Course Descriptions

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Fall 2024 Class Descriptions

Family Law Seminar (LWFC543)

Instructor(s): Michael Kelly

3 credit(s)
Concentration(s): Public Interest Law (JD)

This Seminar will focus on student papers prepared by students and presented to the class.  The course will begin with some basic material on Family Law and Community Property in preparation for student presentations, allowing students to take the Seminar even if they have not yet taken either course. Students should quickly identify their paper topic and prepare a draft suitable for the class by middle of the semester.  Students may pursue any topic of interest to them that falls within the scope of the seminar, including (but not limited to) any aspect of:  Community Property; Marital (or Non-Marital) Dissolution, Disputes, or Formation; Child Custody, Visitation, or Support; and proposed improvements to the law governing any of these topics.

Federal Estate & Gift Taxation (LWTE530)

Instructor(s): Miranda Perry Fleischer

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT), Taxation (MSLS)

This survey course provides an introduction to the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, with attention to the treatment of various types of inter vivos and testamentary dispositions. Students who enroll in this course should already have taken Tax I (Federal Income Taxation).Trusts & Estates is recommended but not required.

Federal Tax Clinic I (LWVL555)

Instructor(s): Richard Carpenter

2-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT)
Prerequisite(s): Tax I

This is a hands-on clinical tax course for students who wish to develop tax controversy skills. Students working under the supervision of the Tax Clinic supervising attorney will represent low income taxpayers in resolving their tax disputes with the IRS. Students will learn client interviewing skills, how to interact with IRS personnel, and also how to effectively resolve a client’s federal tax dispute. The clinic class is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis. 

Federal Tax Clinic II (LWVL556)

Instructor(s): Richard Carpenter

1-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT)
Prerequisite(s): Tax I

Federal Tax Clinic II is a hands-on clinical tax course for students who wish to continue refining their tax controversy skills by working on more complex federal tax clinic cases under the supervision of the Tax Clinic supervising attorney.  Students will continue representing low income taxpayers in resolving their tax disputes with the IRS. The clinic class is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis. 

Federal Tax Procedure (LWTE535)

Instructor(s): Ronson Shamoun

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT), Taxation (MSLS)

In our Federal Tax Procedure class, we will review IRS tax audits, appeals, assessments, penalties, collections, and the many practical and ethical issues that arise when representing taxpayers in civil tax controversies.

Finance & Accounting for Lawyers (LWBC555)

Instructor(s): Brian Brinig

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Business and Corporate Law (JD), LLM in Business and Corporate Law (LLMB), Business and Corporate Law (LLMUS), Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT), Business and Corporate Law (MSLS), Taxation (MSLS)

Much of the practice of law relates to financial issues. This two-credit course deals with understanding and analyzing financial statements, basic business valuation techniques and their importance in litigation matters, economic damages calculations (both personal injury and business damages), and concepts of present value. Understanding these financial concepts is critical to lawyers who encounter them daily in their practices. The course is designed for the student who does not have a sophisticated background in accounting or finance.

Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing (LWGC520)

Instructor(s): Allison Simkin

2 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded

It is geared to basic bar writing skills and covers the fundamentals of bar exam essay writing and performance test writing. The first class is an introduction to bar exam components and topics. The next several classes focus on the details of essay exam writing and performance test drafting. Students practice under timed conditions most weeks and receive specific feedback on their written work. The course includes self and peer review, as well as professor-student conferencing as needed. Grading is on the H/P/LP/F scale. Students may be withdrawn from the course and/or given a failing grade for missing more than one class, failing to turn in any written assignments on time, or failing to complete any practice examination.