Juris Doctor

• LAW JD 606: Legislation
  Examines the lawmaking process in legislatures, theories and rules of statutory interpretation in the courts, and the relationships among statutory law, administrative law, common law, and constitutional law.
• LAW JD 700: Intro Amer LAW
  
• LAW JD 706: Writing Supplements
  Students enrolled in selected upper-class courses have the option of enrolling in one-credit Writing Supplements to these courses. Designed for students who are interested in practicing in the areas covered by the course, these one-credit supplements are taught by experienced attorneys who practice in these areas. In collaboration with the professor teaching the substantive course, the practitioner instructs students in drafting documents related to the substantive coursework. For example, a writing supplement to a family law class could include separation agreements, custody agreements or restraining orders. Writing sections consist of one introductory meeting and a number of follow up meetings to discuss drafts in progress. Because enrollment is limited, you will receive substantial feedback and individualized instruction. NOTE: Fall 2012 Section A1 - Supplement to Trusts, Wills & Basic Estate Planning. Spring 2013 Section B1 - Supplement to Family Law.
• LAW JD 707: Human Trafficking
  This course is required for students accepted to the Human Trafficking Clinic (JD708). The course will examine international, federal, and state mechanisms to combat human trafficking. The course will also evaluate comparative models for criminal prosecution and protection of survivors. The course will explore serious enforcement challenges in a variety of contexts, including victim compensation, employment rights, immigration relief, and criminal prosecution. Moreover, the class will receive training in client counseling techniques, focusing on the unique challenges when working with vulnerable communities, such as trafficking survivors. PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: Immigration Law (JD968) and Evidence (JD831).
• LAW JD 708: Human Trafficking Clinic
  The Human Trafficking Clinic offers a unique opportunity for students to work on legal cases of human trafficking, a widespread and serious human rights violation. Students must apply and be accepted to the clinic before registering. Clinic students will provide a variety of legal services, including direct representation of non-citizens trafficked into the United States, advocacy for trafficking survivors, and community education and training. In particular, Clinic students will directly represent trafficking survivors to apply for a T-visa, a special form of immigration relief for trafficking survivors and/or in removal (deportation) proceedings before the Boston Immigration Court. Students also will collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, including survivors of human trafficking, law enforcement, government officials, and non-governmental organizations, to identify solutions to combat human trafficking. Through their clinical experience, students will increase their knowledge of trafficking law and learn fundamentals of lawyering, while providing a valuable service to survivors who would otherwise be unrepresented. CO-REQUISITE: Students must also register for JD 707.
• LAW JD 709: Independent Proposal Externship: Fieldwork (C)
  This is a clinical progam. Students must apply and be accepted before registering for this course. Through the Independent Proposal Externship, students may receive credit for an externship done in conjunction with an independent study project. This option is available to students only if there are no spots available in one of our other externship offerings. The Fieldwork Students receive 3-5 variable credits for the fieldwork, determined as follows: 3 credits = 150 hours total (about 12 hrs/wk); 4 credits = 200 hours total (about 15-16 hrs/wk); 5 credits = 250 hours total (about 20 hrs/wk). Qualifying internships may be at a non-profit, government, or in-house counsel placement. An internship may be at a law firm, but only if the student works solely on pro bono assignments. For all placements, the student must be supervised by an attorney, and must work on projects typically handled by an attorney. COREQUISITE: INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP: PAPER (LAW JD 710)
• LAW JD 710: Independent Proposal Externship: Paper
  This is a clinical program. Students must apply and be accepted before registering for this course. Students work under the guidance of a faculty member and earn three credits for writing a paper and submitting journals. The paper must be at least 30 pages in length. There are eight journals due (5-7 pages each). Students may satisfy the upperclass writing requirement through the paper, under agreement of the sponsoring faculty member. COREQUISITE: INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP (LAW JD 709).
• LAW JD 711: Judicial Writing (S)
  Designed for students who would like to clerk upon graduation or who have ambitions to sit on the bench, this class will focus on documents that law clerks and judges are called upon to draft, including bench briefs and appellate and trial court decisions. Students will complete multiple drafts of these documents, meet individually with the instructor to discuss the drafts, and engage in peer editing of their classmates' papers. Students will work with a single fact pattern throughout the semester, and will conduct extensive research as part of the course. In class, students will discuss the role of judges and their opinions in the legal systems, as well as the relationship between a judge and law clerk. The class will also include in-class writing exercises designed to improve the students' writing skills. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 14 students. NOTES: This seminar satisfies the Upper-class Professional Skills requirement. This seminar does not satisfy the Upper-class Writing Requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 712: Legal Writing for Civil Litigation (S)
  This class is designed to give students a variety of legal writing experiences, all related to civil litigation. Students will draft a variety of documents, including discovery-related documents, pleadings, and motions. Students will complete multiple drafts of these documents, meet individually with the instructor to discuss the drafts, and engage in peer editing of their classmates' papers. Students will work with a single fact pattern throughout the semester, and will conduct extensive research as part of the course. In class, students will discuss litigation strategy, research skills and ethical and professional concerns. In addition, the class will also include in-class writing exercises designed to improve the students' writing skills. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 14 students. NOTE: This class satisfies the upper-class professional skills requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 713: Persuasive Writing (S)
  This seminar will focus on improving students' persuasive writing skills through a series of assignments and in-class exercises. Students will draft a variety of documents designed to persuade, including a statement of the facts and memos in support of motions. Some legal research will be necessary for these assignments, but the emphasis will be on writing, not on research. Students will complete multiple drafts of these documents, meet individually with the instructor to discuss the drafts, and engage in peer editing of their classmates' papers to improve their own writing skills. The class will also include discussions of persuasive writing strategies, comparisons of examples of good and bad persuasive writing, and in-class writing exercises. Students will be graded on the basis of their written work, their peer editing work, and on their classroom participation. There will be no final exam. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 14 students. NOTE: This seminar satisfies the Upper-class Professional Skills requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 719: Transactional Contracts: Drafting, Structuring and Negotiating Agreements under U.S. Law (for foreign-trained LL.M. students)
  This course is for foreign trained LL.M. students. This course will focus on developing the skills required to structure, negotiate and draft commonly-used transactional contracts, including agreements for the purchase or sale of a business, venture capital financing agreements, technology licensing agreements, loan agreements, and employment and non-competition agreements. In this class, students will learn the structure of agreements under U.S. law and the technical language required to effect the specific contractual provisions in these documents. Class time will be spent discussing how to negotiate and draft specific provisions of commonly-used contracts and other corporate documents, as well as the importance of each contract to a completed business transaction. Three credits.
• LAW JD 726: Health Care Fraud and Abuse (S)
  This seminar will use a practical, case-study approach to some of the issues arising in the complex world of health care enforcement and compliance. With emphasis on the procedural mechanisms of the False Claims Act and the substantive law of the Anti-Kickback Act, the Stark I and II laws, the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, and the government's remedial authorities, the seminar will explore how prosecutors, defense attorneys, whistleblowers, and compliance officials inside health care companies approach their work and advise their clients. The seminar will explore the relationships between regulated industries (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors, medical device companies) and government insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid and Medicare), why these relationships generate billions of dollars every year in fraud, and how the interested constituencies are approaching these issues. NOTE: This seminar does not satisfy the Upper-class Writing Requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 727: Law and the Lobby (S)
  Lobbying is fundamental to our participatory democracy. The courts have steadfastly upheld the right to lobby based on the First Amendment. Lobbying efforts have led to numerous societal gains from cleaner air to safer cars. Lobbyists also play a vital role in helping members of the government understand complex issues. However, lobbying has a dark side. Throughout our country's history there have been scandals where money was used to unethically and unlawfully gain influence. Efforts to regulate lobbying have followed each major outrage yet they continue. This class will explore the legal, business and public policy aspects of lobbying. The course begins with history of lobbying focused on its legal foundation, regulation and resulting litigation. Next the business of lobbying is explored including the size, structure, strategy and economics of the industry. Finally we consider the impact of recent events on the future of lobbying - What has been the fallout from the Abramoff scandal? What is the impact of the Citizens United decision? What is the impact of the internet on lobbying, especially for non-profits? The reading materials include legislation, legal cases and business cases, collated by the instructors. Students will be required to write a final paper. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 728: Government Lawyering Externship/Fieldwork (C)
  The Government Lawyering Externship is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students must register for the ungraded fieldwork component and the graded seminar. Through the Government Lawyering Externship Program (GLEP), students work at a state or federal agency. Upon acceptance to the Government Lawyering Externship Program program, the Office of Clinical Programs works with students to identify suitable field placements depending on each student's individual interests and career goals. The range of opportunities in the government is extensive and there are great options out there for every student. COREQUISITE: Government Lawyering Seminar (JD 729) NOTE: This clinic satisfies the upper-class professional skills requirement.
• LAW JD 729: Government Lawyering Externship/Seminar
  The Government Lawyering Externship is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students register for the ungraded fieldwork component and this graded seminar. The two hour weekly seminar will explore topics including determining who the "client" is for purposes of the attorney-client relationship, the interaction with other government agencies, ethical and moral considerations unique to government attorneys, and the impact of politics on the work of a government lawyer. Students will write weekly journals about their externship experience and will also write a final research paper. COREQUISITE: Government Lawyering Externship: Fieldwork (JD 728)
• LAW JD 731: Critical Race Theory (S)
  This seminar explores the utility of Critical Race Theory to the study of law. Specifically, this seminar analyzes the centrality of the law in constructing and maintaining -- as well as dismantling -- racism, racial inequalities, and race itself. The latter part of the seminar will consist of a sustained analysis of Critical Race Theory as it speaks to issues of gender and reproduction. Students will write a research paper; with the permission of the instructor, this paper may satisfy the upper-class writing requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
• LAW JD 732: Tax Law Research
  Tax law research is among the most complicated areas of the law to research. Statutes, regulations and agency issuances interact to create a thickly layered set of legal precedents. This class will explore the resources a tax professional would use to perform his or her research from legislative history to private letter rulings. Students will become familiar with the research platforms outside of Lexis and Westlaw that are commonly used in practice. Students will get practice in using many of the most heavily used practice materials. Classes will combine instruction and hands-on exercises using the major print and electronic resources available for tax law research. Students will be required to complete an assignment for each class. NOTE: Students may not add this course after the first class has been held. This course meets Thursday Oct. 25, 2012 through Thursday Nov. 29, 2012.
• LAW JD 733: Intellectual Property Law Research
  Intellectual property is a multi-faceted area of practice where it is especially important to be able to keep up with current developments. Students will become familiar with practitioners' tools as well as learning the role of legislative history, sources for securing intellectual property rights and patent and trademark searching. Legal information and technologies are constantly changing, and firms are constantly licensing new databases. Become familiar with the specialized tools used by lawyers in intellectual property practices. Classes will combine instruction and hands-on exercises using major print, electronic, and web based resources for intellectual property law research. NOTE: Students may not add this course after the first class has been held. This course meets January 29 through February 26.
• LAW JD 735: Judicial Externship: Fieldwork (C)
  The Judicial Externship is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the Judicial Externship Program, you may work part-time for credit for a judge in the state or federal court system. As a judicial intern, you will work on assignments typically handled during a post-graduate clerkship. You will spend 16-20 hrs./wk. at your field placement, earning 4-5 ungraded credits. COREQUISITE: Judicial Externship: Judicial Process Seminar (JD 736). NOTE: This clinic satisfies the upper-class professional skills requirement.
• LAW JD 736: Judicial Externship: Judicial Process Seminar
  The Judicial Externship is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. In this seminar, which is the class component for the Judicial Externship Program, we will discuss several issues related to the roles of the judge and judicial intern. We will discuss issues of confidentiality and ethical considerations applicable to judges and to interns and law clerks. We also will explore the differences between trial and appellate courts, which set the parameters within which judges make decisions. Students will receive advanced instruction in legal research and writing applicable to their placements. We will discuss examples of effective and ineffective lawyering that interns observe in their placements. We also will focus on the legal and philosophical foundations of judicial decision-making, and how those influence decisions. Finally, we will discuss specialty courts, and processes that judges use to help parties resolve disputes, such as mediation and settlement. Students will be required to write regular journals and a 15 page final paper. Students may be required to do a class presentation. There will be no final exam but students will be evaluated on their final paper, journals, class participation, and class presentation. COREQUISITE: Judicial Externship/Fieldwork (JD 735). NOTE: This seminar does NOT satisfy the professional responsibility requirement. GRADING NOTICE: Dean Marx and Professor Knight's sections do not offer the CR/NC/H option.