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Law Center
Courses: Law (LAW)
5103:6209:6358: Health Law Journal
Prerequisite: Membership on Health Law Journal staff. Advancement from
candidacy to staff requires satisfactory completion of two case notes
or one comment. Credit is given for satisfactory staff service.
5104:6211:6318: Houston Business/Tax Journal
Prerequisite: Membership on Houston Business/Tax Journal staff. Advancement from candidacy to staff requires publication of two case notes or one comment. Credit is given for satisfactory staff service.
5107:5415:6355:6208:6500:
Clinical Externship II
Cr. 1-5. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students have the
opportunity to continue their work with an external placement. A second placement allows a student to improve on lawyering skills
learned in Health Law Externship I.
5108: Advanced Health Law
Cr. 1. (1-0). Prerequisite: LAW
6322 (Health Law Survey: Bioethics & Quality of Care), LAW 6331 (Health Law Survey: Access Regulation, & Enterprise), or consent of instructor. This
course provides LL.M. students with an opportunity to develop and present
their own research projects as well as to survey a wide range of topics
in health law and policy. This course is limited to, and required for,
LL.M. students.
5109: Advocates-Negotiation-Current Year
Cr. 1. (0-1). This course is for students participating in the Advocates
Negotiation Competition, and includes negotiating a problem set provided
by the American Bar Association, drafting a contract that reflects the
negotiation, and drafting a short memo detailing their negotiating strategy.
5110:5210:5410:6356:
Law Review
Prerequisite: Membership on Law Review staff. Advancement from candidacy
to staff requires publication of two case notes or one comment. Credit
is given for satisfactory staff service.
5111: Advocates - Blakely Moot Court
Cr. 1. (1-0). May be repeated for a maximum of four semester hours.
5112: Advocates - Hippard Mock Trial
Cr. 1. (1-0). May be repeated for a maximum of four semester hours.
5113: Advocates
Cr. 1. (1-0). May be repeated for a maximum of four semester hours. Counts
as credit for advocates board membership or competitive team membership.
5116: Judicial Process
Cr. 1. (1-0). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students perform excercises
that compliment the work they are doing at a court and discuss issues
impacting the judiciary. This course is taken concurrently with Judicial
Internship I.
5117: Public Interest Workplace
Cr. 1. (1-0). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students perform exercises
that complement the work they are doing in field placement and discuss
issues impacting their externships. This course is taken concurrently
with Clinical Externship I or Health Law Externship I.
5118: Health Law Workplace
Cr. 1. (1-0). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students perform excercises
that compliment the work they are doing in a health-law field placements
and discuss issues impacting their externships. This course is only offered during periods of high enrollment. Otherwise, a student in Health Law Externship I is enrolled in Public Interest Workplace.
5119: Advocates-Negotiation-Retro
Cr. 1. (0-1). This course is for students who have participated in the
Negotiation Competition and includes negotiate a problem set provided
by the American Bar Association and then draft a contract that reflects
the negotiation. As part of the contract submission, students also draft
a short memo detailing their negotiating strategy.
5121: Moot Court Board
Cr. 1. (0-1). Assists the Moot Court Director in all administrative aspects
of the Moot Court Program, and facilitates the judging process for the
John Black mandatory rounds, including providing training for judging,
coordinating the organization of the competition with The Advocates and
Legal Analysis Research and Communication, and researching the problems
issues to provide sumamries and questions for the judges.
5136: Interscholastic Moot Court-Retro
Cr. 1. (0-1). This is a Moot Court Comptetition. Participants will engage in legal research, brief writing, and oral arguments pursuant to competition rules.
5147:5247:6354: Houston Journal of International Law
Prerequisite: Membership on Houston Journal of International Law staff. Advancement from candidacy to staff requires publication of two case notes or one comment. Credit is given for satisfactory staff service.
5151: Tax Research
Cr. 1. (1-0). Prerequisite: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax), A specialized course in tax research open only to master's
degree students specializing in taxation.
5174: Fundamental Processes of Academic Writing
Cr. 1. (0-1). Fundamentals of preparing a journal/seminar-type written critical legal analysis. Class will review research strategies, but students will work for the most part with closed research packets. 5176: Environmental Energy, and Policy Law Journal
An academic publication of the Law Center in which the law
students, under the direction of the faculty, edit articles of distinguished
faculty and scholars around the country.
5188: Interscholastic Moot Court-Retro
Cr. 1. (0-1). This is a Moot Court Comptetition. Participants will engage in legal research, brief writing, and oral arguments pursuant to competition rules.
5197:5297:5397:5497: Selected Topics
Cr. 1-4. per semester. (1-0; 2-0; 3-0; 4-0). May be repeated for a maximum of six semester hours.
5198:5298:5398: Special Research and Writing
Cr. 1-3 per semester. Prerequisites: second- or third-year
standing and consent of instructor.
5199: Special Problems
Cr. 1-3 per semester. Prerequisite: Approval of the dean. May be repeated
for a maximum of four semester hours. For law students who wish to pursue
special studies for which a course is not organized.
5200: Depositions Workshop
Cr. 2. Students learn through simulation exercises how to take
and defend depositions including the skills of developing a deposition
outline, beginning a deposition, entering into stipulations, using different
questioning styles, gaining admissions, making objections and protecting
the witness.
5201: Intellectual Property Survey
Cr. 2. (2-0). Study of the main principles and doctrines of trade secret,
copyright, trademark, and patent law.
5203: Mental Issues in Criminal Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Addresses a variety of mental health issues in criminal law, including mental incompetency; insanity; diminished capacity; aggravating and mitigating circumstances related to mental health in capital and non-capital cases. 5204: Health Legislation
Cr. 2. (2-0). Focus on state legislation, but also addresses issues relating to federal legislation, city codes, and regulations.
5205: Immigration Clinic II
Cr. 2. Prerequisite: LAW 5405 (Immigration Clinic). Covers practical and theoretical training in immigration law.
5206: Introduction to Mexican Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Provides an introduction to the Mexican legal system, concentrating on selected aspects of laws and legal institutions. 5207: Clean Air Act
Cr. 2. (2-0). Legal requirements for air pollution control under the federal
Clean Air Act, with emphasis on the 1990 amendments and state and local
approaches including an examination of the Texas Clean Air Act.
5208: Rural Health Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Focuses on the unique issues of the rural community and how health policy, laws and regulations impact health care services in those areas.
5213: Digital Transactions
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course focuses on issues in software and database licensing,
and on transactions conducted online.
5215: Biotechnology and the Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Explores the impact of biotechnology on specific areas of
law and business. Topics include intellectual property and its exploitation,
regulatory affairs, human subjects research, privacy concerns, and public
policy issues.
5217: Communication Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Examines the federal regulation of the electronic mass media
with particular focus on regulatory models for legislative and judicial
oversight of broadcasting, cable, and new communications technologies.
Classroom discussion and student papers will focus on laws governing the
broadcast and cable industries and the policy-making process by which
those laws are formed.
5220: Juvenile Advocacy Clinic II
Cr. 2. The Juvenile Advocacy Clinics I and II represent children in dependency cases as court appointed attorney ad litem for the child, and as defense attorney for children.
5222:6321: Professional Responsibility
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). A study of the legal and
ethical responsibilities of members of the legal profession. Meets PR requirement.
5223: Post-Mortem Estate Planning
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal
Income Tax) and(LAW 5339, LAW 5440 (Trusts and Wills). Issues
associated with estate administration; estate tax compliance and audit
procedures; examination of the use of trusts as estate surrogates.
5225: Hazardous Waste Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will focus on the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act.
5226: Patent Remedies and Defenses
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: LAW 5332 (Patent Law) or
consent of instructor. Statutory and rules provisions governing U.S. patent
litigation; commonly sought remedies and defenses; recent Federal Circuit
decisions; jurisdictional and venue issues.
5230: Mergers & Acquisitions
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: LAW
5421 (Business Organizations). An examination of the law and finance of corporate acquisitions;
evaluation of capital markets and the efficient markets hypothesis; analysis
of the motives underlying acquisitions; legal duties and liabilities of
directors facing takeover bids.
5232: Trade Secrets
Cr.2. (2-0). Study of characteristics, protection and enforcement of trade
secrets as tangible property rights. Emphasis on litigation tactics, including
specialized injunctive relief, proof, evidence, remedies and calculation
of damages.
5234: Health Privacy
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will examine the health information privacy
standards adopted by the federal Department of Health and Human Services
pursuant to the Administrative Simplification provisions of the federal
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
5235: Legal Research Writing
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course teaches the basic skills needed by a practicing
attorney in order to perform legal research and prepare legal documents.
It is a required course, open to first year law students only.
5236: Legal Research and Advocacy
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: passing LAW
5235 (LRW). This course teaches the basic skills needed by a practicing
attorney in order to perform legal research and prepare legal documents.
It is a required course, open to first year law students only.
5238:6338: North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Cr. 2 or 3. (2-0; 3-0). Examines the provisions of NAFTA that affect business
transactions between the United States and Mexico. To the extent feasible,
class discussions will center on problems that cover the agreement as
well as domestic law.
5239: Oil and Gas Tax
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax).
Focuses on federal taxation of domestic oil and gas exploration and
production operations. Taxation of foreign oil and gas
exploration and production operations will also be included in the course,
although in summary fashion addressing tax models foreign jurisdictions can
adopt and the resulting U.S. tax overlay.
5241:5336: American Indians
& Indian Law
Cr. 2 or 3. (2-0; 3-0). A interdisciplinary overview of tribal sovereignty
and federal Indian policy, and relationships among tribal, state, and
federal governments. Also covers traditional and contemporary native legal
systems.
5242: 5397: Medical Malpractice Litigation
Cr. 2 or 3. (2-0; 3-0). Prerequisite: LAW
6322 (Health Law Survey: Bioethics & Quality of Care) or consent of instructor. Malpractice law and policy including
the effect of malpractice on health care access, quality, and cost; impact
of legislative reforms on malpractice legal doctrine.
5249: Federal Income Tax - Part II
Cr. 2 (2-0). Introduction to federal income taxation. Identification and characterization of income subject to taxation and deductions therefrom.
5251: Accounting in Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Study of legal problems
in accounting situations. Previous accounting training is not required.
5257: Domestic Violence
Cr. 2. (2-0). Review and discussion of the interaction between the legal
system and individuals/families victimized by domestic violence. Major
course topics are the shelter movement, impact of battering on custody
disputes, battered women's syndrome as it relates to a criminal defense,
criminal penalties for battering, battering as it affects immigrants and
other minorities, and civil remedies as tools to fight battering.
5258: Food and Drug Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Study of government's attempts to protect the public health
and individual welfare in the development and marketing of foods, drugs,
medical devices, and cosmetics. Focuses on the federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act, with particular emphasis on the regulation of drugs, nutritional
supplements, and medical devices.
5259: State and Local Tax
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). An examination of the various laws
concerning state taxes, including income, franchise, property, excise, and
severance taxes. State taxation of interstate businesses.
5260: Advanced Corporate Tax
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax) and
LAW 5352 (Corporate Taxation). Advanced study of the law governing the taxation of corporate
entities.
5261: Real Estate Tax
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Analysis of state and federal tax
considerations pertaining to the ownership, rental, and sale of interests
in real estate.
5263: Taxation of Compensation
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW
5359 and LAW 5459 (Federal
Income Tax). Taxation of qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangements, nonqualified and incentive stock options, restricted property
arrangements, part-in-interest transactions, executive compensation and
severance arrangements and welfare benefit arrangements.
5264: Business Torts
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will cover torts that
typically cause pure economic harm (i.e., harms to the pocketbook,
rather than harms to the person or property. The course will
emphasize the operation of various business torts and will examine
the torts' applicability to particular business or economic settings.
5265: Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459
(Federal Income Tax). An in-depth examination of Subchapter J Taxation of estates and
trusts, including their grantors and beneficiaries.
5266: Taxation of Exempt Organizations
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Study of federal and
state law concerning organizations exempt from federal income taxation
including contributions deductibility, standards for granting exemption,
private foundations, fiduciary duties and limits on political activities.
5267: Tax Accounting
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Study of methods in context of federal
tax laws including cash, accrual installment methods, inventory taxation,
changes of accounting methods, and time value of money concepts.
5268: Taxation of Sales
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Tax treatment of capital gains on the
sale or exchange of property, as well as similarity treated transactions.
5270:5357: Evidence
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). The rules evidence and reasons supporting them,
state and federal, including relevancy, impeachment presumptions, judicial
notice, competency of witnesses, privilege, and the hearsay rule and its
exceptions.
5274: Interscholastic Moot Court-Retro
Cr. 2. (0-2). This is a Moot Court Comptetition. Participants will engage in legal research, brief writing, and oral arguments pursuant to competition rules.
5279: Jurisprudence
Cr. 2. (2-0). A study of various influences and perspectives on American law, including an introduction of Natural Law Positivism, American Legal Realism, Law & Economics, Critical Legal Studies, Pragmatism, and Postmodernist thought.
5280: Modern Real Estate Transactions
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course begins by walking students through each of the steps in a prototypical, but simple, real estate transaction including residential property. It will examine more complex transactions including purchasing and sales of income producing property, commercial leasing, large-project real estate lending documents, mortgage foreclosures, and construction contracts.
5282:6370: Advanced Legal
Research
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Study of advanced techniques of legal research using advanced
computer technology as well as accessing rarely used sources and materials
for specialized legal research efforts. Also includes use of law library.
5284: Property & Casualty Insurance Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Will address problems arising out of liability and property
insurance contracts. Issues emphasized include the duty to defend to settle
under liability insurance contracts, reciprocal obligations of good faith
and fair dealing and issues of valuation and coverage under property insurance
contracts.
5286: Interscholastic Moot Court-Retro
Cr. 2. (0-2). This is a Moot Court Comptetition. Participants will engage in legal research, brief writing, and oral arguments pursuant to competition rules.
5287: Elder Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Explores financial and end-of-life planning for the elderly,
including the use of trusts, wills, advance directives and powers of attorney;
examines the role of the guardian and attorney ad litem; analyzes
the role of Medicare and Medicaid; and considers the legal aspects of
home health, assisted living and nursing home alternatives for senior
citizen care.
5288: Tax Ethics
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). An analysis of the civil, disciplinary and
professional rules that govern lawyers in their practice of tax law.
5291: Partnership Tax
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Analysis of federal tax considerations
pertaining to partnership entities.
5292: Tax Procedure
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Study of procedural requirements
pertaining to proceedings in federal tax disputes.
5293: Tax Fraud/Money Laundering
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359 or LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Processes by which the IRS and Justice Departments uncover and prosecute tax crimes and money laundering cases, mandatory sentencing, improper investigative techniques, related non-tax crimes and related matters.
5294:5375: International Litigation & Arbitration
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Discusses selected topics concerning the practice of law associated with international litigation & arbitration. The focus is on litigating cases with foreign parties or foreign law issues in American courts.
5303: Criminal Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Substantive criminal law; basic concepts; elements of crime;
theories of punishment.
5304: Criminal Procedure I (NEW - this course is now: LAW 5397 - Criminal Procedure: The Investigation Process)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Criminal procedure; constitutional and statutory limitations on search and seizure, self-incrimination; right to counsel; requirements of due process.
5306: Law and Economics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Introduction to the use of economic tools and their application
to legal principles.
5307: Interagency Environmenatl Cooperation
Cr. 3. (3-0). Forum for various local, state, and federal environmental agency personnel about real issues in coordinating environmental requirements between agencies.
5308: Federal Courts
Cr. 3. (3-0). Covers the jurisdiction of the federal courts and other issues concerning the relationship of the federal and state courts. Topics include congressional control over the jurisdiction of the federal courts; justiciability doctrines such as standing; federal question and jurisdiction.
5309: Advanced Trial Advocacy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: Law
5386 (Trial Advocacy). The focus of this course is on persuasion and methods for causing
a judge or jury to view evidence from a litigant's perspective. Emphasis
will be placed on developing a persuasive theory of the case, constructing
opening statements and closing arguments to present the case theory, presenting
expert testimony, and planning the presentation of evidence so as to maximize
its effectiveness.
5310: White Collar Crime
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course focuses on the criminal statutes affecting business
people, as well as the defenses available to those charged under those
statutes.
5311: Product Liability
Cr. 3. (3-0). An in-depth study of the
circumstances under which a manufacturer is or may be held responsible for
damages to third parties caused by its products. Consideration of strict
liability, negligence and contract theories.
5312:6212: First Amendment
Cr. 3. (3-0): Cr.2 (2-0). Advanced study of individual rights
guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution including the
rights of free speech and religion.
5313: 5416: 5510: Juvenile Advocacy II
Cr. 3 or 4 or 5. The Juvenile Advocacy Clinics I and II represent children in dependency cases as court appointed attorney ad litem for the child, and as defense attorney for children.
5314: Federal Pre-Trial Procedure
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course offers a comprehensive study of the Federal
Rules and Statutes, as well as the rules of the local Federal Court, that
relate to the pre-trial phase of litigation. The pertinent rules, decisions
that interpret the rules, and pleadings will be discussed in the context
of practical thoughts relating to their use. The theory of the course
is a practical application of the rules and how their application affects
the litigation process prior to trial. The bottom line is for the student
to appreciate the mistakes attorney's can make and to take advantage of
their opponent's errors.
5316: Consumer Dispute Resolution
Cr. 3. (3-0). Provides students with an opportunity to work with the Texas Consumer Complaint Center. Students deal directly with consumers and consider the legal and ethical problems that arise.
5317: Trademark and Unfair Competition
Cr. 3. (3-0). Development and protection of trademarks under state and
federal law. Various phases of trademark and related unfair competition
litigation. Intellectual Property Survey course recommended but not required.
5318: Landlord and Tenant
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the legal rights of
parties to commercial and residential leasing agreements.
5319: Introduction to American Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A course in American legal
method for foreign lawyers.
5320: Procedure II
Cr. 3. (3-0). Modern problems of pleading, parties, depositions, and discovery,
primarily in the Texas State system.
5321: Federal Jurisdiction/Federal Courts
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the jurisdiction of
federal courts under the constitution and applicable statutes.
5322: Pretrial Litigation
Cr. 3. (3-0). Co- (or) Prerequisite: LAW 5320 (Procedure II), intensive
individualized training and instruction in case analysis and the art of
drafting and oral advocacy relating to pretrial discovery, motion practice
and pleadings, including instruction in the law of pre-trial procedure.
5323: Conflict of Laws
Cr. 3. (3-0). The central issue focuses upon the controlling law if there
are competing legal principles from various jurisdictions that have a
connection with the controversy. The course is a cross section of many
courses that the student has previously taken.
5324: International Trade
Cr. 3. (3-0). A course in the problems businesses
encounter in transnational dealings in goods and services, including import
controls, export controls, tariffs, and sales conventions.
5328: Judicial Internship Clinic I
Cr. 3. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor. Students
have the opportunity to work with a member of the judiciary.
5329: Judicial Internship Clinic II
Cr. 3. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor. Students have the
opportunity to continue their work with a member of the judiciary. The
second term in a placement allows a student to work on additional lawyering
skills while continuing to improve the lawyering skills they have worked
on previously.
5330: Antitrust Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). The law and economics of antitrust policy and the methods
for enforcing antitrust policy. Emphasis is placed on the issues of monopolization,
mergers, price fixing, and state and local government actions displacing
the competitive process.
5331: English Legal History
Cr. 3. (3-0). Development of English law from
the twelfth to the eighteenth century with emphasis on the nature of legal
change, the relationship between legal and social change, and the
development of individual rights.
5332: Patent Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). The substantive U.S. law of patents
including eligible subject matter, novelty and nonobviousness requirements,
scope of claims, and modern infringement law.
5334:5411:5516:
Health Law Externship I
Cr. 3-5. Prerequisite: LAW
6322 (Health Law Survey: Bioethics & Quality of Care), LAW 6331 (Health Law Survey: Access, Regulation, & Enterprise) or approval
of instructor. Students have the opportunity to work with non-profit organizations
or government agencies dealing with health issues.
5335: Land Use
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course will deal with the basic legal issues arising in the government control of land, including regulatory takings (especially in environmental area) and other special topics.
5336: 5425: Domestic Violence Clinic
Cr. 3 or 4. Review and discussion of the practical interaction between the legal system and individuals/families victimized by domestic violence.
5338: Land Use and Finance
Cr. 3 (3-0). Law pertaining to land use and finance, as reflected
in governmental regulations, zoning and other municipal ordinances, and
land-financing practices.
5339:5440: Trusts and
Wills
Cr. 3-4. (3-0; 4-0). Express, resulting and constructive trusts, substantive
and remedial aspects. Intestacy; execution, revocation, and construction
of wills; contracts to devise.
5340: Marital Property Rights
Cr. 3. (3-0). Marriage, divorce, and
annulment; rights of children and the community property law of Texas.
5341: Disabilities and the Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Is a study of legal
issues affecting persons with disabilities, including education,
higher education, employment, architectural barriers, transportation,
public accommodations, public services, housing and access to health
care.
5342:5413:5517:
Health Law Externship II
Cr. 3. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor. Students have the
opportunity to continue their work with an external placement. The second
term in a placement allows a student to work on additional lawyering skills
while continuing to improve the lawyering skills they have worked on previously.
5343: Employment Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Focuses on the expanding body of
statutes and common law dealing with the legal rights of nonunion
employees. The course examines the legal aspects of hiring practices,
conditions of employment, and termination of employment and the legal
regulation of employers and employees.
5344: Appellate Advocacy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Intensive, individualized training
in the art of persuasive brief writing and effective oral argument, as well
as the law of appellate advocacy.
5348: Texas Consumer Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). An advanced course in sales and the Texas Deceptive Trade
Practices Act designed to supplement courses in contract and commercial
law.
5351: Juvenile Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A survey of the statutes and case law governing the rights
of children alleged to be delinquent, incorrigible, or neglected.
5352: Corporate Taxation
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Taxation of
corporate entities; corporate formations, distributions, liquidations, and
reorganizations.
5353: Business Planning
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax); and either LAW 5421 (Business Organizations) or
LAW 5350 (Corporations). An advanced course in the legal problems
encountered in the organization of a corporation. Problems of taxation
are a major topic of this course.
5355:6227 Oil and Gas
Cr. 2. (2-0). Covers the basic property, contract, and regulatory framework
for oil and gas production in Texas. Explores common law property concepts;
the provisions of an oil and gas lease negotiated between a mineral interest
owner and an oil company as lessee; and also examines Railroad Commission
regulation of drilling, production, pooling, and unitization for the efficient
and fair development of oil and gas.
5358: Sales & Leasing
Cr. 3. (3-0) The law of sales and leases including Articles 2 and 2A of
the Uniform Commercial Code, and some consideration of the CISG–the law
governing international sales of goods.
5359:5459: Federal Income Tax
Cr. 3-4. (3-0; 4-0). Introduction to federal income
taxation. Identification and characterization of income subject to taxation
and deductions therefrom.
5360: Licensing and Technology Transfer
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
LAW 5201 (IP Survey) or
LAW 5332 (Patent Law) or
LAW 5379 (Copyright Law); LAW 5317 (Trademark Law); Consent of Instructor. Introduction to the
transfer of technology by licensing agreements where underlying rights
are patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret (know-how).
Agreement structures and legal limitations via antitrust laws.
U.S. law emphasis; some foreign laws considered.
5361: Women and the Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Explores the ways in which women have been treated as a
special legal category.
5362: Employment Discrimination
Cr. 3. (3-0). Examines the substantive law of employment discrimination
and the policy conflicts underlying the legal and social issues raised
by the cases. Basic doctrines designed to protect individuals from unfair
unemployment decisions: Title VII; Americans with Disabilities Act; and
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
5363: Securities Regulation
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of state and federal statutes regulating the issuance,
transfer, and trading of securities.
5364: Texas Coastal and Ocean Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). The course will deal with the origin and present status of the 1972 National Coastal
Zone Management Act and subsequent coastal management programs adopted by virtually all coastal
states. The Texas program is administered by the General Land Office and will be dealt with in
depth as the central focus of the course. Statutory law relating to citizen, state, and federal
rights and duties as they impact coastal law will be studied as a part of Texas real property law.
Cases relating to those rights and duties and Public Trust Doctrine cases are an integral part of
understanding the responsibilities of governments and rights of citizens. The course should help
prepare an attorney to advise clients concerning their rights and responsibilities, as well as
permit procedures and limitations applicable to the coast.
5365:5465: Bankruptcy
Cr. 3 or 4 (3-0;
4-0). A study of federal and state laws relating to
the remedies of debtors and creditors, including bankruptcy.
5366: Comparative Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Examination of the major legal systems in the world today
(focus on civil law and common law). Comparison of selected features of
foreign laws, legal institutions, legal methodology, and legal culture
with their American counterparts. Topics include procedure, private law,
legal profession, legal education, sources of law, court structure and
others. Countries sampled include Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Japan,
China, and others.
5368: Estate Planning
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax) and LAW 5339 , LAW 5440 (Trusts and Wills) or seek instructor's permission to waive prerequisite. Planning
of estates from the standpoint of tax savings and ease of administration.
5369: Insurance Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Examines the regulation of
insurance contracts and insurance companies, including underwriting
regulation, doctrines of contract interpretation, claims-processing
regulation, solvency regulation and special remedies for breach. The
course covers both the property/casualty and life/health "sides" of
the insurance industry with an emphasis on policy issues and
economics.
5370: International Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Basic public international law; legal organization of the international community; the relation of individuals within a state to the rules of international law.
5371:6203: International
Energy Transactions
Cr. 2-3. (3-0; 2-0). A study of key provisions in development contracts
(licenses and production-sharing contracts); relationships with host governments;
and international joint operating agreements.
5372: Fraud & Abuse
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: LAW 6331 (Health Law Survey: Access, Regulation & Enterprise) or permission of instructor.
This course examines the implications of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute,
civil monetary penalty and exclusion laws, anti-referral (Stark) laws,
and false claims laws, as well as tradional federal white collar criminal
laws applied to health care.
5373: Admiralty
Cr. 3. (3-0). Covers a number of unique features of maritime law such
as limitation of liability, general average, salvage cargo claims, the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act and variations theron under international
conventions, and seamen's remedies for personal injuries including the
Jones Act, unseaworthiness and maintenance and cure. It will also focus
on the variety of federal jurisdiction issues that come into play in Admiralty.
5374: Legal History (American Legal History)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Emphasis on the First and Fourteenth Amendments. A study
of American legal history from 1776-1940. The course concentrates on federalism,
the relationship between both state and federal constitutions and the
common law, and the process of development of individual rights under
the Constitution.
5377: 5211: Life and Health
Insurance Law
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Addresses federal and state regulation of the life and health
insurance industry. The health insurance component addresses the major
federal regulatory statutes: ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, pending federal legislation,
as well as state initiatives. The life insurance segment addresses insurance
regulations, including anti-forfeiture laws, accounting issues, securities
regulation and tax issues.
5379: Copyright Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Study of protection for literary, artistic, musical, computer, and other works of human intellect under the Copyright Act of 1976. Prerequisites and formalities for protection; nature, scope, and limitations of rights with special emphasis on fair use; infringement actions, remedies and federal preemption of state law.
5380: Labor Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the National Labor Relations Act
and other federal legislation relating to the labor-management relationship.
5381: Legal Negotiations
Cr. 3. (3-0). An introduction to legal negotiation
as a method of reaching agreement on different matters.
5382: Administrative Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the administrative process, primarily at the
federal level; agency powers; agency jurisdiction; agency procedures;
limitations on agency power; enforcement of agency decisions; judicial
review.
5383: Family Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the law of marriage, divorce, and
child custody; legal aspects of illegitimacy, family desertion, nonsupport,
and abandonment of children.
5386: Trial Advocacy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: LAW 5270, LAW 5357 (Evidence). Through "learning-by-doing"
students master the skills necessary to developing case theory, selecting
a jury, conducting direct and cross examinations, handling exhibits, impeaching
witnesses and presenting opening statements and closing arguments.
5387: International Tax
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). A study of issues in U.S. and foreign taxation including
analyses of tax consequences relating to multinational business operations.
5389: Immigration Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Study of United States laws relating to
the permanent and temporary entry of foreign nationals into the U.S.
5390: Environmental Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Environmental law, with emphasis on
legal regulation and control of activities affecting the land, sea, and air
environment.
5392: International Business Transactions
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of various international business transaction formats
and their legal consequences.
5397: Criminal Procedure: The Investigation Process (Formerly LAW 5304)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Criminal procedure; constitutional and statutory limitations on search and seizure, self-incrimination; right to counsel; requirements of due process.
5397: Criminal Procedure: The Adjudication Process (Formerly LAW 6215, 6360)
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course will cover issues related to the right to the assistance and counsel; bail and pretrial detention; the preliminary hearing; the grand jury process; jury selection; speedy trial; the right to a jury trial; constitutional rules related to the prosecution's burden of proof and "elements" of criminal offenses; a criminal defendant's mental health (competency-to-stand trial, diminished capacity, insanity, and mitigation at sentencing); sentencing; double jeopardy; and post-conviction claims, including ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct. Students may take Criminal Procedure II before, after, or concurrently with Criminal Procedure I.
5399: Mediation Clinic
Cr. 3. Prerequisites: Completed IL Courses (30/31 hrs.), be in
good academic standing, and approval of instructor required to enroll.
The process of facilitated negotiation routinely utilized by parties,
attorneys, and all courts (state, federal) to settle disputes. Agreements
to mediate are part of most transactions as the process to attempt resolution
of diputes prior to litigation. In this course, students receive the statutorily
required 40 hours training to be appointed by a court as a mediator.
5400:5500:6300:
Clinical Externship
Cr. 3-5. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Students have the opportunity
to work with a non-profit organization or government agency.
5403:6371: Law Center
Civil Clinic I
Cr. 3-4. Prerequisites: LAW
5222 or LAW 6321 (Professional Responsibility); and
permission of instructor. The Civil clinic is an in-house law school clinic
which gives students hands on legal experience as student attorneys handling
legal cases under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The students
provide all aspects of legal services within specific areas of the law
for indigent clients from within the Houston area.
5404:6231:6316:
Law Center Civil Clinic II
Cr. 2-4. Prerequisites:LAW
5222 or LAW 6321 (Professional Responsibility); and
permission of instructor. The Legal Clinical Studies II course is an extension
of Legal Clinical Studies I. Students who take a second semester in the
Civil Clinic are given the opportunity to build on the experiences and
knowledge acquired in their first semester in the Civil Clinic.
5405:5399: Immigration Clinic
Cr. 3-4. The immigration clinic combines actual representation of clients with the theoretical teaching of immigration law. Each student handles ad individual caseload of 5-7 clients. The types of cases handled through the clinic include: applications for political asylum; petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); family visa petitions, citizenship, special immigrant juvenile petitions; and representation of long term residents in removal/deportation proceedings.
5406: Procedure I
Cr. 4. (4-0). Introduction to civil procedure;
jurisdiction of courts; pleading, discovery; trial; effect of judgments;
appeals. Emphasis is on the federal rules of civil procedure.
5407: Judicial Internship Clinic I.
Cr. 4. Prerequisite: approval of instructor. Students have the
opportunity to work with a member of the judiciary.
5408: Property.
Cr. 4. (4-0). Introduction to basic principles of property law; acquisition of property; types of property interests; transfer of ownership; recording systems; conveyancing; landlord and tenant; regulation of land use.
5409: Contracts.
Cr. 4. (4-0). Basic contract law including contract formation, prerequisites such as consideration, remedies, enforcement, interpretation, writings, and multiple parties.
5412: Judicial Internship Clinic II.
Cr. 4. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Students have the
opportunity to continue their work with a member of the judiciary. The
second term in a placement allows a student to work on additional lawyering
skills while continuing to improve the lawyering skills they have worked
on previously.
5414: Immigration Clinic II.
Cr. 4. Prerequisite: Law 5405 (Immigration Clinic), and approval of instructor. The course covers practical and theoretical training in immigration law. Students handle actual cases in various areas of the law including: Asylum; Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); Family Visa processing; and Citizenship cases. Students handle an actual caseload of 5-7 clients, including representation of at least one case before the court.
5418: Torts
Cr. 4. (4-0). Basic tort law; intentional torts, negligence, strict liability; causation and problems of multiple parties; damages and compensation systems; derivative liability; special kinds of torts.
5419: Consumer Law Clinic
Cr. 4. Focusing on consumer law issues, students enrolled in this
clinic work as student attorneys with Lone Star Legal Aid and learn the
law by a mixture of theory and actual hands-on experience representing
low income clients at Justice Court, County Court, and District Court.
5421: Business Organizations
Cr. 4. (4-0). A survey of materials relating to the legal consequences
of various forms of business structures including agency, partnership,
and incorporation.
5422: Criminal Defense Clinic Juvenile II
Cr. 4. Advanced course for students who have completed a semester
in the Juvenile Defense Clinic. Helps students learn how to be lawyers
and represent children in delinquency proceedings.
5423: Juvenile Advocacy I
Cr. 4. (4-0). The Juvenile Advocacy Clinics I and II represent children in dependency cases as court appointed attorney ad litem for the child, and as defense attorney for children.
5430: Criminal Defense Clinic - Juvenile I
Cr. 4. Students have the opportunity to represent real clients
in juvenile proceedings including hearings, bench trials, and jury trials
for misdemeanors, felonies, probation violations, placement reviews, transfer
hearings and any other matters that may develop through the representation
of a juvenile in delinquency proceedings.
5475: Child Dependency Clinic
Cr. 4. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 45 hours and completion
or concurrent enrollent in Law 5222, and Law
6321 (Professional Responsibility). Law students providing supervised representation as Attorney
Ad Litem for children in abuse and/or neglect cases brought by the Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services.
5476:6276:6376: Environmental, Energy, and Policy Law
Journal
Cr. 2-4. An academic publication of the Law Center in which the law
students, under the direction of the faculty, edit articles of distinguished
faculty and scholars around the country.
5488: Constitutional Law
Cr. 4. (4-0). Judicial review: powers of
government; federalism; requirements of due process and equal protection;
individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
6113:6213: Innocence
Investigations
Cr. 1-2. This course will cover basic issues associated with
conducting factual investigations, years after a trial has occurred, to
determine whether a prison inmate is innocent. The course will consider,
among other things, the mechanics of conducting factual investigations,
and will also address ethical issues associated with such investigations.
Students will have the opportunity to screen cases and may have the opportunity
to conduct investigations.
6200: Attorney Communication
Cr. 2. (2-0). Theoretical and practical approaches to the way lawyers communicate effectively with clients, judges and juries.
6201: Special Topics In Discrimination Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Following an introduction to the theoretical debates of what has come to be known as "queer theory", this course explores how courts and legislatures have defined and treated sexual identity and orientation.
6202: Asylum Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will be a comparative law course covering the following areas: international origins (religious and political) of refugee law and procedure; a comparative analysis of the procedures and precedents of the U.S. and other countries in their treatment of those seeking protection within their borders; claims based on gender, juvenile status, and other social group classifications; present and future trends in dealing with refugees.
6204:5397: Entertainment Law
Cr. 2-3. (2-0)(3-0). An interesting blend of torts, contracts, and intellectual property concepts that arise in entertainment law practice.
6205: Patent Prosecution
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: Law 5332 (Patent Law), or permission of instructor.
Substantive law and procedure governing the patent applicatin process.
Students who are registered patent agents are graded on a separate curve.
6206: Toxic Torts
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will focus upon legal issues arising in cases
involving exposure to toxic substances, such as asbestos, silica, silicone
gel breast implants, chemicals, or prescription drugs.
6210: How to Reason: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Public Policy
Cr. 2. (2-0). The course will begin with the philosophy of logic, including the logic of interferences and the logic of propositions, and will relate these topics to legal analysis. It will explore common fallacies and the limits of reasoning. Then it will go on to consider certain areas of economic, ethical, political, and jurisprudential reasoning. It will introduce selected scientific models and methods, and then cover issues from the related fields of statistics and psychology.
6214: 5347:Corporate Finance
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Prerequisite: LAW
5421 (Business Organizations). In this course we will consider the state corporate laws and
federal securities laws regulating the financing of corporations, both
closely held and public. We will focus on various financing methods, including
common stock, preferred stock, and convertible and straight debt (but
not commercial lending arrangements such as bank loan agreements), as
well as dividends, stock repurchases, tender lifers and mergers. Among
the legal issues we will consider are the laws regulation corporate disclosure
and corporate governance.
6215: 6360: Criminal Procedure II (NEW - this course is now: LAW 5397 - Criminal Procedure: The Adjudication Process)
Cr. 2. (2-0). This course will cover issues related to the right to the assistance and counsel; bail and pretrial detention; the preliminary hearing; the grand jury process; jury selection; speedy trial; the right to a jury trial; constitutional rules related to the prosecution's burden of proof and "elements" of criminal offenses; a criminal defendant's mental health (competency-to-stand trial, diminished capacity, insanity, and mitigation at sentencing); sentencing; double jeopardy; and post-conviction claims, including ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct. Students may take Criminal Procedure II before, after, or concurrently with Criminal Procedure I.
6217: HIV and the Law
Cr. 2. (2-0).
Explores the legal implications of HIV infection for public health policy,
education, employment, insurance, health care and criminal law.
6223: 5356:Factual Investigations
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Covers sources and research techniques in traditional and
electronic media on topics including due diligence investigations, acquisition
and use of military licensing information, government information and
FOIA requests, as well as agency procurement and methods for finding people.
6224: 5356:Remedies
Cr. 2-3. (2-0;3-0). Content includes a wide array of legal and equitable remedies
available in civil actions - including injunctions (and the related
contempt power), specific performance, common law "writs," restitution,
money damages, attorney's fees, and prejudment interest.
6226: Advanced Oil & Gas Contracting
Cr. 2. (2-0). Focuses on contracts used in domestic oil and gas exploration
and production operations, including oil and gas leases, operating agreements,
unitization agreements, farm outs and term assignments, purchase and sale
agreements and other contractual arrangements.
6228: Law & Development in Africa
Cr. 2. (2-0). Study of the role of law in the process of development in
Africa, with emphasis on modern African constitutions and economic, social,
and women's rights, including the rights to housing and health-care.
6229: Colloquium
Cr. 2. (2-0). Students and scholars work cooperatively in a rigorous intellectual
environmnet where students participate in a unique analytic discussion
of the law of many different fields.
6232: 5120:Legal Drafting
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Rules and strategies for, and actual drafting of both litigation
documents and documents intended to avoid litigation. Emphasizes planning
documents needed in preventive law, such as various types of contracts,
policies, and regulations.
6233: Advanced Torts
Cr. 2. (2-0). Focuses on a number of subjects including a trespass to
chattel and conversion, economic torts, insurance, nuisance, dignitary
torts, and products liability.
6234: Law, Ethics & Brain Policy
Cr. 2. (2-0). Focuses on legal and ethical issues related to brain injury
and disease, treatment and research, including the impact of brain injury
and disease on competency and criminal responsibility; the legal regulation
of brain treatments such as psychosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy,
and deep brain stimulation.
6236: Advocates Board
Cr. 2. (0-2). Administers the operations of this student organization,
including organizing and running all intra-scholastic competitions, providing
workshop learning opportunities for students competing in their competitions.
6251: Health Law Transactions
Cr. 2.
(2-0). Prerequisite: Law 6331 (Health Law Survey: Access, Regulation & Enterprise), or permission of
instructor. Explores the application of federal and state regulatory principles
to health care transactions. This course assumes general familiarity with
issues discussed in Health Law II; e.g., the corporate practice of medicine
doctrine, antitrust, and fraud and abuse. Students will gain exposure
to the document drafting and document review aspects of typical health
care transactions.
6301: International Commercial Arbitration
Cr. 3. (3-0). A comprehensive study of international commercial arbitration
which includes examination and analysis of international arbitration procedure,
arbitration agreements, institutional rules and international conventions.
6302: International Contracting
Cr. 3. (3-0). A transactional course dealing with various aspects of doing
business across national boundaries. There are at least three major assignments
in which teams of student negotiate and draft agreements invoking such
topics as international service contracts, joint venture agreements and
construction contracts.
6306: Personal and Professional Ethics
Cr. 3. (3-0). The overall goal of the course is to explore the causes
of and possible cures for law student and lawyer distress. This is done
through a series of readings and speakers that focus on such matters,
including an expert on personality types, one or more psychologists who
work extensively with law students and lawyers, and numerous practicing
lawyers and judges. The overall metholodogy and philosophy of the course
are set out at length in an article authored by the instructor. See 45
S.Tex. L. Rev. 753, 795-804, 809-813 (2004). The course will be graded
pass-fail. It will require preparation of short reflective papers (1-2
typewritten pages) on topics growing out of class presentations and discussions,
and the completion of evaluative instruments designed specifically for
the course.
6307: Sports Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Analysis of topics such as representation of the professional
athlete in contract negotiations and endorsements, the player-club contractual
relationship, anti-trust and collective bargaining issues in amateur and
professional sports, sports tort liability, and representation of the
recreational amateur and professional in sports injury litigation.
6316: Law Center Clinic II
Cr. 3.
Prerequisites: Law 5222 (Professional Responsibility) and completion of 45 credits. Students continue to improve the lawyering skills they have
developed by participating in an in-house clinic. In addition, students
help train Clinic I students in clinic procedures and lawyering skills.
6320: Supreme Court Term
Cr. 3. (3-0).This course examines major decisions from the most recent
Term of the Supreme Court.
6322: Health Law Survey: Bioethics & Quality of Care
Cr. 3. (3-0). This introductory health law course focuses on bioethics
and the mechanisms for assuring quality of health care. Bioethics topics
include: death and dying, reproductive technologies, organ donation/transplantation
and public health. The course also surveys the major mechanisms ensuring
the quality of health care, including medical malpractice and professional
licensure.
6323: Space Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course surveys the development of space law and policy
from the 1930's to evolving law for the International Space Station and
future exploration and settlement of the solar system. Topics include:
International Space Law (multinational and bilateral treaties, and the
common international law of space); National Space Law (US, Russian, European,
Japanese and Chinese); and the space policy of the United States. US national
space law is covered in detail, with specific attention to the NASA Act,
FCC jurisdiction and control of communications satellites, FAA licensing
of private launch services and policy issues related to remote sensing
and the military use of space. Specific issues of patent, securities,
tort and contract law are addressed in relation to current and future
business activities in outer space.
6324: Transactional Clinic
Cr. 3. The Transactional Clinic works with the University's Small
Business Development Center to work with clients who need advise and assistance
with their small business. Under the supervision of the instructor, student
attorneys advise and prepare necessary documents to form LLCs or Corporations,
negotiate commercial leases, and draft service, investment or other contracts
as necessary. Students periodically assist non-profit organizations as
well.
6325: Network Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). A survey of legal issues arising from the rapid growth
of internet and other on-line communications. Coverage will include intellectual
property, First amendment, criminal and privacy issues.
6327: Criminal Litigation
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course covers all stages of a prosecution from the
preliminary hearing through sentencing. Students are assigned factual
hypotheticals and given relevant legal authorities, and role-play either
as prosecutors or defense counsel.
6328: Introduction to Chinese Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course provides an overview of the legal system and
basic laws of the People's Republic of China. Among other topics, the
course covers issues in foreign investment law and intellectual property
law.
6330: Law, Literature & Society
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course is focused on identifying biases and presuppositions
in our perspectives and their relation with professionalism.
6331: Health Law Survey: Access, Regulation &
Enterprise
Cr. 3. (3-0). An introductory health law course addressing the regulation,
structure, and financing of the American health care system. Regulation
and structural issues include how health care institutions are legally
organized, accreditation, medical staff disputes, managed care, fraud
and abuse, health care transactions, and antitrust. Access and financing
issues include private health insurance, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Medicare,
and Medicaid.
6332: Economics of the Energy Industry
Cr. 3. (3-0). A better understanding of the economics of the energy industries
in relation to trends in the overall economy and the society, and better
quantitative skills to analyze complex price behavior and to develop new
revenue generation models.
6333: International Intellectual Property
Cr. 3. (3-0). Study of international intellectual property law issues,
doctrine, and policy by studying treaties, trade law, and local country
law. Prerequisites apply; see Law Center course description for list.
6334: Accounting and Finance for Lawyers
Cr. 3. (3-0). The course teaches the basics every lawyer should know about
accounting and finance in order to communicate, negotiate, and counsel
effectively regarding business matters: the accounting process; the balance
sheet, income statement, and cash flow; financial statement analysis;
auditing; time value of money; interest; credit; securities; risk; valuation;
derivatives; financial decision rules; and financial markets and regulation.
The course presumes no prior knowledge of accounting or finance. No special
mathematical knowledge is required, just basic arithmetic and algebra.
6336: International Environmental Law
Cr. 3 (3-0). The practical aspects of the various systems as
they compare to the United States environmental law system. Also, the
various environmental aspects of environmental treaties, conventions,
etc. Other topics: international convention and agreements on the environment;
environmental issues in the United States and foreign transactions; the
European Economic Community and the environment; Latin America and the
environment; free trade.
6339 Arbitration
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the arbitration process including procedural
problems related to the initiation of the arbitration procedure and the
jurisdictional power of the arbitrator/as well as substantive issues including,
but not limited to contractual interpretation.
6342: Death Penalty Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course covers substantive death penalty law, beginning
with the supreme court's decision in 1972 to strike down all then-existing
law, and continuing through the court's most recent term. Primary focus
will be on federal decisions, by the supreme court and the court of appeals,
but state court decisions, particularly cases from Texas, will also receive
significant attention.
6343: Energy Law & Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). A basic overview and background to the important energy
issues of the day, especially natural gas and electricity deregulation
(more aptly called restructuring).
6346: Payment Systems
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course explores and compares the law of various "money substitutes", with emphasis on the check system. The allocations of risk by the check system, the credit card system, the debit card system, the wire transfer system, and the letter of credit system are compared and contrasted.
6347: Secured Financing
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course will focus on the law of secured financing-Article
9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The course will center around problem
sets rather than cases, as problem-solving helps the student to learn
and to understand how Article 9 operates in practical situations.
6348 Texas Criminal Procedure
Cr. 3. (3-0). An in-depth analysis of the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure and case law interpreting the same. Where appropriate, the Texas
Rules of Criminal Evidence and Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure will
be addressed and discussed. There will be a comparative analysis of the
mentioned rules and statutes with their federal counterparts.
6349: Consumer Law Clinic
Cr. 3. Focusing on consumer law issues, students enrolled in this
clinic work as student attorneys with Lone Star Legal Aid and learn the
law by a mixture of theory and actual hands-on experience representing
low income clients at Justice Court, County Court, and District Court.
6350: Admiralty, PI & Death
Cr. 3. (3-0). Focuses upon causes of actions and remedies that are available
to the various classes of maritime workers. We will also focus upon maritime
jurisdiction.
6351: ADR Survey
Cr. 3. (3-0). This is a survey course about ADR procedures. The focus is on skills and processes of dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation, and negotiation.
6357: Children's Rights
Cr. 3. (3-0). Students will explore the interaction between children and
the legal system. It will examine the constitutional rights of children,
child custody and visitation, abuse and neglect proceedings, adoption,
juvenile delinquency, regulation of children's conduct, financial responsibility
and control and the medical decision making process for minors.
6359: Regulated Industries
Cr. 3. (3-0). An examination of the regulation and deregulation of the
electric power, surface and air transportation, telecommunications, and
cable industries.
6361: Property Crime in the Information Age
Cr. 3. (3-0). Focuses on how criminal law deals with takings of new forms
of property, such as business information, trade secrets, and copyrighted
material. Reviews criminal theft and introduces criminal misappropriation
and infringement.
6362: Natural Resources Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). History, jurisdiction, and conflicts of the land management
agencies (primarily the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the
Interior) under the various natural resources statutes.
6363: Practice Skills
Cr. 3. (3-0). Focuses on client interviewing, counseling and negotiating.
Emphasizes a practical approach to the initial stages of client contact
and development of the client's case.
6364: Contract Drafting
Cr. 3. (3-0). Focuses on how to draft effective agreements that accomplish
the client's goals in an ethical manner.
6365: Law and International Economic Relations
Cr. 3. (3-0). Basic concepts of international law, with a concentration
on international economic issues that confront different legal regimes.
6369: Alternative Dispute Resolution
Cr. 3. (3-0). This course is devoted to dispute settlement mechanism other
than judicial trials. While the range of ADR topics is broad, we will
focus on negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
6372: Analytic Methods
Cr. 3. (3-0). Teaches practical analytic methods to law students without
prior quantitative training. Includes decision/game theory, contracting,
law and economics, microeconomics, accounting, finance, and statistics.
6373: Family Law Practice
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: Law
5420 (Marital Property Rights). Practical review of Texas
family law practice and procedure, covering division of property, parent-child
issues, temporary orders, etc.
6374: Maritime, Cargo, and Collision
Cr. 3. (3-0).This course directs initial attention to the personification
of a vessel for the purpose of being named as an in rem defendant in admiralty
proceedings. The methods of the arrest and the posting of security as
a means to obtain the vessel's release from seizure will be reviewed.
The law of this country and other nations will receive attention regarding
the international shipment of cargo. The next subject is collision between
vessels in the harbors of this country and on the high seas.
6375: Child Dependency Clinic
Cr. 3. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 45 hours and completion
or concurrent enrollent in Law 5222, Law
6321 (Professional Responsibility). Law students providing supervised representation as Attorney
Ad Litem for children in abuse and/or neglect cases brought by the Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services.
6377: Applied Appellate Advocacy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Students are given the opportunity to improve skills in
Advanced Legal Research, Legal Analysis, Persuasive Legal Writing, and
Applellate Argument Construction/Presentation using two problem sets to
facilitate skill set development.
7204: SEM: Consumer Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Provides students with an opportunity to research an area of consumer law and prepare a paper. Subjects include, DTPA, debt collection, consumer credit, payday loans, landlord tenant, bankruptcy and sales and leases.
7205: SEM: The Law of Sexual Assault
Cr. 2. (2-0). In-depth study of rape law. In addition to reading and discussing materials concerning the criminal law of sexual assault, students will work on a paper.
7206: SEM: International Law & the Use of
Force
Cr. 2. (2-0). Will focus on use of force in international law, the crime
of aggression, and other crimes such as genocide, other crimes against
humanity, and war crimes. Responses to terrorism are also a current theme
with respect to use of force and criminal responsibility.
7208: SEM: Public Health Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in
LAW 6322 (Health Law Survey: Bioethics & Quality of Care), LAW 6331 (Health Law Survey: Access, Regulation, & Enterprise), or permission of instructor. This seminar
examines public health law and regulation and the tension between public
health activities, civil liberties, property rights, and other significant
interests. Topics covered include vaccination, quarantine, bioterrorism,
and disease surveillance.
7209: Taxation of Financial Instruments
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisites: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). An advanced course in
federal income tax treatment of complex debt instruments, complex derivatives,
and straddles, swaps and other hedges. Also addresses secondary market
transactions in these instruments.
7211: SEM: Environmental Law and Land Use
Cr. 2. (2-0). Examines how government regulates private and public lands
for the environment's sake. It covers traditional concepts of land control
and controls tailored to the land's specific characteristics, e.g., wetlands,
coastal areas, flood plains, habitats for endangered species, and public
lands.
7212: SEM: Law & Theology
Cr. 2. (2-0). An Interdisciplinary analysis of selected concepts common
to legal and theological studies.
7213: 7303: SEM: Legal
Aspects of Bioethics
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Examines the legal, ethical, and policy aspects of current
controversies in bioethics. Topics include privacy and confidentiality,
terminal care decisions, patients' rights to refuse treatment, organ donation
and transplantation, and experimentation involving human subjects.
7217: SEM: Law & Religion
Cr. 2. (2-0). Prerequisite: LAW
5488 (Constitutional Law). Examines the law's treatment of religious organizations and
the role of religion in a pluralistic society. Paper course.
7219: SEM: Problems in International Trade and
Investment
Cr. 2. (2-0). Seminar serves as a vehicle for students who wish to research
and write advanced research papers on topics related to international
trade and investment. Paper course.
7220: SEM: E-Health Law
Cr. 2. (2-0). This seminar examines regulatory approaches to new technology
(including telemedicine, cybermedicine, and medical privacy) by state
legislatures, boards of medicine and pharmacy, and federal agencies. Also
examines efforts by the AMA, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
(NAPB), the Federation of State Medical Boards, and other organizations
to address e-health issues.
7221:SEM: Advanced Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Cr. 2. (2-0). Advanced research & writing class on varied forms of dispute
resolution. Typical topics include Mediation and Arbitration.
7223: SEM: Regulation of Health Care Professionals
Cr. 2. (2-0). Covers many areas relating to the regulation of physicians, hospitals, and managed care providers.
7273:7349:SEM: Constitutional
Law
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Selected topics in constitutional law. Varies from year
to year.
7304: SEM: Problems in International Trade & Investment
Cr. 3. (3-0). J.D. students require consent of instructor. Issues relating
to international trade (multi-lateral and regional) and investment and
their relationship to environmental concerns are explored through selected
readings and student papers.
7308:SEM: Scientific Evidence and the Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Explores scientific issues surrounding several substances
and products (such as asbestos, Bendectin, Electro-magnetic fields, passive
tobacco smoke, and breast implants) which have generated mass tort litigation
in the past or are candidates for future litigation. Others have had their
greatest impact in other areas; for example, DNA evidence and alcohol
testing have primarily been an issue in criminal cases, while drug testing
has been an important issue in employment law.
7322:7222:SEM: Advanced Topics
in Legal Ethics
Cr. 2-3. (2-0; 3-0). Prerequisite: Law 5222, Law
6321 (Professional Responsibility). Will discuss some recurring themes in professional responsibility,
especially with respect to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and
the Texas Ethics rules. We apply those themes to current ethics issues.
7323:SEM: Arbitration
Cr. 3. (3-0). This seminar focuses on current issues relating to arbitration
law and practice. Subjects may include commercial, consumer, employment,
international, labor, and maritime arbitration topics.
7324:SEM: Criminal Procedure
Cr. 3. (3-0). A study of the criminal system and the constitutional guarantees
stemming from the Bill of Rights and the 14th amendment.
7325:7215:SEM: Civil
Rights/Section 1983
Cr. 2-3. (2-0;3-0). Substantive and procedural problems in litigating a civil
rights course of action under 42 U.S.C. 164 § 1983.
7327:SEM: Advanced Topics in Copyright Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: LAW 5201 (Intellectual Property Survey) or LAW 5379 (Copyright Law) (preferred), or permission of instructor.
Provides students the opportunity for in-depth exploration of topics of interest to them, including technological, international and historical problems in the field of copyright law.
7328:7218: SEM: Intellectual
Property Law
Cr. 2-3. (2-0;3-0). Prerequisite: LAW
5332 (Patent Law) or LAW 5379 (Copyright Law) or LAW
5201 (Intellectual Property Survey). Currently controversial topics in the intellectual property
law field.
7329: SEM: Human Rights
Cr. 3. (3-0). Seminar addressing several human rights problems, including
the sources and content of human rights law and the types of remedies
that are available for the protection of human rights at the international,
regional, and domestic (U.S.) levels.
7330: SEM: Election Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). This seminar studies federal and Texas Constitutional, statutory
and regulatory actions relating to elections. Particular attention is
directed to suffrage, elections, campaign finance and redistricting.
7333: SEM: Energy, Law and Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Recommended Prerequisite: Law 5390.
Students explore in depth an energy-related topic of their choice, ranging
from problems (and proposed solutions) for nuclear power development,
renewables, and offshore oil and gas, LNG siting, state-federal conflicts
in energy development, FERC jurisdiction and restructuring orders for
gas and electricity, changes in energy laws in other countries, etc. Paper
required.
7334: SEM: International Law & the Use of
Force
Cr. 3. (3-0). Will focus on use of force in international law, the crime
of aggression, and other crimes such as genocide, other crimes against
humanity, and war crimes. Responses to terrorism are also a current theme
with respect to use of force and criminal responsibility.
7335: SEM: Tax Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: LAW 5359, LAW 5459 (Federal Income Tax). Consideration
of problems in the field of federal tax policy.
7337:SEM: Law & Religion
Cr. 3. (3-0). This seminar examines how religion is treated in different
areas of the law. We begin with definitions of law and religion and some
similarities between religious and legal reasoning. We will study the
U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence. With this constitutional
background in place, we explore how religious issues arise in other areas
of the law.
7338:SEM: Women and Health Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Examines the gender implications of our system of health
care. Gender issues arise in many health care contexts, including reproductive
rights, clinical research, disability law, confidentiality and informed
consent, domestic violence, insurance coverage, and criminal law.
7340:SEM: Higher Education Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Advanced study, research and writing concerning legal issues
in post-secondary education, including governance, faculty, students,
and regulation by state and federal governments.
7343:SEM:American Legal History
Cr. 3. (3-0). Seminar on the development of law,
legal institutions and the legal profession.
7352:SEM: International Environmental Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). The foundations for legal response to current global environmental
challenges and the exploration of the leading issues. Issues of current
(or historical) interest and an analysis of how international laws and
institutions may help resolve them.
7353: SEM: Sandra Day O'Connor
Cr. 3. (3-0). A longitudinal study of the jurisprudence of Justice Sandra
Day O'Connor, with papers focused on topics to be chosen in consultation
with the instructor.
7365:7214:SEM: Bankruptcy
Cr. 3. (3-0). This seminar will provide an introduction and overview of
Chapter 11 business reorganizations. The class will study the course of
a Chapter 11 case from the filing of a petition through confirmation of
a plan of reorganization. Special emphasis will be placed on the practical
aspects of the reorganization process, as the class is introduced to the
legal principles of Chapter 11 reorganizations. Seminar papers will be
required.
7384:SEM: Criminal Sentencing
Cr. 3. (3-0). Seminar examining the traditional goals of the criminal
justice system including the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the use, viability,
and appropriateness of alternatives to incarceration and the considerations
regarding the sentence of death.
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