Course Descriptions

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Partnership Tax (LWTE545)

Instructor(s): Brian Radigan

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

This course considers the federal tax consequences of entity classification of partnership and limited liability companies; formation of a partnership; basis of partnership interests and assets; effect of liabilities on basis; allocation of income and deductions; partnership elections; continuation, merger, and termination of partnerships; family partnerships; sales and exchanges of partnership interests; liquidating and non-liquidating distributions; retiring partners; and pertinent policy considerations.

Note:

This is a synchronous distance education course.  Classes will be taught via Zoom.

Patent Law (LWIP570)

Instructor(s): Joseph Reisman, Maria Stout

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Intellectual Property (JD), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Intellectual Property Law (LLMG), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to understand the law and analyze the problems involved in protecting inventions under U.S. Patent Laws and in protecting trade secrets under the common law and the California Trade Secret Statute. Although the protection of state-of-the-art technology, including software and biotechnology, is included in portions of the course, technical or scientific expertise of the student is not a prerequisite.

Additional Information: Intellectual Property & Technology Law Concentration

Professional Identity Formation (LWGC582)

Instructor(s): Rohanee Zapanta

1 credit(s), P/F Graded

Drawing on scholarship on professional identity formation in the law, as well as research on philosophy and psychology, this course examines industry norms, identity and bias in the workplace, values conflicts, and trauma-informed support, all of which impact competent and ethical practice of law, and the development of a meaningful and satisfying career. This course will help students to articulate the values and personal narratives that inform their professional identities, learn skills to build their individual resilience to stressors, as well as leadership skills to advocate for their own professional development, while identifying opportunities to shift the legal profession toward better promotion of lawyer well-being and ethical conduct. The course incorporates activities from the California Judges Association’s workshop series on ethics and wellness for law students, and assignments will help students to create a blueprint of their professional persona to carry forward in their careers. 

Note:

This course is taught by Judge Rohanee Zapanta.

Professional Responsibility (LWAA580)

Instructor(s): Kimberly Gosling, David McGowan

3 credit(s), Letter Graded

The roles of the lawyer in society and the obligations implied in those roles are examined. Topics include disciplinary standards and procedures, the history and organization of the legal profession; avoiding conflict of interest; obligations to clients, the courts, and society, and conflicts presented by the adversary system for settlements of disputes; and responsibilities of lawyers as public servants and citizens. American Bar standards will be reviewed.

Public Interest Law Clinic (LWVL544)

Instructor(s): Marcus Friedman

1-3 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Environmental and Energy Law (JD), Health Law (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS)
Prerequisite(s): CA Regulatory Law and Public Interest

Students who enjoy California Regulatory Law & the Public Interest frequently go on to take Public Interest Law Clinic, in which they may design their own writing or advocacy project related to regulatory or public interest law. In the past, these projects have included written critiques of agencies or agency programs; petitioning an agency to adopt regulations; drafting legislation; participating in litigation to enforce the state's "sunshine statutes"; or submitting amicus curiae briefs on public interest issues pending appeal. Students interested in Public Interest Law Clinic must secure a permission slip prior to register from Prof. Fellmeth or Prof. Gramme. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.

Note:

There are limitations on JD concentration eligibility. Please check the Concentrations web pages for more information.

Public International Law (LWIC575)

Instructor(s): Maimon Schwarzschild

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): International Law (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), International Law (LLMUS), LLM in International Law (LLMI), International Law (MSLS)

Instant communications, easier travel and expanding international trade mean the actions, interests and welfare of nations and their citizens have become increasingly intertwined, each impacting the others. 

To regulate this impact, nations have established a multi-level system of law, and some have established multinational organizations which, in turn, have their own legal systems. 

This class will survey key components of the resulting aggregation of laws (known generally as public international law). It will examine laws governing treaties and other international agreements, the nature and content of customary international law, the recognition of states and governments, the role and operation of international and regional organizations, state responsibilities, laws protecting foreign investments, international dispute resolution mechanisms and selected other topics.

Now public international law is behind most of today’s headline news—often because states are breaching its tenets. The class will devote significant attention to current geopolitical problems in order to understand the role public international law plays. Topics may include the tariff-driven trade wars, the Ukraine-Russia war and the position of NATO, China’s maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait threatening Taiwan, conflicting claims by China and other countries to the South China Sea, and the return to Mauritius by the UK of the militarily-important Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Note: This is a required course for the International Law Concentration (JD).
Additional Information: International Law Concentration, Public Interest Law Concentration