Course Descriptions

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Lockstep Courses
Upper Level Required Courses
Legal Analysis, Research & Writing III (LARWIII)

Seminar Courses
Experiential Courses
Skills Courses
Elective Courses

Check the individual semester course schedules for specific courses added for individual semesters, especially Special Topics courses and Weekend and Condensed Courses.

Course descriptions are also available in the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional Catalog under "Course Descriptions > LAW".

Each course name is followed by the number of credit hours in parentheses.

LOCKSTEP COURSES

Civil Procedure (4) LAW-7005
A study of the rules and doctrines that define the process of civil litigation in American courts, with primary emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, the federal judicial code, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The course may cover topics such as the jurisdiction and competence of courts, conflicts between state and federal law, pleading, discovery, joinder of claims and parties, disposition without trial, trial and post-trial process, appellate review, and the effects of judgment.

Contracts (4) LAW-7017
A study of the enforceability of promises, the creation of contractual obligations, performance and breach, the impact of the contract on the legal relationships of nonparties, and the examination of contract doctrine in three settings: personal service, sales of goods, and construction contracts.

Criminal Law (3) LAW-7021
An inquiry into the sources and goals of criminal law, the concepts of actus reus and mens rea, characteristics of specific offenses, inchoate crimes, accomplice liability, and general defenses.

Legal Analysis, Research & Writing I (LARW I) (3) LAW-7001
Legal Analysis, Research & Writing II (LARW II) (3) LAW-7002
A study of analysis, research, and writing skills essential to the solution of legal problems and the practice of law. Analytical skills, essential for all of law school and law practice, are covered throughout each course. Students learn the methods of legal research through hands-on library experience. Students will write at least two legal memoranda and a trial brief in the first year.

Legislation & Regulation (3) LAW-7418
An introduction to the role of statutes and administrative regulations in the practice of law, including their creation, amendment, and interpretation. Students will explore such topics as the interpretive and lawmaking roles of the three branches of government; statutory interpretation; delegation and administrative agency practice; and regulatory governance. The course is a building block for courses in legislation, administrative law, constitutional law, and a wide range of specialized courses that rely on statutory and regulatory law, including bankruptcy, commercial law, environmental law, intellectual property, securities regulation, and tax law.

Property (4) LAW-7032
An introduction to personal property and real property laws, including estates and future interests in land, landlord-tenant problems, and issues relating to private and public land use.

Torts (4) LAW-7042
A study of the basic principles of civil liability for harm to persons or property. Topics include intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, defenses, and damages. Additional topics may be included.

In addition, the following lockstep sequences apply to students who began their 1L year in or after fall 2017:

ADR Survey (Special Topics) (1)
This course will serve as an introduction to the main three tools of Alternative Dispute Resolution: negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. (Negotiation is when two or more parties work together to achieve a mutually acceptable agreement; mediation is when a neutral third party plays the role of mediator in assisting by asking questions and guiding the conversation of two or more parties as they work together to achieve a mutually acceptable agreement; and arbitration is when a neutral third party takes on the role of judge and decides the outcome of a disputed matter after it is presented to him or her in a setting similar to a court trial.) Through the use of lecture, simulations, and exercises, students will learn both theoretical and practical aspects of all three tools.

Professional Identity (0.5-2) LAW-7110
Development of skills in areas relating to everyday legal practice; including professionalism, leadership, interpersonal communication, teamwork, leveraging diversity, creating inclusive climates, cross-cultural and cross-generational lawyering, mentoring and public service.

In addition, the following lockstep courses apply to students who began their 1L year in fall 2016:

Constitutional Law (4) LAW-7010
A study of the provisions in the U.S. Constitution governing the form of government and the powers of the federal judiciary, legislature, and executive; the relations between the federal government and the states; the limitations on governmental power over individuals inherent in constitutional provisions relating to due process and equal protection; and the restrictions on private action mandated or permitted by these constitutional provisions.

In addition, the following lockstep course applies to students who began their 1L year in or before fall 2015:

UPPER LEVEL REQUIRED COURSES

The following upper level required courses apply to students who began their 1L year in or after fall 2017:

Professional Responsibility (3) LAW-7091
A study of the rules regulating the practice of law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

The following upper level required courses apply to students who began their 1L year in or before fall 2016:

Business Associations I (3) LAW-7056
This course studies the basic principles of the varying business entities used to conduct ventures for profit. The course will cover fundamental agency principles, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. We will study how these business organizations are formed, the powers and responsibilities of their respective partners, members, officers or directors, and their shareholder’s rights and liabilities. The course’s primary focus will be the corporation and corporate law; including topics such as pre-incorporation issues; the corporate formation process, and corporate capital and financing. Business entity taxation concepts may be covered as well. The course objective is to give students both foundational and practical knowledge of how business organizations work. This includes learning how to make assessment as to which type of business organization is best suited for a particular client’s objectives, the legal formalities necessary in forming that business organization, and understanding the rights, duties, and obligations for those affiliated with that organization. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Criminal Procedure (3) LAW-7065
This course considers issues relating to constitutional constraints on the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Evidence (4) LAW-7080
An examination of the problems of proof, including study of the admission and exclusion of evidence on the basis of relevancy, policy, and protection of the individual or the state; the examination of witnesses; substitutes for evidence; and procedural considerations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Legal Analysis, Research & Writing III (LARW III)
Topics vary. Students may fulfill this requirement with any of the listed LARW III classes.

Professional Responsibility (3) LAW-7091
A study of the rules regulating the practice of law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Wills & Estates (3) LAW-7076
This course covers the basics of testate and intestate succession, including the following topics: drafting, execution, and construction of attested and holographic wills; testamentary capacity, undue influence, and fraud; revocation of wills; distribution of intestacy; nonprobate transfers of property; and ethical issues that arise during estate planning. There will be a significant focus on Texas law in the coverage of these topics. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

LARW III COURSES

LARW III: Appellate Drafting (2) LAW-7785
This course hones students’ analytical and persuasion skills through a focus on appellate brief writing and oral advocacy in the appellate court setting. Students will have numerous smaller writing projects during the course, which will culminate in a large brief-writing project due near the end of the semester. Students will also participate in significant oral argument exercises. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II.

LARW III: Business Collections (2) LAW-7791
Writing and analysis skills for business collection lawsuits; drafting a demand letter, petition, answer, interrogatories, judgment order, application for writ of garnishment and motions for substituted service; default judgment and summary judgment; introduction to negotiation, settlement and trial advocacy skills. Prerequisite: One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; LARW I and II, and Contracts.

LARW III: Contract Drafting (2) LAW-7780
This hands-on course covers contemporary commercial drafting of contracts, an essential skill for transactional practice that is also useful for litigators. Topics include translation of a client’s business deal into contract language; the organizational paradigm for a formal contract; drafting definitions, covenants, representations, and warranties; deconstructing and marking up contracts; transactional and formbook research; and proper use of boilerplate provisions. Students will draft at least two major contracts and will have smaller drafting and research assignments throughout the course. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II and Contracts.

LARW III: Criminal Law Drafting (Special Topics) (2)
This practical course teaches students how to draft documents used in Texas criminal cases. Using the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code; students will draft documents based on actual criminal cases -- warrants; motions and responses; notices; pretrial writs; stipulations; and jury instructions. Students will draft a variety of documents throughout the course including a major persuasive motion and response. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; including LARW I & II; (2) Criminal Procedure.

LARW III: Drafting for the General Practitioner (2) LAW-7789
This two-credit practical skills class introduces students to the drafting of legal documents that are common to the general practitioner. The course is designed to provide students with general knowledge of and proficiency with the typical documents lawyers are asked to draft by practicing the drafting techniques common to the various types of legal documents lawyers encounter. The course is based on “small firm” simulations during which students will represent one client in a variety of legal matters including contract drafting, will drafting, negotiation, and settlement of a dispute. In addition to learning new drafting skills, students will hone writing and oral advocacy skills already learned through the production of client letters, lawyer-to-lawyer email communications, and oral settlement negotiations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II.

LARW III: Environmental Litigation Drafting (2) LAW-7894
Introduction to a realistic view of the pretrial litigation process in a typical environmental lawsuit; utilization of a state district court forum and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; conduction of research and litigation documents drafting from the clients first contact through the pretrial process. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

LARW III: Estate Administration Drafting (2) LAW-7787
This course is designed to teach students how to open, conduct, and close an administration of a decedent’s estate under Texas law. Topics include independent and dependent administrations; probate of the decedent’s will; powers, rights, and duties of the personal representative; payment of creditors’ claims; and informal probate procedures. This course will provide a practical look at how to represent a client who is serving as the personal representative of a decedent’s estate or who is a beneficiary of a decedent’s estate. There will be no exam for this course. Students’ grades will be based on various drafting projects assigned throughout the semester. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II; (2) Wills & Estates.

LARW III: Estate Planning and Drafting (2) LAW-7779
This course involves working through hypothetical clinical problems, including extensive drafting and working closely with the professor. The problems involve comprehensive planning and drafting of estate planning documents to effectuate the plan. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II; (2) Wills & Estates; and (3) Trusts & Fiduciary Responsibilities (may be taken concurrently).

LARW III: Family Law Drafting (2) LAW-7786
This practice skills course covers drafting documents for family law litigation. All aspects of litigation are covered from pretrial to appeal. Students will draft several substantive documents during the course. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the fulltime or part-time program, including LARW I & II; (2) Family Law.

LARW III: How the Deals Get Done (2 - 3) LAW-7790
Transactional law practice using a hypothetical start-up business to help deal with the transactional issues in this context; combination of theory and practice to prepare for typical matters confronted in a transactional law practice. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program including LARW I and II; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to Fall 2013).

LARW III: Litigation Drafting (2) LAW-7782
This practical course deals with drafting litigation documents. Using a state trial court forum and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, students draft litigation documents that they can expect to prepare in typical litigation cases. Topics covered include conducting client interviews; drafting petitions, answers, and affirmative defenses; propounding written discovery; objecting to and answering written discovery; preparing and arguing motions; and preparing other litigation-related documents. Students will draft a major persuasive motion and will have several smaller drafting and research assignments throughout the course. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II and Civil Procedure.

LARW III: Oil and Gas Drafting (2) LAW-7895
Drafting effective and clear oil and gas contracts; review of basic components and building blocks of contracts; translating the business deal into an oil and gas contract; proposing solutions for problems encountered by counsel in the oil and gas industry. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Oil and Gas.

LARW III: Public Policy Drafting (2) LAW-7793
Introduction to the various forms of written (and oral) communication encountered in the public policymaking process, particularly in regulated industries; overview of "public policy" and the various communication strategies and skills necessary to participate in the policymaking process. Prerequisite: One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I and II.

LARW III: Real Estate Drafting (2) LAW-7783
This practice skills course covers drafting commonly used real estate documents. The focus is on Texas practice, and both personal and commercial transactions are covered. Students will draft several substantive documents during the course. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II and Property.

SEMINAR COURSES

ADR in the Workplace Seminar (2) LAW-7603
In this seminar, you will study workplace dispute resolution with a focus on the legal status and practical application of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the workplace. It begins with the most familiar alternative to litigation, labor arbitration. It then examines labor arbitration’s first cousin, individual employment arbitration. Then the course will shift into a discussion on mediation of employment disputes. Throughout the course, we will also review litigation of employment disputes as a necessary component of the foundation for exploring the pros and cons of using ADR versus litigation. You will have assigned background reading on all these matters and will perform simulations of arbitration and mediation of these disputes. Taking an employment-related course such as Labor Law, Employment Discrimination, or Employment Law is NOT a prerequisite. However, because the course concentrates on employment issues, you should have a strong intellectual interest in workplace dispute resolution and a desire to write about topics related to the course concentration (either a workplace topic or an ADR topic) in completing the rigorous writing requirement. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Advanced Issues in Criminal Justice Seminar (2) LAW-7616
Over ninety percent of the criminal cases in the United States are resolved before going to trial. In this seminar we will consider the most traditional form of dispute resolution in criminal cases: plea bargaining of criminal cases. The course will also look at emerging trends in the criminal justice system such as restorative justice and therapeutic courts including drug courts. This seminar will also examine issues relating to juvenile justice including alternative proceedings and the theory and policy underlying the treatment of juvenile offenders. Students and will gain a basic understanding and critically examine the various forms of criminal case resolution and the underlying policy goals. Prerequisite: (1) All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law; (2) Criminal Procedure.

Advanced Topics in Intellectual Property Seminar (2) LAW-7628
This course provides an in-depth exploration and analysis of various issues in intellectual property law through an analysis of some of the seminal cases in IP jurisprudence. In contrast to many law school courses, which enable the study of law through excerpted portions of cases on particular topics, this course will dig beneath the surface and explore the depths of intellectual property theory and policy as they manifest in individual cases throughout history. We will not seek to canvass the area of IP, but rather explore foundational aspects of intellectual property through individual case stories, other primary and secondary resource material, and seminal law review articles. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law; (2) two Intellectual Property courses.

Advanced Topics in Negotiation Seminar (2) LAW-7631
Series of topics involved in the theories, strategies and techniques of effective negotiation; topics may include avoiding being exploited, utilizing competitive negotiation moves, increasing collaboration, biases and cognitive illusions, emotions during the negotiation, principles of influence and persuasion, power in negotiation, culture and gender in negotiation, ethical considerations and critiques of settlement advocacy. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Advanced Topics in Property Seminar (2) LAW-7626
This seminar will explore the concept of property, including its theoretical dimensions and its usefulness in resolving difficult legal and social problems. Some topics discussed in this class will build on introductory material traditionally covered in first-year property courses; other topics will be entirely new for most students. Class readings and discussions will focus on four or five substantive areas that will rotate from semester to semester. Among the topics that may be covered are the following: history and development of property rights; property theory; property rights in the body; housing discrimination; eminent domain and takings law; property in cyberspace; comparative property law; and land use involving religious groups. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Bioethics & the Law Seminar (2) LAW-7606
A seminar that examines the legal, ethical, and policy aspects of current issues in bioethics, including patient autonomy, the right to refuse treatment, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, genetics, reproductive technologies, fetal treatment and research, human experimentation, and organ transplantation. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Death Penalty Seminar (2) LAW-7615
A study of the law of capital punishment in an effort to understand the guiding legal principles and parameters of this most severe form of criminal sanction. Specific issues addressed include, among others, narrowing capital punishment to certain crimes and particular types of defendants, the role of race in the death penalty, death qualified juries, and the function of “guided discretion” in the use of the sanction. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Domestic Violence Seminar (2) LAW-7622
This course examines domestic violence in the criminal justice system and in family law. The purpose of this seminar is to expose law students to the issue of domestic violence. The goals of this course will be accomplished through text, class discussions, simulated role-play, guest speakers, videos, student presentations, and a written paper or final submitted by each student. As a requirement of the seminar, each student must observe one domestic violence trial or lengthy hearing. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Gender & the Law Seminar (2) LAW-7636
This course explores the historical, comparative, statutory, and especially constitutional dimensions of law’s regulation of sexuality and gender. Students read primarily case law, supplemented with statutory law and articles. Topics to be considered include the critiques and defenses of marriage; the legal and social implications of categories such as bisexuality, intersexuality, and transsexuality; the relationship between feminist, gay and queer politics; and the impact of sexual orientation and gender challenges on the workplace, military policy, family law, and education. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Housing and Community Economic Development Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This seminar is a broad introduction to the growing area of Housing and Community Economic Development (CED) Law. It will address the legal; business and policy considerations that underlie efforts to enhance U.S.-based; moderate- and low-income; urban; and rural communities through the development of affordable housing; commercial real estate; and social and micro enterprises. Because non-profit organizations play an important role in housing and community economic development law; the course will provide an introduction to the legal issues related to the involvement of tax-exempt organizations in this work. The role of private entities as well as all levels of government will be explored. The central question in this course is: what roles do lawyers play in housing and CED efforts? We will address this question through multiple perspectives including role plays; in-class exercises; hearing guest speakers discuss live deals and visiting real world projects. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

International Environmental Law Seminar (3) LAW-7682
Contemporary perspective of domestic and international law applicable to transboundary and global environmental issues; relationship of environmental law with international relations, trade, development, resource exploitation and conservation and human rights; role of international and non-governmental organizations in the development of international and domestic environmental laws and policies; may include case studies of disputes and investigations; requires a paper to quality for rigorous writing requirement. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

International Water Law (2) LAW-7648
This seminar surveys international law and policy relating to the uses of and rights to fresh surface and ground water resources. Discussion topics will include: availability, distribution, and scarcity of global freshwater; the ethics of and human right to water; water and the environment; rights to and sovereignty over natural resources; development, exploitation, and conservation of transboundary waterbodies; and water-related conflicts and conflict resolution. Prerequisites: All lockstep courses except LAW 7010.

Intro to Law & Economics Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
Economics conceives of laws as incentives for changing behavior (implicit prices) and as instruments for policy objectives (efficiency and distribution). Law and Economics provides a theory to predict the effects of legal rules on behavior. Efficiency and distribution concerns are used to evaluate legal policy. The course starts with basic economics; including the Coase Theorem; and covers classical topics such as property; contracts; torts; legal process and litigation; criminal law. Advanced topics include corporate law and family law. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law. Some familiarity with economic reasoning is suggested.

Law & Economics Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This seminar is an introduction to the methodology and literature of the economic analysis of law or law and economics. By the end of the course, students should understand why this subject has become so important in modern legal analysis and, more importantly, how to apply it to current legal issues. The course will cover the main law and economics literature of the last 30 years or so but will also look at indications of where the field is going. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law. Some familiarity with economic reasoning is suggested.

Law and Literature Seminar (2) LAW-7650
This seminar examines the nature, practice, and institutions of law as depicted in a variety of literary texts. The course also explores how techniques associated with literary criticism may be applied to selected legal texts. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Law and Psychology Seminar (2) LAW-7655
A study of the intersection between law and psychology, with particular emphasis on the application of forensic psychology in the criminal justice system. Specific issues addressed include, among other topics, the evidentiary standard governing the admissibility of scientific evidence, false confessions, eyewitness testimony, repressed memories, and sex offenders. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Law and Science Seminar (2) LAW-7639
This interdisciplinary seminar will examine the interrelation of the law with science in varying contexts including the courts, legislative and agency action, and societal norms and expectations. It will explore the impact science has on the law and how the law affects scientific research and progress. It will also consider the application of science in legal circumstances as well as the law to various scientific topics. Topics covered in the seminar may include: the role of the public, government, and private sectors in scientific development; the role of courts and the law in managing scientific information; legal and scientific standards and methodologies; risk assessment; scientific misconduct; and environmental regulations. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Law & Social Science Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
Social science increasingly influences and shapes legal doctrine in areas ranging from criminal law and labor and employment to shareholder rights. The Law and Social Science Seminar provides students with an opportunity to discuss and analyze work from a series of renowned scholars who approach the law from economic; sociological; and psychological perspectives. The ultimate objective of the seminar is for students to produce their own papers that incorporate perspectives from the social sciences. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

Religion and the Law Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This seminar uses historical writings, the text of the Constitution, and Supreme Court opinions in the explorations of one central question: How should civil government treat the religious beliefs of society? In considering the scope of religious clauses of the First Amendment, the course relies heavily on doctrine created by the Supreme Court as it has wrestled with contentious issues such as federal funding of religious activities and the free exercise of religious beliefs in schools. The study of these topics grounded in a problem method encourages students to apply and consider varying approaches to the sometimes-conflicting guarantees found in the First Amendment.

Special Environmental Issues Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This course will examine several environmental law issues in depth by studying leading environmental law cases and several contentious regulatory and policy issues. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Supreme Court Seminar (2) LAW-7675
A seminar in which students act as U.S. Supreme Court members, reading briefs in selected cases presently before the Supreme Court, discussing the cases, and writing opinions deciding the cases. Prerequisite: (1) All lockstep courses; (2) Constitutional Law (may be taken concurrently).

The Information Society Seminar (2) LAW-7263
This course explores complex interrelationships between technological, economic, cultural, political, and legal influences that shape the information society. As a seminar, this course will satisfy the rigorous writing requirement. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law.

The Lawyer in Government Seminar (2 - 3) LAW-7426
Exploration of the diverse political, ethical and substantive issues that public policy lawyers encounter daily; critical thinking and analysis of public discourse and policymaking in context of externships; distill exploration into writer work product and class discussion. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

EXPERIENTIAL COURSES

Students who began their 1L year in or after fall 2017 must successfully complete a minimum of six credit hours in one or more upper-level experiential courses. As part of the six credit hours, the student must successfully complete an approved externship or clinic that involves advising or representing one or more actual clients or serving as a third-party neutral.

Students who began their 1L year in fall 2016 must successfully complete a minimum of six credit hours in one or more upper-level experiential courses.

Aggie Transactional Boot Camp (Special Topics) (2)
This course will be a five-day intensive transactional boot camp that involves client simulation. Your clients will be three entrepreneurs who decide to open a consulting business together. As their lawyers; students will draft the various formation documents for creating an LLC. Students will be graded based on the quality of their completed LLC formation documents and their final presentation. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Business Associations I.

Civil Motion Workshop (1) LAW-7888S
This class will focus not on civil trials (which are becoming increasingly rare) but on civil motion practice (which is still a very active component of a trial lawyer’s work). Students will be provided with written motions and responses that were filed in actual nonactive lawsuits. Students will then prepare to argue the motions and responses. At each session, students will be called on to argue either the response or the motion, within appropriate time constraints, in front of a sitting district court judge in Tarrant County. Afterwards each student will receive critique and feedback from fellow students and the professor. Students will be exposed, and must quickly understand, the law related to each motion. However, the focus of this course will be on oral argument skills and developing a level of comfort arguing motions in an actual classroom. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the fulltime or part-time program; (2) Civil Procedure (may be taken concurrently).

Community Development Clinic (Special Topics) (4-6)
The Community Development Clinic offers students interested social entrepreneurship, transactional real estate work, and community advocacy an opportunity to work on a range of legal issues that impact community viability. By working with nonprofits that serve underserved populations, the Community Development Clinic will undertake legal matters that address issues that relate to affordable housing, access to legal services, small business development, and environmental justice in the local community. Students in this clinic will learn interviewing and counseling, contract drafting, public speaking, strategic planning, community legal education, and asset mapping. This course will be of particular interest to students who want to use their law degree to impact economic and social justice in underserved communities. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Completion of any Intellectual Property course is recommended, but not required.

Community Legal Access Clinic (Special Topics) (2)
The Community Legal Access Clinic offers free limited legal assistance to self-represented litigants and offers legal education workshops to community associations in a variety of areas of law, including small claims, landlord tenant, and consumer law. Students will develop workshops and community presentations based on their interests and local legal needs. In addition to learning about self-represented litigants and various legal service delivery methods, students will learn fact-gathering, interviewing, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Since this clinic is designed for students with limited time schedules, the classroom component of the course will meet five times in the fall semester for six hours each time. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. In addition to attending and preparing for classes, students must devote 45 hours of clinic work throughout the semester. Clinic work may be scheduled on weekend and evening periods to accommodate student schedules and community preferences. Students who apply for this clinic will be asked to interview with Dean Herrera before admission to determine availability to complete the hours. Prerequisite: Professional Responsibility (may be taken concurrently).

Criminal Defense Clinic (Special Topics) (4)
In the Criminal Defense Clinic, students learn a model of criminal defense advocacy rooted in a whole-client (holistic) ethos. Students work with clients, client families, community organizations, and experts in various disciplines to defend clients facing misdemeanor charges in Tarrant County Criminal Court. Clinic students will appear in court at pretrial appearances and hearings, potentially representing clients at trial. Students should expect to visit clients incarcerated at the local detention center and to help connect clients to necessary social services.
The Criminal Defense Clinic student teams also work collaboratively on community projects to enhance justice for people interacting with the criminal justice system in Tarrant and surrounding counties. Students in the clinic can expect to: Develop client-centered, trauma-sensitive lawyering practices; Build trial advocacy skills; Critically analyze systemic injustices; Recognize issues related to pretrial incarceration; Learn to build client narratives and hone negotiation skills; Work with interdisciplinary experts; and Engage in in-depth fact investigation, including visits to scenes and interviews of witnesses. Prerequisite: (1)Evidence; (2) Criminal Procedure; (3) Professional Responsibility (may be take concurrently); (4) 45 completed hours.

Deposition Skills Workshop (1) LAW-7887S
This course gives students the opportunity to learn the art of deposition practice and the strategy behind taking depositions. Students will learn and practice fundamental depositions skills; rules pertaining to depositions in federal and state court; how to properly notice a deposition; and how to depose parties, fact witnesses, and experts. The course will conclude with a final deposition performance class in which each student will be provided the opportunity to take and defend a deposition. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the fulltime or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Entrepreneurship Law Clinic (3) LAW-7867
Work with entrepreneurs on transactional matters in connection with the founding and/or development of a small business; emphasis on legal issues involved in starting a business including choice of entity, entity formation and founding agreements. May be taken three times for credit. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program; Professional Responsibility (LAW 7091) or concurrent enrollment.

Externship (1 - 6) LAW-7835
This course is designed to provide students with learning opportunities, through placements in approved legal settings, in which students may 1) increase understanding of the range of skills necessary for effective lawyering; 2) improve abilities to perform lawyering skills (e.g., applying an area of law to an actual case); 3) begin to identify and reflect upon the strengths and weaknesses as a practicing student attorney; 4) develop productive working relationships with supervisors, clients, support staff, and peers; and 5) reflect on placement experiences through journals and class discussions. Placements can be in either courts, public interest organizations, corporate or government offices, or law firms. Students can earn 1, 2 or 3 pass/ fail credit hours for every 60, 120 or 180 hours of fieldwork completed, respectively. Students will keep timesheets and journals that must be submitted every two weeks. In addition, students must complete a classroom component the first time they register for an externship. The classroom component consists of in-class meetings and online discussions. Online discussions will consist of students responding to topics posted by the professor and responding to fellow student postings. Some minor outside reading and/or activity may be required. Prerequisite: Approval of professor.

Family Law and Veterans Advocacy Clinic (4) LAW-7865S
The Family Law and Veterans Advocacy Clinic is both a credit course and a functioning law office, allowing students to practice law while in law school. Students represent indigent clients in court under direct faculty supervision. A classroom component meets twice weekly to study the substantive law, to learn essential practical skills, and to discuss client cases. Prerequisite: Approval of professor.

Immigrant Rights Clinic (Special Topics) (4-6)
Students provide direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings; gaining substantial litigation skills; including preparing for direct and cross-examination; working with expert witnesses; writing complex legal briefs; and arguing in court. Students also have the opportunity to engage in policy and advocacy projects. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Immigration Law (may be taken concurrently).

Innocence Project (2 - 3) LAW-7869
Investigation of claims of actual innocence on behalf of Texas inmates; document/transcript review; examining new evidence and locating and re-interviewing witnesses; work closely with Innocence Project of Texas attorneys if cases move into litigation; weekly classroom component explores causes and cures of wrongful convictions. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program.

Intellectual Property and Technology Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7868S
(Patent Clinic; Trademark Clinic)
Emphasis on general trademark and patent issues; includes counseling clients, conducting registerability or patentability searches and preparing trademark or patentability opinions for clinic clients, drafting and filing of trademark or patent applications and response to Office Actions. Prerequisite: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program; Professional Responsibility (LAW 7091) or concurrent enrollment.

Labor Negotiations Workshop (1) LAW-7390S
Students will learn the process of contract negotiations in the labor setting in both the private and public sectors. Topics covered will include who has the right to bargain contracts, what can be bargained, bargaining in good faith and legal remedies. Bargaining techniques including data-driven proposals will be discussed. Students will be involved in labor bargaining simulations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

LARW III: Business Collections (2) LAW-7791
Writing and analysis skills for business collection lawsuits; drafting a demand letter, petition, answer, interrogatories, judgment order, application for writ of garnishment and motions for substituted service; default judgment and summary judgment; introduction to negotiation, settlement and trial advocacy skills. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; including LARW I and II, and Contracts.

LARW III: Drafting for the General Practitioner (2) LAW-7789
This practical skills class introduces students to the drafting of legal documents that are common to the general practitioner. The course is designed to provide students with general knowledge of and proficiency with the typical documents lawyers are asked to draft by practicing the drafting techniques common to the various types of legal documents lawyers encounter. The course is based on “small firm” simulations during which students will represent one client in a variety of legal matters including contract drafting, will drafting, negotiation, and settlement of a dispute. In addition to learning new drafting skills, students will hone writing and oral advocacy skills already learned through the production of client letters, lawyer-to-lawyer email communications, and oral settlement negotiations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II.

LARW III: How the Deals Get Done (2-3) LAW-7790
Transactional law practice using a hypothetical start-up business to help deal with the transactional issues in this context; combination of theory and practice to prepare for typical matters confronted in a transactional law practice. Prerequisite: (1) One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) LARW I and II; (3) Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to Fall 2013).

Low Income Tax Clinic (Special Topics) (3 - 6)
Students will have the opportunity to directly represent low income taxpayers in controversies before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); in U.S. Tax Court; and in Federal District Courts. Clinic students represent taxpayers involved in tax examinations (audits); administrative appeals; collection matters; and cases before the federal courts. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Professional Responsibility (may be taken concurrently). Federal Income Tax is recommended but not required. One does not need prior tax experience to enroll in this Clinic.

Moot Court Appellate Advocacy (Special Topics) (1)
This is a simulation course that offers students a substantial experience of engaging in tasks that that will help the students develop skills that, as attorneys, they will utilize as advisors and advocates in litigation and appellate matters. More specifically, this course is designed to provide students with basic oral and writing skills required to effectively participate in a moot court competition. This course will:

Provide students with skills training in brief writing and oral advocacy;
Improve the performance of our students in external moot court competitions;
Help students self-assess areas of strengths and weaknesses; and
Foster greater collaboration among members of the Moot Court Team.

Negotiation Theory & Practice Practicum (3) LAW-7707S
This course offers students the opportunity to further develop their negotiation skills. It will focus on simulations and negotiation exercises intended to give students firsthand experience in applying interest-based negotiation techniques. The course examines the skills, constraints, and dynamics of negotiation. Students will also learn a theoretical framework for understanding negotiation practice in a variety of contexts through readings from the fields of law, psychology, business, and communication. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Nonprofit Organizations (2 - 3) LAW-7310
This course focuses on the laws, policies, and ideals affecting the creation, operation, and governance of nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals, universities, churches, social service charities, cultural institutions, advocacy groups, trade associations, and social clubs. Nonprofit organizations’ role in society raises complex issues that involve a variety of legal fields, including constitutional law, trust and property law, corporate law, and tax law. Topics include obtaining tax-exempt status, restrictions on lobbying and political activity, tax on unrelated business income, eligibility for charitable contributions, state regulation of charitable solicitations, oversight of nonprofit governance, and charitable immunity. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts and Contracts.

Patent Clinic (Special Topics) (3-4)
See course schedule

Post-Conviction Actual Innocence Claims (2) LAW-7217
This course will teach the law and the practical applications of the law in petitioning the judiciary for relief, based on facts garnered through an initial post-conviction investigation. Students will learn what a post-conviction claim of actual innocence is and how the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals have analyzed and dealt with such claims in both death penalty and non-death cases. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law.

Probate & Estate Planning Clinic (Special Topics) (4)
See course schedule

Spanish for Lawyers (2 - 3) LAW-7487
Preparation of the Spanish proficient for the practice of immigration law, criminal law or family law; discussion of legal concepts and procedures related to representation of Spanish-speaking clients; review of Spanish vocabulary through simulations of interviewing, counseling and representing Spanish-speaking clients. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law; (2) Immigration Law or Family Law (may be taken concurrently).

Special Topics in International Law: Borderlands - Contemporary Legal Issues Relating to the U.S.-Mexico Border (Special Topics) (2 - 3)
In a romantic; literary sense; the U.S.-Mexico borderlands have loomed large in the mythology of Texas. Come experience the power of the borderlands; as the myth collides with the reality of the 21st century in Texas A&M University School of Law's inaugural collaborative summer program with Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo; Texas. Laredo is the largest port of entry in Texas and is the third-largest port of entry in the United States. The course will present a survey of contemporary legal issues relating to the U.S.-Mexico border. Course coverage will be drawn from among the following topics: trade; transportation; business and banking transactions; immigration; border security; crime; human rights; oil & gas; energy; water; the environment; and the Mexican legal system. The course also will include one or more relevant field trips. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

The Business Negotiator (3) LAW-7383S
This course provides students the opportunity to develop and strengthen their negotiation skills mostly in the context of business and transactions work. Through lectures, role-plays, and simulations, students will refine their negotiation strategies and techniques in negotiating deals, contracts, and relationships. While the vast majority of the course will focus on improving student ability to engage in transactions work within the United States, the course will also consider various barriers to deal making in a global context, including culture, ideology, and foreign governments and laws. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Trademark Clinic (Special Topics) (3)
See course schedule

Trademark & Copyright Clinic (Special Topics) (4-6)
See course schedule

Trial Advocacy for Mock Trial Students (Special Topics) (1)
This concentrated course is designed to teach students effective trial advocacy skills necessary to persuasively present a case to a decision maker. While the competition environment of mock trial presents its own distinct challenges, the analysis, preparation and presentation skills necessary for success are parallel or comparable to those required in a real-life courtroom situation. To achieve this objective, we will first focus on the principles, concepts and rules of trial advocacy and evidence. This will be facilitated by experienced litigators who will offer their insight into the realities of trial work. The students will then apply what they have learned by practicing the skill, reflecting on what was taught, improving and repeating.

Trial Advocacy Practicum (3) LAW-7775S
A study of civil and criminal trials, taught through lectures, demonstrations, and simulations. Each trial segment is examined separately, and accompanying exercises are conducted with students acting as attorneys and witnesses. The course culminates in a mock trial at a local courthouse, where students have the opportunity to present an entire case through verdict. Prerequisite: (1) All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law; (2) Evidence (may be taken concurrently).

Wills and Estates Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7851S
Real-world experience in handling the estate planning needs of low-income clients; under the supervision of licensed attorneys, interview clients, draft documents including wills, powers of attorney, health care advance directives and other instruments; may handle probate matters. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Wills and Estates.

SKILLS COURSES

Students who began their 1L year in or before fall 2015 must successfully complete a minimum of three credit hours in one or more upper-level oral communication skills courses.

ADR Competition (1)

ADR Survey: Negotiation, Mediation & Arbitration (3) LAW-7222S
This course will serve as an introduction to the main three tools of Alternative Dispute Resolution: negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. (Negotiation is when two or more parties work together to achieve a mutually acceptable agreement; mediation is when a neutral third party plays the role of mediator in assisting by asking questions and guiding the conversation of two or more parties as they work together to achieve a mutually acceptable agreement; and arbitration is when a neutral third party takes on the role of judge and decides the outcome of a disputed matter after it is presented to him or her in a setting similar to a court trial.) Through the use of lecture, simulations, and exercises, students will learn both theoretical and practical aspects of all three tools. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Community Development Clinic (Special Topics) (4)
The Community Development Clinic offers students interested social entrepreneurship, transactional real estate work, and community advocacy an opportunity to work on a range of legal issues that impact community viability. By working with nonprofits that serve underserved populations, the Community Development Clinic will undertake legal matters that address issues that relate to affordable housing, access to legal services, small business development, and environmental justice in the local community. Students in this clinic will learn interviewing and counseling, contract drafting, public speaking, strategic planning, community legal education, and asset mapping. This course will be of particular interest to students who want to use their law degree to impact economic and social justice in underserved communities. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Completion of any Intellectual Property course is recommended, but not required.

Community Legal Access Clinic (Special Topics) (2)
The Community Legal Access Clinic offers free limited legal assistance to self-represented litigants and offers legal education workshops to community associations in a variety of areas of law, including small claims, landlord tenant, and consumer law. Students will develop workshops and community presentations based on their interests and local legal needs. In addition to learning about self-represented litigants and various legal service delivery methods, students will learn fact-gathering, interviewing, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Since this clinic is designed for students with limited time schedules, the classroom component of the course will meet five times in the fall semester for six hours each time. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. In addition to attending and preparing for classes, students must devote 45 hours of clinic work throughout the semester. Clinic work may be scheduled on weekend and evening periods to accommodate student schedules and community preferences. Students who apply for this clinic will be asked to interview with Dean Herrera before admission to determine availability to complete the hours.
Prerequisite: Professional Responsibility (may be taken concurrently).

Deposition Skills Workshop (1) LAW-7887S
This course gives students the opportunity to learn the art of deposition practice and the strategy behind taking depositions. Students will learn and practice fundamental depositions skills; rules pertaining to depositions in federal and state court; how to properly notice a deposition; and how to depose parties, fact witnesses, and experts. The course will conclude with a final deposition performance class in which each student will be provided the opportunity to take and defend a deposition. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the fulltime or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Employment Mediation Clinic (2) LAW-7862S
This course provides students who have already received basic mediation training with opportunities to co-mediate workplace disputes that arise at the Federal Aviation Administration or other agencies. Each student will be required to co-mediate three to five disputes, with the assistance of an experienced and trained mediator, during the course of the semester. Before each mediation, students will review available background documents, meet with their co-mediator, and prepare for the mediation. At the conclusion of each mediation, students will draft a memorandum to the file describing the outcome of the mediation. Students will also keep a journal and participate in classroom sessions to reflect on their experiences. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Prior academic or professional exposure to mediation and/ or employment law is preferred but not required.

Entrepreneurship Law Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7867
Work with entrepreneurs on transactional matters in connection with the founding and/or development of a small business; emphasis on legal issues involved in starting a business including choice of entity, entity formation and founding agreements. May be taken three times for credit. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program; Professional Responsibility (LAW 7091) or concurrent enrollment.

Immigrant Rights Clinic (Special Topics) (4 - 6)
Students provide direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings; gaining substantial litigation skills; including preparing for direct and cross-examination; working with expert witnesses; writing complex legal briefs; and arguing in court. Students also have the opportunity to engage in policy and advocacy projects. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Immigration Law (may be taken concurrently).

Intellectual Property and Technology Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7868S
(Patent Clinic; Trademark Clinic)
Emphasis on general trademark and patent issues; includes counseling clients, conducting registerability or patentability searches and preparing trademark or patentability opinions for clinic clients, drafting and filing of trademark or patent applications and response to Office Actions. Prerequisite: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program; Professional Responsibility (LAW 7091) or concurrent enrollment.

Mock Trial Competition (1) to (3)

Moot Court Competition (1) to (2)

Patent Clinic (Special Topics) (3-4)
See course schedule

Probate & Estate Planning Clinic (Special Topics) (4)
See course schedule

Spanish for Lawyers (2 - 3) LAW-7487
Preparation of the Spanish proficient for the practice of immigration law, criminal law or family law; discussion of legal concepts and procedures related to representation of Spanish-speaking clients; review of Spanish vocabulary through simulations of interviewing, counseling and representing Spanish-speaking clients. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law; (2) Immigration Law or Family Law (may be taken concurrently).

Special Skills and Approaches in Mediation (Special Topics) (1)
This course builds on basic mediation, with focus on prominent process approaches. It provides in-depth examinations of important issues in mediation practice such as information processing, barriers to settlement, and decision making. Skill enhancement includes techniques used at various stages to assist moving parties beyond impasse in difficult cases. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Mediation Certification Workshop (may be taken concurrently).

Sports Law (3) LAW-7500S
A thorough look at both the academic (e.g., labor and antitrust) and practical (e.g., contracts and agents) aspects of professional sports and the emerging field of sports law, including rules governing Olympic competition, the NCAA, and other amateur athletics. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Trademark Clinic (Special Topics) (3)
See course description

Trademark & Copyright Clinic (Special Topics) (4-6)
See course description

Trade, Investment, & Development (Special Topics) (3)
This course introduces students to basic legal principles for international trade and investment and their connection to economic development. Students will examine the World Trade Organization and provisions from regional trade agreements; like the NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; including their dispute settlement processes and their methods of addressing environmental and labor controversies as well as emerging concerns of Intellectual Property rights; climate change; and energy. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Wills and Estates Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7851S
Real-world experience in handling the estate planning needs of low-income clients; under the supervision of licensed attorneys, interview clients, draft documents including wills, powers of attorney, health care advance directives and other instruments; may handle probate matters. Prerequisite: (1) One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Wills and Estates.

ELECTIVE COURSES

Accounting for Lawyers (2 - 3) LAW-7108
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of accounting principles, highlights the importance of accounting issues to the practice of law, and introduces critical techniques of financial analysis, including time value of money, leverage, return metrics, and business valuation. No prior training in finance or accounting is needed. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Administrative Law (2 - 3) LAW-7113
A study of the legal principles and procedures to which an unelected bureaucracy must conform to achieve legitimacy. The course reviews the problems inherent in a relatively disunited body of law derived from disparate sources, but concentrates on the Constitution and other federal law as the primary sources of organizing principles for administrative law and procedure. Topics addressed may include the constitutional underpinnings of the federal bureaucracy, judicial review of agency fact finding and legal interpretation, extra-statutory administrative common law, the grounds for dividing administrative actions into adjudication and rule making, the essential components of due process in agency adjudication, and the availability of judicial review of agency action. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Adoption Law (2 - 3) LAW-7114
This course covers many aspects of adoption law, including consent of birthparents, termination of parental rights, Indian Child Welfare Act, transracial and transcultural adoption, international adoption, access to information, the effects of adoption, and actions for wrongful adoption. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Advanced Topics in Intellectual Property Seminar (2) LAW-7628
This course provides an in-depth exploration and analysis of various issues in intellectual property law through an analysis of some of the seminal cases in IP jurisprudence. In contrast to many law school courses, which enable the study of law through excerpted portions of cases on particular topics, this course will dig beneath the surface and explore the depths of intellectual property theory and policy as they manifest in individual cases throughout history. We will not seek to canvass the area of IP, but rather explore foundational aspects of intellectual property through individual case stories, other primary and secondary resource material, and seminal law review articles. Prerequisite: (1) All lockstep courses except Constitutional Law; (2) two Intellectual Property courses.

Advanced Torts (2-3) LAW-7104
Building on the material covered in Torts, this course examines various topics in the law of torts such as products liability, defamation, invasion of privacy, and business torts, including misrepresentation and interference with contractual relations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts.

Agency & Partnership (2) LAW-7122
A study of the common law of principal and agent, and the law of unincorporated business entities, including general and limited partnerships and limited liability companies. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Agricultural Law (2 - 3) LAW-7303
Study of major areas of agricultural law; practical approach including discussions and hands-on assignments; legal issues relating to animal agriculture, food safety, landowner rights, the interaction between agriculture and energy production, agricultural leases, agricultural policy and estate and succession planning for farm families. Prerequisite: One year of law school in full-time or part-time program.

Animal Law (2) LAW-7604
This course provides an overview of the changing relationship between society and animals by examining the development of both civil and criminal law as it relates to animals. The course also explores the philosophical issues that drive the law’s evolution and describes the law as an expression of how we share the environment with animals. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Antitrust (Special Topics) (2)
This course will examine the major contours of U.S. antitrust law; with a focus on issues that students will likely encounter in practice. These issues include private litigation; analysis of pricing systems and distribution plans; and the relationship of antitrust law to economics and other bodies of law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Arbitration (Special Topics) (3)
Introduces students to the arbitration process. Arbitration is a method of private dispute resolution in business; consumer; employment; and international transactions. The course will examine the legal framework governing arbitration; the policy implications of its expansion; and the skills necessary to be a successful advocate in both domestic as well as international arbitral forums.

Art, Cultural Heritage, and the Law (2-3) LAW-7208
International and domestic legal issues and disputes pertaining to the creation, ownership, use and preservation of works of visual art and objects of cultural heritage. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Art Law (2-3) LAW-7205
Introduction to legal practice known as art law; examination of legal and ethical issues relating to the creation, discovery, ownership, transfer and use of works of visual art, from ancient to contemporary; stakeholders include artists and their subjects, individual and corporate collectors, museums, dealers, auction houses, cultural institutions, treasure hunters, scholars, indigenous groups, sovereign nations, and the general public; examination, discussion, and debate of applicable civil and criminal laws and regulations, case law, international treaties and codes of ethics, as well as contracts and other documents used in art law practice. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Art of Lawyering (2-3) LAW-7112
The Art of Lawyering is designed to help students develop and hone the analytic and problem-solving skills that are required for optimal success in law school, the bar exam, and in the practice of law. To enhance their abilities to bring together the law they are learning in a useful manner, students will undertake several practical assignments individually and in small groups for which they will receive detailed feedback. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Bankruptcy (3) LAW-7145
A study of the law relating to individual and business liquidations and reorganizations under the Bankruptcy Code. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts and Property.

Business Associations II (3) LAW-7057
This course is designed for students who have a particular interest in corporate law and builds upon the basic concepts learned in Business Associations I. This course will focus on the rules and legal principles that govern large corporations and their constituents and is especially recommended to students who are interested in representing public corporations in private practice. Topics to be covered include: mergers and acquisitions, the issuance of corporate debt, executive compensation, the proxy solicitation process, shareholder proposals and other mechanisms of shareholder democracy. The course will also cover indemnification of officers and directors, corporate charitable giving and political speech, and the role of Special Litigation Committees in derivative suits. The course will also address securities law-related issues such as securities fraud, insider trading, and ethical issues in the representation of public corporations. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to fall 2013).

Business Fundamentals for Lawyers (1 - 2) LAW-7552
Introduction to business concepts and processes important to law practice; covers areas critical to business lawyers, such as financial statements, business strategy, supply chains, HR management, finance, and marketing operations; includes business problem simulations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Business Organizations & the FCPA (Special Topics) (1)
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is a top legal concern for business organizations competing in the global marketplace. This course will introduce students to the FCPA and has the following learning objectives: (i) understanding the events and policy reasons that motivated Congress to enact the FCPA; (ii) appreciating the root causes of why companies often become the subject of FCPA; and (iii) gaining a comprehensive understanding of the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions and books and records and internal controls provisions including the ability to identify legal risk through issue-spotting videos. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Case Evaluation & Client Relations (Special Topics) (1)
This is a practical; real life workshop course that will teach the student how to evaluate a case and then maintain the client relationship. The term "case" means any new legal matter; whether transactional or litigation. We will touch on getting the new case; evaluating the new case and then maintaining the client relationship throughout the case. As important; we will teach the student when to reject a new case and why. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Children & the Law (2 - 3) LAW-7154
This course studies the three-sided relationship between children, their parents (or other conservators), and the state. It examines the many complex problems inherent in the questions of when a state should, must, or should not interfere in the parent-child relationship. It tries to define what that relationship includes and looks at the ways that relationship is evolving in the United States today. The course examines the parent-child relationship through the many forms of Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR), which are common to most states today in their statutes/codes. It does not include any questions of tort liability of parents to or for their children. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Civil Evidence Workshop (1) LAW-7891S
This skills practicum focuses on practical subjects related to courtroom evidence. The workshop provides instruction, demonstration, and practice in offering common forms of evidence in civil and criminal trials; common objections and responses to courtroom evidence; depositions, statements, and sworn testimony; and preserving the record and offers of proof. This workshop is open to all students and is recommended for all law students interested in law school mock trial competition or careers in trial advocacy. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Evidence (may be taken concurrently).

Communications Law (Special Topics) (2)
This course provides a basic overview of law and policy in the regulation of communications; including broadcasting; cable; wireline and wireless telephony; as well as more advanced areas such as broadband and Internet communications. We will focus on these technological advances to explore the ways in which legal; economic; social; and technological forces shape and are harnessed by legal systems faced with rapid change. The course will draw primarily on leading communications law cases; statutes; and FCC and FTC regulatory actions; focusing on issues such as net neutrality; privacy; free speech and broadcast indecency; competition; and spectrum policy. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Comparative Legal Institutions (Special Topics) (3)
This course offers an introduction to comparative legal systems. The course will survey the two main legal families; civil and common law. It will also look briefly at mixed legal systems. The second part of the course looks at specific areas of the law from a comparative perspective; namely at comparative judicial politics. The final part of the course looks at recent developments in comparative law and economics; particularly the legal origins literature and the relationship between law and development. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Comparative Privacy Law (Special Topics) (1)
Domestic legal systems vouchsafe and define "Privacy" and its first cousin "dignity" in different ways that strongly reflect local legal and cultural values. Yet; in an increasingly globalized world; purely local protection of privacy interests may prove insufficient to safeguard effectively fundamental autonomy interests - interests that lie at the core of self-definition; personal autonomy; and freedom. This short course will survey constitutional privacy rights in the United States; Canada; South Africa; the United Kingdom; and in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Consideration of constitutional privacy protections in these jurisdictions will establish important points of transnational agreement about how to define and protect privacy interests; it will also demonstrate that serious disagreements exist about protecting privacy - most notably in resolving the inherent tension between protecting both privacy and the freedom of speech. The course will give sustained attention to the potential benefits and challenges that will confront any serious efforts to harmonize constitutional privacy protections across national borders. A comparative legal analysis of privacy will also illuminate some of the important underlying social and political values that lead the U.S. to fail to protect privacy as reliably or as comprehensively as other liberal democracies. Finally; and no less important in this era of Big Data; drones; and society-wide surveillance programs; the short course will consider carefully the significant interrelationship that exists between privacy and speech in the context of sustaining and facilitating democratic self-government. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Construction Law (2-3) LAW-7188
This course is intended for students interested in acquiring a practice-oriented knowledge of construction law, legal relationships and causes of action between owners, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, and their insurers, and construction contracts. The course will emphasize the practical aspects of construction practice, requiring that students adopt the roles of attorneys representing various players in reenactment of real construction dispute cases. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Consumer Law (2) LAW-7195
A study of the current state of the law as it applies to consumer transactions. Topics include debt collection practices, credit disclosure and regulation, product liability, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the work of the Federal Trade Commission, truth in lending laws, and fair credit laws. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts and Contracts.

Copyright Law (3) LAW-7203
A study of federal and international laws protecting the innovative endeavors of authors. Topics include the history of copyright law, fair use of copyrighted materials, what can be copyrighted, and the interaction of copyright law with other concepts of unfair competition and intellectual property. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Core Commercial Concepts (Special Topics) (2)
This new course in Core Commercial Law Concepts is designed to make key concepts from the Uniform Commercial Code plain and understandable to students. The course covers critical provisions of Uniform Commercial Code Article 2 (Sales), Article 9 (Secured Transactions), and Articles 3 and 4 (Payment Systems). Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Courthouse Perspectives (1) LAW-7890
This course will provide students with a practical, hands-on study of various courts in the Tarrant County area, including the Court of Appeals, District Courts (civil, criminal, and family), County Courts (civil, criminal, and probate), and Justice of the Peace Courts. Students will learn about the function, jurisdiction, and personnel of each court. Each day will begin with a lecture at the Court of Appeals by Justice McCoy, which will be followed by visits to the various courts. During the various visits, students will be introduced to judges, court coordinators, and court reporters. If possible, students will be allowed to observe proceedings in each court they visit. This course will also stress proper courtroom etiquette and nuts-and-bolts procedural training on topics such as how to actually file a document with a court. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Criminal Procedure Trial Rights (3) LAW-7313
This course deals with constitutionally mandated judicial processes for determining the guilt or innocence of those accused of crime and for selecting an appropriate penalty. Topics may include bail and pretrial detention, the prosecutor’s charging decision, pretrial publicity, the defendant’s competency to stand trial, jury selection, trial by jury, the defendant’s right of confrontation and compulsory process, the right to effective assistance of counsel, sentencing, direct attacks on criminal convictions, and double jeopardy. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Crimmigration (Special Topics) (1)
This course gives students the opportunity to learn about the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Students will learn about the issues non-citizen criminal defendants face; what obligations defense counsel has to non-citizen clients; how to analyze the immigration consequences of state criminal offenses; and strategies to protect non-citizens defendants from removal. The course will conclude with a final legal memo on the immigration consequences of a particular Texas criminal offense. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Due Diligence for the Professional (1) LAW-7304
Practical skills in performing due diligence in business and financial transactions; analyze documents such as financial statements to uncover red flags for fraud; receive a certification from the International Organization of Due Diligence. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Education Law (2 - 3) LAW-7227
This course will explore the dynamics of the legal rights, responsibilities and relationships between parents, students, teachers and administrators. It is essential to understand the balance between these rights and the smooth, efficient operation of schools. Topics to be explored include the separation of church and state; the instructional program and the balance between the substantive rights of parents and the compelling interest of the state in educating children, student on-campus First Amendment expression rights, student privacy rights and the application of the Fourth Amendment, rights of students with disabilities, common law student rights, and teacher certification requirements and contractual issues arising from employment relationships. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Constitutional Law (may be taken concurrently).

Elder Law (2 - 3) LAW-7588
This course presents an overview of the law relating to aging individuals and an older American society, including employment and disability discrimination, retirement, property management, guardianship and protection, health care financing, health care decision-making, housing, and family issues unique to grandparents. When possible, Texas law on particular subjects will also be covered. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Employment Discrimination (3) LAW-7248
An in-depth examination of the federal law concerning discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, and disability. Topics covered include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Reconstruction Era Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Employment Law (3) LAW-7260
A study of the law of employer-employee relations in a nonunion context. Students examine issues such as employment at will, retaliatory discharge, and wage and hour laws. The class introduces students to laws relating to the employment relationship. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Energy Law (2 - 3) LAW-7408
This course provides an introduction to energy law and regulation in the United States. It focuses on the basic principles of public utility regulation, the division of jurisdiction between federal and state governments, and the key regulatory statutes and case law governing energy resources such as water, coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. We will analyze the environmental, regulatory, land use, and economic concerns as they relate to each energy source. Finally, this course will provide an introduction to electricity and electric power competition in the United States. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Entertainment Law (2) LAW-7268
An examination of basic legal concepts that govern transactions in the entertainment industry, including the constitutional protections of entertainment speech, the rights of individuals who restrict it, copyright fundamentals, contract issues peculiar to the field, and prevailing standards and practices of “the Business.” Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Environmental Covenants: Theory & Practice (Special Topics) (1)
Students in this simulation course will play the role of a new attorney; working with a client who wants to create environmental land use covenants and a senior partner who helps navigate the applicable law. Students will counsel and question the client; research applicable law; and draft covenants; all with feedback from the perspective of both the client and senior lawyer. Student grades will be based on class participation; written projects; and presentations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Environmental Law (3) LAW-7277
A study of various approaches for dealing with adverse environmental effects, including private litigation, regulation, and financial incentives. The course surveys air and water pollution, solid and hazardous waste problems, and the National Environmental Policy Act. Attention is also paid to judicial review of legislative and administrative action, the special problems raised by our federal form of government, and the administrative regulatory process in pollution control. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

ePayments Law and Business (2) LAW-7228
Exploration of electronic payments with emphasis on the business models and legal superstructures that have facilitated the growth of ePayments in the digital age; electronic transfers of value and resolution of transactional disputes; evaluation of range of systems from established credit-and-debit card networks to cutting-edge emergent payment systems. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; including Contracts.

Estate & Gift Tax (2 - 3) LAW-7290
A study of income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes relevant to the estate planning process. Planning and drafting principles for complex estate planning are introduced. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Wills & Estates (may be taken concurrently).

Ethics for the Criminal Law Practitioner (1 - 2) LAW-7120
Students will study the unique ethical and moral dilemmas that arise in the criminal law setting from the perspective of both defense counsel and a prosecutor. The course is intended to help fill the gap between the traditional substantive professional responsibility course and the application of the standards in the practice of criminal law. To accomplish this, the course will take a problem solving approach to the subject. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law.

Ethics for the Family Law Practitioner (Special Topics) (1)
Students will study the unique ethical and moral dilemmas that arise in the family law setting by considering the practitioner's ethical responsibilities to their client; opposing counsel and the court. The course is intended to help fill the gap between the traditional substantive professional responsibility course and the application of the standards in the practice of family law. To accomplish this; the course will take a problem solving approach to the subject. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Family Law.

Family Law (3) LAW-7301
A study of legal problems related to the establishment, dissolution, reorganization, and evolving definitions of the family and family-like relationships in America, including premarital arrangements, marriage (formal and informal), divorce, parent-child relationship, division of marital property, spousal and child support, domestic violence within the family, and same-sex unions. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Fashion Law (Special Topics) (1)
This course will offer an overview of the legal issues related to the fashion industry. In particular, this course will emphasize the analysis of the intellectual property aspects--primarily, but not exclusively, trademarks, design, and copyright--of the protection of fashion items This course will also address the business aspects of the fashion industry and some emerging issues, including the growing movement of sustainable (and slow) fashion as well as the potential impact of disruptive technologies, such as 3D printing, on the manufacturing and distribution of fashion items. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Completion of any Intellectual Property course is recommended, but not required.

Federal Courts (2 - 3) LAW-7302
A study of the constitutional and practical doctrines that define the judicial power of the United States, with particular emphasis on the role of federal courts in the American system of government, including the federal courts’ relationship to the other branches of the federal government and their relationship to the separate state systems of government. The course will cover topics such as the constitutional cases and controversies requirement, congressional control of the federal courts, Supreme Court review of state court decisions, the power of the federal courts to create federal law, abstention, suits against state governments, and the enforcement of federal rights. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Federal Income Taxation (3) LAW-7319
A study of the basic principles of federal income tax, concentrating upon individual taxpayers, business taxpayers, and investors as taxpayers. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of the Internal Revenue Code and federal tax regulations. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Federal Tax Practice & Procedure (Special Topics) (2)
This course covers the practice; procedure; and ethics involved in federal tax controversies. Topics include ethics of tax practice; handling of audits; statutes of limitation; assessments of penalties; hearings before the IRS Appeals Office; tax liens; tax collection procedures; and litigation in federal courts. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Federal Income Tax (may be taken concurrently).

First Amendment (3) LAW-7316
A study of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. The course addresses the First Amendment’s effect on government attempts to regulate content of speech and to restrict speech by regulating one’s method of speaking. Also included is the right of free speech in various physical settings. In addition, the freedoms of assembly and press, free exercise of religion, and the prohibition on governmental establishment of religion will be studied. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Constitutional Law.

Government Contracts (2 - 3) LAW-7317
Examination of federal government contract law; includes contract formation issues, appropriations requirements, contract types, simplified, sealed bid and negotiated procurement methods, competition requirements, contract pricing, protests of awards, contract administration issues and changes, terminations, claims and litigation in federal forums, government fraud remedies and contractor debarments. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Government Ethics and the Public Sector (1) LAW-7267
Review of federal and state governance; exploration of the extern's role in the policymaking process; introduction to ethical issues within government; research of a topic related to placement. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor; public policy residency externship program.

Guardianship Practicum (1-2) LAW-7704
This course is designed to teach students about Texas guardianship law. It will teach how to determine if a guardianship is needed or if there are less restrictive alternatives to a guardianship and what those alternatives entail. Students will learn how to draft applications and orders for a guardianship of the person and/or estate along with all supporting documents. Students will draft inventory, appraisements, list of claims, annual accountings, reports of attorneys or guardians ad litem, and final accountings for guardianships of the estate. The course will provide a practical look at how to represent an applicant for guardianship as well as how to represent the proposed incapacitated person. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Health Law (3) LAW-7318
This course focuses on key concepts in health law such as the structure of health care organizations, quality of health care, and liability of health care providers. It also addresses access to health care; financing mechanisms of health care, including Medicare and Medicaid; regulation of health care; and oversight of managed health care. New developments in health care law concerning reproduction, bioethics, and human genetics are also examined. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts.

Healthcare, Technology, and the Law (2 - 3) LAW-7320
Introduction to legal issues that healthcare businesses encounter when using technology to enhance the patient-physician experience; examination of the regulation of patient privacy and security, medical software and mobile applications, electronic medical records, robotic surgery, fraud and abuse, corporate practice of medicine and use of the Internet to deliver medicine across state lines. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Healthcare Compliance (Special Topics) (3)
Proactive regulatory compliance programs are mandatory throughout the health care industry in the U.S. as a result of federal and state mandates and as a matter of prudent business practices. This course is designed to introduce law students to health care compliance. Students will learn what compliance programs are; how they are developed; how they operate and the remedies and consequences of inadequate and ineffective compliance programs. Special attention will be paid to the role and operation of compliance programs - both routine and complaint based - with respect to those issues of greatest risk for health care providers; namely health care quality and provider payments from Medicare; Medicaid and private insurers. The role and responsibilities of government enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice; the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General; the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state Medicaid agencies in defining; directing and overseeing compliance and corporate integrity programs will also be considered. Prerequisite: 28 completed hours.

Immigrant Rights Clinic (Special Topics) (4 - 6)
Students provide direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings; gaining substantial litigation skills; including preparing for direct and cross-examination; working with expert witnesses; writing complex legal briefs; and arguing in court. Students also have the opportunity to engage in policy and advocacy projects. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Immigration Law (may be taken concurrently).

Immigration Law (2 - 3) LAW-7332
This course covers basic immigration statutes, including cases and doctrines that control immigration and naturalization. The course also explores the treatment of undocumented immigrants and those seeking protection from persecution. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Independent Study (1) LAW-7816
An opportunity for students to do specialized reading or research in an area of interest to the student under a full-time faculty member’s supervision. Prerequisite: All lockstep courses.

Information Privacy Law (2 - 3) LAW-7259
Exploration of issues related to the concept of information privacy; examination of the collection, use, protection and disclosure of personal and other information by government entities and private sector actors, both domestically and cross-jurisdictionally; considers multiple regulatory schemes, including constitutional, tort, contract, property, statutory, administrative and international rules. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Insurance Law (2 - 3) LAW-7440
A study of fundamental legal principles relating to the construction of various types of liability and first-party insurance contracts. Topics include insurance regulation, application for coverage and acceptance of risk, and the rules of construction, bad faith, and insurance litigation strategy. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts and Contracts.

Intellectual Property Survey (3) LAW-7350
An overview of the basic principles of intellectual property law, including coverage of trade secret, trademark, patent, and copyright fundamentals. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. May be offered as a distance education course. Prerequisite: 28 completed hours.

International Business Transactions (2 - 3) LAW-7371
This course examines the legal issues encountered in private international business transactions through international trade, exploitation of intellectual property rights and direct foreign investment. Topics covered generally include the international sale of goods; bills of lading; letters of credit; government regulation of imports and exports; technology transfer and intellectual property protection; cross border taxation; forms of agreements, industrial works contracts, employment laws; forms and regulation of foreign direct investment; international corruption and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The course will also examine how customary international law, treaties and free trade agreements play a role in these transactions. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to fall 2013).

International Commercial Arbitration (Special Topics) (2)
International commercial arbitration is today the default dispute resolution mechanism for cross-border transactions and projects. In class we will review both the international and domestic elements that makes this ADR mechanisms a fascinating complex field of study. The course will comprise a review of the intersection of national law, private and public international law, arbitration rules, and comparative law. At the end of the course students will understand: (1) the special nature of international commercial arbitration; (2) drafting issues relating to international arbitration agreements; (3) procedural elements concerning the formation of the arbitral tribunal and the conduct of the proceedings; (4) enforcement issues in an international context; (5) the critical role that international commercial arbitration plays in international transactions; and (6) emerging trends and public policy issues. The course will close by introducing students to foreign investment disputes and the role that arbitration plays in this developing area. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Recommended courses: Public International Law, International Business Transactions, and Arbitration.

International Human Rights Law (Special Topics) (3)
This course examines international human rights law, including civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights and how these rights apply to both groups and individuals. This course also details the structure and processes of international tribunals that adjudicate human rights claims and international treaty bodies that report on State human rights action. The relation between human rights and other bodies of law, including international trade and investment law, and the rights and obligations of corporations will also be considered. Prerequisites: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

International Intellectual Property (2 - 3) LAW-7351
This course presents a study of the international fabric of patent, copyright, and trademark law under both domestic laws and international treaties. Students will examine the foundation of international intellectual property policies underlying medicinal herbs, counterfeit goods, genetic material, and traditional knowledge. The flow of information and content across borders has placed heightened tension on international intellectual property law and has resulted in increased pressure to harmonize diverse legal frameworks. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Intellectual Property, Copyrights, Patent Law, or Trademark & Unfair Competition Law.

International Intellectual Property Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
Through a review of the relevant provisions of U.S. law and multilateral treaties, this seminar covers the international components of copyrights, patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property rights. The course also examines recent developments in the European Union and problems of enforcing intellectual property rights in developing countries. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

International Litigation (2 - 3) LAW-7368
A study of disputes touching more than one jurisdiction, including selecting the proper forum, discovery, parallel law suits, choice of law, sovereign immunity, the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, and arbitration. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

International Petroleum Transactions (2 - 3) LAW-7432
Examination of laws, legal issues and principal contracts utilized in the international oil and gas industry in the exploration for and production and marketing of oil and gas; practical knowledge of international oil and gas legal issues by working with actual international oil and gas contracts. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

International Taxation (Special Topics) (2)
In six Saturday sessions, the core concepts of the U.S. taxation of individuals and corporations ‘inbound’ and ‘outbound’ activities will be surveyed. Moreover, the course will compare U.S. tax practice with its trading partners as well as examine key tax policy drivers of international organizations. Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax and pre-course reading.

International Trade Law (2 - 3) LAW-7222
Examination of the impact of trade by providing an insight into the questions of Trade Policy; focus on trade agreements of the World Trade Organization; tariffs, subsidies and their effect on trade in goods and services. Prerequisite: One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Internet Law (3) LAW-7223
This course focuses on the transference (or lack of transference) of bricks-and-mortar legal principles to new methods of communication. It looks at recent developments in cyberspace law and provides a survey of legal issues on the internet, including both policy and pragmatic application of jurisdictional principles, intellectual property laws, privacy rights, computer crime, proprietary information, and freedom of speech issues, as well as a full-scale analysis and explication of the question, “Is Google really God?” Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Intro to Cambodia: Building the Rule of Law (Special Topics) (0.5)
The course will introduce students to the basics of international and comparative law; cross cultural communication; and being a global professional. This course will introduce students to the challenges of developing rule of law in a post-conflict environment. Students will study how the history of conflicts and genocide impact the Cambodian legal system. This course includes a field trip to Cambodia. Prerequisite: Successful completion of first semester of law school by fall 2016.

Intro to EU Law (Special Topics) (2)
Why is Europe changing? Is there a future for the European Union? What is Brexit? This course will provide for an introduction to European Union Law and Politics addressing these and other current questions. The course will cover institutional and constitutional arrangements as well as the recent political developments. This course will also discuss the role of European Union Law within international and national law and make direct comparisons to US federal and state law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full or part-time program.

Intro to Ghana: Land Use Conflict (Special Topics) (0.5)
Students in this course learn the basics of international and comparative law; cross-cultural communication; and being a global professional. This course will also address the history; culture; and legal issues that provide context for the students' study of land use conflicts in Ghana. This course includes a field trip to Ghana. Prerequisite: Successful completion of first semester of law school by fall 2016.

Intro to Israel: Water, Energy, and Dispute Resolution (Field Trip Course) (Special Topics) (3)Combined classroom and field experience in Israel: explore the history, culture, and legal issues related to water, energy, and associated dispute resolution challenges; examine basics of international and comparative law, cross-cultural communication, and being a global professional. This course includes a field trip to Israel. Prerequisite: One year of law school in either the full or part-time program.

Intro to Jersey: Facilitating Trade (Special Topics) (0.5)
This course will introduce students to the basics of international and comparative law; cross cultural communication; and being a global professional. Jersey is a major international financial center and the course will introduce students to how businesses and investors make use of Jersey structures to invest in Great Britain; the EU; and the world. This course will introduce students to the British Constitution; European Union financial regulation and the legal issues involved in wealth management. This course includes a field trip to Jersey. Prerequisite: Successful completion of first semester of law school by fall 2016.

Judicial Clerkship Bootcamp (Special Topics) (2)
This class seeks to prepare individuals to serve as a judicial law clerk. Students will engage in extensive writing assignments; including opinion drafting; and study areas of the law most commonly encountered by judicial law clerks.

Juvenile Justice (2 - 3) LAW-7383
A review of the juvenile’s substantive and procedural rights. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Criminal Procedure.

Labor Law (3) LAW-7389
A study of the National Labor Relations Act and its implementation. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Land Use (2 - 3) LAW-7401
A study of private and public means of controlling land use. Emphasis is placed on the areas of planning and zoning, including the emerging problem of exclusionary land use controls. Further discussion topics include subdivision controls, restrictive deed covenants, eminent domain proceedings, and urban renewal. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Law & Policy of Clean Energy Innovation (Special Topics) (2)
What makes it so difficult to move innovative energy technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace? Why is the venture capital model so poorly equipped to finance energy innovation? Is utility regulation a catalyst or roadblock? These are but a few of the questions this class will tackle. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Law & Policy of Eminent Domain in Texas (Special Topics) (2)
Texas is a unique vantage point to understand the emerging national concerns over the use of eminent domain and governmental takings law. The unprecedented growth that has occurred in Texas over the last two decades has necessitated the exercise of eminent domain for highways; water infrastructure; oil and gas pipelines as well as sports facilities like Cowboys Stadium. But Texas is a state deeply rooted in private property ownership. These two competing concerns have created an evolving set of laws and policies that are still being made in courts as well as the Texas Legislature.
The course will include instruction on legal concepts underlying the exercise of eminent domain; including public purpose; constitutional law and private property rights. In addition; the course will involve practice oriented instruction and in-class exercises to understand how to conduct a condemnation proceeding in Texas. The course will explore the wide uses of eminent domain in Texas; how those uses are regulated by the State and areas of current tension over the taking of private property. In addition to eminent domain law; the class will consider takings law in Texas including current cases pertaining to groundwater regulation. Finally; the course will focus on proposed legislation and related committee work for the Texas Legislative session dealing with eminent domain. Students in the course will hear from guest lecturers that have a demonstrated area of expertise related to eminent domain law and policy in Texas. In addition; the class may interact with various statewide associations that are participating in the development of the law of eminent domain. The class will jointly develop and prepare a white paper describing the range of options for changes to Texas law on eminent domain. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; including Property.

Law Practice Management (2) LAW-7412
A review of the professional, ethical, and management requirements for starting and operating a law practice. The course will review the statutory and regulatory aspects of practice, including labor and employment, partnerships and professional corporations, trust and IOLTA accounts, advertising, and solicitations. The course will also review management skills and technology related to time, billing, accounting, docketing, legal research, document preparation, filing, and client development. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

LARW III: Business Collections (2) LAW-7791
Writing and analysis skills for business collection lawsuits; drafting a demand letter, petition, answer, interrogatories, judgment order, application for writ of garnishment and motions for substituted service; default judgment and summary judgment; introduction to negotiation, settlement and trial advocacy skills. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I and II, and Contracts.

LARW III: Environmental Litigation Drafting (2) LAW-7894
Introduction to a realistic view of the pretrial litigation process in a typical environmental lawsuit; utilization of a state district court forum and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; conduction of research and litigation documents drafting from the clients first contact through the pretrial process. Prerequisite: One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

LARW III: Estate Planning and Drafting (2) LAW-7779
This course involves working through hypothetical clinical problems, including extensive drafting and working closely with the professor. The problems involve comprehensive planning and drafting of estate planning documents to effectuate the plan. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II; (2) Wills & Estates; (3) Trusts & Fiduciary Responsibilities (may be taken concurrently).

LARW III: How the Deals Get Done (2 - 3) LAW-7790
Transactional law practice using a hypothetical start-up business to help deal with the transactional issues in this context; combination of theory and practice to prepare for typical matters confronted in a transactional law practice. Prerequisite: (1) One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) LARW I and II; Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to Fall 2013).

LARW III: Oil and Gas Drafting (2) LAW-7895
Drafting effective and clear oil and gas contracts; review of basic components and building blocks of contracts; translating the business deal into an oil and gas contract; proposing solutions for problems encountered by counsel in the oil and gas industry. Prerequisite: (1) One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Oil and Gas.

Legal Ethics Practicum (Special Topics) (2)
This practicum is designed to give students experience in working on legal ethics projects. After training on researching legal ethics topics; students will work with Professor Fortney and practicing lawyers on individualized assignments; including work with Professional Ethics Committee members.

Legal Philosophy Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This practicum is designed to give students experience in working on legal ethics projects. After training on researching legal ethics topics; students will work with Professor Fortney and practicing lawyers on individualized assignments; including work with Professional Ethics Committee members.

Legal Project Management (Special Topics) (1)
Legal project management is a method to plan; execute and control a legal engagement to provide clients with predictable cost. Students will acquire the skills and techniques needed to develop scope of engagement and tasks to be completed; identify time and cost constraints; and develop budgets to complete a matter. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Legal Writing in Plain English (Special Topics) (1)
This demanding one-hour course is for law students who wish to improve their editorial and writing skills. Although it targets students who are already competent writers; it requires no in-depth knowledge of grammar or rhetoric. You will not be expected; for example; to know what aposiopesis means or even how to pronounce it. Students will do several writing exercises. Guest lecturers (by exclusive video) include judges and practitioners from throughout the United States. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Legal Philosophy Seminar (Special Topics) (2)
This course is concerned with general theoretical questions about the nature of law and legal systems; about the relationship of law to justice and morality; and about the connections between law and the humanities. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full or part-time program.

Legislation (2 - 3) LAW-7416
A study of the state and federal legislative systems examining (1) the relationship between the legislative, executive, and judicial processes; (2) the philosophies of legislative operations and judicial interpretation; (3) statutory and constitutional issues involved in interpreting and applying legislation; and (4) the principles of drafting legislation. The course includes tracking actual legislative sessions, introduced bills, the activity of a student-selected member of choice in the Texas Legislature, and getting practical experience through conducting a mock session of the Legislature to include committee activity, floor debate, voting, and post-legislative activities by means of four extracurricular volunteer Saturday class meetings. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Legislative Process (2 - 3) LAW-7414
Study of three areas of legislating: drafting/statutory construction, research and support groups, and procedures (committees/calendars/floor management); Committee Operations/debate/passage of bills; use of Texas legislative rules handbooks to guide from introduction to passage of legislation; election of a Speaker and Lt. Governor. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Local Government Law (Special Topics) (3)
This public law course will investigate the law of these governments (including cities; counties; and special districts) on issues such as local government formation; boundary change; home rule; intergovernmental relations; local voting; redevelopment; city property ownership; municipal and school finance; housing and real estate; municipal dissolution; and regional governance.

Marijuana Law, Policy, and Business (Special Topics) (3)
This course explores the legal; public policy; and business issues that are raised by the growth of medical and recreational marijuana businesses in many U.S. states. The course explores the problems and benefits of legalization; examines various approaches to regulation and taxation of these businesses; and the practical problems involved in an industry that is still illegal at the federal level. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Marital Property (3) LAW-7428
A study of the property rights of husband and wife under the Texas community property system, including coverage of the law relating to homestead. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. May be offered as a distance education course. Prerequisite: 28 completed hours.

Mediation (Special Topics) (3)
This course involves intensive participation in simulations and exercises that will introduce you to the mediation process, its stages, and the tools and techniques used by mediators and lawyers representing clients in mediation. The course also introduces you to core negotiation approaches and techniques, as well as different mediation approaches. This course also examines the law and ethics of mediation, relevant social psychological and economic theories and empirical research, and the dynamics, law and ethics of representing clients in mediation.

Mediation Skills Workshop (Special Topics) (1)
This course involves intensive participation in simulations and exercises that introduce students to the mediation process; its stages; and the tools and techniques used by mediators and lawyers representing clients in mediation. The course also introduces students to core negotiation approaches and techniques. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Mediation: Theory, Law & Ethics (concurrent enrollment allowed).

Mergers and Acquisitions (2 - 3) LAW-7435
Examination of legal issues related to corporate mergers and acquisitions; mechanics and structure of merger and acquisition transactions, shareholder rights, fiduciary duties, federal securities laws, accounting and tax issues, anti-takeover defenses and antitrust considerations. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (four credit-hour course offered prior to fall 2013).

Provide students with skills training in brief writing and oral advocacy;
Improve the performance of our students in external moot court competitions;
Help students self-assess areas of strengths and weaknesses; and
Foster greater collaboration among members of the Moot Court Team.

National Security: Counter-Terrorism (Special Topics) (3)
National Security: Counterterrorism is an in-depth look at counterterrorism in the United States. Examines the competing conceptions and definitions of terrorism at the national level and the institutions and processes designed to execute the national security on terrorism. Includes the study of the balance between national security interests and civil liberties found in the following topical areas: relevant Supreme Court decisions, legislative provisions in response to acts of terrorism, operational counter-terrorism considerations (including targeted killing), intelligence gathering (including interrogations), policy recommendations, the use of military tribunals or civil courts in trying suspected terrorists, the emerging law regarding enemy combatants and their detention, and the arguable need for new self-defense doctrines at the global level. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Natural Resources Law (2 or 3) LAW-7438
This course surveys the legal and policy questions surrounding individual and societal activities as they relate to natural resources, including forests, ranchlands and endangered species. This course will cover the frameworks to think about natural resources and the management and preservation of those resources in public –federal and state- and private lands.

Natural Resource Systems Capstone (Special Topics) (2)
This course offers a capstone experience enabling students to blend their substantive doctrinal training in various natural resource-related legal areas with the development of practical skills and professional identity.

Oil & Gas (3) LAW-7444
A study of oil and gas law with emphasis upon the interests that may be created in oil and gas, the transfer and conveyance of such interests, rights of operators and landowners, provisions in the oil and gas lease, the rights of assignees, and regulations dealing with exploration, production, and conservation. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Patent Clinic (Special Topics) (3 - 4)
See course schedule

Patent Law (2 - 3) LAW-7452
The study of how proprietary interests in technology are protected by patent law, with a focus on issues relating to validity, the nature of the subject matter protected, and enforcement of proprietary rights. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Payment Systems (3) LAW-7454
This course explores commercial paper, bank deposits, and collections under UCC Articles 3 and 4. Topics covered include negotiability and the rights and obligations of parties to commercial paper, defenses to liability, relationship of banks and customers, check collection, and suretyship. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Torts and Contracts.

Post-Conviction Actual Innocence Claims (2) LAW-7217
This course will teach the law and the practical applications of the law in petitioning the judiciary for relief, based on facts garnered through an initial post-conviction investigation. Students will learn what a post-conviction claim of actual innocence is and how the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals have analyzed and dealt with such claims in both death penalty and non-death cases. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law.

Pre-Suit Patent Litigation (1 - 2) LAW-7402
Exploration of issues patent litigators should consider prior to filing a complaint for patent infringement; includes the market for patent enforcement; substantive assessment of cases; valuation of cases and economics of patent litigation; best practices for patent case assessment and pre-litigation ethical considerations; complaint drafting. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Patent Law, Patent Litigation, or Intellectual Property.

Preparing for the Bar Exam (2 - 3) LAW-7458
Only students who are in their last semester of law school may enroll. The class familiarizes students with the contents of the bar exam and seeks to impart the critical skills and strategies necessary for success on each day of the exam. The class covers selections from several MBE and essay-tested subjects. Students will complete several diagnostic tests that simulate portions of the bar exam and will receive feedback on their performance. Evaluation will be based on homework (the diagnostic tests) and a short exam. The course is not intended as a substitute for a commercial bar review course; students should also take a commercial bar review course.

Privacy Law (Special Topics) (3)
This course explores multiple issues related to the concept of information privacy. It examines the Collection, use, protection, and disclosure of personal and other information both by government entities and private sector actors, both domestically and as regards cross-jurisdictional data flow. The course considers multiple regulatory schemes, including constitutional, tort, contract, property, statutory, administrative and international rules. Prerequisite: One year of law school in either the full or part time program.

Probate & Estate Planning Clinic (Special Topics) (4)
See course schedule

Public International Law (2-3) LAW-7369
Introduction to key doctrines of international law; fundamental principles and doctrines related to the sources of and basis for international law and international jurisdiction; law governing treaties and state succession; topics may include the use of force, protection of human rights and international criminal issues. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Real Estate Financing (2-3) LAW-7477
Exploration of the basic elements involving real estate financing; understanding of the legal framework and practical considerations affecting real estate finance transactions; secured lending, mortgage law, installment land contracts, foreclosures, lien priorities, title insurance and practical issues when representing a lender or borrower on commercial or single family transactions; commercial leasing, ground leases and real estate development. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Remedies (2 - 3) LAW-7484
A review of the forms of legal and equitable relief a court is equipped to grant by way of redress to those who have been or may be injured, including alternative choices and the tactical advantages of each. The course may also discuss the scope of judges’ powers of contempt. Prerequisite: 56 completed hours.

Residency Externship (9 - 12) LAW-7839
Immersion experience; work full-time in legislature, state or federal government offices, nonprofit organizations, or in-house counsel; work with professor on substantive, procedural and ethical topics relating to externship; development of experience and understanding, in particular policy and legal areas. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

Sales & Leases (2 - 3) LAW-7557
A study of the sale and lease of goods and the principal commercial law governing such transactions. Law dealt with in the course includes Articles 2 and 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code as well as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Covered topics include sale and lease contract formation, establishment of express and implied contract terms, creation and disclaimer of warranties, risk of loss, and remedies for breach. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts.

Scotland: Natural Resource Management and Dispute Resolution (Field Trip Course) (Special Topics) (3)
Situated as it is along the North Sea, Aberdeen, and its ancient University, naturally evolved into an energy center. This course will take advantage of the broad expertise--in terms of both scholarship and business--growing out of Aberdeen's extensive connections to the North Sea oil and gas fields. More broadly, EU and International Law will be considered as they apply to energy, environmental, and climate change policy issues. Particular attention will be given to dispute resolution in Scotland, the UK, and the EU, including arbitration. This course includes a field trip to Scotland. Prerequisite: One year of law school in either the full or part-time program.

Secured Transactions (3) LAW-7488
A study of personal and commercial financing by loans and credit sales under agreements creating security interests in the debtors’ personal property (Article 9 of the UCC and relevant provisions of the Bankruptcy Code). Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Contracts and Property.

Securities Law Enforcement (2) LAW-7493
Exploration of the SEC's enforcement of federal securities laws and related efforts by FINRA and the DOJ; introduction to how the SEC enforces federal securities laws; aspects of the enforcement process; investigative techniques; the Wells process; SEC's litigation efforts in both federal courts and administrative proceedings. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in full-time or part-time program; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (4 credit-hour course offered prior to fall 2013).

Securities Regulation (3) LAW-7492
A review of federal and state regulation of the public distribution, offer, and sale of corporate securities. The course includes a study of the Securities Act of 1933 and portions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Types of securities and underwriting techniques are surveyed, and the key definitions and exemptions in the statutes are studied. State securities law is also studied with emphasis on the securities registration and anti-fraud aspects of the Texas Securities Act. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Business Associations I or Business Associations (4 credit-hour course offered prior to fall 2013).

Seminar on Criminal Justice Scholars & Advocates (Special Topics) (2)
Policymakers at all levels of U.S. government are engaged in examining current criminal justice policies in an attempt to make those policies more fair; transparent; and effective; and to rid the system of its unwarranted disparities in treatment of underprivileged segments of society. These policymakers rely on academic and scholarly work to provide options and support for policy change. This seminar will provide students interested in criminal justice the opportunity to conduct research in a particular area of criminal law; develop a scholarly article worthy of publishing; receive faculty and peer review on their work; and learn how scholarship can affect change. Prerequisite: Demonstrated interest in criminal justice; demonstrated proficiency in legal analysis; research; and writing; and willingness to produce scholarly work product.

Spanish for Lawyers (2 - 3) LAW-7487
Preparation of the Spanish proficient for the practice of immigration law, criminal law or family law; discussion of legal concepts and procedures related to representation of Spanish-speaking clients; review of Spanish vocabulary through simulations of interviewing, counseling and representing Spanish-speaking clients. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law; (2) Immigration Law or Family Law (may be taken concurrently).

Special Problems in Corporate Law: Cayman Islands (2) LAW-7409
Combined classroom and field experience in the Cayman Islands: examination of international business, tax strategies, and related policy issues; goals motivating U.S. corporations to organize offshore business entities and policy and legal issues related to the use of such entities; interaction with professionals and policymakers from the Cayman Islands. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Business Associations II, International Business Transactions, or Taxation of Business Entities (may be taken concurrently).

Special Skills and Approaches in Mediation (Special Skills) (1)
This course builds on basic mediation, with focus on prominent process approaches. It provides in-depth examinations of important issues in mediation practice such as information processing, barriers to settlement, and decision making. Skill enhancement includes techniques used at various stages to assist moving parties beyond impasse in difficult cases. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Mediation Certification Workshop (may be taken concurrently).

Special Topics in International Law: Borderlands - Contemporary Legal Issues Relating to the U.S.-Mexico Border (Special Topics) (3)
In a romantic; literary sense; the U.S.-Mexico borderlands have loomed large in the mythology of Texas. Come experience the power of the borderlands; as the myth collides with the reality of the 21st century in Texas A&M University School of Law's inaugural collaborative summer program with Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo; Texas. Laredo is the largest port of entry in Texas and is the third-largest port of entry in the United States. The course will present a survey of contemporary legal issues relating to the U.S.-Mexico border. Course coverage will be drawn from among the following topics: trade; transportation; business and banking transactions; immigration; border security; crime; human rights; oil & gas; energy; water; the environment; and the Mexican legal system. The course also will include one or more relevant field trips. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

State & Local Trade Barriers (Special Topics) (3)
Law students will collaborate with students from the Bush School of Policy and Government Service on a project for the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO); a nonprofit voluntary coalition of North American governments; businesses and educational institutions. One of NASCO's core missions is improving the competitiveness of the North American supply chain. NASCO is concerned that regulatory efforts at the state and local level are creating barriers to trade along the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) corridor. Students in this course will analyze trade patterns and data and provide NASCO with a report describing any trade frictions they uncover as products move across national and state boundaries; and develop a framework for dealing with regulations that impose undue burdens on the free flow of goods and services in North America. At the end of the course they will present their findings to NASCO. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. Administrative Law or International Business Transactions is preferred; but not required.

Suing & Defending the Government (Special Topics) (2)
This course covers the fundamentals involved when plaintiffs bring civil claims against government entities. The issues will be examined from both the plaintiffs' and defendants' perspectives. The actions include negligence claims (auto accidents are the most common); contract enforcement; civil/human rights claims; and regulatory challenges brought against municipal; state; federal; and foreign government defendants. In addition to the substantive law in these cases; we will study who may bring claims; sovereign immunity and its exceptions; remedies (the range of money damages and interlocutory relief); and additional government defenses such as abstention. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Constitutional Law.

Taxation of Business Entities (3) LAW-7516
A study of the federal income tax treatment of C corporations and pass-through entities such as partnerships, S corporations, and limited liability companies. The course examines on a comparative basis the formation, operation, and sales and liquidation of these entities. Corporate reorganizations and related transactions are also covered. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Federal Income Taxation.

Texas Criminal Law Practicum (2 - 3) LAW-7725
Students function as prosecuting and defense attorneys, taking a hypothetical case from arrest through post-conviction remedies. The course may include such topics as legal limits on criminal investigation, the grand jury process, setting bail, negotiating plea bargains, drafting pretrial motions, the discovery process, trial rights and tactics, habeas corpus, and appeals. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Criminal Law; (2) Criminal Procedure.

Texas Criminal Procedure (3) LAW-7532
A study of laws regulating Texas’ criminal process, arrest to post-conviction review, emphasizing its unique characteristics. Prerequisite: (1) One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Criminal Procedure.

Texas Legal Research Practicum (2) LAW-7776
This course focuses on advanced legal research methodologies, costs, and strategies within the context of Texas law. It includes coverage of the Texas court system, legislation and legislative history, regulations and regulatory history, agency decisions and websites, treatises, electronic databases, free online resources, court rules, jury instructions, practice materials, and strategies for making sure that your research is thorough. Students complete various assignments, including drafting exercises, using Texas practice materials. A final project is required. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including LARW I & II.

Texas Pretrial Procedure (3) LAW-7540
A study of Texas law in civil cases pertaining to processes before trial, including jurisdiction, venue, initiating legal proceedings, obtaining factual information from parties and nonparties, and terminating litigation prior to trial. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Texas Real Property (2 - 3) LAW-7533
This course examines Texas real property law through Texas case law and the Texas statutory law. Topics include conveyances of real property (including contracts and deeds), liens, adverse possession, and servitudes (i.e., easements, real covenants, and equitable servitudes). Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Texas Trials & Appeals (3) LAW-7548
A study of Texas law in civil cases pertaining to trial and appellate procedure concerning the jury, presentation of the case, motions for instructed verdict, the court’s charge, the verdict, trial before the court, post-trial motions and procedures, final and appealable judgments, appellate jurisdiction, perfection of appeal, the courts of appeal, the Supreme Court of Texas, and original proceedings in appellate courts. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Civil Procedure.

Texas Water Law (Special Topics) (1)
This 1-credit course explores the legal regime applicable in Texas for securing; allocating; and managing water rights for public and private uses. It encompasses both surface and groundwater resources; and considers related environmental and other issues. Where appropriate; science; economics; and social issues will be addressed.

Trade, Investment, & Development (Special Topics) (3)
This course introduces students to basic legal principles for international trade and investment and their connection to economic development. Students will examine the World Trade Organization and provisions from regional trade agreements; like the NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; including their dispute settlement processes and their methods of addressing environmental and labor controversies as well as emerging concerns of Intellectual Property rights; climate change; and energy. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program.

Trademark Clinic (Special Topics) (3)
See course schedule

Trademark & Copyright Clinic (Special Topics) (4-6)
See course schedule

Trademark & Unfair Competition Law (2-3) LAW-7550
Using the principles of unfair competition law, this course examines the creation, maintenance, and enforcement of trademark rights, as well as related doctrines of rights of publicity, trade dress, trade secrets, and false advertising. It also includes an exploration of public policies and economy underlying trademark law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program. May be offered as a distance learning course; prerequisite: 28 completed hours.

Transfer Pricing (Special Topics) (2)
This course addresses cross border intra company pricing as a multidisciplinary subject of law; accounting and economics in order to value cross-border tangibles; services; and intangibles transactions among units of a multinational enterprise.

Trial Advocacy for Mock Trial Students (Special Topics) (1)
This concentrated course is designed to teach students effective trial advocacy skills necessary to persuasively present a case to a decision maker. While the competition environment of mock trial presents its own distinct challenges, the analysis, preparation and presentation skills necessary for success are parallel or comparable to those required in a real-life courtroom situation. To achieve this objective, we will first focus on the principles, concepts and rules of trial advocacy and evidence. This will be facilitated by experienced litigators who will offer their insight into the realities of trial work. The students will then apply what they have learned by practicing the skill, reflecting on what was taught, improving and repeating.

Trusts and Fiduciary Responsibilities (2 - 3) LAW-7174
A comprehensive study of the law of trusts, including creation, administration, amendment, and termination of trusts; powers, rights and duties of settlors, trustees and beneficiaries; fiduciary duties and liability of trustees; and creditors’ rights. Emphasis is on Texas law. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Water Law (3) LAW-7339
This course examines the legal control of water resources, an issue of increasing concern in Texas and the nation. Topics include riparian rights, the water permit system, groundwater issues, water as a regional and shared resource, beneficial uses v. waste, underground conservation districts, and navigability. Prerequisite: One year of law school in the full-time or part-time program, including Property.

Wills and Estates Clinic (2 - 3) LAW-7851S
Real-world experience in handling the estate planning needs of low-income clients; under the supervision of licensed attorneys, interview clients, draft documents including wills, powers of attorney, health care advance directives and other instruments; may handle probate matters. Prerequisite: (1) One year in law school in the full-time or part-time program; (2) Wills and Estates.

COMPETITIONS
Students may earn credit for their participation in Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Competitions.

JOURNALS
Students may earn credit for their participation on Law Review and the Journal of Property Law.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Students may earn credit for their service as Teaching Assistants.

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