Course Descriptions

[A-B, C-D, E-F, G-H, I-J, K-L, M-N, O-P, Q-R, S-T, U-V, W-X, Y-Z]
[View All]

Accounting for Lawyers (2)
502
(Formerly DCL 508)
Accounting for Lawyers covers the basic topics in accounting that are relevant to a business lawyer's practice and to other practice areas as well. The class covers principles of double-entry bookkeeping and accrual accounting, GAAP and GAAS. The basic financial statements are studied and basic financial statement analysis is reviewed. More detailed analysis is made of revenue recognition and expense, contingencies and intangibles. Finally, drafting of legal documents using accounting concepts is explored. This course is designed for those students with little or no prior accounting training or experience.

Top

Administrative Law (3)
532
Formerly DCL 300)
This course examines the place of administrative agencies in American government, and surveys the legal rules and principles governing agency regulation, adjudication, investigation, and enforcement; agency structure; and judicial review of agency action. Students who have taken Administrative Law: Food Safety and Labeling (810K) may not take this course

Top

Administrative Law: Food Safety and Labeling (2)
810K
Administrative law is the body of constitutional, statutory, and common law principles that both constrain and seek to legitimize the exercise of powers by governmental agencies. The history of food safety and labeling regulations in the United States begins in the late 1800s and continues through present day, culminating recently in the 2011 enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which creates a new system of federal oversight of domestically produced and imported food products. This course introduces students to the essential elements of administrative law and follows the basic structure of an administrative law course, but diverges from the traditional study by using cases and problems that are specific to food safety and food labeling issues in the United States. The primary goal of the class is to provide students with knowledge of the fundamental administrative law principles applied in matters involving the regulation of food and food products, and the ability to apply these principles to problems similar to those encountered in actual practice. To the extent possible, this class will be taught from a practice-oriented approach, requiring students to engage in problem-solving exercises online.Students who have taken Administrative Law (532) may not take this course.

Top

Advanced Civil Procedure (2)
530T
The course (a) augments the fundamentals of civil procedures taught in the Civil Procedure I class, covering recent legislation and Supreme Court jurisprudence involving subject matter and personal jurisdiction over domestic as well as international disputes and defendants; (b) explains procedures for discovery practice under the newly-amended Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including the scope of discovery, discovery plans, and sanctions for failure to preserve electronic records; (c) reviews in greater depth the use of discovery methods, domestically and internationally; (d) describes the new judicial management requirements in federal courts under the new Rules (service of process, court scheduling orders) (e) examines choice of forum and choice of law, as well as conflict of laws (important for transactional lawyers as well as for litigators); (h) explains class action and multi-district litigation practice; and (e) discusses how to enforce judgments, domestically as well as against international defendants with overseas assets.

Top

Advanced Legal Research (2)
586
(Formerly DCL 509)
The course will focus on the process and goals of legal research. Special emphasis will be placed on Internet research, but instruction will be based on function rather than format. Students will learn how to find information through the Web, on Lexis and Westlaw, and in paper. By contrasting form, speed, cost and accuracy, students will learn how to integrate these sources for the most comprehensive and economical research product. Equal emphasis will be placed on conceptual structure and practical application.

Prerequisite(s): Research, Writing & Analysis or RWA: IP or RWA: SJ or RWA: CL and Advocacy

Top

Advanced Topics in Indian Law: Native American Natural Resources Law (2)
635A
This course explores issues relating to property rights, environmental protection, and natural resources in Indian country. The topics addressed will include land use and environmental protection; natural resources development; water rights: tribal, cultural and religious relationships with the land; and land ownership and property rights of tribes.
Prerequisite(s): Federal Law and Indian Tribes

Top

Advertising Law-Food Focus (3)
810T
This course covers the regulation of advertising consumer products in the United States with a focus on the advertising of food products. Topics may include the general rules governing advertising, the various types of claims, including claims associated with food and FDA regulated claims, understanding claims vs. puffery, comparative advertising, evaluating the required substantiation required to support various types of claims, environmental marketing claims (“green” claims), the use of endorsements and testimonials, issues in advertising in social media, the right of publicity (use of one’s name and likeness in advertising activities), the regulation of consumer contests and sweepstakes, intellectual property issues in advertising, and some miscellaneous topics such as ambush marketing and native advertising.
Prerequisite(s): This course intended for students in the Global Food Law program

Top

Advocacy (2)
530J
(Formerly LAW500K) Students learn the art of persuasive argumentation by drafting a 30-page appellate brief on a topical legal issue, complying with appellate court rules and then presenting a simulated oral argument to members of the bench. During the semester, students also attend appellate arguments or trial court motion sessions and prepare brief synopses of cases heard.
Prerequisite(s): Research, Writing & Analysis Research, Writing and Analysis, OR Research, Writing and Analysis: Intellectual Property Perspective OR Research, Writing and Analysis: Social Justice OR Research, Writing and Analysis: Criminal Law

Top

Agricultural Law (2)
566N
Students will learn about the regulatory framework of the food and agriculture sector at the federal, state, and local levels and how the application of this framework impacts all citizens. This includes the production, processing, and distribution of food, fiber, and other products that make up a large portion of the economies of the nation and the State of Michigan. Students will learn about the origins and impacts of these regulatory components and how evolving trends and public opinion are changing the food and agriculture sector

Top

American Indian Children & the Law (2)
635D
(This course replaced Advanced Topics in Indian Law: Indian Child Welfare Act) A focus on American Indian children and the law, including the implementation, interpretation and understanding of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and other state ICWA laws. ICWA, a federal statute interpreted almost entirely in state courts, applies to all terminations of parental rights if the child involved is an Indian child under the law's definition. Attorneys and social workers need to know when ICWA applies and how the application of ICWA makes for a fundamentally different family law case. In addition, this course will cover tribal law and children, and the role of international law and the rights of American Indian children.

Top

American Legal History Seminar (3)
636
(Formerly DCL 552)
This seminar will analyze the tension between the rights of the individual and the role of government in society as the central theme in the development of the American legal system. Rather than a strict chronological review, the course will consist of a series of studies of the development of legal and political institutions and their effect on the citizenry. Classes will be discussion-based and will rely on extensive reading of original sources. Students should gain an understanding of how the evolution of legal rules reflects institutional change, and should learn to see law as a dynamic process rather than a collection of static concepts.
Fulfills ULWR
Prerequisite(s): Constitutional Law I or Constitutional Law and the Regulatory State

Top

Analytical Methods for Lawyers-Microeconomics (1)
509A
(Formerly DCL 607A)
Condensed principles of microeconomics to serves as a primer that provides law students the tools necessary to succeed as 'lawyers' in the various fields that use these principles.
Prerequisite(s): Students who have taken Law and Economics (515) may not take this course.

Top

Animal and Natural Resources Law Review (2)
629C
The Journal of Animal Law was the second legal journal established in North America specializing in animal law and is currently one of only three existing that is dedicated to the specialized topic of animal law. The Journal of Animal Law has been able to welcome editors from other ABA-accredited law schools in addition to MSU College of Law.

The goals of the Journal of Animal Law are:
-To provide volumes of legal policy materials that relate to animal law and animal welfare.
-To provide expert explanation of the materials for both legal and non-legal audiences.
-To be an education resource for both the lawyer and the non-lawyer.
-To provide historical perspective about social and legal attitudes toward animals, and how we as a society have arrived at its present perspective.

Students must satisfy the following criteria to receive Journal credit: (1) two year participation on the Journal staff/board; (2)editing and cite-checking of papers submitted to the Journal; (3)satisfy editing obligation during the first-year on Journal staff; (4)election to Journal board for final year at the Law College; and (5) fulfill leadership obligations of Board position.
Prerequisite(s): (LAW 530D or LAW 530E or LAW 530N or LAW 530Q) and LAW 530J and permission from editorial board

Top

Animal Health, World Trade, and Food Safety (3)
810E
The objective of this online course is to familiarize students with the history, development and workings of the OIE, with particular emphasis on its role as the organization responsible for setting international standards for animal health and zoonoses, and attention to its new mandates for animal welfare and food safety.


Prerequisite(s): This course is restricted to students in the Global Food Law Program.

Top

Animal Law (3)
565A
(Formerly DCL 501)
A survey of animal legal issues including property status, zoning and criminal anti-cruelty laws. Additionally, legal policy issues will be discussed, such as what to do with dangerous dogs, and what level of animal welfare should be provided to agricultural animals. The distinction between animal welfare and animal rights will be considered.

Top

Animal Welfare Clinic I (6)
631R
Students will work on animal human legal issues in a variety of contexts including private and public law disputes, government administrative action and policy development. Through direct client representation and systemic advocacy, student will engage in activities such as litigation, regulatory comments, policy and legislative drafting, and creation of educational materials.

Top

Animal Welfare Clinic II (3)
631S
Continuation of Animal Welfare Clinic I.

Top

Antitrust Law (2)
504
(Formerly DCL 310)This course will explore the role of antitrust law and analysis of restraints of trade and competition in various markets. Beginning with an analysis of the goals of antitrust law, and their operation in society, the requirements of antitrust claims will be explored through historical and current examples. Highlights will include problems in market power, monopoly, price fixing, tying, bundling, and special problems with patents. The course will include discussion of recent issues in antitrust law.

Top

Appellate Competition (2)
627Q
This is a performance and presentation-based course that serves as the intensive training component for the law school’s Appellate Competition Team. The course covers the mechanics of appellate practice with a focus on preparation for interscholastic or bar association advocacy competitions. Topics in the course include development of case theory, effective advocacy skills, and appropriate professional conduct. Students must complete at least 24 credits to be eligible for invitation to participate.
Prerequisite(s): Research, Writing and Analysis, and Advocacy
Permission Only


Top

Arbitration Competition (2)
627P
This is a performance and presentation-based course that serves as the intensive training component for the law school’s Arbitration Competition Team. The course covers the mechanics of arbitration with a focus on preparation for interscholastic or bar association advocacy competitions. Topics in the course include development of case theory, effective advocacy skills, and appropriate professional conduct. Students must complete at least 24 credits to be eligible for invitation to participate.
Prerequisite(s): Research, Writing and Analysis, Advocacy, and Trial Practice Institute: Trial Practicum Permission Only

Top

Artificial Intelligence & Law (3)
537R
Artificial Intelligence is experiencing a “golden age” of rapid development. As the use of AI increases, people and computers are knowingly and unknowingly interacting in new ways. Lawyers are confronting computer issues in every practice area. Smart contracts. Autonomous vehicles. Creation and ownership of property. Robot policing and warfare. Interconnected products. Autonomous devices. AI requires updated and new regulations, new ways of practicing, and an understanding of how laws and code interact as a new regulatory system within society. This class will look at how computers are affecting the law and what lawyers should know to provide legal services in this hybrid world.

Top

Artificial Intelligence: Legal Research and Writing (2)
586B
This course introduces students to the use of generative artificial intelligence in legal research and writing. The course will examine the strengths and weaknesses of artificial intelligence as compared to traditional methods of research and writing.
During the semester, students will complete multiple research and writing assignments. The course will be co-taught by a legal writing professor and a law librarian.
Prerequisite(s): First year research and writing

Top

Assisted Reproductive Technologies Seminar (2)
558N
This seminar will examine the legal, medical, and ethical issues surrounding assisted reproductive technologies.

Top

Automated Vehicles and the Law (2)
537S
The development of automated vehicles, which can assume all driving functions, as well as connected vehicles that communicate with each other to help avoid crashes, represents a fundamental transformation of transportation. These technologies present a myriad of legal issues, including product liability, cybersecurity, privacy, insurance, criminal law and procedure, federal and state regulation, and patents. The technologies are complex – artificial intelligence, machine learning, human-machine interface, and ethical decision-making designs are all involved. This course explains how the technologies are designed, tested, and developed; the real-life deployments of the vehicles; product liability risks stemming from development decisions; means for mitigating liability risks in design and warnings; liability for cybersecurity breaches including hacking; protection of privacy and liability for illicit intrusions; criminal liability for illicit use of vehicles; and a new paradigm for insurance law when the vehicle becomes the driver. Trial practice likely will also be affected because of the extraordinary complexity of the artificial intelligence design evidence that juries will need to understand. The course will explain how discovery and evidentiary presentation at trial may be managed.

Top

Bankruptcy (3)
506A
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of bankruptcy law, the bankruptcy code, and the creditor/debtor relationship.Students who have taken Consumer Bankruptcy 506E or Chapter 11 Reorganization 506F may not take this course.

Top

Bar Exam Success Fundamentals (1)
604
This course introduces and reinforces bar examination study and test taking skills. It provides in depth exploration of each part of the bar exam (multiple choice (MBE), essay (MEE) and multi state performance exam (MPT)) and builds students’ skills regarding each part of the exam. This course also devotes time to skills associated with analyzing, studying and memorizing substantive information.

Top

Basic Income Taxation (2)
501K
This survey course introduces the basic concepts of federal income taxation and is ideal for students interested in learning basic information about tax law but who are not yet certain if they want to specialize in tax or business fields. Students will get practice in the skills of statutory construction and applying a broad range of legal authorities to clients’ concrete problems, skills which are valuable for all law students regardless of whether they ultimately specialize in tax. In this course, students will be exposed to tax issues that affect individuals, including sole proprietorships, and will gain an understanding of various forms of income, exclusions from income, capital gains and losses, various deductions, and other topics. The course uses a modified Socratic approach with an emphasis on problem solving that will allow students to develop facility in analyzing cases, statutes, and administrative materials. Sample examination questions are provided to allow a student to determine how well he or she learned and retained the material. The grade in the course is based on a final examination with consideration given to class participation. Students who enroll in Basic Income Taxation for 2 credits are ineligible to enroll in Basic Income Taxation for 3 credits.

Top

Basic Will Drafting (3)
540A
(Formerly DCL 391)
This course is designed to familiarize students with the interviewing function and the drafting of wills and other basic estate planning vehicles for clients whose estates are not subject to federal estate tax. An evaluation of usable forms and discussion of when and how to use them intelligently will be a focus of the course. A client interview and drafting exercises, including an entire basic estate plan, are contemplated.
Prerequisite(s): Decedents' Estates and Trusts

Top

Bioethics and the Law (2)
558A
An analysis of legal, ethical, & economical problems generated by current & projected advances in biomedical technologies.

Top

Biotechnology Law and Food Products (3)
810P
This course explores the impact of biotechnology on food production and food safety. After an introduction to biotechnology and the breadth of biotechnology-created foods available, the class will focus on the regulation of food safety and its environmental impact, both in the U.S. and internationally. Students will discuss the impact of public perception on the biotechnology agriculture and transgenic animals industries. No scientific or other class pre-requisites are required.
Prerequisite(s): This course is restricted to students in the Global Food Law Program.

Top

Biotechnology Law Seminar (2)
558S
This seminar will examine some of the many ways that biotechnology impacts the law as well as the ways that the law has impacted the growth of biotechnology. Current biotechnology innovations or controversies will be used to explore the impacts of this technology on a selection of legal topics which may include intellectual property, business, federal regulations, property, criminal law, indigenous law, evidence, bioethics and international law. No science background is required for the course.

Top

Blockchain Technology, Law and Policy (3)
537V
Blockchains—decentralized databases that are maintained by a distributed network of computers—present manifold challenges and opportunities, including unprecedented potential to disrupt financial systems, to support civic participation and democratize access to resources, and even to change what we understand “law” to be. As this set of technologies rapidly emerges, we must consider the extent to which we allow regulation and government intervention, balancing the maintenance of social norms against the need to let a nascent technology innovate. This course aims to help each of us unpack the various legal and regulatory levers potentially applicable to these technologies and to consider the design trade-offs inherent in adopting them as part of policy-making and governance.

Top

Business Enterprises (4)
500M
This course deals with issues relating to common forms of business organization, including corporations, limited liability companies and closely held corporations. The four credit version of Business Enterprises also includes an introduction to mergers and acquisitions.

Top

Business Ethics and the Law (3)
593K
This seminar will explore how prominent moral and ethical codes are expressed in U.S. business law and policy. The course begins by exploring the work of John Rawls, Robert Nozick, John Stuart Mill and other moral philosophers. Students will then compare these moral theories to several legal doctrines, including “unfair competition,” “unjust enrichment,” and “the morals of the marketplace.” In addition, students will explore the policy debates over whether corporate governance should focus on benefiting a broad group of stakeholders or focus on maximizing shareholder profits.
Prerequisite(s): LAW 500M Business Enterprises

Top