Prerequisites: Civil Procedure

Prerequisites: Civil Procedure

This course examines the theory and practice of complex, multiparty cases. In particular, it examines the major procedural and substantive issues in nationwide class actions and non-class aggregation. Our readings and discussions will focus on class actions (including the requirements for class certification, dueling state and federal class actions, and the implications of settlement) and other advanced procedural topics such as joinder, multidistrict litigation, large-scale discovery, phased trials and preclusion. 

An introduction to the characteristic features and functioning of non-common law legal systems, with emphasis on the civil law tradition. This course seeks to provide American lawyers with a basic framework for understanding foreign legal systems.

This seminar will explore selected topics in comparative constitutional law through readings of both scholarly articles and major foreign cases (in translation). The focus of the readings will be on non-U.S. systems, but throughout the course we will use the U.S. as a primary point of comparison. Topics will include: comparative federalism and separation of powers, appropriateness and methodologies for enforcing socio-economic rights in different contexts, and the links between domestic and international legal systems.

Prerequisite: Property and Contracts

Prerequisites: Must not have taken Commercial Law Survey

Principles of commercial paper; system of bank deposits and collections, including the relationship of the commercial bank and its customer. The use of commercial paper in documentary exchanges is also covered.

This is a course that explores the state, federal and international laws governing the use and development of resources in coastal areas and the oceans. Such an exploration covers the federal and state common law, major federal statutes, international treaties, all from the perspective of the special needs of coastal areas and oceans. Prominent in this course are the ecological underpinnings of wildlife regulation, relationships between water, habitat, wildlife, and land use, and legal issues stemming from jurisdictional conflicts.

This course covers the organizational law of small businesses, particularly those with relatively few owners or shareholders. It introduces and compares different types of legal organizations commonly used by small businesses, such as general partnerships, limited partnerships, closely held corporations, and limited-liability companies (LLCs).

The course offers students a skills-oriented approach to client interviewing and counseling. Coverage includes recognizing the legal and non-legal dimensions of a client's problem(s); developing the fundamental skills of effective listening and questioning; and practicing information-gathering and decision-making techniques. Course may be taken for S/U grade only, with S+ (honors) and S- option.

In this seminar, we will discuss class actions from the theoretical, doctrinal, and practical perspectives.  We will examine several actual cases in great depth, including antitrust class actions, employment law class actions, and class actions brought against the federal government. Practical exercises will include working on a motion for class certification, deposition practice, and a simulated settlement negotiation. The final grade will be based on both performance in the practical exercises and a research paper the subject of which you will choose based on the course materials.