-
Litigation Laboratory
LAWS 91563
- 02
(3)
s, u, w, x
This seminar brings lawyers and students together to analyze and develop aspects of the lawyers’ ongoing cases. It allows good lawyers to use law students for collaborative help with open cases, and allows law students to learn litigation skills by working with the lawyers. A different lawyer with a different case will participate in almost every class. Typically the lawyer will provide materials for the students to review before the class. During the class, students will discuss, argue, debate, and work with the lawyer to solve hard issues. Following each class, students will complete written materials analyzing and evaluating the problem. In classes when lawyers are not included, students also learn practical litigation skills through various advocacy exercises.
Students will be graded based on active participation and their written materials.
Spring 2013
Catherine Masters, James A. Clark
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Managing Legal Risk in a Global Economy
LAWS 73913
- 01
(3)
m, w, x
In today's global economy, companies, investors and other economic actors are operating on a cross-border basis more than ever before. As a result, they are faced with the daunting prospect of managing legal, regulatory and other business risks in a multitude of countries across the globe. This seminar will introduce students to the intriguing challenges of managing cross-border legal, regulatory and other risks in today's global and increasingly complex and interconnected economy. The seminar will cover an array of issues including, among other things, anti-corruption, regulation, economic sanctions, managing cross-border liability risks, tools for the effective resolution of cross-border litigation, including the use of bilateral investment treaties, and the management of political and country risks. The seminar also will explore the important relationship between counsel (in-house and external) and company management in effectively managing risk on a global basis. The seminar will be taught on the basis of readings as well as case studies. The format of the seminar will depend heavily upon active student participation.
Law students and business students are both encouraged to participate in the seminar. Students will be graded based upon the quality of their preparation for and participation in the course, as well as the quality of a required paper. This seminar will satisfy part of the lesser of the school’s two writing requirements, if substantial research and written work is completed.
Spring 2013
Javier Rubinstein
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Mental Health Advocacy Clinic
LAWS 67013
- 01
(1 to 2)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic teaches legislative advocacy and other policy advocacy skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in legislative and other policy advocacy on behalf of persons with mental illnesses and not-for-profit organizations. Students may research and draft legislation and regulations and supporting materials, devise and implement strategies to obtain the enactment or defeat of legislation, negotiate with representatives of various interest groups, engage in coalition building and testify in legislative hearings.
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed. Prior or contemporaneous enrollment in either Legislation or a course on statutory interpretation is encouraged but not required.
The course includes a mandatory one hour weekly classroom component during the Fall Quarter for which one credit will be awarded.
2-7 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Student may enroll in the course for no more than three quarters.
Spring 2013
Mark J. Heyrman
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Mental Health Advocacy Clinic
LAWS 67013
- 01
(1 to 2)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic teaches legislative advocacy and other policy advocacy skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in legislative and other policy advocacy on behalf of persons with mental illnesses and not-for-profit organizations. Students may research and draft legislation and regulations and supporting materials, devise and implement strategies to obtain the enactment or defeat of legislation, negotiate with representatives of various interest groups, engage in coalition building and testify in legislative hearings.
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed. Prior or contemporaneous enrollment in either Legislation or a course on statutory interpretation is encouraged but not required.
The course includes a mandatory one hour weekly classroom component during the Fall Quarter for which one credit will be awarded.
2-7 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Student may enroll in the course for no more than three quarters.
Winter 2013
Mark J. Heyrman
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Mental Health Advocacy Clinic
LAWS 67013
- 01
(1 to 2)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic teaches legislative advocacy and other policy advocacy skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in legislative and other policy advocacy on behalf of persons with mental illnesses and not-for-profit organizations. Students may research and draft legislation and regulations and supporting materials, devise and implement strategies to obtain the enactment or defeat of legislation, negotiate with representatives of various interest groups, engage in coalition building and testify in legislative hearings.
The Mental Health Advocacy Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed. Prior or contemporaneous enrollment in either Legislation or a course on statutory interpretation is encouraged but not required.
The course includes a mandatory one hour weekly classroom component during the Fall Quarter for which one credit will be awarded.
2-7 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Student may enroll in the course for no more than three quarters.
Autumn 2012
Mark J. Heyrman
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Mental Health Litigation Clinic
LAWS 67015
- 01
(1)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic teaches litigation skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in litigation on behalf of indigent, mentally ill clients of the Law School's Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic. Students may interview clients and witnesses; research and draft pleadings and legal memoranda, including briefs to reviewing courts; conduct formal and informal discovery; negotiate with opposing counsel and others; conduct evidentiary hearings and trials; and present oral argument in trial and appellate courts. The most common type of litigation will involve representing persons confined in state hospitals in state trial court hearings concerning the clients’ conditional or unconditional release or their treatment within the hospital. Students will be licensed to appear, under the supervision of the clinical teacher, in state and federal courts pursuant to court rules and practices.
See the general rules for all clinical courses for further details concerning enrollment, including the rules governing the award of credit.
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed.
Participation in the Mental Health Litigation Clinic is limited to third year students.
Prior completion of Evidence is required.
2-6 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Autumn 2012
Mark J. Heyrman
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Mental Health Litigation Clinic
LAWS 67015
- 01
(1)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic teaches litigation skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in litigation on behalf of indigent, mentally ill clients of the Law School's Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic. Students may interview clients and witnesses; research and draft pleadings and legal memoranda, including briefs to reviewing courts; conduct formal and informal discovery; negotiate with opposing counsel and others; conduct evidentiary hearings and trials; and present oral argument in trial and appellate courts. The most common type of litigation will involve representing persons confined in state hospitals in state trial court hearings concerning the clients’ conditional or unconditional release or their treatment within the hospital. Students will be licensed to appear, under the supervision of the clinical teacher, in state and federal courts pursuant to court rules and practices.
See the general rules for all clinical courses for further details concerning enrollment, including the rules governing the award of credit.
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed.
Participation in the Mental Health Litigation Clinic is limited to third year students.
Prior completion of Evidence is required.
2-6 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Spring 2013
Mark J. Heyrman
-
Mental Health Litigation Clinic
LAWS 67015
- 01
(1)
+, a, s, w, x
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic teaches litigation skills. Under the supervision of the clinical teacher, students engage in litigation on behalf of indigent, mentally ill clients of the Law School's Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic. Students may interview clients and witnesses; research and draft pleadings and legal memoranda, including briefs to reviewing courts; conduct formal and informal discovery; negotiate with opposing counsel and others; conduct evidentiary hearings and trials; and present oral argument in trial and appellate courts. The most common type of litigation will involve representing persons confined in state hospitals in state trial court hearings concerning the clients’ conditional or unconditional release or their treatment within the hospital. Students will be licensed to appear, under the supervision of the clinical teacher, in state and federal courts pursuant to court rules and practices.
See the general rules for all clinical courses for further details concerning enrollment, including the rules governing the award of credit.
The Mental Health Litigation Clinic satisfies part of the writing requirement if substantial written work is completed.
Participation in the Mental Health Litigation Clinic is limited to third year students.
Prior completion of Evidence is required.
2-6 credits by agreement with the clinical teacher.
Winter 2013
Mark J. Heyrman
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Obscenity Law and Pop Culture
LAWS 53013
- 01
(3)
m, w, x
This seminar will examine a culturally relevant issue: the intersection of obscenity laws and pop culture. It will provide an in-depth look at the obscenity laws in the United States, with a particular focus on the laws that prohibit obscene materials of minors. The seminar will explore the "community standards" requirement of obscenity, as it relates to the definition of obscenity and how it interacts with the law's treatment of a teenager's ability to consent to being featured in obscene material.
Students enrolled will write a seminar paper.
Spring 2013
Rachael Pontikes
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Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic
LAWS 67243
- 01
(1)
a, s, w, x
The Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic (PIRC) will assist individuals returning to society after detention and imprisonment. Approximately 600,000 people are annually released from state and federal prisons in the United States; in Illinois, about 40,000 prisoners return to their communities each year and a substantial percentage of Illinois prisoners return to a small number of Chicago neighborhoods (several on the Southside) where they encounter restricted housing, employment, and educational opportunities, inadequate social, medical, and mental health services, real obstacles to care and provide for their families, and other policies and practices that make it difficult to become productive members of the community. Students will be engaged in individual representation, policy reform, and public education. In terms of direct representation, students may interview and counsel clients, prepare and present witnesses at hearings before the Circuit Court of Cook County or the Prisoner Review Board, provide advice and assistance on reviewing criminal records, prepare petitions for expungement and sealing of records, apply for certificates of good conduct and relief from disabilities, provide counsel in parole and probation revocation proceedings, and consider petitions for executive clemency and other post-conviction relief. With regard to policy and public education, we will, inter alia, collaborate with other community organizations and providers in advocating for alternatives to incarceration, legislative reform, and the elimination of barriers to employment, housing, public benefits, and education for those with criminal records. PIRC will engage in effective interdisciplinary collaboration with the Clinic social worker and social work students as well as related law school clinics, interested academics, and other university departments and disciplines.
Winter 2013
Herschella G. Conyers, Randolph N. Stone
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Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic
LAWS 67243
- 01
(1)
a, s, w, x
The Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic (PIRC) will assist individuals returning to society after detention and imprisonment. Approximately 600,000 people are annually released from state and federal prisons in the United States; in Illinois, about 40,000 prisoners return to their communities each year and a substantial percentage of Illinois prisoners return to a small number of Chicago neighborhoods (several on the Southside) where they encounter restricted housing, employment, and educational opportunities, inadequate social, medical, and mental health services, real obstacles to care and provide for their families, and other policies and practices that make it difficult to become productive members of the community. Students will be engaged in individual representation, policy reform, and public education. In terms of direct representation, students may interview and counsel clients, prepare and present witnesses at hearings before the Circuit Court of Cook County or the Prisoner Review Board, provide advice and assistance on reviewing criminal records, prepare petitions for expungement and sealing of records, apply for certificates of good conduct and relief from disabilities, provide counsel in parole and probation revocation proceedings, and consider petitions for executive clemency and other post-conviction relief. With regard to policy and public education, we will, inter alia, collaborate with other community organizations and providers in advocating for alternatives to incarceration, legislative reform, and the elimination of barriers to employment, housing, public benefits, and education for those with criminal records. PIRC will engage in effective interdisciplinary collaboration with the Clinic social worker and social work students as well as related law school clinics, interested academics, and other university departments and disciplines.
Spring 2013
Herschella G. Conyers, Randolph N. Stone
-
Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic
LAWS 67243
- 01
(1)
a, s, w, x
The Post Incarceration Reentry Clinic (PIRC) will assist individuals returning to society after detention and imprisonment. Approximately 600,000 people are annually released from state and federal prisons in the United States; in Illinois, about 40,000 prisoners return to their communities each year and a substantial percentage of Illinois prisoners return to a small number of Chicago neighborhoods (several on the Southside) where they encounter restricted housing, employment, and educational opportunities, inadequate social, medical, and mental health services, real obstacles to care and provide for their families, and other policies and practices that make it difficult to become productive members of the community. Students will be engaged in individual representation, policy reform, and public education. In terms of direct representation, students may interview and counsel clients, prepare and present witnesses at hearings before the Circuit Court of Cook County or the Prisoner Review Board, provide advice and assistance on reviewing criminal records, prepare petitions for expungement and sealing of records, apply for certificates of good conduct and relief from disabilities, provide counsel in parole and probation revocation proceedings, and consider petitions for executive clemency and other post-conviction relief. With regard to policy and public education, we will, inter alia, collaborate with other community organizations and providers in advocating for alternatives to incarceration, legislative reform, and the elimination of barriers to employment, housing, public benefits, and education for those with criminal records. PIRC will engage in effective interdisciplinary collaboration with the Clinic social worker and social work students as well as related law school clinics, interested academics, and other university departments and disciplines.
Autumn 2012
Herschella G. Conyers, Randolph N. Stone
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Private Equity in Asia
LAWS 71407
- 01
(3)
m, w, x
Private equity is expanding rapidly into new regions of the world. Asia, where profound economic change is taking place in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Viet Nam, offers attractive opportunities for Western firms seeking to export proven investment models. Firms like Carlyle, KKR, and Bain Capital, among others, expect their operations in Asia to excel in both growth and rate of return and eventually rival operations in the United States and Europe in scale.
Asian nations present unique challenges to private equity investors, however. These challenges include partnering with governments in state-sponsored transactions, participating as minority investors in contrast to the more typical majority or controlling position, dealing with new or opaque laws, overcoming fraud and corruption, and mitigating the risk of weak corporate governance. Additionally, domestic funds are sprouting up in large numbers and becoming more formidable in the competition for the best deals.
This seminar will address the current developments in private equity across major countries in Asia. We will review the nature and rise of the industry in the region, the role of private equity as a new tool in the economic development of Asian nations, and the success and failure of recent Asian private equity deals.
Grading will be determined by class participation in the discussion of cases and readings – and by performance across three short papers. The first paper will examine private equity in the macro-context of economic transformation; the second will focus on issues in a recent case study; and the third will address terms in a prospective deal negotiation.
Winter 2013
Tom Manning
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Project and Infrastructure Development and Finance
LAWS 42512
- 01
(2)
+, m, w, x
This seminar will be of most interest to students interested in financial transactions as the core of a corporate law practice. There are no pre-requisites. The emphasis in this seminar will be on financings of identified operating assets, principally industrial and infrastructure projects and transportation equipment. These financings will be distinguished from financings of ongoing corporate enterprises, and representative transactions will be studied in depth in order to develop and then focus on selected legal structuring and legal practice issues, including, for example, legal opinions normally delivered at financial closings. Because these financings in practice employ nearly the full range of financial products, from commercial bank loans to capital market instruments, credit supports and derivatives, collateral security, and equity investments, the issues discussed have relevance to a broad range of financial transactions. The class will be discussion oriented; there will be no exam and grades will be based on short papers and class participation. The readings will include selected cases, portions of treatises and academic journals, and rating agency and official publications. One or more guest speakers from the financial community are expected.
Corporation Law is not a prerequisite, but is recommended.
Students wishing to meet the WP requirement must write a research paper.
Enrollment is limited to twenty-five students.
Autumn 2012
Martin Jacobson
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Public Corruption and the Law
LAWS 68314
- 01
(2 to 3)
+, m, w, x
This seminar will focus on how governments use the law to prevent and catch public corruption, how the law is sometimes used to protect public corruption, and how one should determine the optimal response to corruption and its consequences. We will examine the substantive criminal laws and sentencing schemes used in the best public corruption prosecutions, ranging from RICO and "honest services" fraud to bribery and extortion laws. We will also examine the laws that create, authorize, or prevent the most effective investigative tools used by law enforcement against public corruption, including wiretap laws and related privacy issues. We will study several key topics within public corruption law, including patronage, its effect on democratic institutions, and its status under the First Amendment; campaign finance reform and whether money in campaigns is protected speech or a corrupting influence (or both); and the relationship between transparency, online access to information, and corruption. We will also consider an economic analysis of public corruption, including questions about whether the level of democracy, and the pervasiveness of corruption in the culture, affect the cost-benefit analysis.
Constitutional Law I and II are recommended pre-requisites.
Students taking the class for 3 credits write one short reaction paper (or short research paper if appropriate), and one major paper. Those taking it for 2 credits write several short reaction papers.
Spring 2013
David Hoffman
-
Religion, Law, and Politics
LAWS 97521
- 01
(3)
c/l, m, w, x
This seminar examines the conceptualization and realization of religious liberty and the separation of church and state. We explore philosophical precepts and historical contexts, review the state of the law, and address current controversial issues.
There are no prerequisites.
Grades are based on a paper and class participation.
Spring 2013
Sylvia Neil
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Roman Law
LAWS 47702
- 01
(3)
e, m, r, w, x
The seminar develops skill in analyzing legal problems according to the processes of the Roman civil law, in contrast with those of the common law, and does not purport to give a comprehensive treatment of its detailed workings. The material provides an outline of the sources and procedure of Roman private law, followed by an examination of the Roman institutional system, the basis of most modern civil law codes. Particular emphasis is given to property and to obligations (contracts and torts). No knowledge of Latin is required for the seminar.
This class will be assessed via a series of short research papers.
Because this is a 1L elective, it will be graded on the curve usually applied to courses (as all 1L electives are) and will not count against the seminar limit.
Spring 2013
Richard A. Epstein
-
Strategic Business Partnerships
LAWS 79917
- 01
(3)
s, u, w, x
As modern businesses face increasing pressure to increase innovation and speed to market while cutting costs and mitigating risk, they have increasingly recognized that the path to success includes partnering with third parties. Success in these relationships requires significant advance planning, a focus on shared goals, and the ability to capture the essence of the transaction in a legal document that is often negotiated on an accelerated time frame. Lawyers working for or with these businesses must bring more than legal expertise and negotiating skills to the table; they must also draw upon sound business principles, their knowledge of the underlying business, its core competencies and strategic needs, to implement successful and durable arrangements. This class, intended for those planning careers as either business/transactional attorneys or business leaders, will explore various alternative partnering options and how they are documented by the legal and business teams. These alternatives, intersecting law and business, will be examined, discussed, and negotiated against a backdrop of real-world business intelligence and agreements, using a publicly traded Fortune 100 retailer as the business case upon which much of the class will be based. A former CEO of the company will join the class as a guest speaker to provide business context; external attorneys involved in many of the transactions will provide occasional commentary and additional context.
Grades will be based on a series of short reflection papers, substantial in-class exercises and negotiations, and out-of-class projects.
Spring 2013
David Zarfes, Matt Myren
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The Comparative Law of Democracy
LAWS 95904
- 01
(3)
+, m, r, w, x
This seminar offers a comparative examination of the major topics in election law, in particular the right to vote, reapportionment and redistricting, minority representation, and campaign finance. Issues the seminar addresses include the following: How and why do countries choose their various election law policies? What conditions are conducive to the reform of election laws? What sorts of normative and empirical judgments can we make about different countries' approaches? What changes would we recommend for the American model of election law?
Election Law is a recommended pre-requisite.
Students will be assessed via a substantial research paper and class participation.
Winter 2013
Nicholas Stephanopoulos
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The Roberts Court
LAWS 50312
- 01
(3)
w, x
Co-taught by Professor Lee Epstein and Mr. Adam Liptak (Supreme Court correspondent of the New York Times) with Judge Richard A. Posner and Professor William M. Landes also participating, this course will examine the contemporary Supreme Court. Topics include the Court's membership; its procedures for selecting cases for review; the role of lawyers, law clerks, and journalists; and doctrinal developments in several areas of the law.
This course that will meet April 5-7, as follows:
Friday, April 5, 9:00 a.m. - Noon; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday April 6, 9:00 a.m. - Noon; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, 9:00 a.m. - Noon
We'll schedule two additional class sessions later in the quarter for paper presentations.
Spring 2013
Lee Epstein, Adam Liptak
