Naveen Thomas : Courses and Seminars
Corporate Lab: Transactional Clinic
LAWS 91562
This transactional clinic provides students with a forum for working closely with legal teams at various major companies (including those in the technology, consulting, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, insurance, and emerging-business sectors). The Corporate Lab aims to teach practical legal skills and knowledge both by having students work on actual projects and through classroom instruction and discussion. In addition, students will have the opportunity to hear from, and interface with, seasoned practitioners from leading law firms. This class mirrors a real-world work experience: Students will receive hands-on substantive and client-development experience and will be expected to manage and meet expectations (e.g., deadlines) while exercising a high level of professionalism. As a result, this class is likely to involve a significant time commitment (with a substantial amount of work to be completed outside of class), and students will get out of the Lab what they put into it.
Student grades will be based upon participation in the classroom, appropriate attention to client service, collaborative efforts within a team environment, and quality of work product. This offering will not count toward seminar restrictions. Please note that students who register are expected to remain in the course for three consecutive quarters, and that students may not take the Corporate Lab for more than nine credits. Students may be required to sign nondisclosure agreements with participating companies. While certainly not a prerequisite, “Contracts and Commercial Transactions” (offered in Autumn quarters) is strongly recommended for all students to take prior to, or concurrent with, taking this class. LL.M. students by instructor permission only.
Winter 2013
David Zarfes, Sean Z. Kramer, Naveen Thomas
Corporate Lab: Transactional Clinic
LAWS 91562
This transactional clinic provides students with a forum for working closely with legal teams at various major companies (including those in the technology, consulting, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, insurance, and emerging-business sectors). The Corporate Lab aims to teach practical legal skills and knowledge both by having students work on actual projects and through classroom instruction and discussion. In addition, students will have the opportunity to hear from, and interface with, seasoned practitioners from leading law firms. This class mirrors a real-world work experience: Students will receive hands-on substantive and client-development experience and will be expected to manage and meet expectations (e.g., deadlines) while exercising a high level of professionalism. As a result, this class is likely to involve a significant time commitment (with a substantial amount of work to be completed outside of class), and students will get out of the Lab what they put into it.
Student grades will be based upon participation in the classroom, appropriate attention to client service, collaborative efforts within a team environment, and quality of work product. This offering will not count toward seminar restrictions. Please note that students who register are expected to remain in the course for three consecutive quarters, and that students may not take the Corporate Lab for more than nine credits. Students may be required to sign nondisclosure agreements with participating companies. While certainly not a prerequisite, “Contracts and Commercial Transactions” (offered in Autumn quarters) is strongly recommended for all students to take prior to, or concurrent with, taking this class. LL.M. students by instructor permission only.
Spring 2013
David Zarfes, Sean Z. Kramer, Naveen Thomas, Ellis A. Regenbogen
Leadership
LAWS 75102
The divide between law and business is becoming increasingly blurred as clients look to their lawyers not merely for legal advice but also for leadership and results-focused solutions to complex business problems. Increasing competition, early specialization, and client cost constraints provide junior attorneys with few opportunities to develop the skills necessary to meet these increasing expectations. Through this highly intensive seminar, students will develop the judgment and practical skills necessary to become effective leaders and problem solvers, as well as an understanding of the theoretical foundations of effective leadership. Topics will include project management, strategic vision, forms of influence, and business leadership. Materials will include cutting-edge research, case histories, videos, and literature. Class sessions occasionally will include speakers who have played important leadership roles.
The student's grade will be based on active and insightful class participation, reflection papers on assigned readings, and a final paper on an instructor-approved topic of the student's choosing (examples of potential topics include leadership in alliance formation, variations in governing board structures, performance consequences of executive succession, and leadership in outsourcing relationships). The seminar will require substantial out of class work and class participation will count toward the grade. Students will be developing leadership presentations and completing major projects outside of class. Enrollment is very limited given the unique nature of this seminar, and instructor approval is required. If there is sufficient student interest, there may be a follow-on leadership seminar offered in the Spring.
Winter 2013
David Zarfes, Naveen Thomas
