Thomas J. Miles : Courses and Seminars
Canonical Ideas in Legal Thought
LAWS 57013
This year-long research seminar is the equivalent of a research colloquium in a PhD program. During the fall quarter, students will read, discuss, and critique some of the most influential law review articles from the twentieth century, as well as newer papers that extend and apply those canonical ideas to modern legal problems. The readings will consist of a healthy mix of public law and private law, and various scholarly methodologies. During the fall, students will write short reaction papers on the readings, and each student will once during the term facilitate the class discussion of an article. Students will also identify a topic for a substantial research paper. During the winter quarter, the seminar will not meet in formal sessions, but each student will work on his or her research paper and will meet individually with the instructors to assess the paper’s progress. During the spring quarter, the seminar will reconvene, and students will workshop their drafts (i.e., each student will circulate his or her draft in advance and answer questions from students and faculty). Students are expected to produce papers of publishable quality because the seminar’s ultimate goal is to prepare students for the process of entering the legal academy.
Students will receive a fall quarter grade based on the reaction papers and class participation. Students will receive a separate grade for the winter and spring quarters based on the quality of their research papers and class participation. Every student must enroll for the entire year; students may not drop the class after the fall quarter.
Students may only enroll with the permission of the instructors.
Students interested in enrolling should email Professors Miles and Strahilevitz a resume and a one-page statement explaining why they would like to enroll in the seminar no later than September 7.
Spring 2013
Thomas J. Miles, Lior Strahilevitz
Canonical Ideas in Legal Thought
LAWS 57013
This year-long research seminar is the equivalent of a research colloquium in a PhD program. During the fall quarter, students will read, discuss, and critique some of the most influential law review articles from the twentieth century, as well as newer papers that extend and apply those canonical ideas to modern legal problems. The readings will consist of a healthy mix of public law and private law, and various scholarly methodologies. During the fall, students will write short reaction papers on the readings, and each student will once during the term facilitate the class discussion of an article. Students will also identify a topic for a substantial research paper. During the winter quarter, the seminar will not meet in formal sessions, but each student will work on his or her research paper and will meet individually with the instructors to assess the paper’s progress. During the spring quarter, the seminar will reconvene, and students will workshop their drafts (i.e., each student will circulate his or her draft in advance and answer questions from students and faculty). Students are expected to produce papers of publishable quality because the seminar’s ultimate goal is to prepare students for the process of entering the legal academy.
Students will receive a fall quarter grade based on the reaction papers and class participation. Students will receive a separate grade for the winter and spring quarters based on the quality of their research papers and class participation. Every student must enroll for the entire year; students may not drop the class after the fall quarter.
Students may only enroll with the permission of the instructors.
Students interested in enrolling should email Professors Miles and Strahilevitz a resume and a one-page statement explaining why they would like to enroll in the seminar no later than September 7.
Winter 2013
Thomas J. Miles, Lior Strahilevitz
Canonical Ideas in Legal Thought
LAWS 57013
This year-long research seminar is the equivalent of a research colloquium in a PhD program. During the fall quarter, students will read, discuss, and critique some of the most influential law review articles from the twentieth century, as well as newer papers that extend and apply those canonical ideas to modern legal problems. The readings will consist of a healthy mix of public law and private law, and various scholarly methodologies. During the fall, students will write short reaction papers on the readings, and each student will once during the term facilitate the class discussion of an article. Students will also identify a topic for a substantial research paper. During the winter quarter, the seminar will not meet in formal sessions, but each student will work on his or her research paper and will meet individually with the instructors to assess the paper’s progress. During the spring quarter, the seminar will reconvene, and students will workshop their drafts (i.e., each student will circulate his or her draft in advance and answer questions from students and faculty). Students are expected to produce papers of publishable quality because the seminar’s ultimate goal is to prepare students for the process of entering the legal academy.
Students will receive a fall quarter grade based on the reaction papers and class participation. Students will receive a separate grade for the winter and spring quarters based on the quality of their research papers and class participation. Every student must enroll for the entire year; students may not drop the class after the fall quarter.
Students may only enroll with the permission of the instructors.
Students interested in enrolling should email Professors Miles and Strahilevitz a resume and a one-page statement explaining why they would like to enroll in the seminar no later than September 7.
Autumn 2012
Thomas J. Miles, Lior Strahilevitz
Criminal Law
LAWS 30311
This course, offered over two sequential quarters, addresses the doctrines of criminal liability and the moral and social problems of crime. The definitions of crimes and defenses are considered in light of the purposes of punishment and the role of the criminal justice system, including police and correctional agencies.
The student's grade is based on class participation and a single final examination.
Winter 2013
Thomas J. Miles
Federal Criminal Law
LAWS 46501
This course surveys the substance and structure of federal criminal law. The appropriate scope of federal criminal law and enforcement is a central theme of the course. Topics examined include: federal jurisdiction over crime and offenses that enlarge the reach of federal criminal law such as mail fraud; federal crimes occurring in markets, including transactions in illegal markets (such as drug trafficking) and illicit transactions in legal markets (such as securities fraud); federal crimes involving corrupt payments, such as bribery, extortion, and foreign corrupt practices; federal crimes involving concealment, such as false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice, and money laundering; the regulation of criminal activity occurring in and through formal and informal organizations (such as RICO), and the allocation of liability between individuals and organizations with particular attention to deferred prosecution agreements.
Spring 2013
Thomas J. Miles
Federal Regulation of Securities
LAWS 42401
The securities laws govern the way in which a company may raise, and seek to raise, capital; they also impose substantial ongoing obligations upon companies and their security holders in both private and public contexts. Accordingly, the aim of this course is to provide a basic working knowledge of the securities laws to soon-to-be lawyers who will find themselves advising clients that seek to raise (or have raised) either public or private capital. The course will analyze methods of regulation (and possible alternative methods), the financial/institutional context in which the securities regulations exist, and the application of these regulations to real-world situations.
Corporation Law/Business Associations I/Business Organizations is a prerequisite, although it may be taken concurrently. LLM students who have completed comparable work in a prior JD degree may register by contacting the registrar.
Grades will be based on class participation and a final examination.
Autumn 2012
Thomas J. Miles
