Required Courses – First Year J.D. Course Descriptions

Civil Procedure II (2 units)
This course is a continuation of the two-semester first year year requirement, providing an introduction to the court system, including jurisdiction over the person, venue, and the role of state law in federal courts. The course also covers aspects of civil litigation, including pleading, discovery, parties, counterclaims, cross-claims, impleader, intervention, and interpleader.

Contracts II (3 units)
This course is a continuation of the two-semester first year year requirement, providing a study of the fundamentals of contract law, including the common law, selected portions of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts, and selected portions of the Uniform Commercial Code. Areas of concentration include the bargaining process (offer and acceptance); consideration and other bases for enforcing  promises; the Statute of Frauds; capacity to contract; policing the agreement; unenforceability on grounds of public policy; the parol evidence rule and other rules of contract interpretation; performance and nonperformance; remedies; excuses for nonperformance (including mistake, misrepresentation, duress, impracticability, and frustration of purpose); assignment and delegation; rights of third parties; and other topics.

Criminal Law (3 units)
This course is designed to enable law students to deal with substantive criminal law problems in both practical and policy terms.  There is inquiry into the proper scope and objectives of the criminal law, limitations on the State’s power to define criminal liability, and general principles of liability and defenses for offenses against the person and property.  The course also provides an opportunity for critical examination of statutes at an early stage in the law student’s career. 

Legal Research and Writing II (2 units)
This course is a continuation of the two-semester first year year requirement, introducing students to fundamental legal reasoning, research, and writing skills in the context of objective legal documents, including client letters and memoranda of law. The first semester (I) includes an overview of legal concepts, such as the structure of the court system and how law is made. The second semester (II) helps students refine and further develop their analytical, writing, and research skills in the advocacy context.  Students produce litigation documents including pleadings and either a pre-trial brief or an appellate brief. Students are introduced to computer assisted legal research.

Real Property II (3 units)
This course is a continuation of the two-semester first year year requirement. It is studied as a social and legal institution to facilitate the acquisition, disposition, and use of personal and real property.  Over two semesters, students explore a variety of rights and responsibilities in property, including distinctions between real and personal property, the nature of ownership and possession, adverse possession, landlord-tenant law, present and future estates in land, concurrent ownership, conveyancing and deeds, recording, private land-use restrictions (easements, covenants, and equitable servitudes), public land-use regulations, and eminent domain. The course may include introductory exposure to trusts, donative transfers, intellectual property, fixtures, mortgages, and ownership of natural resources (i.e., water, oil, gas, wildlife).

Torts II (3 units)
This course is a continuation of the two-semester first year year requirement, covering the civil laws governing compensation for injury to person and property.  The course emphasizes intentional, negligent, and strict liability torts. Students become familiar with the fundamental principles and objectives of tort law including the basic rules governing the legal assessment of fault, victim compensation, and defenses.  Products liability, defamation, invasion of privacy, selected business torts, and other alternatives to negligence may be explored. 

Upper Level J.D. Course Descriptions

Advanced Family Violence Clinic (1-2) Law-7629
The Advanced Family Violence Clinic is a semester-long, graded clinic open to students who have successfully completed the Family Violence Clinic and who have been approved for enrollment by the Family Violence Clinic Director.  The Family Violence Clinic Director, Professor Marisa Cianciarulo, will determine how many credits to allocate to each Advanced Family Violence Clinic student prior to registration.  The credit allocation will reflect the amount of anticipated work to be completed by the student (based on the nature and status of the case(s) or work to which the student will be assigned), but will not exceed two credits.  Advanced Family Violence Clinic students are exempt from the weekly seminar portion of the regular Family Violence Clinic. 

Advanced Family Violence Clinic students represent Orange County victims of domestic violence in applications for domestic-violence related immigration relief and/or domestic violence protection orders or may be involved in legal outreach and related limited representation.  In addition to casework at the AFJC, Advanced Family Violence Clinic students will either meet bi-weekly with clinic faculty on an individual basis for case supervision or weekly with other advanced students and their supervisor. This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement.

Advanced Federal Income Tax (2) Law-7879
This course is a continuation of the basic Federal Income Taxation course for students in the tax law program. It includes federal income tax topics that are not generally addressed in detail or at all in the basic course, such as: in-depth coverage of tax accounting issues, imputation under IRC section 7872, involuntary conversions, alternative minimum tax, “kiddie tax”, employee benefits and deferred compensation (including IRC section 83) and tax law policy issues.  This course is a core requirement for the Certificate in Taxation.  Prerequisite: Federal Income Taxation.

Advanced Legal Research (2) Law-7803
Following a review of basic research procedures, with emphasis on primary source materials, bibliographic research is conducted in the areas of legislative materials, including legislative histories, administrative materials and sources of the law.  Emphasis is placed on the availability and use of treatises, forms, records and briefs, microforms and other materials used in practice.   This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement.

Advanced Mediation Clinic – (1-2) Law-7849
The Advanced Mediation Clinic provides an opportunity for students who have completed a semester in the Mediation Clinic to continue mediating court cases. Students in the advanced clinic seek ways to expand their mediation skills by working with mediation practitioners and exploring various techniques employed in mediation.  Advanced clinic students co-mediate with Mediation Clinic students, providing assistance and guidance in the early stages of the Mediation Clinic experience.  Through this practice, advanced clinical students develop their mediation skills while teaching others.  There is no weekly classroom meeting for students in the Advanced Mediation Clinic.  Students meet regularly with clinic faculty during the semester and submit weekly journal entries for the cases mediated. Registration allowed only with prior approval from Professor Dowling. This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills Requirement. 

Advanced Seminar: International Law (2) Law-7845
Critiques of International Legal Order (2 units) This seminar examines critiques of international law.  Students will explore critical legal theory, global south, critical race, gender studies, and rationalist/neo-sovereigntist perspectives on international law, international organizations, and their function and legitimacy.  Potential themes include human rights, business and finance law, constitutional ordering, environmental law, and laws of war.  Emphasizing student-led discussions, the seminar is comprised of three parts: readings, research and writing, and student-paper presentations.  Prerequisite: International Law or International Business Transactions (completed or concurrent enrollment) or Instructor approval. This course will satisfy the Scholarly Writing Requirement and the writing requirement of the International Law Emphasis. 

Advanced Topic: Municipal Ordinances (3) Law-7656
In this course, students will learn how to navigate, analyze, and interpret county and city laws/ordinances. Students will have the opportunity to work with real city ordinances and will be provided with actual draft ordinances authored by municipal attorneys. Classes will consist of reviewing and in some instances revising  draft ordinances to determine and/or address the potential impacts of the ordinance on property owners, neighborhood associations, business groups and other stakeholders. Students will be exposed to a wide range of municipal issues ranging from backyard chicken keeping to the regulation and control of big box retail stores and cell towers.  This course will satisfy the Practice Oriented Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

Agency and Partnership (3) Law-7507
The principles of master-servant, principal-agent, and general employer-independent contractor agency relationships are explored in this course.  Subjects include relationship creation and termination, the scope of the agents= real and apparent authority; disclosed and undisclosed principals, ratification; agent fiduciary duties; applicability to partnerships; the doctrine of respondent superior, and employer-employee relations.  Materials cover statutory and case law differentiating the general partnership from the limited partnership and internal/external rights, duties, and liabilities, including creditor remedies.  Discussion includes such topics as limited liability companies, not-for-profit organizations, and joint ventures.

Appellate Tax Clinic (1-2) Law-7642
This course offers the opportunity for students to participate in actual appellate tax cases conducted under the auspices of The Center for Fair Administration of Taxation.  Students enrolled in the course may participate as amicus curiae in significant matters of federal, state or local tax law. Students conduct research on legal issues, draft appellate briefs, and depending on the jurisdiction of the court and the nature of the case, present their brief before an appellate court.  Prerequisites: Federal Income Tax, Civil Procedure, top 40% class rank and permission of professor.  Students should submit a resume in advance. Enrollment limited to clinic current case-load (typically 2-4 students.)  Registration allowed only with prior approval.  May satisfy either the Lawyering Skills or Practical Writing requirement with faculty approval; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

Bankruptcy Procedure and Practice, Part II (3) Law-7805
This advanced course will cover both individual and business reorganizations in Chapter 11, including assumption and rejection of leases and other executory contracts, preparation of disclosure statements, and negotiation and confirmation of plans.  Students will be expected to engage in role-playing exercise to simulate the competing interests of debtor, unsecured creditors and secured creditors in the reorganization effort. Prerequisite: Bankruptcy Procedure and Practice Part I.

Business Planning (2) Law-7515
The goal of this course, through reviewing actual documents and agreements (and through class discussion), is to have students become familiar with certain legal and business relationships/issues raised in documents, business agreements and other contracts -- from a practical (real life) perspective.  Generally, class discussions track the formation, growth and eventual sale of a California business.  We begin by analyzing and comparing different business entity structures. We then examine the relationship and conflicting motivations of owners, officers and employees of the business.  With the growth of the business, we move to a review of the various interactions a business has with its consultants, employees, venture investors, banks and vendors.  We end the course with an examination of the eventual merger/acquisition of the business.  Practical problems and solutions are the focus of this course.  It is intended to provide an important component of preparing students who will be advising and/or interacting with California businesses.  May satisfy either the Lawyering Skills or Practical Writing requirement with faculty approval; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

California Civil Procedure (2) Law-7817 California Bar Tested
This course continues the study of civil procedure with advanced focus on California's procedural structure, including ways in which California procedure differs from federal civil practice.  Areas of study include state practice in complex civil litigation, discovery, pleading, summary judgment, former adjudication and other advanced principles.  Students will be expected to analyze complex fact patterns and to discern the ways in which California procedure differs from federal practice. 

California Evidence (3) Law-7318 California Bar Tested
This course addresses both civil and criminal provisions of the California Evidence Code, examining among many topics:  relevance, character evidence, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, impeachment, expert testimony, and privileges. The course focuses on the California Evidence Code, with a practical focus on tactical and procedural introduction of evidence at trial in state court.  The class will also cover differences between California Evidence Code and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Prerequisite: Evidence.California Evidence with Judge Steiner:  Mandatory attendance (for a morning or afternoon session at any point during the semester) at one trial or other court proceeding in Judge Steiner's courtroom is required.  The final class of the semester is accordingly canceled.

Commercial Leasing (2) Law-7521
This course introduces students to one of the most important areas of real estate practice: commercial lease law and negotiation. Students are required to master elements of legal substance and theory concerning the leasing of commercial property, as well as methods of practice and negotiation. In addition to studying sophisticated commercial leases, case opinions, and other textual materials, students draft and revise provisions of commercial leases, and ultimately, negotiate an entire lease transaction. Strongly recommended: successful completion of Real Estate Transactions and Finance.  This course will satisfy the Practical Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

Constitutional Jurisprudence Clinic (3) Law-7828
This clinical program provides students an opportunity to work on pending litigation representing clients or drafting amicus curiae briefs in high profile cases raising significant issues of constitutional law. Depending on the availability and current status of cases, students will, under the supervision of the course instructor or cooperating counsel, draft briefs for filing with the United States Supreme Court.  Students may also have the opportunity to prepare initial case strategy, conduct client interviews, research legal issues, draft a complaint and prepare it for filing, draft discovery plans and requests, prepare summary judgment motions, draft appellate briefs, and perhaps, and, depending on the jurisdiction, argue a motion before the trial court or the case before an appellate court. This course will satisfy the Practical Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

Client Interviewing and Counseling (3) Law-7520
Students will learn and practice skills involved in interviewing and counseling clients.  Through the course of the semester, students will take one simulated case from the initial phase of gathering and evaluating facts supplied by a client, conduct substantive legal research, write a memorandum to the client file, and provide oral and written advice to the client based on consideration of facts and applicable law.  The course will focus on interpersonal aspects of client relationships as well as ethical problems that may arise in the context of client representation.  Students participate in simulated interviews and counseling sessions, portraying both client and attorney.  Students will be videotaped in at least one interview or counseling session and will complete several written products,  including a client letter, a  memo to the file, and papers analyzing the lawyering process from the perspective of both attorney and client.     This course will satisfy the Practical Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.  This is a core requirement in the Certificate in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

Note: the Client Interviewing and Counseling course is taught by different professors who may or may not require papers that would satisfy the Practical Writing requirement.  Students should refer to the Schedule of Classes for a given semester to see if satisfying this requirement is an option depending on the paper requirements by the professor.  If this is an option, students may choose to apply the course towards the Lawyering Skills or the Practical Writing requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.

Community Property (2) Law-7302 California Bar Tested
California is one of nine community property jurisdictions in the United States. Community property law affects the residents of each of these states, and, in the case of migratory clients, persons who move to common law states as well.  This course provides a survey of the peculiar ownership, creditor rights, testamentary rights, and family law problems that may result from even a passing domicile in a community property jurisdiction.  Practical problems and solutions are emphasized.

Conflict of Laws (3) Law-7527
This course examines how courts resolve disputes in cases involving parties, conduct, or transactions that are connected to more than one state or country. After reviewing the law of personal jurisdiction, the course will focus on how courts determine which law governs a multi-jurisdictional dispute, how constitutional limitations inform such determinations, the rules governing the enforcement of interstate and foreign judgments, and the law that applies to seemingly ubiquitous Internet transactions.

Constitutional Law I and II (3/3) Law-7127 and Law-7129 California Bar Tested
These courses cover the powers of the federal government and selected topics regarding the relationship of the branches of the federal government to each other and to the States, as well as selected topics regarding the Bill of Rights, due process, equal protection, and the effect of the Fourteenth Amendment on the application of the Bill of Rights to the States.

Copyright Law (3) Law-7822
This course offers an in-depth analysis of the rights and remedies afforded to copyright owners under U.S. law.  Although we will discuss theoretical aspects of copyright law, we will also engage in a number of practical exercises such as preparing mock copyright registrations, client letters, legal memoranda, and licensing agreements.  Work prepared for those practical exercises will apply toward satisfying the course’s writing requirement. 

Corporate Stock & Asset Acquisition (2) Law-7898
This course is the JD approved version of Corporate Tax II.
Students will study advanced topics not generally covered in the Taxation of Business Organizations course. Topics include tax-free reorganizations, acquisitive reorganizations, and carryover of corporate tax attributes, including net operation losses. (Designated as “Corporate Tax II” in the LL.M. program). Prerequisites: Federal Income Tax, Advanced Federal Income Tax, and Taxation of Business Organizations.

Corporations (3) Law-7145 California Bar Tested
This course provides a basic understanding of both closely held and publicly held for‑profit corporations.  Particular attention is given to the way in which corporations organize and operate.  The course also examines the respective roles, relationships, responsibilities, and liability exposure of shareholders, directors and officers.  The study of corporate litigation and regulation under key portions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the S.E.C. is included.

Criminal Procedure/Adjudicative Process (3) Law-7303
This course involves a study of the adjudicative stages of criminal justice: initial appearance, bail, prosecutorial discretion, grand jury proceedings, preliminary hearing, joinder and severance of offenses and defendants, right to speedy trial, guilty pleas, discovery, trial by jury, publicity, double jeopardy, and post-conviction.

Criminal Procedure/Police Practices (3) Law-7301 California Bar Tested
This course provides a close examination of the laws of criminal investigation.  Topics include constitutional limits on arrests and stops, search and seizure, interrogation of suspects, right to counsel, and the privilege against self-incrimination. 

Directed Research (1-3; 12 and ½ pages minimum per credit based on standard format) Law-7850
Courses are available to 2-4Ls only to study and research topics which are not provided for by regular curricular offerings.  To register for Directed Research, students must complete a Directed Research form and submit the completed form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.  The signatures of the supervising full-time professor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs are required.  The completed Directed Research form must be submitted to the Registrar’s office by the given Add/Drop deadline for the semester.  Students cannot register for  a Directed Research project online.  Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.6 at the end of their first year to partake in a Directed Research project.  With faculty approval, may satisfy the Scholarly Writing Requirement OR the Practice Oriented writing requirement.   One course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.   Must be taken for a minimum of 2 credits to satisfy one of the writing requirements.

Elder Law Clinic (3) Law-7565
This clinical class teaches the theory and practice of elder law, which focuses on the legal problems of  older adults.  The class covers health care decision making, medical ethics and end-of-life issues, public benefits for the elderly, Medicaid planning, mental capacity issues and conservatorships for the elderly, property management for the elderly, and ethical problems that arise when representing the elderly.  In addition to the classroom component, students work directly with clients and engage in interviewing, counseling, preparation of draft and final documents, and possible representation of clients in administrative hearings.   The class is useful for students interested in the growing practice area of elder law or in a general practice that includes representing elderly clients.  The class develops legal skills useful in almost any practice.   Enrollment is limited to 14 students.  Prerequisites: successful completion or concurrent enrollment in Evidence and Civil Procedure; willingness to become a Certified Law Student.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement.

Entertainment Law Clinic (3) Law-7631
This course will provide students with the opportunity to work with low budget independent filmmakers.  Students conduct client interviews with Directors and Producers who are about to begin production on feature length films.  Students prepare documents and contracts for 1-6 films each semester, including: forming an LLC;  acquisition of underlying rights; employment contracts for director, producer, actors and crew; location agreements and releases.  Students communicate directly with the filmmaker, prepare briefing memoranda on issues unique to each film, and create client files. Students will meet to discuss drafting challenges and issues and the role of the production attorney in advising a filmmaker or production company. Prerequisite: Negotiating and Drafting Media Industry Transactions.  This course will satisfy the Practical Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements.  This course may be applied toward the Entertainment Law Certificate.

Estate and Gift Tax – JD (3) Law-7833
A comprehensive study of the federal transfer tax system, including the gift tax, the estate tax and the generation-skipping transfer tax, with some attention to planning issues, including the tax treatment of property owned at death and property transferred during life, the marital and charitable contribution deductions and other deductions and credits, as well as an overview of procedural and valuation issues.  Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.  This course is a core requirement for the Certificate in Taxation.   

Estate Planning - JD (2) Law-7837
A basic LL.M. level estate planning course, looking at both small and large estates, with consideration of lifetime and testamentary dispositions of property, the use of the marital and charitable bequests, and the use of life insurance.  The course will look at the drafting and use of estate planning documents, such as wills, inter vivos trusts, insurance trusts, living wills and durable powers of attorney and provide an overview of special issues for estates including substantial closely held business interests.  Prerequisite: Estate and Gift Taxation.

Evidence (4) Law-7142 California Bar Tested
This course covers the standards regulating admissibility of evidence in both criminal and civil trials.  Special emphasis is placed on the Federal Rules of Evidence. 

Externship (Law 7588, 7589, 7590, 7653, 7654)
Externships offer practical experience working for a judge (7588), district attorney or public defender (7588), government agency, non-profit or select law office (7590), or the in-house legal department of an entertainment company (7653) or corporation (7654).  Externs work under the supervision of experienced practicing attorneys or judges who provide guidance and training in research, writing, and practical lawyering skills.  For information on how to obtain an externship and other program rules, read the Externship Handbook, available at Room 350-D, or on the “Externship Program General Information” course page on TWEN (http://lawschool.westlaw.com/manage/homepage.asp?courseid=33468).

Externships can be taken for 3, 4, or 5 units, except for select judicial externships that are considered “full time” for 10 units.  (Law firm externships can be taken for 1 or 2 units, only). An externship of at least 3 units

The Director of the Externship Program must approve all externships; students are not permitted to enroll online. To apply for admission to the Externship Program, submit a completed Externship Application to the Director as soon as possible, or at least 2 weeks before the start of the semester.  Applications are at the back of the Externship Handbook (see above).  If the Director approves the externship, students will be enrolled in the course and corresponding section within 1 week.

In addition to fieldwork, first-time externs must attend a one-time classroom component (the "Boot Camp") which provides training in specific lawyering skills relevant to their placements.  The Boot Camp is held during the first week of classes, and students may generally choose among several class times.   Externships of at least 3 units  will satisfy either the Lawyering Skills Requirement or the Practical Writing Requirement (please note one course cannot satisfy both requirements at the same time.)

Family Violence Clinic – Immigration (3) Law-7586
The Family Violence Clinic (“FVC”) is a semester-long graded clinic open to upper-level law students.  Under faculty supervision, FVC-Immigration students have primary responsibility representing victims of domestic violence, sex crimes, human trafficking and other crimes that affect families.  Students prepare applications for immigration relief adjudicated by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.  The clinic operates out of the Anaheim Family Justice Center (AFJC), located approximately five miles from the law school at 150 W. Vermont Avenue in Anaheim.  The seminar component of the course takes place weekly at the law school and focuses on lawyering skills such as client interviewing and counseling, affidavit drafting, brief writing, and related written advocacy skills.  In addition to their work on cases and the weekly seminar, students meet weekly with the professor in teams of two for case supervision.  There are no pre- or co-requisites for FVC-Immigration.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills Requirement.

Family Violence Clinic - Protection Orders (3) Law-7655
The Family Violence Clinic (“FVC”) is a semester-long graded clinic open to upper-level law students.  Under faculty supervision, FVC-Protection Order students have primary responsibility for representing victims of domestic violence in court on applications for protective orders in Orange County Superior Court, Family Division.  FVC students also advise pro per applicants for restraining orders before they appear in court on their own for domestic violence hearings.  The clinic operates out of the Anaheim Family Justice Center (AFJC), located approximately five miles from the law school at 150 W. Vermont Avenue in Anaheim.  The seminar component of the course takes place weekly at the law school and focuses on lawyering skills such as client interviewing and counseling, direct and cross examination, entering exhibits in court, and related trial skills.  In addition to their work on cases and the weekly seminar, students meet weekly with the professor in teams of two or three for case supervision.  FVC-Protection Order students must be enrolled in or have taken Evidence.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills Requirement.

Federal Income Tax (3) Law-7133
This course introduces students to the system of federal income taxation of individuals. The tax system is studied with emphasis on basic concepts rather than detailed computations. Significant attention is given to the public policy served by various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Primary consideration is given to principles and policies relating to the taxation of individuals including procedure, income, deductions, gains and losses, and transactional aspects of income taxation. The Internal Revenue Code and Regulations are emphasized. All full time students are required to take this course during their second year of law study; part time students may take it during their second or third year of law study. This course is a core requirement for the Certificate in Taxation.    

Federal Tax Research – JD (2) Law-7889
An area often ignored in traditional legal research courses is the array of materials dealing with tax matters. Such material is often separated from other library materials, and many practicing attorneys possess little ability to research tax matters for their clients. This course explores the fundamentals of tax research and is also an extensive survey of tax research sources and techniques, accompanied by several writing assignments.  Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.  This course is an elective for the Certificate in Taxation.

First Amendment Law (3) Law-7325
This course is a study of the fundamental freedoms of speech, press, association, and religion. In addition to considering the historical background, the course focuses on specific challenges in First Amendment jurisprudence, including regulation of speech in a public forum, access to the media, regulation of the press, symbolic expression, libel, obscenity, commercial speech, picketing, right of association, loyalty oaths, legislative investigations and government demands for information, separation of church and state, free exercise of religion, state aid to religious schools, and regulation of religion-based conduct. This course may satisfy the Practical Writing Requirement OR the Scholarly Writing Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements.

Gambling Law Seminar (3) Law-7306
This course covers the law and policy of regulating gambling, one of the fastest growing segments of the entertainment industry. The course will examine the history and current development of, as well as possible future changes to, gambling regulation in California, the United States, and other parts of the world.  Topics discussed will include casino gambling, lotteries, pari-mutuel wagering, sports-betting, Indian gaming, and Internet gambling.  This course will satisfy the Scholarly Writing Requirement. 

Gender & Sexual Orientation & the Law (2)
This two-unit course explores how the law deals with differences between women and men, how societal beliefs about gender norms and sexuality influence the law and vice versa, and how gender and sexual orientation-related issues affect us in our personal and professional lives. We will critically examine government regulation of several aspects of life, including sexuality and privacy, same-sex coupling, gender and parenting rights, expression of sexual identities, hate violence and criminal “justice,” and sexuality and gender in the U.S. military. Readings will include court cases, historical documents, and scholarly essays on gender equality in the United States.  Each student will prepare a final research paper instead of a final exam. This course is offered approximately every other year. There are no prerequisites for this subject. This course allows the optional production of a paper that will satisfy the Scholarly Writing Requirement. Enrollment is limited to 15 students.

Income Taxation of Trusts, Estates and Beneficiaries – JD  (2) Law-7899
The federal income taxation of trusts, estates and beneficiaries, including the determination of taxable income and tax liability, distributable net income, distributions, income in respect of a decedent and other income tax issues resulting from the death of a decedent, grantor trusts, foreign trusts and charitable trusts.  Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.

International Law (2) Law-7558
This is the introductory course in international law, covering the nature and sources of international law and its major developments. This course introduces students to the basic law of the international organizational system, including the United Nations and UN specialized agencies. The course introduces concepts of international law and how they achieve legitimacy in the international system through United Nations organizations and conferences, the International Court of Justice, the International Law Commission, treaty bodies, and state practice. The law of foreign sovereign immunity and the act of state doctrine are considered along with the role of international law in the U.S. legal system and the allocation of foreign affairs powers between the President and Congress. Selected topics that may be explored include international claims (including expropriation law), human rights, norms governing the use of force, and the law of the sea and environmental issues.  Students will have the option to write a substantial paper to satisfy the Scholarly Writing Requirement in lieu of the final exam.  This course counts for the International Law Emphasis Requirement and the required Public International Law Class for the Emphasis.

International Trade Law (3) Law-7556
In this course we will examine the trade commitments that countries have made under the World Trade Organization (WTO), with emphasis on the United States' participation. As part of the course, we will discuss some basic provisions of the central treaty, General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), as well as some specific agreements, including, briefly, Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). We will also consider exceptions to trade commitments, such as environmental and public health exceptions

Land Use Regulation (3) Law-7626
This course examines the government regulation of land use and development. It is a course in applied constitutional, administrative, and property law. The material covers land use planning, zoning, advanced and flexible zoning mechanisms, subdivision controls, constitutional and state law constraints on regulation, the economics and politics of land development, growth controls, the environmental regulation of land use and ecosystems, and alternatives to regulation. Students are exposed to business decision making, public problem solving, regulatory permitting, and social science analyses.  This is a core requirement in the Certificate in Environmental Law, Land Use, and Real Estate Law.

Legal Analysis Workshop (3) Law-7504
This course will focus on the analysis and drafting of legal documents commonly prepared during the first few years of law practice, including memoranda, briefs, declarations, separate statements in support of motions for summary judgment/adjudication, discovery plans, and written discovery.  The course will also focus on the identification of client issues and the use of case precedent to predict the outcome of client problems.  Enrollment in this course is limited to third and fourth year students and is by application only.  Applications must be submitted to the Director of Bar Services, Professor Mario Mainero, at mmainero@chapman.edu by November 11, 2012.  Note: any student entering their final year of law study ranked in the bottom 25% of their class MUST take Legal Analysis Workshop (AND Selected Topics in American Law) in order to graduate. Because of the helpful and important nature of these courses, all students in the bottom 50% are strongly encouraged to enroll even if it is not required.  However, first priority for enrollment in these courses will be given to those students who are required to take them. 

Legal & Business Affairs in Hollywood (3) Law-7352
An overview of the primary areas of practice in which a lawyer and/or business affairs executive engage at a typical Hollywood studio throughout all phases of development, production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures.  Emphasis will be placed on the business aspects in each of these areas and the economics of the various revenues streams exploited in such distribution.  Deal structures will be taught for the customary transactions entered into for both “in-house” productions as well as films financed and/or produced by third parties but distributed by the studio (i.e. acquisitions, negative pick-ups, co-productions, split rights arrangements, etc.) as well as studio deals with financial partners to lay off economic risk. The course will conclude with an exercise in which the students will select a motion picture slate made up of various genres, cast and deal models they will select based upon the project elements of actual (but anonymous) Hollywood studio productions.  The success of those slates will then be projected as revealed by the actual performance of the movies from which those elements were taken.

Legal Writing Skills (3) Law-7575
This course is designed to develop legal writing skills needed for success in law school, on the bar examination, and in practice.  Among others, the course will review and develop skills needed to prepare case briefs, answers to law school essay exam questions, bar examination performance tests, internal memoranda, briefs, and client letters.  Note: Any students who received a grade below 2.0 in Legal Research and Writing I and/or Legal Research and Writing II or if recommended by the LRW professors must take this course as a condition of graduation.  In addition, students who are required to take this course must do so during their second year of study.  Prior approval must be obtained for all other students seeking to enroll in this class.  Priority is given to students who are required to take this course. 

Mediation (3) Law-7581
This course focuses on different theories and approaches to mediation. Mediation is gaining in importance as a mechanism for parties to heal differences without the expense and trauma of litigation. The competent practitioner should understand how mediation works and how to represent clients effectively in a mediation setting. Students in this course have an opportunity to function as both advocates and mediators, using a variety of techniques to resolve disputes. The course grade is based primarily on papers assigned by the instructor. This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills Requirement.

Mediation Clinic (3) Law-7330
The Mediation Clinic is designed to enable students who have completed the Mediation course, or an equivalent course, to use and develop their skills as mediators through frequent and regular practice with actual parties under the supervision of experienced mediators.  While working in the Mediation Clinic students have an opportunity to work with real litigants who have filed small claims, civil harassment and limited civil cases.  

The types of conflicts addressed include, but are not limited to: Neighbor/Neighbor, Landlord/Tenant, Consumer/Merchant, Business/Business, Organizational, Family/Domestic, Personal Injury and Workplace.  The students also interact with practicing attorneys, judges and other court officers.  The Mediation Clinic requires students to serve as mediators in court and to attend class each Monday morning.  Students will be graded on full participation in the Mediation Clinic including, weekly journal assignments, regular court attendance, class participation and willingness to mediate. This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills Requirement.

Mergers and Acquisitions (3) Law-7580
This course will operate largely as an interactive seminar, built around “hands on” negotiating and drafting experience in a hypothetical merger and acquisition transaction.   The first part of the course will cover various topics that are important to M&A transactions, including directors’ duties, shareholder voting and dissenters’ rights, Federal securities laws, income taxation and accounting, valuation, and trade regulation. Then the course will analyze the primary forms of acquisition (merger, sale of assets, sale of stock), and the basic differences between M&A transactions involving public and private corporations.  The remainder of the course will focus upon the M&A case studies, including extensive participation, in teams of “buyers” and “sellers”, in the negotiating and drafting process in a typical M&A transaction.

Negotiating & Drafting Media Industry Transactions (3) Law-7830
This course provides a detailed review and analysis of the contracts involved in the making of a feature film and other media. Students will have hands-on experience with contracts from the inception of an idea to acquiring rights and hiring writers, directors and actors.  The attorney’s role throughout the process of creating media will be examined.  Students draft and negotiate contracts, draft client correspondence, and create client files. The skills learned in this course are applicable to drafting and negotiating transactions in many areas of law. This course may satisfy the Practice Oriented Writing Requirement OR the Lawyering Skills Requirement; one course cannot satisfy both requirements. Note: one course cannot satisfy more than one requirement at the same time.  This course may be applied toward the Entertainment Law Certificate.

Negotiations (3) Law-7816
Practice preparing for and conducting legal negotiations.  Discussion of negotiations theory, strategy, communications skills, and ethical issues.  Students negotiate several different types of situations, both transactional and in anticipation of litigation.  Students research the problems to be negotiated, and prepare various written products, which may include drafting a contract, evaluations of each negotiation, and/or  a final analytical paper discussing some aspect of the negotiations process.  This is a core requirement in the Certificate in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement.

Patents and Trade Secrets (2) Law-7815
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the role of patents as valuable assets to businesses and individuals and the purpose and function of patent claims.  Standards for patentability and patent infringement are studied, as well as the intersection of patents and trade secrets.  The course requires completion of a few practical exercises such as patent searching, claim drafting, preparing a patentability opinion, a student invention and the preparation of a provisional patent application.

Professional Responsibility (2) Law-7139 California Bar Tested (MPRE)
This course examines the law governing the practice of law. Students will focus on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct (from which most states adopt their own rules) and study ethics problems, cases, professional responsibility opinions, and other readings.  Topics include judicial ethics, litigation ethics, pro bono obligations, the attorney-client privilege, conflicts of interests, solicitation of clients and lawyer advertizing. This course also explores when lawyers must either subordinate their own moral judgment to that of their clients or whistle-blow and violate what would otherwise be protected client confidences.

Qualified Pension and Profit Sharing – JD (2) Law-7882
An examination of the federal income tax rules and related labor law rules for qualified pension, profit-sharing, employee stock ownership (ESOP) and stock bonus plans and their participants and beneficiaries, including reporting and disclosure requirements, preemption, coverage and participation requirements, vesting rules, limitations on benefits and contributions, the taxation of distributions, minimum distribution rules, limits on participant loans, fiduciary responsibilities, and prohibited transactions.  Prerequisite:  Federal Income Taxation.  Recommended: Advanced Federal Income Taxation.

Remedies (3) Law-7328 California Bar Tested
This course presents students with an analysis of the judicial remedies available in the American system of jurisprudence. The course is designed to familiarize students with the principles of the law of damages, the law of restitution, and equity and equitable remedies

Securities Regulation (3) Law-7606
This course covers the federal regulation of the distribution and sale of stocks and other securities as a means of financing business operations.  Students will closely examine the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The course will explore such topics as the definition and nature of securities; the registration and sale of securities to investors; exemptions from registration for public and private offerings; the philosophy of mandatory disclosure rules; the work of the Securities and Exchange Commission; the role of underwriters; civil and criminal liability of corporate issuers, directors, and officers for fraud and manipulation of securities markets; the regulation of brokers and dealers; and the unique professional responsibilities of attorneys who practice in the securities field.  It is recommended that students successfully complete Corporations prior to this course. 

Selected Topics in American Law (3) Law-7636
This is a skills-development course that provides students with an intensive substantive review of selected legal material routinely tested on the bar exam and relevant to law practice, including contracts, torts, civil procedure, criminal law and procedure, real property, evidence, corporations, constitutional law, professional responsibility, wills and trusts, community property, and remedies.  Through the use of problems and exercises in a bar exam format, students will become familiar with the techniques for analyzing, organizing, and writing essay questions based on California law.  This is not a substitute for a bar review course, but a course on how to write good legal analysis in a particular area in a short window of time.  Note: any student entering their final year of law study ranked in the bottom 25% of their class MUST take Selected Topics in American Law (AND Legal Analysis Workshop) in order to graduate. Because of the helpful and important nature of these courses, all students in the bottom 50% are strongly encouraged to enroll even if it is not required.  Enrollment is limited to third and fourth year law students.

Sports Law (3) Law-7829
This course will cover selected legal issues in amateur and professional sports including player draft and option systems; labor and employment relations in professional sports; eligibility and discipline issues; agents and player representation; inter-league disputes; buying and moving teams; sex discrimination in sports; and Olympic competition.

State & Local Taxation - JD (2) Law-7900
A survey of state and local taxation issues, including income, sales/use, property and so-called corporate franchise taxes; constitutional limits on state and local taxation with respect to uniformity, equality and interstate commerce; assessment and collection procedures; and taxpayer remedies.  Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax. 

Tax Exempt Organizations - JD (2) Law-7901
An examination of the federal income tax aspects of forming, operating and terminating tax exempt organizations, including the qualification rules, the unrelated business income tax, the restrictions with respect to private inurement, lobbying and political activities, and the private foundation rules. Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.

Taxation of Business Organizations - JD (3) Law-7608
Problems in the taxation of subchapter K partnerships, subchapter C corporations, and subchapter S corporations are covered by this course.  Topics pertaining to partnership taxation include the formation, operation, and termination of general and limited partnerships.  Class discussion is held concerning the definition of the partnership and the possible treatment of a partnership and the possible treatment of a partnership as an association.  Topics pertaining to corporate taxation include tax treatment of a corporation and a corporate shareholder with respect to corporate formation; organization and property transfers, dividends and distributed income; accumulated earnings and undistributed income; non-liquidating corporate distributions; collapsible corporations; personal holding companies; and sale or liquidation of a corporation.  This course is a core requirement for the Certificate in Taxation.  This course is also a prerequisite for JD students who wish to enroll in Corporate Stock & Asset Acquisitions and Dispositions.

Trial Practice (3) Law-7617
This is a practical skills course in advocacy which introduces students to the fundamental components of a typical civil and criminal trial.  It requires students to perform exercises involving each component, and try a mock civil or criminal case from provided problem materials.  The course requires student participation in discrete exercises, including jury voir dire, opening and closing statements, and direct and cross-examination.  Prerequisite: successful completion of Evidence.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement.  This is a core requirement in the Certificate in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

Trial Practice with Judge Rogan - Must attend the first class meeting or you will be dropped from the course.  Additionally, if you are late for the first class, you will be replaced with the first name on the wait list, and your name will be added to the end of the wait list. 

United States Tax Court Clinic (3) Law-7890
Under a special IRS and Tax Court rules of practice, students in this clinical education course are permitted to handle actual cases on a wide variety of tax issues at various stages of exam, appeal, court and collections. Under supervision of Attorney-Professors, students are responsible for all aspects of their cases including meeting with clients, gathering facts and evidence, researching applicable laws, and meeting with the IRS to discuss case in an effort to negotiate a favorable outcome. If the case is for trial, the student normally represents the client in court and completes all post trial work.  This course is an elective option for the Certificate in Taxation.  This course will satisfy the Lawyering Skills requirement. Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.  (Recommended: Advanced Federal Income Tax, Taxation of Business Organizations.)

U. S. Taxation of International Income (3) Law-7880
An introduction to the U.S. taxation of international transactions, with consideration of policy and jurisdictional issues involved in the U.S. international tax laws and the U.S. tax treaty network.  Topics covered will include source of income rules, taxation of foreign persons with passive U.S. investments, taxation of foreign persons operating a U.S. trade or business, taxation of foreign-owned U.S. real property interests, and the branch profits tax, including the effect of U.S. tax treaties on such “inbound” transactions.  A briefer discussion of the taxation of “outbound” transactions (foreign activities of U.S. persons), also exploring the effect of U.S. tax treaties, will introduce topics such as the U.S. taxation of worldwide income of U.S. citizens and residents, the foreign tax credit, tax provisions related to U.S. exports, transfer pricing, taxation of expatriates, and tax aspects of the exploitation of intangible property rights abroad. Prerequisite: Federal Income Tax.  Recommended: Prior completion of Taxation of Business Organizations.

Wills and Trusts (3) Law-7334 California Bar Tested
This course examines rules pertaining to intestate succession; testamentary dispositions; execution, modification, and revocation of wills, testamentary capacity and will contests; interpretation of wills; protection of spouse and children; and the use of will substitutes.  The creation, types, and characteristics of trusts are also examined, including coverage of the construction of trusts, trust administration, and wealth transfer taxation.