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  • LAW JD 737: Community Courts (S)
    Community courts is a one-semester clinical program that combines a classroom component and a clinical placement one day a week with a judge in a community based state court. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they register. This course is designed to merge theory with practice. Judges sitting in Massachusetts District, Probate, Juvenile and Housing Courts in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dorchester, Roxbury, Lowell, and Lawrence will serve as mentors. Students will work on pending cases as well as projects relating to the long term operation of the court. Classes will explore the structure of state trial courts that are based in the community and how they have traditionally operated. The course will also examine the evolution of “problem-solving” or “specialized courts,” throughout the country. A non-inclusive list of topics that will be covered during the semester includes: 1) The Roles and Function of Court Personnel- Including prosecutors, defenders, probation, court clinicians and judiciary; 2) Restorative Justice and Due Process- Discussions will include consideration of pre-adjudicatory and post-adjudicatory models, including drug, domestic violence and youth courts, and the Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn; 3) The First of the Specialized Courts: The Juvenile Court- Discussions will include analysis of relationship of court process to related systems, including public education, mental health and community based service providers; and 4) Ethical Considerations For Lawyers and the Judiciary In Community Engagement. COREQUISITE: Students will also register for Community Courts: Fieldwork (JD 738).
  • LAW JD 738: Community Courts: Fieldwork (C)
    Community Courts is a one-semester clinical program that combines a classroom component and a clinical placement one day a week with a judge in a community based state court. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they register. Judges sitting in Massachusetts District, Probate, Juvenile and Housing Courts in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dorchester, Roxbury, Lowell, and Lawrence will serve as mentors. Students will work on pending cases as well as projects relating to the long term operation of the court. COREQUISITE: Students will also register for Community Courts: Seminar (JD 737).
  • LAW JD 739: Semester-in-Practice: Independent Proposal (C)
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the Semester-in-Practice Program, a limited number of students may spend a semester working full-time for credit (10 ungraded credits) at an externship placement outside of Boston. The Program is designed for students who want an intensive hands-on experience - at an opportunity not otherwise available in Boston - furthering specific career and academic goals. Acceptance to the Program is competitive. In addition to securing an externship at a placement organization, students must complete a separate BU Law application available through the Clinical Programs Office. Under this option, students may develop their own proposal for a full-time externship outside of Boston. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Independent Paper (JD 740).
  • LAW JD 740: Semester-in-Practice: Independent Paper
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students will register for 2 graded credits for completing readings, writing a research paper, and for submitting weekly journals. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Independent Proposal (JD 739).
  • LAW JD 741: Semester-in-Practice: Human Rights - Geneva (C)
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the Semester-in-Practice Program, a limited number of students may spend a semester working full-time for credit (10 ungraded credits) at an externship placement outside of Boston. The Program is designed for students who want an intensive hands-on experience - at an opportunity not otherwise available in Boston - furthering specific career and academic goals. Acceptance to the Program is competitive. In addition to securing an externship at a placement organization, students must complete a separate BU Law application available through the Clinical Programs Office. Through the Human Rights option, students may spend a semester working in Geneva for a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committed to the protection of human rights. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Human Rights Paper (JD 742).
  • LAW JD 742: Semester-in-Practice: Human Rights Paper
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students will register for 2 graded credits for completing readings, writing a research paper, and for submitting weekly journals. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Human Rights Externship - Geneva (JD 741).
  • LAW JD 743: Semester-in-Practice: Death Penalty Externship (C)
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the Semester-in-Practice Program, a limited number of students may spend a semester working full-time for credit (10 ungraded credits) at an externship placement outside of Boston. The Program is designed for students who want an intensive hands-on experience - at an opportunity not otherwise available in Boston - furthering specific career and academic goals. Acceptance to the Program is competitive. In addition to securing an externship at a placement organization, students must complete a separate BU Law application available through the Clinical Programs Office. Students participating in the Death Penalty Externship may work at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Death Penalty Paper (JD 744).
  • LAW JD 744: Semester-in-Practice: Death Penalty Paper
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students will register for 2 graded credits for completing readings, writing a research paper, and for submitting weekly journals. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Death Penalty Externship (JD 743).
  • LAW JD 745: Semester-in-Practice: Government Lawyering - Washington, D.C. (C)
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the Semester-in-Practice Program, a limited number of students may spend a semester working full-time for credit (10 ungraded credits) at an externship placement outside of Boston. The Program is designed for students who want an intensive hands-on experience - at an opportunity not otherwise available in Boston - furthering specific career and academic goals. Acceptance to the Program is competitive. In addition to securing an externship at a placement organization, students must complete a separate BU Law application available through the Clinical Programs Office. Through the Government Lawyering option, students may spend a semester working at a government office in Washington. Examples include opportunities with the staff of a Congressional committee or subcommittee, in the legal office of an administrative agency, or with a federal board/commission. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Government Lawyering Paper (JD 746).
  • LAW JD 746: Semester-in-Practice: Government Lawyering Paper
    The Semester in Practice is a one-semester clinical program. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Accepted students will register for 2 graded credits for completing readings, writing a research paper, and for submitting weekly journals. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Government Lawyering - Washington, D.C. (JD 745).
  • LAW JD 747: Discovery: Theory & Practice (S)
    This seminar will involve an in-depth examination of discovery practice under the federal rules of civil procedure. The topics to be covered are set out below. Grades will be derived from a final paper, mini-quizzes and assignments, and classroom participation. There is no required text. 1. History and purpose of discovery. 2. Discovery abuse. 3. Rule 26. The scope of discovery and the major limitations on the scope of discovery. 4. Rule 26. The conference of the parties and planning for discovery. The impact of the local rules on discovery. 5. Rule 26. Self-executing disclosures and expert discovery. 6. e-discovery. 7. Written discovery. Rules 33, 34, and 36 (interrogatories, document requests, and requests for admission). 8. Deposition discovery. Rules 30-32. Rule 45 subpoenas. 9. Rule 37. Failure to cooperate in discovery. Sanctions. 10. Rule 37. Discovery motion practice. 11. Effective discovery. NOTES: This seminar does not satisfy the Upper-class Writing Requirement. 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 749: Disability Law (S)
    This is a seminar on the rights of individuals with disabilities in the United States. We shall study the development of disability law in the U.S. through ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), IDEA, and other statutes and cases and examine topics such as the definition of mental and physical disabilities, employment discrimination, reasonable accommodation, welfare benefits, and special education. The seminar will throughout foreground the theoretical justifications and policy implications of integration as well as the economics of accommodation. Approximately two thirds of the semester will be devoted to covering basic statutory, doctrinal and theoretical ground. Readings will be assigned mostly from Blanck, Hill, Siegan and Waterstone, Disability Civil Rights Law and Policy (2009). Towards the end of the semester, we will focus on students’ individual research. Evaluation will be based on class participation and 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 762: Health Law Externship: Fieldwork (C)
    The Health Law Externship is a one semester clinical program where students work for credit at a non-profit health care organization. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. Through the program, students gain hands-on legal experience under the supervision of practitioners who are experts in the health law field. The Health Law Externship is offered in the fall to 3Ls only (or 2Ls with a prior health law background may be considered with permission of Mr. Moulton). The spring semester is open to 2Ls and 3Ls alike, but preference will be given to 3Ls who have not taken the Civil Litigation Program or the Legal Externship Program. Upon acceptance to the program, Mr. Ben Moulton works with students to identify suitable field placements depending on each student's individual interests and career goals. Once possible placement organizations are identified, students are responsible for applying to those organizations. Before the semester begins, students work with their placement supervisors to determine how many hours they will work during the semester. The schedule must be approved by Mr. Moulton. Students must adhere to this schedule throughout the semester. Students receive variable credits for the fieldwork component, determined as follows: •3 credits = 150 hours total: •4 credits = 200 hours total; and •5 credits = 250 hours total. PREREQUISITE: Health Law (JD 867 in the Law School or LW 751 at the School of Public Health). COREQUISITE: Health Law Externship: Seminar (JD 764). NOTE: Participation in the Health Law Externship may count toward the Concentration in Health Law.
  • LAW JD 764: Health Law Externship Seminar
    The Health Law Externship is a one semester clinical program where students work for credit at a non-profit health care organization. Students are required to apply and be accepted to the program before they may register. The weekly seminar is required of all Health Law Externship participants. Students register for one graded credit. COREQUISITE: Health Law Externship Program: Fieldwork (JD 762). NOTE: The Health Law Externship does not satisfy the professional responsibility requirement.
  • LAW JD 765: Africa i-Parliaments Drafting & Policy Clinic (C)
    The Africa i-Parliaments is a one-semester clinical program offered in the fall. Students must apply and be accepted to the program before they register. In 2008, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), initiated a new program called the African Parliamentary Knowledge Network (APKN) to build the capacity of African parliaments to draft and enact more effective legislation. This clinic will support the APKN initiative by working with clients such as members of African Parliaments, government agencies, and regional government organizations. An in-house clinic, students will take advantage of the materials held in the BU Library’s various Africa collections, the internet, and communications technology to consult with clients and gather information on various substantive projects. Students will work closely with student editors and the professors to produce high quality research reports and draft bill language. Students will also add value to APKN by reporting on recently passed African statutes and governmental reform for publication on the APKN’s Africa Parliamentary Information Exchange (http://apex.apkn.org/). The weekly seminar will focus on the use of legislation for social change, the legislative processes of Africa, and evidence-based legislation methodology.
  • LAW JD 766: Africa i-Parliaments Clinic Editor
    After completing a semester as a drafter, a student may be selected by the clinic faculty to serve as a clinic editor. Editors are selected based on their work as drafters and their enthusiasm for advising drafters. Editors may serve for one or two semesters and receive two credits per semester.
  • LAW JD 767: Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinic/African Issues
    The Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinic is a one-semester clinical program offered in the spring. Students must apply and be accepted to the program before they register. Drafters selected for the Legislative Drafting Clinics may enroll in any one of the four clinics. Drafters select their projects from a wide range of topic areas. Each drafter provides the client with a legislative bill and a supporting research report. Most bills are filed in the Massachusetts legislature, and some have become law. Successful completion of the research report satisfies the Upper-class Writing Requirement. During the first half of the semester, drafters in all of the Legislation Clinics meet together in a twice-weekly seminar on legislative problem-solving, research methods and legislative drafting techniques. During the second half of the semester, the clinics separate and meet in small critique groups that bring together drafters, editors and faculty. Critique group members review the first draft of each report and bill. The group advises each drafter on researching facts and law, presenting a persuasive analysis and drafting clear, enforceable legislation. Many drafters have reported that their analytical skills and writing style improved significantly through the critique group process. The Legislation Clinics provide each drafter with a student editor selected from former drafters in the program. Editors advise their drafters throughout every phase of the analysis and drafting process. NOTE: The Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinic satisfies the upper-class professional skills requirement.
  • LAW JD 777: Education Law and Policy (S)
    This seminar considers the legal and policy framework of K-12 public education. During the first two-thirds of the meetings, we will study school desegregation; school finance; achievement gap and equity reforms; school choice, charters, and vouchers; single-sex public education and other identity-based schooling; standardized testing; and the federal No Child Left Behind Act. We will give particular consideration to questions of equity and achievement. We will then create working groups that will develop a topic for further research, evaluation, and problem-solving, and present their work in person and in writing to the class. **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 780: Unfair Competition and Trademark Law
    This course will examine the precepts of trademark and unfair competition law. We will investigate issues of ownership, protectability, misappropriation, and infringement in the context of words, symbols, slogans, product design and trade dress. The course also will handle related issues, depending on class interest, such as: trademark's common law roots, false and comparative advertising (including the role of the Federal Trade Commission), parody, the right of publicity, the First Amendment, a comparison of how copyright and trademark treat 'functional' designs, and the question of whether trademarks are, or should be, "property". PREREQUISITE: Intellectual Property.
  • LAW JD 781: International Taxation I: Trade, Investment and Finance
    Tax aspects of international business transactions, both "inbound" and "outbound", with particular attention to fiscal jurisdiction, the foreign tax credit, allocation of income among affiliated companies, treaties, anti-abuse measures aimed at tax haven operations, information reporting and foreign investment in U.S. securities and real estate. PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: INTRODUCTION TO FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION is a recommended prerequisite, but required at least as a corequisite. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in the International Tax seminar and this course. NOTE: This course (and the final exam) is administered through the Graduate Tax Program (Room 1670). This section is for pre-registration purposes only. Students will be transferred to the Tax section of the course at the start of the semester.

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