Fall 2026 Class Descriptions
Negotiation (LWLP560)
Instructor(s): Gregg Relyea, Ana Sambold
3 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Business and Corporate Law (JD), Children's Rights (JD), Civil Litigation (JD), Criminal Litigation (JD), Employment and Labor Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (JD), Health Law (JD), Intellectual Property (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), LLM in Business and Corporate Law (LLMB), Business and Corporate Law (LLMUS), Criminal Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Criminal Law (LLMG), Employment and Labor Law (LLMG), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG), Business and Corporate Law (MSLS), Criminal Law (MSLS), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)
Effective negotiation skills are essential to the successful practice of law. Most legal disputes are resolved through direct negotiation. This course will teach students effective communication techniques and negotiation strategies in a workshop-style setting. The course will introduce students to different types of bargaining, different approaches to bargaining, specialized communication techniques used by effective negotiators, and techniques for overcoming negotiating impasses. Negotiation practices will be taught using both lecture and experiential methods (interactive exercise, role play exercises). This course will be practical in its orientation, with an emphasis on prevailing negotiation techniques and strategies customarily used by practicing lawyers. Due to the participatory nature of the course, enrollment will be limited. Grades are based upon in-class participation, in-class exercises, student reflection/self-assessment, and homework assignments. The course is graded on a 4-tier Pass/Fail basis.
Note:
There are limitations on concentration eligibility. Check the Concentrations web pages for more information.
Nuclear Energy Law (LWEV564)
Instructor(s): Nilmini Silva-Send
2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Environmental and Energy Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS)
The bipartisan ADVANCE (Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy) Act was passed in July 2024. In September 2024, Microsoft signed a 20-year contract with the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to re-activate two of its reactors. At about the same time, Google and Amazon each agreed to purchase energy from small modular reactors[1]. “It is an exciting time in nuclear energy—all evidence shows we are on the precipice of a new nuclear renaissance….[2]” To introduce students to this development, this new course adds to the most contemporary survey elective in the energy and environment concentration. Students will learn about new advanced technologies; preemption issues; arguments for and against nuclear power especially in comparison with clean renewable energy; the governing statutes such as the fundamental Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and its amendments for the peaceful use and regulation of nuclear materials; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and licensing of nuclear facilities; liability for incidents; and issues of radioactive materials waste disposal; and two case studies within California - the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the re-licensing application for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant.
[1] Hungry for Energy, Amazon, Google and Microsoft Turn to Nuclear Power. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/business/energy-environment/amazon-google-microsoft-nuclear-energy.html
[2] Subcommittee Chair Duncan Opening Remarks at the NRC Budget Hearing https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/subcommittee-chair-duncan-opening-remarks-at-nrc-budget-hearing
The grade for this course will be based on in class participation and a final exam.
Note:
This is a short course offered over two weekends (9/11-9/13 and 9/25-9/26).