Spring 2027 Class Descriptions
Family Law (LWFC540)
Instructor(s): Leah Boucek, Jillian Duggan-Herd
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Children's Rights (JD)
This open-enrollment course surveys the constitutional and legislative doctrine and the adjudication frameworks related to traditional family-law topics: marriage and divorce; marital property regimes; parent and child, including child custody, termination of parental rights, and adoption; family support rights; and rights of children. The course will be organized generally in relation to the California Family Code.
Note:
This is one of the required courses for the Children's Rights Concentration (JD).
Federal Courts (LWPP545)
Instructor(s): Kenneth Lee
2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD), Public Interest Law (JD)
This course will study features of the constitutional law of the federal judiciary. Specific topics may include subjects such as these: justiciability doctrines (standing, mootness, etc.), the constitutional scope of the courts’ federal question jurisdiction, Congressional control over the federal courts’ jurisdiction, the Eleventh Amendment, abstention doctrines that restrict the courts’ actions even in cases in which they have jurisdiction, and federal common law. This course is taught by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Kenneth Lee.
Federal Estate & Gift Taxation (Remote via Zoom) (LWTE530)
Instructor(s): Ulrick Matsunaga
2 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 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 how to effectively resolve a client’s federal tax dispute. Students must also be available to participate in Tax Clinic Outreach presentations at various community locations and times. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.
Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment.
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
Clinic II interns refine their skills, working on complex cases and cases already begun as Clinic I interns. Students may mentor first time clinic participants, serve as lead attorney on cases, and have additional opportunities to appear in court or administrative proceedings. Supervising attorneys/adjunct professors provide individualized coaching, based on the Clinic II interns’ needs and interests. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Clinic I in the same clinic. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.
Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment.
Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing (California) (LWGC520)
Instructor(s): Mary Allain, Carly Boettcher, Kathleen Bolus, Kathryn Hoyt, Alec Rishwain, Tony Roberts, Allison Simkin, Alyssa Koubratoff
2 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing addresses two components of the bar exam: the performance test and the essay portion. This course develops bar writing skills and imparts strategies and approaches to improve bar exam essay and performance test writing. Students are introduced to bar exam components and topics, and quickly move on to focus on the structure and details of bar essay writing and performance test drafting using highly tested areas of law from actual past bar exam questions. Students will cultivate techniques to analyze and solve bar essays and performance tests and communicate legal analysis in writing. Students will practice under timed test-like conditions, among other in-class activities devoted to developing writing and self-analysis skills. Students receive specific grading and feedback on their written work throughout the course. 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 two classes, failing to turn in any written assignments on time, or failing to complete any practice examination.