The Litigation & Dispute Resolution concentration capitalizes on the School’s well-known teaching and curriculum strengths in that students may study civil litigation, criminal litigation, and alternative dispute resolution in a variety of forums—the classroom setting, the clinical sitting, and the externship setting. Accordingly, this concentration presents students with opportunities to choose courses, which match the students’ areas of interest and learning styles.
A student may be certified as having completed the Concentration in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution by meeting the following requirements:
1) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of seven courses and 21 credits from the following lists of courses and seminars in litigation and alternative dispute resolution law. The lists are updated annually to reflect changes in course offerings. The Concentration acknowledges that all students are required to take Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law as part of the general JD curriculum in addition to the seven courses and 21 credits.
2) Satisfactory completion of a substantial written work on a litigation or dispute resolution law topic. This requirement can be satisfied by the same written work that satisfies the School’s Upper-Class Writing Requirement or by written work that satisfies the requirements of a course or seminar for which credit is given towards the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution. With the approval of the concentration advisor, this requirement may also be satisfied by written work completed in a context other than a course or seminar for which credit is given towards the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution.
If the paper was done in a course, seminar, or for another purpose and the supervising professor is an adjunct (part-time) faculty member, then the faculty concentration advisor must review the paper and confirm that it satisfies the concentration paper requirement.
3) Students must complete introductory courses in litigation and dispute resolution through satisfactory completion of all of the courses in one of the three options listed below.
Option One
Track 1
a) Civil Litigation Program (two semesters) (Access to Justice or Individual Rights Litigation):
• Seminars for Individual Rights LitigationTrial Advocacy – three credits
• Seminars for Access to JusticeA2J Skills II – three credits
• Evidence
Track 2
b) Immigrants Rights’ Clinic (two semesters):• Fieldwork —six credits• Core Lawyering Skills —three credits • Advanced Advocacy & Trial Theory —three credits • Evidence
Option Two
a) Civil Litigation Program (one semester):
Employment Rights Clinic —three creditsCivil Litigation Program/Pretrial Advocacy (if clinic is taken in the fall) or Civil Litigation/Trial Advocacy (if clinic is taken in the spring)—three credits for either course
Effective & Ethical Depositions ; Professional Responsibility ; Professional Responsibility Issues in Business Law Practice; Legal Externship/Legal Ethics (if also completed Legal Externship Program); or Prosecutorial Ethics if clinic is taken in the spring—three credits
b) Evidence —four credits
c) If clinic is taken in the spring, also must take Alternative Dispute Resolution ; Mediation: Theory & Practice —three credits; or Negotiation —three credits
d) If clinic is taken in the fall, also must take Trial Advocacy —three credits
Option Three
Track A
a) Criminal Practice Clinic (two semesters) (for 2L students starting the Clinic in their second year):
b) Criminal Procedure: Comprehensive , or Criminal Procedure: Adjudicatory , or Criminal Procedure: Constitutional (formerly Criminal Procedure: Investigatory Process).
c) Evidence
Track B:
a) Criminal Practice Clinic (two semesters) (for 3L students starting the Clinic in the fall of their third year):
b) Criminal Procedure: Comprehensive , or Criminal Procedure: Adjudicatory , or Criminal Procedure: Constitutional (formerly Criminal Procedure: Investigatory Process).
c) Evidence —four credits
d) Trial Advocacy —three credits
e) Effective & Ethical Depositions ; Professional Responsibility ; Professional Responsibility Issues in Business Law Practice (previously titled Lawyering in the 21st Century); or Prosecutorial Ethics —three credits
Option Four
a) Legal Externship Program (with a litigation or dispute resolution placement)—three credits and Legal Ethics
b) Evidence —four credits
c) Trial Advocacy or Civil Litigation Program/Trial Advocacy (if also completed Civil Litigation: ER option in spring)—three credits
d) Alternative Dispute Resolution or International Business Arbitration , or Mediation: Theory and Practice —three credits; or Negotiation —three credits
Option Five
a) Semester-in-Practice with a litigation placement*—12 credits OR Judicial Externship: Fieldwork and Judicial Externship: Judicial Process Seminar or Human Trafficking Clinic and Human Trafficking Seminar
b) Evidence —four credits
c) Trial Advocacy —three credits
d) Effective & Ethical Depositions ; Professional Responsibility ; Professional Responsibility Issues in Business Law Practice; or Prosecutorial Ethics —three credits
e) Alternative Dispute Resolution or International Business Arbitration , or Mediation: Theory and Practice —three credits; or Negotiation —three credits
4) To the extent that additional courses or credits are needed to complete the required minimum of seven courses and 21 credits, students must choose and satisfactorily complete non-duplicative courses or seminars from the following list. If students are uncertain whether a course is duplicative they should consult with the Concentration Advisor and obtain prior approval.
21st Century Policing: Law and Policy
2 credits
This course considers emerging issues in the law and policy of policing. Policing is bounded by U.S. constitutional law but also heavily determined by state and local statutes and regulations. As such, policing traditionally engages legal questions such as search, seizure, interrogation, and identification. At the same time, emerging issues for contemporary police include policing a pandemic, historical injustice in policing, international and domestic terrorism, and gun violence on college campuses and universities. This course addresses many topics that have impacted police and communities since the first wave of protests in 2014–2015 through the murder of George Floyd through the lens of 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment issues. This course engages students in a deeper understanding of 21st century policing, drawing on contemporary developments in law and policy grounded in the realities of the experiences of police and communities.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 962 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Administrative Law
4 credits
This course will examine the nature and functions of federal administrative agencies and the legal controls on agency action. Agency action is situated and examined in its political and legal contexts. Topics include the status of administrative agencies in the constitutional framework of separation of powers including the non-delegation doctrine, the President's appointment and removal powers in light of the unitary executive, the constitutionality of the legislative and line-item vetoes, the constitutionality of agency adjudication, and the constitutional (and political) status of independent agencies; agency rulemaking and adjudication including the choice of procedural model and the procedural requirements of the rulemaking model; and the availability, timing and scope of judicial review of agency action including standing to seek judicial review and exceptions to the availability of judicial review. The course also examines different methods of policy analysis such as regulatory impact analysis and cost-benefit analysis. Additional topics include discriminatory enforcement, regulatory delay, judicial imposition of procedural constraints on agencies, the implication of private rights of action from regulatory statutes and the availability citizens' suits. Some attention may be paid to differences between state and federal separation of powers doctrines.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 801 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 801 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Admiralty & Maritime Law
3 credits
Admiralty and maritime cases comprise a significant portion of the case load of federal courts located near U.S. ports. Clerks for judges in those courts should have an understanding of this law. In addition, lawyers who handle international transactions will likely encounter admiralty and maritime issues even if they do not specialize in that practice; the practice of admiralty and maritime law is by nature international. Admiralty and maritime practitioners work with lawyers and clients from many nations and travel often to those nations; in the process they become part of a collegial group of practitioners who know and trust each other. The course will examine admiralty jurisdiction of the federal and state courts as well as oft litigated choice of law and choice of forum issues. Our examination of the substantive areas of admiralty and maritime law—including the international and domestic multimodal carriage of goods, charter parties (contracts to use an entire ship or part of a ship), salvage, towing, pilotage, collision, stranding, general average, and personal injury—will show how they fit together and affect one another. We shall also examine ship mortgages and marine insurance and the possible effects of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (Rotterdam Rules) a new treaty, not yet ratified by the United States. Finally, students in this course who satisfy the Stone Moot Court pre-requisite may apply for membership on the team for the national Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition, which will be held in Charleston, South Carolina from March 26 to 28, 2026 and which typically involves issues ripe for Supreme Court review. OFFERING PATTERN: This class may not be offered every year. It will be offered this year if 5 or more students register for it. Students are advised to take this fact into account when planning their long term schedule.
Advanced Legal Writing and Editing
3 credits
The purpose of this seminar is to provide students with the opportunity to improve their writing, editing and communication skills. Students will prepare a variety of practice related documents based on a single fact pattern. Some legal research will be necessary, but the emphasis will be on writing, not on research. Students will also have the opportunity to edit other students' papers, with the goal of improving their own writing skills. Actors will perform a scenario for the class, from which students will extract the pertinent facts. From this fact pattern, students will draft an inter office memo, a letter or memo to a non lawyer client, and a trial or appellate brief. Students will also engage in simulated client interviewing and counseling sessions, as well as a simulated meeting with a supervisor. Students will be graded on the basis of their written work, editing work on their classmate's papers and on their classroom performance. There will be no final exam. NOTE: This class counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This class will not offer the CR/NC/H option. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 14 students. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the 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.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 874 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
AI for Litigators
2 credits
This course builds upon the foundations laid in civil procedure and ethics courses to introduce students to the effective, responsible use of generative artificial intelligence ("AI") in litigation. Students will learn how to evaluate and select AI tools for legal practice while identifying and navigating potential ethical traps—including client confidentiality, AI "hallucinations," and the duty of proper supervision. Through hands-on exercises, students will practice using AI to facilitate common litigation workflows, such as case evaluation, legal research, drafting, document review, discovery, deposition preparation, trial preparation, and appeals. While the course will primarily utilize dedicated legal AI platforms (e.g., Lexis+ AI, Thomson Reuters CoCounsel, and Harvey), the techniques learned will transfer to other AI tools, including general-purpose models like Google's Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Anthropic's Claude. There will be a mid-semester exam in addition to assignments and a presentation. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: This course requires extensive, hands-on practical work and enrollment is limited to 25 students.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 821 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 821 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
AI in Corporate Compliance Programs
2 credits
This course will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming corporate compliance programs. Students will develop practical strategies for integrating AI into compliance frameworks. The course will emphasize real-world case studies, regulatory guidance, and hands on exercises. There will be no final exam. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class does not satisfy the requirement.
AI in Healthcare
2 credits
For an industry that has kept fax machines alive for decades, the healthcare industry is currently deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) faster than many other industries. This course will explore the real-time transformative impact of AI on the healthcare industry. Taking a holistic approach, we will examine how AI is disrupting long established practices in healthcare, and what attorneys need to consider as they advise clients across the healthcare continuum, including hospitals, insurers, and health-tech companies. The course will:(1)Provide an introductory overview of significant AI concepts including machine learning, generative AI, and agentic AI.(2)Track the tension between state and federal AI regulations; especially as they overlay on the established healthcare regulatory framework.(3)Analyze the evolution of specific healthcare topics e.g., scope of practice, privacy, and Software as a Medical Device in the context of rapidly advancing AI technology.(4)Discuss ethical and policy implications of the new technology and how it can improve or exacerbate current health disparities, including patient outcomes and patient safety.(5)Examine topics that often come up in practice including governance and contracting issues such as liability, data use, and intellectual property rights.Participants will be evaluated on class participation and assignments. There will be a final exam. PRE/COREQUISITES: Participants should have some familiarity with healthcare law, through a previous course, a concurrent course, or work experience. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in this course and AI in the Professions (JD795).
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 747 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Alternative Dispute Resolution
3 credits
The goal of this course is to improve students' ability to resolve disputes and to productively engage in conflict. In this highly interactive class, students will examine a variety of dispute resolution processes, other than traditional court adjudication, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, dispute system design and restorative justice. Over the course of the semester, students will engage in a series of exercises (i.e., role-plays) through which they can develop and hone their skills and approaches to dispute resolution. Discussion and short lectures will accompany the exercises, as appropriate. There will be short written assignments as well as a longer paper due at the end of the semester. No final exam. NOTE: This course counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This class will not offer the CR/NC/H option. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in both Alternative Dispute Resolution and Negotiation (JD921).
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 881 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Appellate Clinic Seminar 2
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have applied to and been accepted by the Appellate Clinic. It is a continuation of the companion seminar that clinic students took in the fall to support their client work. The seminar provides substantive and skills-based training that will support your client work. Seminar focuses on the mechanics of written and oral appellate advocacy and the substantive areas of law the clinic is currently litigating. Seminar addresses each stage of the appellate process so that students develop an understanding of how to litigate an appeal from start to finish. In the spring, seminar will focus on later stages of the appellate process including response and reply briefs, oral argument, and filing letters regarding supplemental authority. PRE/CO-REQUISITES: Professional Responsibility. Federal Courts is highly recommended as a pre-requisite or co-requisite, but is not required. NOTE: The Appellate Clinic counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
Civil Litigation & Access to Justice Prgm: Appellate Clinic
6 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have taken the Appellate Clinic fall course. In the spring, Appellate Clinic students continue to represent their clients who are individuals and entities otherwise unlikely to obtain quality representation including civil-rights plaintiffs, employees, consumers, tenants, immigrants, and criminal defendants. The clinic occasionally represent amici as well. As in the fall, students collaborate on brief writing and oral argument projects with a team comprised of other clinic students and the clinic’s director. The clinic’s director prepares students for their cases through weekly team supervision meetings, individual meetings, case rounds, moots, and workshops as appropriate. The spring seminar builds on the work students have done in the fall to learn the mechanics of written and oral appellate advocacy and the substantive areas of law the clinic is currently litigating. That means that typically the spring seminar will focus on reply briefs, oral argument prep, petitions for en banc relief, supreme court practice, and other critical appellate litigation skills. PRE/CO-REQUISITES: All first-year courses and the Appellate Clinic Fall course. Federal Courts and Professional Responsibility are highly recommended as pre-requisites or co-requisites, but not required. NOTE: The Appellate Clinic counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 976 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Civil Litigation Clinic: Pretrial Advocacy
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Civil Litigation Clinic. Pretrial Advocacy is the companion fall classroom component for students in the Civil Litigation Clinic. Classes are devoted to learning the theories of practice for use in the field, reinforced by activities and simulations in which students practice skills through role play. PRE/CO-REQUISITES: Evidence and Professional Responsibility. NOTE: Students who enroll in this component of the clinic may count the credits towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. It may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 967 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Civil Rights Litigation
4 credits
This course is about civil and criminal enforcement of constitutional rights and other federal rights against government officials. The primary focus is on civil rights litigation in federal courts against state officials under the civil rights statutes passed in the wake of the civil war, including 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 1981, 1982 and 1985 on the civil side and 18, U.S.C. § 242 and 249 on the criminal side. The criminal segment of the course will be taught by an Assistant United States Attorney in charge of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit and the Civil Rights Enforcement Team in the District of Massachusetts. Criminal issues include prosecutions of police officers for violating the civil rights of arrestees and hate crimes. On the civil side, we will examine the rights that give rise to civil rights action and, to a lesser extent, the scope of those rights. The kinds of cases include police brutality, unlawful searches and seizures and discrimination in government jobs. The issues that arise include many statutory questions, such as identification of proper parties to 1983 actions, and judge-make defenses, such as official and state immunities from damages actions and injunctive suits. We will also look at federalism and eleventh amendment limitations on congressional power and federal court remedial power in 1983 actions, although coverage of these issues will not be as thorough as in Federal Courts. The standards for holding local governments liable for damages will also be examined. Our major foray into the substance of constitutional rights will be with regard to the role of state remedies and defendant's state of mind for fourteenth amendment procedural due process violations. We will also look at substantive constitutional rights such as police brutality, medical care for prisoners and detainees, high speed police chases and other similar areas. There will also be some coverage of remedies against federal officials directly under the constitution and remedies against private individuals for civil rights violations. OFFERING PATTERN: This class is not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule.
Competitions: Brief Writing
1 credits
This class is designed to prepare and support the 3L members of BU Law's extramural moot court teams who also serve as Stone and Albers competition preceptors. This seminar will focus on improving students' appellate brief writing skills through a series of course meetings that involve skills training and in-class exercises. The seminar will meet weekly as a group for the first half of the semester and will focus on competition brief writing skills, including research, organization, persuasive writing, and editing. The course will make use of former competition problems to prepare students to write their competition briefs in their specific competitions. For the second half of the semester, students participating in the National Moot Court competition (who serve as Albers preceptors in spring) will meet on an arranged schedule to conduct at least six one-hour formal oral argument practices. The National Moot Court competition students will also be required to write a reflection paper due no later than two weeks after the close of their competition. Students participating in spring competitions will serve as Stone competition preceptors, scoring briefs or oral arguments. These Stone preceptors will meet to work on editing and feedback skills. There will be no final exam. Note that students who are participating on extramural moot court teams that are assigned to serve as either Stone or Albers preceptors must still serve as preceptors even if they do not enroll in this course. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 25 students. GRADING NOTICE: CR/NC graded. NOTE: This class may not be used to satisfy the Upper-class Writing Requirement. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: A student who fails to attend the first class or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar will be administratively dropped from the course.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 706 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Compliance Policy: Seminar
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied and been accepted to the Compliance Policy Clinic. The Clinic is designed to develop core skills and capacities that are transferrable across compliance practice contexts and substantive areas of law. Clinic students hone research, analysis, writing, fact investigation, interviewing, presentation, counseling, project management, and interprofessional collaboration skills while deeply engaging issues of ethics, culture, risk management, and enforcement. PRE/CO-REQUISITE: Introduction to Risk Management and Compliance. Additional courses that may be helpful to take before or at the same time as the Clinic: Corporations, Administrative Law, Professional Responsibility. NOTE: The Compliance Policy Clinic counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning Requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
Consumer Debt Practicum
2 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied and been accepted to the Consumer Debt Practicum. Consumer Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services staffs the Consumer Debt Practicum in Small Claims Court at the Boston Municipal Court (BMC) Roxbury Division, East Boston Division, Charlestown Division and Chelsea District Court. The practicum provides pro bono representation to low-income defendants in small claims court on credit card collection matters. Students will participate at the BMC Brighton Division on Thursday afternoons from 1-4 pm (or earlier if cases resolve before 4 pm).
Criminal Procedure AB: Comprehensive (Investigation and Adjudication)
4 credits
This course covers the same subject areas as Criminal Procedure A and Criminal Procedure B, although less intensively. This course is suitable for those who want to cover both the investigatory process and the adjudicatory process in one semester. More specifically, this course surveys the constitutional rules that govern investigation, prosecution, and adjudication in the criminal process, rules that derive primarily from the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments. Topics include police powers and limits in searches and seizures (e.g., stops, frisks, arrests, excessive force, profiling, and surveillance), police interrogations (Miranda), the exclusionary rule (the suppression of evidence obtained unconstitutionally), bail and detention, the right to counsel, the right to trial by jury, grand jury proceedings, prosecutorial charging and discretion, double jeopardy, discovery and exculpatory evidence, plea bargaining, jury selection, and the rights to a public, speedy, and fair trial. We will discuss policy and practical considerations as well as the governing constitutional doctrines, and classroom demonstrations will illustrate the course material. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in this section and Criminal Procedure A or B.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 819 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 819 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Criminal Procedure B: Adjudication
3 credits
Criminal Procedure is divided into two parts: investigation and adjudication. Students may take separate courses in investigation and adjudication or may take a one-semester course that covers both, although less intensively. Criminal Procedure A and B each stand on their own and may be taken in either order. One may be taken without the other. Criminal Procedure B focuses on adjudication, that is, focuses on the constitutional rules of the criminal process from arrest to sentencing and appeal ("bail to jail"), particularly under the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. Topics include the right to counsel, effective assistance of counsel, pretrial release and detention, charging, grand jury, prosecutorial discretion, discovery, double jeopardy, plea bargaining, jury vs. bench trial, jury selection, speedy trial, confrontation, jury instructions, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, sentencing, and appeals. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in this section and Criminal Procedure AB.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 820 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Crimmigration
3 credits
Noncitizens are increasingly impacted by interactions with the criminal legal system, often facing detention and deportation from the United States as a result of even minor infractions. This course will explore the dynamic field of "crimmigration" -- the intersection between immigration law and criminal law. Through readings, discussion, and independent research projects, students will learn to analyze constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions concerning immigration, as well as procedural and substantive requirements in criminal proceedings as they affect noncitizens. Students will also engage with the growing conversation around immigration and criminal abolition, as a response to the expanding carceral state. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 837 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Current Issues in Employment Law
3 credits
This seminar focuses on recent trends and developments in employment law as seen from the perspective of a practitioner. Topics include recent legislative, government, and practice developments related to the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission’s objectives, paid leaves of absences, restrictive covenants, sexual harassment, and salary transparency. Topics also include increased prevalence of failure to accommodate claims (disability and religion) and retaliation claims, increases in unionization efforts, and the complexities caused by remote workers. NOTE: Prior labor/employment law coursework is preferred but not strictly required. The class will consist of weekly discussions based on assigned reading/viewing often with required short exercises or reflections, as well as a final research paper. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may be permitted to satisfy the requirement with the approval of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs.** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 906 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Defender Clinic
Var credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Defender Clinic. In the Defender Clinic, students represent clients charged with criminal offenses in the Boston Municipal Court, handling felony and misdemeanor cases under the supervision of a clinical faculty member. Students gain exposure in lawyering experiences such as investigation, interviewing, counseling, and trial advocacy. Students must be available to be in court selected court day(s) each week. Students will receive more information about which days they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. Students complement their casework with work on criminal law related projects. PRE/COREQS: Criminal Trial Advocacy (except where student has previously completed another trial advocacy course); Evidence (strongly recommended) or Criminal Procedure (Comprehensive (AB) or Investigation (A)). NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 863 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Digital Money and Property
3 credits
What we earn, owe and own will soon be represented only by bits in a computer, but we are only beginning to understand the benefits, risks and legal pitfalls associated with this change. While crypto currencies have dominated the news, they are only part of the larger global conversion to digital money and property representations that is underway. In Norway, over 95% of consumer transactions are now made with digital fiat money, California is working on converting its entire car title system from paper to digital and virtually all central banks are working on introducing national digital currencies. The impact of digitization will cut across property law, banking and finance, secured transactions, consumer rights, bankruptcy and many other areas of law - all of which this seminar will explore. The relationship between money, the reach of government and the impact on societal wealth and inequalities will also be considered over the course of the semester - as well as the potential for government to limit privacy and control behaviors using digital money and payment systems. The goal of this seminar will be to explore and understand current issues, but more importantly, to equip students with a framework to understand and apply the law to evolving and new forms of money and digital property throughout their careers. Over the course of the semester, we will review and study various laws that govern money, property rights and debt with a focus on recent changes to the Uniform Commercial relating to digital assets and currency including Article 12 on Controllable Electronic Records. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement.
DISABILITY LAW
3 credits
This seminar surveys the evolution of federal law as it relates to people with disabilities. We will cover disability discrimination in the areas of employment, education, government services, public accommodations run by private entities, and housing. In exploring these areas we will examine relevant case law and statutes (i.e. the ADA and its amendments, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the IDEA, and the Fair Housing Act) and their implementing regulations and guidance. In addition to studying legal authorities, we will engage in practical classroom exercises and hear from attorneys practicing in disability law-related settings. Readings will be provided. Grades will be based on class participation and a final paper. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the 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.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 749 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Effective and Ethical Depositions
3 credits
The purpose of this seminar is to teach students how to take and defend effective and ethical depositions. The course involves both a simulated deposition component and a professional responsibility component. Simulated Deposition Course Component: Students will be divided into firms representing either the Plaintiff or the Defendants in a gender discrimination and defamation case brought by an attorney who has been denied partnership. The students will prepare and perform depositions of lay and expert witnesses and gather experience with obtaining and developing facts, preserving testimony, and the uses of depositions. Professional Responsibility Course Component: The simulated context offers the opportunity to explore several professional responsibility issues that arise naturally in deposition practice. These issues emerge largely because of the dual professional roles of an attorney: zealous representative and officer of the court. Some of the more timely issues involve proper witness preparation, improper witness coaching, inadvertent waiver of privilege, and abusive tactics. Writing and Performance Requirements: Each week students will write a short one or two page comment on the professional responsibility issues raised in class. At the end of the course, students will perform a videotaped deposition rather than take a final written exam. NOTE: This class may be used to satisfy the Professional Responsibility requirement, credits toward Experiential Learning requirement, or the upper-class writing requirement. This class may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 12 students per section. GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 958 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 958 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Emergency Presidential Power: Constitutional and Statutory Questions
3 credits
The United States Constitution is famously brief when it comes to describing emergency power; in fact, it assigns no specific substantive emergency power to the president. However, presidents have asserted authority to act during emergencies—either based on claimed statutory authority or claimed unilateral authority to act without congressional approval or even against the law.
In this course, students will explore the origins and development of emergency presidential power under the Constitution and statutory law. Students will consider what we can know about the framers’ intentions in this area, and whether evidence of their intentions is useful in defining emergency presidential power in the context of the liberal democracy the United States became in the 20th century. We will study how emergency presidential power has been used in the past, why the 9/11 terrorist attacks are an important turning point when it comes to emergency presidential power, and how emergency presidential power has been asserted in the first and second Trump administrations. Students will consider whether emergency presidential power can be reconciled with constitutional democracy in the U.S. We will consider judicial opinions, Office of Legal Counsel opinions, and scholarly analysis in exploring each of these questions.
Students will consider what limits and constraints exist when it comes to emergency presidential power, whether they are effective, and whether new constraints would be wise. This will include discussion of the role of the federal courts, Congress, and state governments. The course will emphasize questions of legality—constitutional and otherwise—in the context of historical change and our present experience. We will also consider how emergency power relates both to democracy and authoritarians, and why some scholars see emergency power as a way for aspiring authoritarians to consolidate power based either on real or pretextual emergencies.
Grading will be based primarily on a 6,000-word paper (60%), as well as classroom participation (40%). UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, 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.
Employment Law
3 credits
This course is about the legal regulation of the employment relationship in the U.S. It surveys relevant common law doctrines and selected statutes affecting this. Among the substantive issues to be considered are the at-will default rule (and many of its modifications); regulation of wages and workplace safety; unemployment insurance; whistle-blowing; workplace disputes about property rights (including restrictive covenants surrounding trade secrets, non-compete; arbitration agreements); torts arising in employment contexts (negligent hiring and retention; defamation); liability coverage, and other topics.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 834 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Family Law
3 credits
This course offers a survey of family law, including case law, statutory law, and the role of constitutional rights in limiting governmental regulation of the family. This course will introduce students to law concerning a basic social institution: the family. Students will gain knowledge about how family law intersects with many other fields of law, such as contracts, constitutional law, criminal law, property, torts, public and social welfare law, as well as how social science informs family law. The course will focus on marriage (including the recognition of same-sex marriage), nonmarital families, divorce, pathways to becoming a parent, and the parent-child relationship. Topics include defining and regulating marriage; formal marriage; common law marriage; nonmarital couples, cohabitation, and alternatives to marriage; common law incidents of marriage and the transformation of the common law; domestic violence; traditional and "no fault" divorce; property division; spousal support; child support; child custody; adoption; and regulating parenthood. There will be a final examination. The teaching method is a combination of lecture and class discussion, along with in-class small group problem-solving exercises. GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 811 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Family Law
4 credits
This course offers a survey of family law, including case law, statutory law, and the constitutional limitations on regulation of the family. The course aims to introduce students to family law as a dynamic field of law concerning a basic social institution: the family. Family law is a foundational course relevant to many areas of law practice. Students will gain knowledge about how family law intersects with fields of law, such as contracts, constitutional law, conflicts of laws, criminal law, property, tax, and trusts and estates, and how family law draws on the social sciences. We will examine the role of family law in contributing to and ameliorating inequalities in society on various bases, including gender, race, class, and sexual orientation. Students will be introduced to the role of negotiation, mediation, and other forms of dispute resolution in family law practice. Topics include defining and regulating family (including marriage and parenthood); formal and informal marriage; cohabitation and alternatives to marriage (such as domestic partnerships); common law incidents of marriage and the transformation of the common law; marital agreements; intimate partner violence; traditional and "no-fault" divorce; property division; spousal support; child support; child custody; and the family regulation system. The teaching method is a combination of lecture and class discussion, along with in-class small group problem-solving exercises.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 814 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Federal Courts
4 credits
This is a basic survey course covering the federal courts, their place in the structure of American government, their relations with the Legislative and Executive branches and with the states, and their adjudication of federal-question cases concerning constitutional and civil rights, federal social welfare programs, and environmental and business regulation. This course builds on first-year courses in Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure and complements upperclass courses on modern public law and legal institutions: e.g., Administrative Law, Immigration Law, Environmental Law, Labor Law, and Conflict of Laws. Topics include the separation of federal judicial, legislative, and executive powers, Congress' authority to prescribe the federal courts' jurisdiction and to assign adjudicatory duties to other bodies (e.g., legislative, courts and agencies), private authority to mount litigation to enforce federal law, standing to sue in federal court, conflicts between federal and state courts, the states' immunity from private lawsuits, the Supreme Court's authority to review state court judgments, and "abstention" doctrines governing the exercise of federal judicial power. We will explore theoretical and policy questions asking not only what federal-courts law is at the moment, but also what it should be. Yet we will organize our discussions around practical lawyering in the federal courts' identifying and analyzing the constitutional, statutory, and judge-made hurdles that litigants must clear to obtain a decision on the merits of a federal question. Especially recommended for students who plan to practice with firms that represent clients subject to federal regulation, to pursue careers with federal or state agencies and departments, or to handle constitutional, civil rights, or other public interest litigation.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 836 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Federal Criminal Law
3 credits
This course examines federal criminal law as a distinct legal system shaped by the dynamic interplay between Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary. Students will explore the Constitutional foundations of federal jurisdiction, the statutory framework of key offenses—including corruption, racketeering, and criminal violations of Constitutional rights—and the evolving role of federal agencies in enforcement. The course not only covers established doctrine but also highlights the unsettled questions that challenge courts, prosecutors, and policymakers. By analyzing case law, statutory materials, and institutional responses, students will gain insight into how each branch of government influences the development and enforcement of federal criminal law. This course will have a required final exam. PREREQUISITES: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 847 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Federal Criminal Practice and Advocacy
3 credits
The seminar consists of an overview of the federal criminal process from beginning to end. It covers topics such as grand jury investigation and indictment, pretrial release and detention, discovery, plea bargaining, and sentencing. Lectures will cover the various areas, and will include guest speakers such as a federal prosecutor and defender. Students will be required to prepare two written court documents, one regarding release/detention, and the other sentencing, one as a prosecutor and the other as a defender. Additionally, the students will argue both. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This Dedicated Writing Class may be used to satisfy the requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar 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.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 947 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Gender, Violence and the Law
3 credits
This seminar provides a detailed examination of gender-motivated violence and legal responses. Recently, there has been greater recognition of gender-based injuries within the law and the provision of new, important protections to survivors. However, despite considerable progress, gender-based violence continues to present theoretical and practical questions, such as: To what extent is gender-based violence different than other types of violence? What legal approaches are most effective to address the harms while recognizing that the diverse interests of survivors? How do societal norms related to gender-based violence impact legal remedies? How should courts balance the interests of other parties in such proceedings to ensure that constitutional rights remain intact? This seminar will explore the limits of the law in addressing gender-based violence and emerging non-traditional approaches, including problem-solving courts and restorative justice frameworks. It also will examine how the emergence of the #MeToo movement may influence legal responses to gender-based violence. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 798 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Happiness and the Law
3 credits
This seminar offers an in-depth exploration of the interactions of happiness and the law. The course is structured into three interconnected units:
• Unit 1: Happiness, Law, and Public Policy: This unit delves into how social policies and legal frameworks can be designed to promote happiness and well-being at a societal level. It examines the use of happiness data and insights from behavioral sciences to inform legal change in areas such as criminal law, civil procedure, corporate law, and tax law.
• Unit 2: How to Be a Happy Lawyer: This unit focuses on cultivating meaningful and fulfilling legal careers. Drawing on general happiness studies and the growing field of law and mindfulness, it explores strategies for lawyers to enhance their own well-being and job satisfaction.
• Unit 3: The Lawyer-Client Relationship: This unit analyzes the lawyer-client relationship beyond traditional paradigms. It considers the potential for this relationship to increase the happiness and well-being of both attorneys and clients, incorporating perspectives from philosophy, psychology, economics, and political science.
The seminar employs a variety of pedagogical methods to facilitate student learning. These include Socratic discussion of assigned readings, synchronous and asynchronous experiential exercises, and hands-on activities. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with mindfulness techniques and develop an actionable personal career-life plan that integrates the themes of the course. Additional experiential exercises will be incorporated throughout the semester to provide practical application of course concepts. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This seminar may be used to partially satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar 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.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 721 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Health Care Fraud and Abuse
3 credits
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. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, 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.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 726 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONS & TRIALS
3 credits
This seminar will focus upon the substantive law of homicide, as well as the practical aspects of actual homicide investigations and trials: crime scene interpretation; DNA analysis; autopsies and related forensic evidence; expert testimony, particularly in the area of psychiatry and criminal responsibility; jury considerations; ethical concerns; and the role of the media. Students will have the opportunity to study actual murder cases, visit local crime laboratories and courtrooms, and learn prosecution, defense, and judicial perspectives on various contemporary issues arising in murder investigations and trials. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the requirement. OFFERING PATTERN: This class is not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who waitlist for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 950 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Housing Law
3 credits
Over the last sixty years housing law has evolved in a number of significant ways. Where once a lease was primarily considered to involve a transfer of an interest in land, it is now considered to involve a relationship framed by contract principles. Consistent with this change, tort law involving rental property is moving from a traditional negligence standard to a more complex standard based upon a duty derived from the implied warranty of habitability. Courts must now determine whether landlords should be held strictly liable in tort for personal injury claims based on defective conditions, inadequate security, lead poisoning, etc. Where formerly a landlord had significant discretion over tenant selection and tenancy termination, a variety of state housing laws and federal/state anti-discrimination laws now place significant limits on the landlord's power and control over these tenancy relationships. Public housing and governmentally subsidized housing has generated much heated debate as well as litigation over such issues as development-based policing authority and the right to evict entire families based upon criminal conduct of one family member. Finally, during the past four years complex title, tenancy, consumer rights and community preservation issues have arisen in the wake of the foreclosure crisis that has swept the nation. This seminar will focus on the various legal, social policy, and practical issues emerging with respect to traditional tenancies, premises liability, public safety in public and subsidized housing, housing discrimination, environmental protection, and control of foreclosed property. Student classroom participation and papers are required. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students may be permitted to satisfy the upper-class writing requirement with the approval of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. OFFERING PATTERN: This class is frequently offered in alternating years. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who waitlist for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 961 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Immigrants' Rights - Human Traffic Clinic
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. Students have three fieldwork options: (1) concentration in immigrants' rights; (2) concentration in human trafficking; or (3) work on both types of cases. Students focusing on immigrants' rights will represent adult and children asylum seekers and other vulnerable noncitizens with the opportunity to litigate an immigration case in the Boston Immigration Court. Students focusing on anti-trafficking work will represent survivors of labor and sex trafficking in a wide range of civil matters and engage in policy-related work to address gaps in the local and national landscape. Students focusing on both immigrants' rights and human trafficking will represent immigrant clients and survivors of human trafficking in a range of civil matters. All students will have the opportunity to engage in immigrants' rights and human trafficking work through "Know-Your-Rights" visits at the local jail/detention center and by conducting intake at the Family Justice Center for human trafficking survivors. Students, working in pairs, assume the primary responsibility for multiple clients' complex cases, from start to finish. Students conduct client interviews, track down witnesses, speak with experts, develop documentary, testimonial and expert evidence, and write legal briefs. The clinical supervisors prepare students for their cases through weekly supervision meetings, mid-semester and final individual meetings, and mock hearings, as appropriate. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. PRE/CO-REQUISITE: Evidence. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 859 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 859 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Clinic: Human Trafficking Advocacy
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. In this seminar, students will further develop their trial advocacy and client counseling skills by participating in multiple simulations and a mock hearing. They will learn about comparative models to address human trafficking, and the challenges of a criminal justice framework to solving complex social problems. The course will focus on the lawyer's role in anti-trafficking work, given: (1) converging areas of law; (2) the emerging multi-disciplinary nature of legal work; and (3) tensions among the role of the client as both victim and defendant. Courses will focus on further developing students' competencies in the following areas: (1) strategic planning and decision-making; (2) client interviewing and counseling; (3) trial advocacy; (4) leadership and innovation; and (5) professional responsibility. Classes will focus on a wide range of topics, including: (1) oral advocacy; (2) direct and cross examination; (3) accompaniment and survivor-led advocacy; (4) legal advocacy and brief writing; (4) legislative advocacy; and (5) developing professional roles and self-care. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 817 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Immigrants' Rights/Human Traffic Clinic
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. In this seminar, students will further develop their trial advocacy skills by participating in multiple mock hearings and portions of simulated trials. In particular, this course will focus on developing students' competencies in the following topics: (1) witness preparation, including working with lay and expert witnesses; (2) oral advocacy, including direct/cross examination and opening and closing statements; (3) factual and legal research; (4) cross-cultural lawyering and implicit bias; (5) legal advocacy and brief writing; (6) basic negotiation; and (7) developing professional roles and identities. Students will also be introduced to the intersections between criminal and immigration law, and to law and organizing in the immigration context. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 888 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Immigrants' Rights/Human Traffic Core Skills
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program. The seminar is the fall companion course for students enrolled in the Program. It provides a practice-oriented introduction to advocacy on behalf of indigent clients, including noncitizens and survivors of human trafficking. Students will develop a wide range of competencies with classes focusing topics including: (1) client interviewing and counseling; (2) case planning; (3) legal research and writing; (4) cultural competency; (5) legal story-telling and developing a theory of the case; (6) affidavit writing; (7) vicarious and secondary trauma; and (8) professional responsibility. Students will participate in class simulations, present in case rounds, and actively engage in facilitated discussions. There also will be two boot camp classes for students with specialized training in the following areas: (1) immigration law with a focus on asylum law and representing vulnerable noncitizens; and (2) human trafficking law with a focus on the protection framework in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and multi-disciplinary lawyering. NOTE: The Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 882 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
IMMIGRATION LAW
3 credits
This class will cover the immigration laws of the United States, including the administrative and regulatory framework of the United States agencies charged with enforcing U.S. immigration laws. The topics covered by this course include the power of the Congress to regulate immigration; the effect of politics on immigration policy; nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications; the law of asylum; the intersection of immigration law and criminal law; grounds of removal from the United States; relief from deportation, immigration court representation and access to justice; and the law of naturalization and derived citizenship.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 968 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
International Arbitration
3 credits
This class is intended to introduce students to the key legal and practical issues encountered when resolving disputes through international arbitration. Arbitration is a private means of dispute resolution where the parties agree to be bound by the decision of an arbitrator of their choice, whose decision in a final award has the same legal force as a court judgment or order. International arbitration is the main form of dispute resolution relating to cross-border commercial disputes and is also sometimes used in public international law contexts involving governments. This course will explore both doctrinal issues--such as what constitutes 'consent' to arbitrate and the relationship between international tribunals, who adjudicate the disputes, and national courts, who compel arbitration and enforce (or void) arbitral decisions--and policy debates, such as what issues are appropriate for resolution by private arbitrators rather than judges and the social ramifications of the lack of transparency in arbitration. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may be used to satisfy the requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who waitlist for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 980 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW
3 credits
This class will focus chiefly on the crimes for which individuals incur criminal liability directly under contemporary international law. We will cover, in particular, (i) what crimes qualify as international in this sense, general principles of international criminal jurisdiction and immunities, and the historical evolution of the field from its genesis after World War I to Nuremberg to the permanent International Criminal Court established in 2002; (ii) treaty provisions, statutes, and tribunal jurisprudence defining the nature and scope of liability for core international crimes, viz., genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; (iii) modern debates over other, and at times more controversial, international crimes, such as torture and CIDT, as well as the crime of aggression; (iv) the minimal requirements and forms of individual criminal responsibility under international law; and (v) selected special topics, including the principle of legality, head of state immunity, and crimes of sexual violence. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students will be permitted to satisfy the upper-class writing requirement with this seminar after consultation with the instructor. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, 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.
International Law Research
1 credits
An important component of understanding international law is mastering all the diverse sources of this area of law. Students will learn to navigate the international system as well as the relevant primary sources of law. Students will learn research strategies and skills for locating treaties, decisions of international tribunals, documents of international organizations and other sources of state practice. Among the organizations the course will discuss the United Nations, the OAS, the EU and the WTO. In addition, students will be introduced to strategies for researching the law of foreign jurisdictions. Students will gain hands-on experience in answering legal research questions in the area of international and comparative law. Classes will combine instruction and hands-on exercises using major print, electronic, and web based resources for international law research. NOTE: This class counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: A student who fails to attend the first class or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the class. Students who are on the wait list are required to attend the first meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 707 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 FALL 2026: LAW JD 707 B1, Aug 31st to Oct 16th 2026
Juvenile Delinquency
3 credits
The American juvenile justice system was established over one hundred years ago to address the problem of young offenders. This course examines the historical, social and legal foundations for our current system. We will examine the issue of "rights" as applied to children and look at the effects of ideology and politics on the current juvenile justice system. How have assumptions of childhood and responsibility changed' Has the juvenile court been "criminalized" with the introduction of due process rights for children' Under what circumstances are children treated as adult offenders' Selected issues for inquiry include: police interrogation of juveniles; school safety and zero tolerance policies; adjudicative competency; anti-youth crime policies; conditions of incarceration; and changes brought about by elimination of mandatory juvenile life without parole. We will examine these issues through use of court cases, law review articles, governmental and private organizational position papers, and legislative history. As we consider the overarching issue of whether it makes sense to maintain a separate justice system for juveniles. Students are expected to attend each class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Course requirements include a 15-20 page final paper, a class presentation based on the paper topic or related class readings, and assigned reaction papers over the course of the semester. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 18 students. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students may be permitted to 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.
Labor Law
3 credits
Labor law structures the process through which workers organize and engage collectively, rather than individually, with their employers. This course will cover the basics of private sector labor law in the United States. We will study the National Labor Relations Act and the processes of union organizing and collective bargaining that the NLRA establishes. We will also consider historical perspectives on labor law, issues particular to public sector unions, union participation in the political process, the 'right to work,' and the ability of non-unionized workers to engage in concerted action. Finally, through the lens of labor law, the course will tackle issues of statutory interpretation, administrative law, and constitutional law. The materials are not intended to cover the legal rights of individual employees outside of the NLRA. Students interested in in-depth treatment of those topics are encouraged to take Employment Law and/or Employment Discrimination instead of or in addition to this class. To enroll in this class, students must have completed Contract Law, Tort Law, and Constitutional Law.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 851 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Latinxs and Law
3 credits
This course will explore the legal treatment of Latinx people in the United States. Central to this examination will be: (1) the legal and social construction of race and racism as it pertains to Latinxs; (2) the racialized legal history of diverse ethnic groups including Chicanxs, Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, and others; (3) constitutional and statutory civil rights law governing and impacting substantive areas such as education, employment, voting, public accommodations, speech, and immigration; and (4) the relationship between race, language, and notions of citizenship. A pervasive theme throughout the course will be the significance of race in the current era. This inquiry will be analyzed under modern civil rights perspectives of Traditionalism (e.g., advocating for colorblindness and "reverse" racism claims); Reformism (e.g., supporting modest reforms like limited affirmative action); and most pronouncedly Critical Race Theory (e.g., recognizing continued systemic subordination and envisioning structural reforms to increase racial justice). Students will produce and present an original research paper. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 830 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Learning from Practice Ext: Fieldwork
Var credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have received permission from the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office to enroll. Students receive credit for working in the legal department of a non-profit, government agency, judicial placement, private company, or at a law firm. Placements may be paid or unpaid. Students may find their own placements that must be approved by the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office, or the Office has resources to help students identify and apply to suitable field placements based on their interests and career goals. NOTE: Students who enroll in this externship may count the credits toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. COREQUISITE: Learning from Practice: Seminar (JD 771).
FALL 2026: LAW JD 809 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 809 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
LEGAL WRITING FOR CIVIL LITIGATION
3 credits
This class is designed to give students experience in legal writing for civil litigation. Over the course of the semester, students will work on the various stages of a federal court litigation from pre-complaint investigation through dispositive motions. There will be opportunities to draft a variety of litigation documents, including complaints, discovery, motions, and research memos. Students will complete multiple drafts of key documents and will meet individually with the instructor to discuss the drafts. Students will focus on using the facts to tell their clients' story and making persuasive, winning arguments. In class, students will discuss a range of strategic questions including developing viable causes of action, identifying critical facts, and using written discovery to obtain information. Additionally, students will participate in several in-class exercises designed to improve the students' skills in writing, fact-gathering and argument. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This Dedicated Writing Class may be used to satisfy the requirement. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in both Legal Writing for Civil Litigation and Persuasive Writing: Trial Level (JD 713). ** 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.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 712 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Mediation: Theory and Practice
3 credits
This class will cover the theory and practice of mediation as a mode of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) used in various legal contexts. We will start by mastering the basic concepts and techniques of facilitated negotiations, and work our way, using simulations and role plays, through successively more difficult mediation scenarios. These scenarios will be set in various legal contexts such as commercial, family, criminal, and international disputes. We will work together to develop your individual mediation skills and to learn effective mediation advocacy and settlement valuation. Through lectures, exercises, simulations and classroom discussions we will focus on the theoretical underpinnings that guide the mediation process and the skills related to communication, problem-solving and professional judgment. We will explore the ethical and professional issues related to mediation as well as the legal and cultural constructs that shape mediation practice. Because this course is experiential, students are required to attend all sessions and to participate actively. NOTE: This class counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who waitlist for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 826 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Natural Resources Law
3 credits
This course covers select topics in natural resources law and policy, including protection of biodiversity and endangered species; management and preservation of public lands such as national forests, rangelands, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and national parks; conservation of wetland resources under section 404 of the Clean Water Act; and allocation of water resources. The overlap between this course and the course in Environmental Law is minimal, and students can enroll in this class regardless of whether they have previously taken the Environmental Law course.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 722 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Negotiation
3 credits
The goal of this course is to improve your effectiveness as a negotiator. In this highly interactive class, students will examine negotiation from a variety of perspectives and learn specific negotiation strategies and tactics. Over the course of the semester, students will engage in a series of negotiation exercises (i.e., role plays) through which they can develop and hone their negotiation skills and approaches. Discussion and short lectures will accompany the role-plays, as appropriate. There will be short written assignments as well as a longer paper due at the end of the semester. No final exam. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 16 students. NOTE: This class counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in both Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (JD881).
FALL 2026: LAW JD 921 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Private Equity and Venture Capital
3 credits
This seminar introduces students to the business and legal issues prevalent in private equity and venture capital financings, and highlights the roles that lawyers play in effecting these transactions. The seminar will begin with an overview of private capital investment platforms, including private equity and venture capital. It will explore how private capital funds are formed and the restrictions that investors may place on private capital investing. We will examine transaction terms and structures, pricing and corporate finance issues, and the management of transaction risk. The seminar will also highlight the due diligence process, shareholder relationships, conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties, securities laws considerations, and liquidity events. There is no final exam; grades will be based on drafting assignments, in-class exercises and class participation. RECOMMENDED COURSES: Corporations and Contract Drafting. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This course is a designated Professional Writing Course which may be used to partially satisfy the Upper-Class Writing Requirement (with a grade of B or higher). GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar 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.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 931 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Prosecutorial Ethics
3 credits
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson once noted, "The prosecutor has more control over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person in America." This seminar examines the unique role and power of prosecutors and their responsibility to ensure "that guilt shall not escape or innocence suffer." We will study the ways in which prosecutors exercise their broad discretion and the ethical and practical considerations that affect those determinations. What duty does the prosecutor owe to a victim? To the police? To the public at large? How might those parties' interests conflict with a prosecutor's objectives and impact prosecutorial decisions? A major focus of this course will be the prosecutor's obligations to the accused and the various ways in which those duties are breached. We will examine the consequences of prosecutorial misconduct, the ways in which it may or may not be remedied, and to what extent it can be deterred. Other topics to be covered include the relationship between the prosecutor and the grand jury, conflicts of interest, selective prosecution, trial misconduct, prosecutorial immunity, mandatory minimum sentences, the use of confidential informants and cooperating witnesses, discovery of exculpatory evidence, post-conviction obligations, and wrongful convictions. Our study will draw heavily from historical as well as current events, and will include emphasis on the ways in which the role of the prosecutor is shifting. Students will engage in mock disciplinary hearings, playing the role of bar counsel in bringing allegations of misconduct against prosecutors or defending them against such claims. NOTE: seminar satisfies the Professional Responsibility requirement. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may not be used to satisfy the requirement. RECOMMENDED COURSE: Criminal Procedure, taken either prior to or concurrently with this seminar. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option. ** 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.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 806 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Racial Justice & Movement Lawyering Clinic: Fieldwork
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Racial Justice & Movement Lawyering Clinic. The Clinic offers students the opportunity to provide legal support to organizations, coalitions, and grassroots groups seeking to challenge forms of subordination and build community power. Clinic fieldwork will vary based on the goals of our clients and movement partners but may involve litigation, policy advocacy, legal research, public education, or infrastructure/capacity-building projects. Under the clinic director’s supervision, students act as the lead attorneys on these projects, meaning that students will be responsible for establishing relationships with partners, identifying project goals, drafting agreements, and executing projects. In this process, students will learn to, among other things: develop litigation and non-litigation strategies; critically analyze the role of lawyers in social movements; identify different theories of social change; engage in legal writing that is persuasive and well-supported by evidence; and communicate complex legal subjects to a range of audiences. Students will also develop their professional identities and explore how they can most effectively show up for clients and community partners given their particular set of skills and experiences. CO-REQUISITE: LAW JD 949 (Clinic Seminar). NOTE: Both the fieldwork and in-class seminar count towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This clinic does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2026: LAW JD 948 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026 SPRG 2027: LAW JD 948 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Remedies
3 credits
The study of law largely involves understanding the substantive scopes of rights and of prohibitions, but, for the bar examination, for practice, and for intellectually engaging with legal topics conceptually, it is essential to understand what the potential solutions are for a wronged person or entity. Remedies is devoted to developing that latter understanding. In this course, we will explore the legal powers and limits for righting those who have been wronged and for preventing future wrongs. This course includes both public law and private law remedies with a particular focus on social justice and remedial topics that are generally not covered within the 1L curriculum or other required courses. In addition to helping to prepare students for bar examinations (which often test for remedies in civil procedure, contracts, property, and torts), examining remedial principles in this course will be useful to those encountering remedies problems in litigation across substantive fields. This course also covers historically-important and current, hot topics such as reparations, impact injunctions against governmental defendants (so-called "nationwide" or "universal" injunctions), and court-debt related remedies (such as litigation challenging drivers' license suspensions due to nonpayment of fines).
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 720 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Restorative Justice
3 credits
A study of the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice as applicable to church and society. The course explores the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, justice systems), outlines the basic principles and values of restorative justice, introduces some of the primary models of practice, and identifies challenges to restorative justice and strategies to respond to them. The course is organized around the issue of crime and harm within a western legal context, but attention is given to applications in other contexts. Of particular interest is the contribution of traditional or indigenous approaches to justice as well as applications in post-conflict situations. The class meets at the School of Theology and will include students from both the Law School and the School of Theology. Students will be graded on the basis of their written work and classroom performance. There will be no final exam.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 827 A1, Jan 19th to Apr 29th 2027
SUPREME COURT DECISIONMAKING
3 credits
This course will focus on cases that are currently on the docket of the Supreme Court across the range of the Court's subject matter. In the first week of class, we will read a set of pending certiorari petitions and vote as a class on whether we would grant the petition. (Petitions and background readings will be available on the course website.) Each student will be responsible for writing a brief memorandum in one case on whether the Court should grant the petition. Thereafter, each week, the class will read materials in preparation to discuss one or two cases pending on the merits, including its lower court opinion, the briefs from each party and selected amicus briefs. Prior to each class session, each student will be responsible for writing a brief memo (no more than a paragraph or two on each case) briefly stating how they would decide the case or cases for that week and why. Students will also be responsible for drafting one 20-25 page Supreme Court opinion and one 3-5 page dissenting opinion (either from their own opinion or someone else's) to be distributed to and discussed by the class. NOTE: Students registered for this seminar are encouraged to choose a case from the Court's docket during Fall Semester and take the lead on writing the opinion in that case. Students who do not choose a case in advance will be assigned one at the first class meeting. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may be used to satisfy the requirement; two drafts and research on secondary sources is required. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 903 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
The AI Savvy Lawyer: Practice Enhancement
2 credits
This is a practical, hands-on course designed to prepare 2L and 3L law students for the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enhanced legal practice. This course bridges the gap between traditional legal education and the technological competencies required in modern law firms, corporate legal departments, and solo practices.
Students will gain foundational footing on how AI is reshaping the labor market, and most importantly, the practice of law. You will explore legal practice within the growing number of “AI-Native” law firms that are disrupting the legal status quo. You will study and, where applicable, access and use leading-edge AI tools that are transforming core legal functions including legal research, e-discovery, contract analysis, brief writing, and client advisory services. Beyond substantive legal work, the course explores how AI is revolutionizing the business of law—from client development and marketing to talent recruitment and development.
Through a combination of demonstrations, practical exercises, case studies, and guest speakers from leading law firms and legal tech companies, students will develop both technical skills and strategic judgment about when and how to deploy AI tools effectively and ethically. The course emphasizes practical application: students will use AI tools to complete realistic legal tasks, critically evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias, and understand the ethical obligations surrounding AI use in legal practice.
By the end of this course, students will be equipped to leverage AI in their legal careers while maintaining the professional judgment, ethical standards, and client-centered approach that define excellent lawyering. The course will culminate in a capstone group project that involves students taking the persona of Head of AI of a legal institution of their choosing – law firm, in-house dept, law school, etc. – and developing a PowerPoint presentation (10 slides or less) of a workplace AI Strategy Plan. PREREQUISITES: None. No prior technical experience required.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 818 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
WHISTLEBLOWER LAW
3 credits
Whistleblowing has become a frequent topic in the news around law and politics. What exactly is it, and what laws govern it? Who represents whistleblowers, and what is there to know about lawyering in this space? This course will examine federal (and some state) laws that protect and incentivize whistleblowers to provide information and assist in the enforcement of laws prohibiting fraud and misfeasance in both the public and private sectors. It will cover both the substantive law as well as the practical aspects of lawyering in this field. There are two types of whistleblower laws, and the seminar will cover both: 1) laws which protect whistleblowers inside and outside of government from retaliation by their employers for having engaged in protected activity, and 2) laws which provide financial incentives to whistleblowers for reporting fraud against the government, or fraud in the securities and commodities markets. Each student will write a paper based on a whistleblower case and will be encouraged to interview one or more whistleblowers who have gone through the experience and/or whistleblower attorneys who have a substantial practice in this area. Alternatively, students who express a particular interest in an area relevant to the course may get permission to explore that topic in their paper. There is no examination in this course; the grade is based on the paper and the students' participation in the class discussions UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the 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.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 919 OL, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
WHITE COLLAR CRIME
3 credits
The purpose of this Course is to teach present-day white collar crime practice. The course will review: (i) the theoretical bases of modern white collar criminal prosecution; (ii) the major statutes used by prosecutors, including mail and wire fraud, securities fraud, bribery and extortion, obstruction of justice, perjury, and RICO; and (iii) the procedural aspects of white collar crime such as grand jury, attorney/client privilege, and sentencing. Students will learn the prosecutorial and defense techniques employed in significant recent white collar cases. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be familiar with the statutes, procedures, and legal analyses employed by prosecutors and private lawyers in white collar criminal practice. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option. OFFERING PATTERN: This class not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 854 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
WRITING FOR LEGAL CHANGE
3 credits
This course explores various ways that legal change happens with a focus on the written methods. We will examine theories regarding when and how legal change occurs, highlighting the various roles lawyers can play in creating that change. The main modules of this course will focus on (1) clarifying the law for non-lawyers, (2) the op-eds medium, (3) amicus briefs and giving voice to non-parties, (4) advocacy for regulatory changes through rulemaking, and (5) ballot initiatives. Students will critically examine each type of writing, revising current sources and writing their own. LIMITED WRITING REQUIREMENT OPTION: A limited number of students may be permitted to satisfy the upper-class writing requirement. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, will be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.
Wrongful Convictions Practicum
2 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Wrongful Convictions Practicum. Students have the opportunity to enroll for one semester or as a full year course (two semesters in same academic year). Students work on the cases of prisoners who claim an unjust result after either trial or plea. Practicum students assist with screening new applications from prisoners seeking relief, and aid the instructor in representing one to two incarcerated clients. Students review attorneys' files, pleadings, transcripts of trials and other court proceedings, and judicial decisions with the goal of identifying potential areas of investigation and legal research that may lead to a motion for a new trial or other post-conviction relief for an incarcerated client. Students will also meet with these clients and potentially with witnesses. In addition to this case field work, students meet in weekly seminars with the instructor. NOTE: The Wrongful Convictions Practicum counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement.
Youth and the Law
3 credits
We will consider the way the law responds to the transition from childhood to adulthood. We will consider the ways numeric age and conceptions of maturity influence responses to a range of legal issues. Topics may include: the rights of youth to familial or state support in obtaining housing and other material goods; the relationship between youth and commercial actors or other third parties ranging from the infancy doctrine to social media platforms; parental authority and responsibilities in healthcare and educational decision-making; the treatment of youth in the criminal legal system; the civic spheres of military service, voting, and jury duty; child labor laws; the consequences of the age of majority; and ages of privilege such as driving and access to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. We will read together for the first portion of the course. To assess reading, students may be asked to make quick presentations about the day's readings individually or on teams, to submit weekly reading responses, and/or to answer quick written questions about the reading at the start of class. As we unpack frameworks underneath youth law, we will consider research projects in light of the frameworks we develop. In the final portion of the course, students will offer oral presentations of their chosen youth-related topic, and submit a ten page paper after their presentation. The presentation and the paper account for half of the grade, while participation, including attendance, discussion, and preparation/reading assessment, account for the other half. For the first two-thirds of the semester, this is a reading intensive course.
A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar 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. UPPERCLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may be used to partially satisfy the requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This seminar does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 895 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
• Independent Study in Litigation or Alternative Dispute Resolution Law** THIS IS SUPERVISED RESEARCH & WRITING – STUDENT NEEDS THEIR PROJECT TO BE ON A LITIGATION TOPIC AND TO BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE TO COUNT
5) Students who wish to receive a concentration credit for courses not listed above in satisfaction of any of the above requirements or to waive a concentration requirement may do so with the approval of the faculty concentration advisor. Approval for courses taken outside of the School of Law is limited to graduate-level courses in litigation and dispute resolution law. Such courses may include those taken in a School of Law overseas program, and courses taken at other law schools or in other graduate programs at Boston University or elsewhere. A maximum of two courses may be approved for any student under the provisions of this paragraph.
6) Students who receive at least a 3.5 grade point average in School of Law courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the concentration will be certified as earning Honors in the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution. To be eligible for Honors, a minimum of five concentration courses comprising at least 15 credit hours must be in School of Law courses. In accordance with School of Law regulations, only School of Law courses are included in calculating a student’s grade point average, and only such courses will be used to determine whether a student has earned Honors in the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution. All Law courses taken that could be counted toward the concentration will be considered when determining honors, except if, by the end of the add/drop period, a student designates in writing to our Registrar’s Office a course or seminar to be taken that semester that the student does not want counted toward the concentration because that course/seminar is in addition to the minimum concentration requirements. This “opt-out” option applies only to courses in addition to the minimum concentration requirements.
7) To ensure maximum flexibility for students in their future career decisions, transcripts of students who elect the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution will not reflect the concentration. Rather, the School of Law Registrar’s Office will record completion of the concentration and the award of honors in the concentration, and will make available official documentation of these accomplishments at the student’s request.
Faculty
BU Law faculty boasts some of America’s leading experts in the field of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.In addition to full-time faculty scholars in the field, students gain practical training under the continuous supervision and guidance of our experienced, full-time clinical faculty.
Professor Madeline Meth is Gerry Muir
