations of their strategies and the legal issues they have identified as the cap stone to their work

Units: 2

Explores the statutory and policy aspects and underpinnings of immigration law, including immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications, admission and exclusion issues, immigration compliance and immigration reform.

Units: 2-3

Explore the law and policy of housing. Considers the housing market in the United States, both for renters and for homeowners. Topics may include housing affordability, inclusionary/exclusionary zoning, the subprime mortgage crisis, government programs, and housing discrimination.

Units: 2

Liability of physician for injuries arising out of the physician patient relationship. Includes coverage of standard of care, causation, informed consent, intentional torts, and recoverable damages.

Units: 4

Study of the law that impacts the elderly. Application of knowledge by giving legal advice to elderly clients through a medical-legal partnership with the VCU Health System. Topics include public benefit programs, the aging network, health care decision making, housing, guardianship, asset management, wills, planning for disability, and elder abuse. Client advising will include powers of attorney, living wills, simple estate planning, guardianship, long-term care, and grandparenting issues.

Units: 3

Will cover federal and common-law trademark law, trade secrets, and unfair competition. Within the unfair competition section, topics will include interference with contractual relations, trade libel, unfair competition under the Lanham Act, publicity rights, and consumer protection. Will also examine public policies and economic considerations underlying these rules that govern competition within the marketplace. In addition to these basic topics, will cover areas of current interest, such as the application of traditional principles to non traditional media, i.e. the Internet.

Units: 2-3

A topical introductory course addressing the causes of wrongful convictions. The readings are multi-disciplinary and heavily drawn from law review articles. Class participation is an important piece. The class has several guest speakers who address public policy issues in the area of wrongful convictions. Those who take this course have priority for the spring clinic, but students not planning on the clinic are also encouraged to enroll. There is no final exam.

Units: 1-6

With faculty permission, students who have completed a clinical experience in Intellectual Property may enroll for advanced clinical work in the same field for between two and six credits. Advanced students will take leadership roles in clinic matters and complete a significant project over the course of the semester.

 

LAWE 790 with a minimum grade of D-

Units: 2-6

With supervision from the director of the Institute of Actual Innocence, students will screen, investigate and, when possible, help prepare cases for post-conviction litigation under Virginia's Writs of Actual Innocence. Litigation work is only possible when a case has matured to that level. Students will work in teams. The cases selected for investigation and litigation are those where there is substantial evidence of innocence. Prerequisite: First priority for enrollment goes to students who have completed the Wrongful Conviction Seminar (770). Students who have not completed the seminar must obtain approval to enroll in the clinic.

Units: 1-6

With faculty permission, students who have completed a clinical experience in the Wrongful Conviction Clinic may enroll for advanced clinical work in the same field for between two and six credits. Advanced students will take leadership roles in clinic matters and complete a significant project over the course of the semester.

 

LAWE774

Units: 1-6

With faculty permission, students who have completed a clinical experience in the Children’s Defense Clinic enroll for advanced clinical work in the same field for between two and six credits. Advanced students will take leadership roles in clinic matters and complete a significant project over the course of the semester.

 

LAWE 753 with a minimum grade of D-

Units: 1-4

Placements are available with law firms/chambers; government related agencies and organizations, such as the House of Commons and Crown Prosecution Services; law societies; citizens' advice bureaus; royal courts; property management and development firms, financial institutions; and the legal departments of media and entertainment firms. Two-hour weekly classroom component required. Graded pass/fail. See director of Clinical Placement Program for more details.

Units: 1-4

Students may assist professors on the full-time faculty in their scholarly research efforts, either for pay (under the University Work Study Program), or for academic credit, though not for both at the same time. Students may earn up to four hours of academic credit toward their degree requirements by serving as unpaid research assistants. The credit hours may be pass/fail or graded, at the option of the student, and with the permission of the professor. Graded credit hours require a written work product by the student that will enable the professor to determine an appropriate grade. To receive academic credit, the student must work an average of four hours per week throughout the semester, for each hour of academic credit earned. Registration is with permission of the professor and the dean's office. Limit of four semester hours total.

Units: 2

Hands-on experience in immigration law through a combination of doctrinal teaching and representation of actual clients in immigration court. Analysis of and response to an immigration consultation, effective representation of clients in removal proceedings, understanding issues at the intersection of federal immigration law and local law enforcement, and protection of the constitutional rights of immigrants. No third-year practice certificate is required.

Units: 3

Advanced trial techniques and evidentiary issues in criminal practice. Oral motions, opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, introductions of physical evidence, closing arguments, and anticipated objections to evidence. The classroom component requires students to practice evidentiary and trial skillsweekly. Three to six members of the class will be competitively selected to compete in the John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition in the spring, for which they will receive one additional pass/fail credit.

Units: 2-3

Explores the dynamics of domestic violence, its impact on families, and how our justice system responds to protect and punish those involved. Topics surveyed include mandatory arrest policies, victimless prosecutions, civil protective orders, and community-based services for domestic violence offenders.

Units: 3

Provides students with additional instruction and practice in legal analysis and writing. Course consists of several individual writing assignments and students receive substantial individual assistance during the process of drafting, editing, and completing the assignments.

Units: 3

A detailed examination of the law that protects literary, musical, artistic, and other works of authorship, with particular attention to the 1976 federal copyright statute, as amended. Topics include requirements for and scope of copyright protection, ownership and duration of copyright, copyright rights and remedies, fair use, interaction of copyright and digital technologies, the liability of third parties for the copyright infringement of others, and the tension between copyright and other areas of the law, such as free speech, patent, and contract law.

Units: 6

Students represent for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as artists, authors and inventors from a variety of backgrounds. Students will help business startup clients by engaging in business formation counseling and by preparing and filing charter documents. Students provide legal services to established clients, such as negotiating and drafting contracts, providing corporate legal services and analysis, and facilitating strategic decision-making. Students help clients acquire and license a variety of intellectual property rights.

Units: 1

Students in this class are selected by the instructors to prepare for and participate in an interscholastic trial competition. Graded pass/fail.

Units: 1-4

Independent research on approved selected topics. Topic must be approved in writing prior to registration by the associate dean and by the instructor under whose supervision the research is conducted. Limit of three semester hours total for independent research projects.

Units: 4

An introduction to the law of the United States Constitution and to the legal dynamics of constitutional drafting and interpreting. Separation of powers, federalism, economic and social regulation, privileges, and immunities of U.S. citizenship, and the federal civil rights to equal protection and due process are examined from doctrinal and historical perspectives.

Units: 3

Sources of criminal law; constitutional limitations on power to create and define crimes; elements of crimes; conduct, mental state, causation; specific offenses, including homicides, sex offenses, larceny and other property offenses; defenses of mistakes, infancy, compulsion, intoxication, insanity; attempt; solicitation; conspiracy; accessoryship.

Units: 4

Basic elements of contract law. Stress on the agreement process, i.e., offer and acceptance, consideration, and substitutes for consideration. Avoidance of contractual obligations, conditions, performance, and breach of contracts are examined, as are discharge of contractual duties and remedies. Third-party beneficiaries, assignments, and illegal contracts may be examined. The Uniform Commercial Code and the Restatement are emphasized throughout.

Units: 4

Liability for personal injuries and injuries to property. Includes analysis of various intentional tort theories, the concepts of negligence and strict liability, and the privileges and defenses which may apply to actions brought in tort. May include treatment of one or more special or emerging areas such as product liability, misrepresentation, privacy, defamation, misuse of legal procedures, or interference with advantageous relationships.

Units: 4

Introduction, with emphasis on federal law, to rules governing jurisdiction, venue, service of process, pleadings, joinder, discovery, summary adjudication, trial, judgments, direct and collateral attack on judgments, appellate procedure, and choice of law in civil litigation.

Units: 4

Introduction to property laws, with emphasis on the concepts of title and possession of personal and real property; finders and bailments; rights and remedies of the possessor; donative transactions; rights of the bona fide purchaser; historical background of real property law; estates in land; concurrent ownership; conveyancing and future interests after the Statute of Uses; Statute of Frauds; contracts, deeds, and mortgages in the sale of land; recordation and title examination; covenants, easements, and licenses in the use of land.

Units: 2-3

Introduces first-year law student to essential lawyering skills including legal analysis, predictive and persuasive writing, and oral communication.

Units: 2

Introduces first-year law student to essential lawyering skills including legal analysis, predictive and persuasive writing, and oral communication.

Units: 3

Legislation and Regulation provides an introduction to public lawmaking in the modern administrative state. It examines the way Congress and administrative agencies adopt binding rules of law (statutes and regulations, respectively) and the way implementing institutions--courts and administrative agencies--interpret and apply these laws. It considers, in particular, the justifications for modern regulation, the structure of the modern administrative state, the incentives that influence the behavior of the various actors, and the legal rules that help to structure the relationships among Congress, the agencies, and the courts.

Units: 1

Introduces first year law students to the tools used in law practice to find primary and secondary sources of legal authority. Identify and evaluate these tools and sources to enunciate and interpret rules and support legal arguments.

Units: 0

Introduces students to competencies, guiding principles, and practices considered foundational to effective, ethical, and meaningful legal practice.

Units: 1

Introduces students to competencies, guiding principles, and practices considered foundational to effective, ethical, and meaningful legal practice.

Units: 2

Introduces second-year students to essential lawyering skills of trial and appellate advocacy. Must be taken during the second year.

Units: 2-3

Ethical standards of the legal profession, including judicial ethics and unauthorized practice.