Law, School of School of Law

Kevin R. Johnson, J.D., Dean
Afra Afsharipour, J.D., Associate Dean; Academic Affairs
Emily Scivoletto, J.D., Senior Assistant Dean; Student Affairs
Kristen Mercado, J.D., Assistant Dean; Admission & Financial Aid
Brett C. Burns, Senior Assistant Dean; Administration

Dean’s Office

2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall; 530-752-0243; School of Law; Faculty

Law (LAW)

As required by American Bar Association Standard 509(c), the School of Law maintains a list of current curricular offerings on the law school website here. Current curricular offerings, for the purposes of Standard 509(c), are only those courses offered in the current and past two academic years. 

LAW 200 — Introduction to Law (1 unit)

Course Description: Introduction to basic concepts of the law, the historical roots of common law and equity, the precedent system in its practical operation, the modes of reasoning used by courts and attorneys, and the fundamentals of statutory interpretation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 200A — U.S. Legal System Seminar (LL.M.) (2 units)

Course Description: History and fundamental principles of the United States legal system. Important current legal issues, developments and trends. Required for LL.M. students who have not attended a U.S. law school. Fall semester only.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 200D — American Legal Concepts I (LL.M.) (3 units)

Course Description: Designed to provide basic skills necessary to succeed in both law school and legal practice.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 200E — American Legal Concepts II (LL.M.) (3 units)

Course Description: Designed to provide basic skills necessary to succeed in both law school and legal practice.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 200L — Lawyering Process Lab (0 units)

Course Description: Lab which accompanies Lawyering Skills course for first-year law students.

  • Learning Activities: Laboratory.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 200S — Lawyering Process (2 units)

Course Description: Hone interactive lawyering skills needed for effective transactional and litigation work, including client interviewing and negotiation. Learn the role that interpersonal skills play in effective lawyering and contemplate the professional identity they wish to cultivate.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 201 — Property (4 units)

Course Description: Study of doctrines and concepts of property law with primary emphasis on real property. Coverage includes: the estates in land system; the landlord-tenant relationship, conveyancing, and private and public land use control.

Prerequisite(s): AAS 010; LAW 200A; or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 202 — Contracts (4 units)

Course Description: Examines sorts of promises that are enforced and the nature of protection given promissory obligations in both commercial and noncommercial transactions. Inquiry is made into the means by which traditional doctrine adjusts or fails to adjust to changing social demands.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 203 — Civil Procedure (5 units)

Course Description: Study of the fundamental and recurrent problems in civil actions including the methods used by federal and state courts to resolve civil disputes.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 5 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 204 — Torts (4 units)

Course Description: Familiarizes students with legal rules, concepts and approaches pertinent to the recovery for personal injuries, property damages and harm done to intangible interests.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 205 — Constitutional Law I (4 units)

Course Description: Principles, doctrines and controversies regarding the basic structure of and division of powers in American government. Specific topics include judicial review, jurisdiction, standing to sue, federalism, federal and state powers and immunities, and the separation of powers among the branches of the federal government.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 206 — Criminal Law (3 units)

Course Description: Study of the bases and limits of criminal liability. Coverage of the constitutional, statutory, and case law rules which define, limit, and provide defenses to individual liability for the major criminal offenses.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207 — Legal Research & Writing I (2 units)

Course Description: Integrated legal research and writing skills course taught by Wydick Fellowship Program faculty. Basic legal research resources and strategies are introduced and practiced. Fall semester.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207A — Legal Research (LL.M.) (1 unit)

Course Description: Description of the evolution and use of sources of law and secondary authority.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students only.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207B — Advanced Legal Research (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to advanced legal research tools and techniques used in practice.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 35 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207C — California Civil Procedure Research (1 unit)

Course Description: Includes lectures and in-class exercises working with print, and electronic, legal research materials to prepare responses to various fact patterns. Extensive use of real-world case scenarios to mimic conditions likely encountered by legal practitioners. Half of the course time is lecture; half is in-class practical assignments or discussion designed to enhance the students’ understanding of the concepts introduced.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 207; LAW 208.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207D — Intellectual Property Research (1 unit)

Course Description: Includes lectures and in-class exercises working with print, and electronic, legal research materials to prepare responses to various fact patterns. Extensive use of real-world case scenarios to mimic conditions likely encountered by legal practitioners working in the intellectual property legal practice.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 207; LAW 208.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 207E — Transactional Law Research (1 unit)

Course Description: Introduction to tools and research strategies needed for the practice of transactional law. Learn the methods, databases, and specialized materials available for transactional law research..

  • Learning Activities: Practice 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208 — Legal Research & Writing II (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on persuasive writing and oral advocacy. Complete integrated research and writing assignments, including a complaint, a strategic defense office memorandum, a motion to dismiss in federal court, and an appellate brief, with oral arguments by all students.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208A — Legal Research & Writing II (LL.M.) (2 units)

Course Description: Persuasive writing and oral advocacy. LL.M. students complete integrated research and writing assignments, including a complaint, a strategic defense office memorandum, a motion to dismiss in federal court, and an appellate brief with oral arguments.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208E — Introduction to U.S. Legal Methods A (3 units)

Course Description: Designed to provide foreign students with background skills at a more basic level than U.S. Legal Methods A and B. Audit carefully selected courses in the regular curriculum and complete assignments related to those courses.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208F — Introduction to U.S. Legal Methods B (LLM) (3 units)

Course Description: Designed to provide foreign students with background skills at a more basic level than U.S. Legal Methods A and B. Audit carefully selected courses in the regular curriculum and complete assignments related to those courses.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208G — U.S. Legal Methods A (LL.M.) (3 units)

Course Description: Designed to provide foreign and other students with background skills necessary to succeed in both law school and legal practice.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to LL.M. students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208H — U.S. Legal Methods B (LL.M.) (3 units)

Course Description: Description of the evolution and use of sources of law and secondary authority.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208M — LL.M. Legal Essay Writing A (2 units)

Course Description: Improve legal writing skills with a focus on law school essay exams. Focuses on the following skills: 1) how to understand the goals of a US law school exam and the expectations of the professor; 2) how to structure an answer logically; 3) how to write clearly; 4) how to explain reasoning and discuss complex legal issues. Experiential class.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 208N — LL.M Legal Essay Writing B (2 units)

Course Description: Improve legal writing skills with a focus on bar essay exams. Focuses on the following skills: 1) How to understand the goals of a US bar; 2) How to structure an answer logically; 3) How to write clearly; 4) How to explain reasoning and discuss complex legal issues. Experiential class.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209A — Patent Law (3 units)

Course Description: Covers all essential aspects of patent law, including: prosecution, post-grant proceedings, patentable subject matter, utility, enablement & description, novelty, statutory bars, nonobviousness, infringement, and remedies.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 274; or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209B — Patent Prosecution & Practice (2 units)

Course Description: Examines core requirements and strategies for drafting and prosecuting a patent application before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Interact with real inventors and US PTO examiners to gain the experience of getting a patent issued.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209BP — Patent Prosecution Practicum (2 units)

Course Description: Analyze if an invention is directed to patentable subject matter, identify prior art, analyze patentability, and draft and electronically file a provisional patent application with the US Patent & Trademark office.

Prerequisite(s): Patent Law as pre-requisite or co-requisite.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Laboratory.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 1 time(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209C — Patentable Subject Matter: Genes, Methods, & Software (2 units)

Course Description: In-depth look at recent cases and debates behind genetic patenting, software; business models; diagnostic methods, and others. Reviews the crucial and rapidly evolving field of patent law which affects some of the most important hi-tech industries.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209DT — Innovation Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explores range of legal issues that innovation lawyers face, from establishing a start-up to high stakes technology mergers & acquisitions, to data protection and privacy, protecting intellectual property through strategic patent litigation.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209E — Patent Litigation (1 unit)

Course Description: Introduces the basics of Patent Law and examines the U.S. patent enforcement system. Learn how a patent litigation proceeds, focusing on both pre- and post-trial proceedings and examines substantive patent laws.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209F — Patent Litigation Skills – Claim Construction (1 unit)

Course Description: Skills-based course develops advocacy skills using the often case-critical patent claim construction process and hearing as a framework. Learn how to distill highly technical material into content more easily understood by a judge.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 274; Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 209G — Privacy, Technology, & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar evaluates the privacy law issues that arise from technological advancements and data trade transactions. Likely topics that the course will cover include the Internet of Things and legal responses to privacy related problems, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 209T — Innovation & Technology Transfer Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: From biomedicine to cleantech, public institutions are playing leading roles in developing cutting-edge technologies. Explores the law and policy of publicly-supported innovation and technology transfer.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 209A or LAW 274, recommended but not required.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 15 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210 — Reforming the Police & Criminal Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Focus on major current issues: policing ethnic neighborhoods; use of deadly force; modernizing the work of prosecutors and defense counsel.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to 25 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210A — Privatization of Criminal Justice Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Analyze the legal, historical, and sociological aspects of the growing private sector provision of criminal justice services traditionally assumed by government, including prisons, policing, and adjudication.

Prerequisite(s): Prior social theory or ciminal procedure knowledge not required; completion of LAW 227A strongly recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 10 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210B — Law of Policing (2 units)

Course Description: What are the expectations and roles of the police in a democratic society? We need order maintenance and crime control, but to assume these tasks the police sometimes intrude upon interests considered fundamental to free societies.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210C — Sexual Assault & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Criminal law of sexual assault, traditional and modern offenses, and proposals for reform. Discussion of procedural developments, victim’s counsel, evidentiary reform, and ADR. Implications for civil law, tort liability, Title VI, Title IX, and civil liability of perpetrators.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210D — Comparative Criminal Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Explores ways political units in different countries attempt to maintain social order and advance criminal justice. Examine people, policies, and institutions responsible for adjudicating alleged criminal law violations around the globe, learning how rules of professional responsibility and legal ethics guide the behavior of institutional actors who participate in criminal processes. Engage in research, formal presentations, and produce a publishable final paper.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 227A recommended, but not required.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210DT — Wrongful Convictions (2 units)

Course Description: Explore the magnitude and complexity of the wrongful convictions, their causes and remedies under existing law, and possible fixes (reforms). Emphasizes relevant legal rules (Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Post-Conviction Review).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210ET — Race, Mass Incarceration & Policing (2 units)

Course Description: Explores key issues in the historical development and the current state of modern American imprisonment, policing structures, and the criminal justice system in relation to race.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210F — Restorative Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Explore both the theory and practice of restorative justice as an alternative approach to the retributive justice model of our current criminal law system and many other institutions.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210FA — Aoki Center Restorative Justice Practicum I (2 units)

Course Description: Part one of a two-part practicum. Learn about restorative justice principles and practices, receive training in restorative justice facilitation, and participate in and lead restorative justice circles in Davis & Sacramento schools, Yolo County Juvenile Hall, and other venues.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 210FB — Aoki Center Restorative Justice Practicum II (2 units)

Course Description: Part two of a two-part practicum. Learn the principles and practices of restorative justice, receive training in restorative justice facilitation, participate in & conduct restorative justice circles with young people in Davis & Sacramento schools and the Yolo County Juvenile Hall.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 210G — Aoki Center Restorative Justice Practicum (2 units)

Course Description: Learn about restorative justice principles and practices, receive training in restorative justice facilitation, and participate in and lead restorative justice circles in Davis & Sacramento schools, Yolo County Juvenile Hall, and other venues.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 210H — Aoki Federal Court Amicus Project (3 units)

Course Description: Work on actual federal criminal cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States Supreme Court. File briefs amicus curiae on critical issues, and develop research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219; LAW 227A; both required or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Project.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210J — Best Practices for Justice Seminar: Advocates Working to Improve the Criminal Justice System (2 units)

Course Description: The Criminal Justice System continues to evolve as perceptions regarding judges, police officers and criminal attorneys change. Analyzes how our sense of justice is formed and what it looks like in the actual practice of criminal law.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 206; LAW 227A (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210K — Sexual Assaults in the Criminal Justice System (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the criminal prosecution and defense of sexual assaults, from reporting to sentencing, through examination of pertinent criminal statutes, evidence code sections, jury instructions, court documents and specific case studies.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210M — Criminal Justice in the Era of Prison Downsizing (2 units)

Course Description: Learn about how different parts of the criminal justice system work and to consider practical solutions to addressing crime in a context where the emphasis on incarceration is declining.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210N — Aoki Conviction & Sentence Integrity Practicum (3 units)

Course Description: Review individual cases for District Attorney offices for possible Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing (PIR), a post-conviction remedy designed to address excessive sentences, reduce mass incarceration, and advance racial justice.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 3 time(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210P — Post-Conviction Practicum (3 units)

Course Description: King Hall Post-Conviction Practicum students learn to effectively represent indigent and incarcerated individuals in the post-conviction process, with an emphasis on direct appeals in the California Court of Appeal and/or the California Supreme Court.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Laboratory.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210Q — Advanced Aoki Criminal Justice Practicum (3 units)

Course Description: Students who completed one semester of the Criminal Justice Practicum will work on claims of innocence, wrongful conviction, and other miscarriages of justice. Students will draft papers for prosecutors' offices, will make formal internal presentations, and possibly appear in court.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 210N.

  • Learning Activities: Practice.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 210R — Aoki Criminal Justice Practicum (2 units)

Course Description: Work on federal criminal appeals in the Ninth Circuit, partnering with the Federal Defender's Office in the Eastern District. Requires researching legal issues, thinking about appellate strategy, and drafting sections of briefs.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 206 and LAW 227A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 2 time(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 211 — Negotiations (2 units)

Course Description: Skills course teaches theoretical and empirical approaches to negotiation strategy for the purposes of making deals and resolving disputes. Participate in simulations to hone their negotiation skills, and write analytical papers.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 211A — Advanced Negotiations Strategy & Client Counseling (3 units)

Course Description: Understand the dynamics of interviewing and counseling process. Designed to be relevant to a broad spectrum of negotiation problems that are faced by legal professionals.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Application course; must apply and secure professor approval to enroll; will involve participating in discussions and a series of simulations; your classmates will be counting on you to actively participate and be well prepared for every simulation; do not apply to take this course unless you are willing and able to participate fully and can accept constructive feedback; if you anticipate missing more than two class sessions, do not apply to take this course.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 211B — International Business Negotiations (3 units)

Course Description: Structured around a simulated negotiation exercise with students from a similar class at Stanford Law School. Experience the development of a business transaction over an extended negotiation in a context that replicates actual legal practice.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent); prior or concurrent enrollment in Business Associations (LAW 215) required; prior enrollment in Negotiations (LAW 211) and/or International Business Transactions (LAW 270) preferred.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 211C — Negotiating Joint Ventures (2 units)

Course Description: Business negotiation and dispute resolution strategies through simulations, reading, and writing assignments.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 211D — Treatymaking: International Agreement Negotiations (3 units)

Course Description: Negotiation simulation intended to produce a multinational convention on a subject to be determined that is timely and meaningfully contributes to the real-world discourse. Begins with lectures/discussions of the fundamentals of treaty law. Followed by the class seeking Circular-175 authorization to enter into negotiations, and a variety of written and oral exercises/simulations leading to eventual conclusion of a multinational instrument.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 211E — International Negotiation & Mediation (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to cross-cultural negotiation and mediation in international business. Numerous guest appearances by non-U.S. lawyers and business professionals. Simulated negotiation exercises.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 202 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork 2 hour(s), Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 212A — Medical Liability Law & Policy (2 units)

Course Description: Considers the many ways in which society seeks to establish and maintain quality in patient care.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 213A — Transnational Criminal Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the laws responses to a particular aspect of globalization, transnational crime. Explore the phenomenon of transnationality and how it affects the power of nation-states, acting alone or together, to prosecute certain crimes.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 205; LAW 206.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 213T — Terrorism & International Law (2 units)

Course Description: International terrorism remains a pressing concern. Devising effective remedies for responding to it within the bounds of the law is critical. The new generation of international lawyers needs to be familiar with the relevant law and standards.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 214 — Tax Issues Related to Estate Planning (2 units)

Course Description: Tax issues Related to estate planning.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 221 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 214A — Migration, Work, & Taxation (2 units)

Course Description: Explores workers’ and prospective workers’ choices to move from one place to another, both across and within national borders. In particular, explores how tax policy and broader economic forces shape those choices.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215 — Business Associations (4 units)

Course Description: Legal rules and concepts applicable to business associations, both public and closely held. Corporate form of organization, partnerships and other associational forms.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Not open to students who have previously taken LAW 215C.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215A — The Law of Corporate Governance Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Advanced issues in the governance of publicly held corporations. Separation of ownership and control and how the law has addressed this issue at the theoretical level and in the context of topics such as the duties of corporate directors, shareholder voting rights, and competition among states to attract corporate charters.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215B — Corporate Integrity & Responsibility (2 units)

Course Description: Equips future business lawyers with the legal knowledge and technical skills to better understand, the U.S, European and Asian (select jurisdictions) regulatory responses to ethical and socially responsible corporate governance practices. Instruction seeks to re-define the aim of corporate governance as a tool to address efficiency, reduce agency costs and improve access to capital, as well as an emerging anti-corruption tool and a means to ensure more ethical corporate behavior.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215C — Business Associations (3 units)

Course Description: Provides a broad survey of the legal rules and concepts applicable to business associations, both public and closely held. Principal attention given to the corporate form of organization, although partnerships and other associational forms are also treated briefly.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students who take this course are ineligible for LAW 215.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215D — Business in Society (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: The pandemic, racial injustice, income inequality, and climate change have heightened the demands for companies to minimize their negative externalities. Explore how these stakeholder demands are shifting business practices, and transforming corporate law.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 215D — Business in Society (2 units)
  • Course Description: The pandemic, racial injustice, income inequality, and climate change have heightened the demands for companies to minimize their negative externalities. Explore how these stakeholder demands are shifting business practices, and transforming corporate law.
  • Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent).
  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 215E — Business Law & Climate Change (3 units)

Course Description: Climate change is redefining corporate law. Through case studies of the business and investment community, we will explore the intersection of business law and climate risk and discuss and debate how the climate crisis is impacting traditional corporate law paradigms.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent); or LAW 215C (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215F — Comparative Corporate Governance (3 units)

Course Description: Fundamentals of corporate governance. 2023 version of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. Anglo-American, European, Asia Pacific, African, Latin American, and Emerging Countries systems. Global challenges and corporate governance.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215G — Modern Topics in Business Law: Business Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Exposure to recent developments in business law, with a focus on key developments in corporate law, securities, and antitrust. The subjects of inquiry will draw from issues at both the frontier of academic research and legal practice.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 or LAW 215C.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215H — Corporate Risk Management & Compliance (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction into governance, risk management and compliance in business organization. Focuses on common legal and regulatory frameworks underpinning compliance programs and will use recent case studies to examine effective and failed compliance programs.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent)

  • Learning Activities: Discussion, Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 215S — Special Session Business Associations (4 units)

Course Description: Provides a broad survey of the legal rules and concepts applicable to business associations, both public and closely.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 216A — Law & Religion (2 units)

Course Description: Federal constitutional law relating to religion; the interpretation and application of the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 20 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 217 — Insurance Law (2 units)

Course Description: Covers the following topics: I. Insurance Law and Society, II. The Impact of Insurance, III. Contract Law Foundations, IV. First-Party Insurance, V. Liability Insurance: Coverage Issues, VI. Liability Insurance: Relationship Issues.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 217A — Comparative Telecommunications Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the key issues facing policy-makers in designing telecommunications regulatory systems (e.g. licensing, universal service, economic regulation, relationship with antitrust law), and the various ways in which different jurisdictions have chosen to address these issues.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218 — Constitutional Law II (4 units)

Course Description: Principally covers the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Not open to students who have completed LAW 218A or LAW 218B.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218A — Constitutional Law II: Equal Protection (2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Focuses on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Not open to students who have previously taken LAW 218, or who plan to take LAW 218 for 4 units; students enrolled in LAW 218A given priority registration in LAW 218B.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 218A — Constitutional Law II: Equal Protection (2 units)
  • Course Description: Focuses on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Not open to students who have previously taken LAW 218, or who plan to take LAW 218 for 4 units.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 218B — Constitutional Law II: First Amendment (3 units)

Course Description: Covers the Free Speech, Free Exercise, and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment. It will examine permissible limits on free speech, the government's obligation to accommodate religious exercise, and the separation of church and state.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Not open to students who have previously taken LAW 218, or who plan to take LAW 218 for 4 units.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218C — Critical Perspectives on Equal Protection (1 unit)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Discussion-based course focusing on academic articles, drawn from critical race and critical gender traditions, that examine the doctrine covered in LAW 218A. Choice and sequence of readings are tied to those assigned in LAW 218A.

Prerequisite(s): Must be taken concurrently with LAW 218A; or consent of instructor if previously taken LAW 218 or LAW 218A.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 218C — Critical Perspectives on Equal Protection (2 units)
  • Course Description: Discussion-based course focusing on academic articles, drawn from critical race and critical gender traditions, that examine the doctrine covered in LAW 218A. Choice and sequence of readings are tied to those assigned in LAW 218A.
  • Prerequisite(s): Must be taken concurrently with LAW 218A; or consent of instructor if previously taken LAW 218 or LAW 218A.
  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 218D — Constitutional Theory Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Provides students with a broad understanding of the shape of modern constitutional theory, and the ability to understand the implications of that theory for concrete historical and modern constitutional disputes.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218E — Direct Democracy in California (3 units)

Course Description: Study initiative, referendum, and recall, their impact on law and policy in California, and how they can be improved. While learning how they work in practice, examine significant initiatives and recent attempts at recalling elected officials.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 205.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218ET — California Constitutional Law (2 units)

Course Description: Reviews, interpretive meta-rules for constitutional construction, structure and institutions of state government, civil liberties under the Declaration of Rights, the impact of race in California society, and criminal law.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218F — Implicit Bias & the Law: Modern Forms of Discrimination (2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Provides an opportunity to analyze modern forms of discrimination, learn about cutting edge developments in this area, and explore effective ways to address these issues through the law.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 218F — Implicit Bias & the Law: Modern Forms of Discrimination (2 units)
  • Course Description: Explores modern forms of discrimination from various perspectives and effective ways to address these issues through the law.
  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 218T — Selected Topics in Constitutional Law (2 units)

Course Description: Examines two core themes of Constitutional Law I and Federal Jurisdiction: federalism and separation of powers. Concentrates on habeas corpus and the Eleventh Amendment as vehicles for examining the constitutional themes in greater depth.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218TA — Separation of Powers (2 units)

Course Description: Study of the separation of powers in our federal government by focusing on certain historical events and their impact on constitutional law.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218TB — Law of War (3 units)

Course Description: Surveys the law of armed conflict as it applies to today’s battlefields.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 218TC — Antidiscrimination Law (4 units)

Course Description: Offers an overview of federal constitutional and statutory anti-discrimination law in the United States.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 219 — Evidence (4 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Rules regarding the admissibility of testimonial and documentary proof during the trial of civil and criminal cases.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 219 — Evidence (3 units)
  • Course Description: Rules regarding the admissibility of testimonial and documentary proof during the trial of civil and criminal cases.
  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 219A — Advanced Evidence (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Public interest lawyers often spend much time in the courtroom. Prosecution, defender, and legal aid offices usually don't have resources to train lawyers in trial work. Seeks to help remedy this deficiency by helping develop witness interrogation skills.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to six students; selected by professor. Interested students complete an application form; available in the Law Registrar's Office. Credit is contingent on attending all classes and participating in all exercises. Participation is crucial to the success of the course, as students will be working in teams of three. Do not take this course unless you are willing and able to participate fully and can accept criticism.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
  • LAW 219A — Advanced Evidence & Trial Advocacy (2 units)
  • Course Description: In-depth examination of evidentiary issues most commonly encountered in trials. Affords a practical working knowledge of rules of threshold admissibility, character and habit evidence, privileges, hearsay, expert testimony, foundation, and objection procedures.
  • Prerequisite(s): LAW 219; LAW 263A.
  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to six students selected by professor; interested students complete an application form available in the Law Registrar's Office; credit contingent on attending all classes and participating in all exercises; participation crucial to the success of the course, as students work in teams of three; do not take this course unless you are willing and able to participate fully and can accept criticism.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 219B — E-Discovery & Digital Evidence (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the interplay between the significant e-discovery rules and case law, and the process of electronic discovery, beginning with the duty to preserve electronically stored information (ESI), to the search, identification, collection, review and production of ESI in litigation.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 219C — Evidence (4 units)

Course Description: Covers rules regarding the admissibility of proof during civil & criminal cases, including rules governing relevancy, hearsay, the examination & impeachment of witnesses, expert opinion, and constitutional & statutory privileges.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 220 — Federal Income Taxation (4 units)

Course Description: Surveys the federal income tax system, with consideration of the nature of income, when and to whom income is taxable, exclusions from the tax base, deductions and credits, and tax consequences of property ownership and disposition.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 220A — State & Local Taxation (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to fundamentals of state and local taxation. Beginning with historical and constitutional aspects, analyze recent developments in state and local taxation and their impact on client representation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 220B — Tax & Distributive Justice (3 units)

Course Description: Explores tax policy as public finance, politics, special interests, and a reflection of society’s biases and priorities. Underscores that tax is constructed and contingent, and exposes students to a generation of “critical tax” scholarship.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 220BT — Law of Banking & Financial Institutions (2 units)

Course Description: Guide to dual regulatory system, and an understanding of banks and other financial institutions, such as thrifts, credit unions, industrial banks, finance companies, and money transmitters, as well as large versus community banks.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 220C — Tax Controversy & Procedure (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the practical and procedural aspects of tax controversy before state and federal tax authorities.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 220 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 221 — Trusts, Wills & Estates (3 units)

Course Description: Basics of intestate succession and the creation and interpretation of wills and trusts under the Uniform Probate Code and the California Probate Code.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 221A — Practical Skills in Will & Trust Drafting & Administration (2 units)

Course Description: Provides the skills to practice law in the area of estate planning and probate/trust administration. Follow an estate planning client and draft actual estate plan documents. A series of related topics will be explored.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 222 — Critical Race Theory Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the relationship between racial power and the law through the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT). Explores CRT's contributions and limitations by examining its history and application to contemporary issues in law and society.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 222A — Latinos & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explores how the U.S. legal system has treated Latinos in areas such as education, immigration, employment and voting rights.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 222B — Asian Pacific Americans & Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines how American Law has shaped Asian Pacific American demographics, experiences, and status in American society.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 222CT — Anti-Corruption Law in India (2 units)

Course Description: Addresses the impact of large corruption scandals on long term social trust, in light of Indian coal block and 2G spectrum allocation scandals.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 222D — Race & Law (2-3 units)

Course Description: Examines major cases, statutes and events in U.S. law dealing with non-whites, including African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Indigenous People, and Latinx People, and the present effects of discrimination.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 223 — Estate Planning Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Selected topics in the estates and trusts area. Content varies with instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 224 — Animal Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: An introduction to legal principles affecting animals and their use.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 225 — California Community Property (2 units)

Course Description: Covers the California community property system, including the property rights of marital and registered domestic partners during the ongoing relationship, and upon the end of the relationship by death or divorce.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 226 — Disability Rights Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines disability law and theory. Devoted to the Americans with Disabilities Act (particularly Titles I, II, and III) as it applies to employment, education, public accommodations, and government services and programs.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 226ET — Mental Disability Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examine the civil and constitutional bases of mental disability law, as well as its history, and explore the role of mental disability in the policing and criminal trial process.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 227A — Criminal Procedure (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Federal constitutional limits on government authority to gather evidence and investigate crime. Topics include Fourth Amendment limits on search, seizure, and arrest; the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination; and the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 227A — Criminal Procedure (4 units)
  • Course Description: Federal constitutional limits on government authority to gather evidence and investigate crime. Topics include Fourth Amendment limits on search, seizure, and arrest; the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination; and the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.
  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 227B — Advanced Criminal Procedure (3 units)

Course Description: Examines a range of issues, including bail, charging decisions, preliminary hearings, discovery, statute of limitations, venue, joinder and severance, pleas, plea bargaining, assistance of counsel, trial, double jeopardy, sentencing, appeal and collateral remedies.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 227C — Topics in California Criminal Practice (2 units)

Course Description: Advanced criminal law and procedure class aimed at students planning to practice criminal law in California, either as an extern or summer clerk, or after graduation.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 228 — Startups & Venture Capital (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the various legal and business considerations involved in forming and operating an emerging growth business.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215; must be completed, prerequisite will not be waived.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 228A — Mergers & Acquisitions (3 units)

Course Description: Practical approach to mergers and acquisitions, with an in-depth look at the planning, negotiation, documentation and completion of mergers and acquisitions.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 228B — Accounting for Lawyers (2 units)

Course Description: Exposure to basic principles of accounting, from the perspective of the practicing attorney.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 228C — Law & Statistics (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to fundamentals of statistical analysis and how statistical analysis is used in the law and public policy. Goal is to assist in becoming excellent consumers of statistical information and evidence.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 229 — Scientific Evidence (3 units)

Course Description: In addition to examining the evidence law governing the admission of scientific testimony, considers trial advocacy in presenting and attacking such testimony.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 230 — International Environmental Law (3 units)

Course Description: Considers the challenge of addressing global environmental problems in a system characterized by multiple sovereign governments, the regulatory limitations of U.S. law, and the basic structure and principles of international environmental law.

Prerequisite(s): Prior course work in environmental law and/or international law is helpful.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 230A — Wine & the Law (1 unit)

Course Description: Surveys the legal landscape of this multi-billion dollar industry, focusing on contemporary debates and developments in judicial, legislative, and administrative arenas.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 230B — Sustainability Law (2 units)

Course Description: Covers research and practice of "environmental law" to show it is too narrow to adequately address 21st century needs. "Environmental law" often emphasizes public governance interventions without addressing pollution reducing opportunities that lay with private environmental governance. Explores how the legal profession can accelerate progress in addressing the climate crisis by expanding the study of "environmental law" into the broader and more applicable "sustainability law".

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 230C — California Environmental Cases & Places (3 units)

Course Description: Focuses on a four-day trip to world-class teaching locations throughout California. Approaches the locations from two distinctly different perspectives: law and environmental science. Learn hands-on water, environmental, and public lands law.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 230T — Free Trade & the Environment (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the relationship between legal rules relating to trade and rules for the protection of the environment.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 231 — Race, Gender & Inequality Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Examines gender and race and how they are constructed, contested, and regulated within legal, legislative, and juridical frameworks. Includes interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives across legal, sociolegal, and feminist studies. Topics include education, criminal justice, political representation, health and reproductive rights, privacy, civil rights.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 231A — Gender, Sexuality, & the Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the legal and social regulation of sexuality and gender.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 231B — Military Justice and Social Change: Race, Gender, and SOGI (2 units)

Course Description: The U.S. military has laws tailored to the mission. As society changes, these laws can limit or promote change. Explore race, gender, and LGBTQ identity though military law and analyze where the military promoted and hindered change.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 231C — Gender & Name Change Practicum (2 units)

Course Description: Preparation to participate in Gender & Name Change Project. Assist clients with the legal name and gender change process under attorney supervision. Includes skills building and discussion of the ways that law impacts gender identity.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 231A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2 hour(s).
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 232 — Real Estate Finance (2 units)

Course Description: Examination of the problems involved in the acquisition, financing, and development of real estate, and of lender remedies and debtor protections in the event of debtor default. Stresses the practical application of California legal doctrines.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 232AT — Real Estate Transactions (2 units)

Course Description: Review of legal issues in the purchase, sale, financing of residential real estate in US, with non-exclusive focus on California. Roles of parties involved, mechanisms of financing and security, survey of remedies, and role of mortgage lending beginning in 2008.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 232T — Property Law & Race (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar explores the extent to which property law (common law, federal, state, and local statutes, and administration regulations) historically impacted and currently shapes conceptions of race, racial groups, and racial relations.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 233 — Asylum & Refugee Law (3 units)

Course Description: Seminar covers some of the bedrock legal principles that have informed U.S. asylum and refugee laws, policies and practices in the last 50 years.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 235 LAW 292 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 233B — Comparative Forced Displacement (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on five case studies involving the plight of five people who have been forced to flee their homes either due to civil or international wars or based on significant internal human rights violations or climate change.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 233 and human rights law are recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 234 — Drug Law & Policy (2 units)

Course Description: Engage with the wide variety of policy and legal issues presented in the area of drug law and policy with a particular focus on one of the fastest-evolving fields in drug policy: marijuana law and policy.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 235 — Administrative Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines how the U.S. Constitution and the federal Administrative Procedure Act constrain and regulate decision making by government agencies and officials.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 235B — Counseling & Legal Strategy in the Digital Age (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the complex challenges that entrepreneurs, businesses, and other organizations face when trying to address legal issues relating to technology. Approach is both practical and multidisciplinary. Encourages exploring the roles of a wide range of stakeholders (including lawyers, policy advocates and policymakers, businesspersons, and technologists) in developing legal and business strategies.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 235C — Advanced Topics in Administrative Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explore several topics in administrative law (e.g., nondelegation, deference, and judicial vacatur) that have faced increased scrutiny from members of the Supreme Court in recent years, and will assess the arguments for and against revisiting them.

Prerequisite(s): Recommended that students complete LAW 235 Administrative Law before enrolling in this seminar.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 236 — Securities Regulations (3 units)

Course Description: Regulation of the distribution of securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and SEC Rules adopted there under, registration and reporting provisions of the 1934 Securities Exchange Act.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent) or LAW 215C (can be concurrent) recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 236A — Securities Regulation I (2 units)

Course Description: Legal rules and concepts applicable to business associations, both public and closely held. Corporate form of organization, partnerships and other associational forms.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215; or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 236B — Securities Regulation II (2 units)

Course Description: Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulation of securities markets. Topics covered include regulation of securities markets and securities professionals, responsibilities of securities lawyers, continuous reporting, transnational securities fraud, and enforcement of the securities acts.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215; or consent of instructor; LAW 236A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 236C — Securities Enforcement (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the civil and criminal enforcement of the securities laws by both the Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department. Surveys the administrative rules and investigative procedures that govern the SEC and the substantive related crimes.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 237 — Legal History (2 units)

Course Description: Traces the development of the common law from its origins in medieval England through the 20th century.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 237B — Special Topics in Legal Theory: Ancient Athenian Law (2 units)

Course Description: Athenian legal system was different from our own and was far less formal. How did it work? Why did it work? Why have political and legal theorists misunderstood Athens for so long and what can we learn from that failure?

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 239 — Mediation (3 units)

Course Description: Interactive focus on attorney representation of clients in mediation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 24 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 239A — Federal Court Mediation (2 units)

Course Description: Fundamental mediation skills through both lectures and hands-on simulation practice. Students will consider the challenges of working with sophisticated parties with entrenched positions, and will consider the role of irrationality.

  • Learning Activities: Practice 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 240 — Reforming Campaign Finance Law & the Initiative Process (2 units)

Course Description: Recent elections exposed many campaign finance and initiative issues. Focuses on reforms as well as current law.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to 25 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 240A — Law of the Political Process (3 units)

Course Description: Covers many of the foundational issues in the "law of democracy," as that body of statutory and constitutional law has developed in the United States.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 241 — Voting Rights Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar explores the right to vote under the U.S. Constitution.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 241A — Election Law: Voting Rights (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar on the right to vote in the United States as a matter of constitutional and statutory law.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 241B — Election Law: Campaign Finance, Political Speech, & Rights of Political Association (2 units)

Course Description: Investigate constitutional and statutory frameworks that channel and regulate the efforts of individuals, corporate & nonprofits, and political groups to convey their ideas to the electorate, to mobilize voter turnout, and to get their preferred candidates on the ballot and elected to office. Examine the legal status of contributions and expenditures of money and other goods. Consider political groups’ “internal” affairs, the selection of nominees, and the ballot.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 241C — Presidential Elections & the Constitution (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the process of selecting Presidents of the United States within the structure created by the U.S. Constitution and federal and state law. Explore cases, statutes, academic commentary and reform proposals, among other things.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 205; LAW 218 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 242 — Conflict of Laws (2 units)

Course Description: Study of how law operates across state and national borders. Topics include choice of applicable law in transactions involving multiple jurisdictions, recognition of judgments, and the exercise of jurisdiction.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 243 — Commercial & Bankruptcy Law (4 units)

Course Description: Remedies available to creditors to force payment, along with devices that creditors may use to give themselves priority against limited assets. Bankruptcy both as a means for providing funds for creditors and as a device for maximizing asset value.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 243A — Secured Transactions (2 units)

Course Description: Covers secured transactions (where a lender takes an interest in the debtor’s property as “collateral,” or security, for repayment of a loan) in personal property, such as auto loans and bank loans against business inventory.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 243B — Bankruptcy (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Introduction to essentials of U.S. law governing bankruptcy of consumers and businesses. Addresses bankruptcy under Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 243B — Bankruptcy (3 units)
  • Course Description: Debt collection outside of bankruptcy, individual bankruptcy in Chapters 7 and 13, and business bankruptcy in Chapter 11.
  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 243C — Advanced Bankruptcy Practice: Corporate Reorganization (2 units)

Course Description: Corporate chapter 11 bankruptcy under the Federal Bankruptcy Code and alternatives to corporate bankruptcy. Selection of venue. Formation of strategic objectives. Analysis of different professionals’ roles.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 245 — Corporate & White Collar Crime (2 units)

Course Description: Covers the law of conspiracy, corporate criminal liability, mail & wire fraud, the Hobbs Act, RICO, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and other white collar crimes and their associated defenses.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 245A — Corporate Responsibility: Case Studies in (Un)Ethical Leadership (2 units)

Course Description: Explores corporate responsibility and leadership through case studies of contemporary scandals. Reviews business forms and the consequences of an institution failing to comply with legal & ethical duties to employees, shareholders, and the public.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 245B — Death Penalty Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Offers overview of the constitutional law governing the death penalty in the United States.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 245C — White Collar Investigations & Prosecutions (2 units)

Course Description: Explore a fictional white-collar crime, learning how to establish probable cause through cooperative witnesses; search warrants, the utilization of informants, and indemnity agreements will be analyzed. Learn about indictments, complaints, laws surrounding arrests, bail hearings, evidentiary suppression motions, and grand jury indictments.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 227A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 246 — Federal Jurisdiction (3 units)

Course Description: Study of subject-matter jurisdiction of federal courts.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 205.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 246A — California Civil Procedure: A Practical Approach (2 units)

Course Description: Provides a practical, hands-on approach to California Civil Procedure through case studies, drafting of common litigation documents, and studying the application of the Code of Civil Procedure to practical case scenarios. Issues of general civil litigation emphasizing bar exam topics are included.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 203.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 247 — Taxation of Partnerships & LLCs (3 units)

Course Description: Study of the federal income tax treatment of partnerships and partners; including entities classified as partnerships.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 220.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 247A — International Taxation (3 units)

Course Description: Major topics include worldwide taxation as applied to individuals (immigrants); source of income definitions in American tax law; concepts in inbound taxation, e.g., U.S. taxation of foreign persons; outbound taxation, e.g., U.S. taxation of foreign income.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 220 (can be concurrent); completion or current enrollment in a course covering the domestic taxation of corporations is suggested but not required; LAW 247B can be concurrent.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 247B — Corporate Tax (3 units)

Course Description: Examination of the federal income tax relationship between corporations and their owners. Covers the transfer of funds into a corporation on formation and the re-transfer of money and property from the corporation to its shareholders.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 247C — Taxation of Business Entities (4 units)

Course Description: Introduction to federal income taxation of business entities.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 220; prerequisite will not be waived.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248 — International Law (3 units)

Course Description: Fundamentals of public international law in the context of contemporary world affairs, and vice versa. Provides an essential foundation for further study or for practice in any area of international law or transnational law.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248A — Jurisdiction in Cyberspace Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Review concepts in international law, conflicts of law, cyberlaw, and federal jurisdiction to address the growing multi-jurisdictional conflicts created by the Internet. Examine European efforts at crafting intra-Europe jurisdictional rules, as well as other international jurisdiction treaty projects such as those at the Hague.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248B — Human Rights in Context (2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Overview of the theory and practice of human rights law. Requirements include weekly discussion responses, a seminar paper, and active class participation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 248B — Human Rights in Context (2 units)
  • Course Description: Overview of the theory and practice of human rights law. Requirements include weekly discussion responses, a seminar paper, and active class participation.
  • Prerequisite(s): LAW 248 recommended.
  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 248C — Business & Human Rights (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the human rights responsibilities of businesses from legal, ethical, historical, and comparative perspectives. Equips students with the tools to be sensitive to human rights considerations as legal practitioners or in other fields of endeavor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248CA — United Nations Human Rights Practicum I (2-3 units)

Course Description: Opportunity to work in support of the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248CB — United Nations Human Rights Practicum II (2-3 units)

Course Description: Build on the knowledge of the workings of the United Nations human rights system they gained in Practicum I, and gain further advanced experience working with UN documents, with individual cases in the field and with thematic reports.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248D — Globalization & the Law (3 units)

Course Description: Globalization of people, finance, goods, services, and information puts pressure on the nation-state form. In a world of diasporas and multinational corporations, what does citizenship mean?

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248ET — Transitional Justice & Memory Politics in the Asia-Pacific (2 units)

Course Description: Transitional justice (legal responses to wrongdoings of repressive predecessor regimes) can help resolve “memory politics” that plague the relations and societies of many Asia-Pacific states. Examine relevant roles of governments, novel institutions, the judiciary, and civil society.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248G — Legal Spanish for U.S. Lawyers (2 units)

Course Description: Designed for law students who are native Spanish-speakers or who have achieved proficiency in Spanish through study or experiences in a Spanish-speaking country.

Prerequisite(s): Must satisfy one of the following: undergraduate degree in Spanish; a minor in Spanish with experience living in a Spanish-speaking country; grew up in a Spanish-speaking household and achieved proficiency; able to pass an informal assessment by the instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 248T — Advanced International Law (2 units)

Course Description: Review books of international law; Hugo Grotius and Judge Rosalyn Higgins. Themes include peaceful resolutions of dispute, law of war and peace, and international legal process.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248TA — Human Rights in Post Soviet Central Asia: Legal Tools For Repression & Redress (2 units)

Course Description: Provides a historical context for the current political and human rights situation in Central Asia.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248TC — International Economics Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examine the architecture of the international economic system, with a focus on both trade and investment.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 248TT — Theories of International Law (2 units)

Course Description: International law, once critiqued as powerless and ineffective, is now challenged as a threat to American democracy. Introduction to competing theories of international law, including natural law, positivism, realism, liberalism, constructivism, fairness, legal process, and world public order.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 249 — Comparative Law (2 units)

Course Description: Uses of comparative method, principal differences between common law and civil law and the styles of legal reasoning that prevail in these two great legal cultures. Topics include the evolution of the civil law, the phenomenon of codification, the structure of European civil codes and the interpretation of their provisions, the respective roles of counsel, judges and law teachers, civil law procedure, and the analysis of selected areas of substantive law. Knowledge of a foreign language is not required.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 249A — First Gen Experience in Scholarly & Popular Literature (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Provides an opportunity for students who are first in their family to go to college, or first in their family to go to law school, to reflect on their own educational journeys and to see how their trajectory of formal education is similar to and/or different from the journeys of famous First Gen lawyers, e.g., Barack Obama and Sonia Sotomayor. Principles of memoir writing used to guide student writing.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 249A — First Gen Experience in Scholarly & Popular Literature (3 units)
  • Course Description: Provides an opportunity for students who are first in their family to go to college (or to law school) to reflect on their own educational journeys and to see how their trajectory is similar to and/or different from that of other first-gen lawyers.
  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 250 — Jurisprudence Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: Deals principally with the question of how judges should decide "hard cases," where the content of the law is in doubt and competent arguments have or could be offered for mutually inconsistent decisions in favor of either party.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 250A — Aoki Legal Scholarship Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: For students participating in the Aoki Center for Race and Nation Studies’ Immigration Law Journal. Research, and write a note on a topic related to immigration. Expectation is production of papers of publishable quality.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 250B — Advanced Writing Workshop (1 unit)

Course Description: Second- and third-year students produce a piece of academic writing that satisfies the King Hall writing requirement and is of publishable quality. Receive feedback both from the instructor and from one another in a workshop setting.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 250T — Asian American Jurisprudence (3 units)

Course Description: Legal, social, and political discourse on race relations has traditionally been framed in Black-White terms. Disrupts the traditional view by taking Asian Americans seriously.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 251 — Labor Law (3 units)

Course Description: Survey of the legislative, administrative, and judicial regulation of labor relations under federal law. Historical development of labor law, the scope of national legislation, unions, strikes, picketing, and collective bargaining agreements.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 251B — Labor Law Practicum (1-2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the labor movement, and the ways in which lawyers support and interact with the movement. Placed in labor organizations, labor-related law firms, and non-profits, students gain experience with different aspects of labor organizing, labor campaigns, and collective bargaining.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 251 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Practice 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 251B — Labor Law Practicum (2 units)
  • Course Description: Develops a theoretical and practical understanding of the labor movement, and the ways in which lawyers support and interact with the movement. Placement in labor organizations, labor-related law firms, and non-profits to gain experience with different aspects of labor organizing, labor campaigns, and collective bargaining.
  • Prerequisite(s): LAW 251 (can be concurrent).
  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork..
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 252 — International Litigation & Arbitration (3 units)

Course Description: Current developments in international law, conflict of laws, civil procedure, arbitration, and comparative law in the context of transactions and disputes that cut across national boundaries.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 252A — Introduction to Criminal Litigation; Pre-Trial (2 units)

Course Description: Utilizes experiential learning techniques to teach advocacy skills during the life of a criminal case and simulates critical stages of the proceedings by conducting mock hearings throughout the semester.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 253 — Policy Advocacy (2 units)

Course Description: In-depth examination of the legislative process both within the California Legislature and from the advocates’ perspective. Train in key policy advocacy skills by legislative leaders and social justice advocates.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 253A — Community Lawyering (3 units)

Course Description: Study the need for community lawyering including the structural inequalities and privileges embedded in the legal system and society. Skills necessary for community lawyering as well as sites and models for practice will be examined.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 253B — International Public Interest Law and Advocacy (3 units)

Course Description: Simulation course introduction to the applied legal and policy skills necessary to become effective lawyers and advocates in the international public interest/nongovernmental organization community.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 254 — Housing Law (2 units)

Course Description: Survey course covers legal and policy issues related to developing, protecting and preserving affordable, safe and accessible housing and sustaining viable, diverse communities.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 254A — Law & Rural Livelihoods (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Seminar considers rural manifestations of various legal, social and economic issues. Survey various subfields of legal study; e.g., criminal justice, poverty, environment and land use, local government, family, constitutional, agricultural, access to justice, as they relate to the rural-urban continuum. Debate rurality as an aspect of identity and consider its intersections with race, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability and other identity variables.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 254A — Law & Rural Livelihoods (3 units)
  • Course Description: Considers rural manifestations of various legal, social and economic phenomena. Survey various sub fields of legal study (e.g., criminal justice, environment, access to justice) as they relate to the rural-urban continuum.
  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Credit Limitation(s): No credit if student has taken LAW 254C.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 254B — Access to Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Study of a variety of barriers that impede the access of unrepresented litigants to the courts–including poverty, racial bias, limited English proficiency and the digital divide–and critically examine existing solutions. Opportunity to develop and propose student's own solution to an access barrier.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 254C — White Working Class & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Considers the social, cultural, economic, and legal situation of low-income and/or low-education whites in contemporary U.S. society.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students who have taken LAW 254A previously are not eligible for this course.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 255 — Pension & Employee Benefits Law (3 units)

Course Description: Federal regulation and taxation of private pensions and employee benefits. Covers the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code issues.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 256 — Land Use (2 units)

Course Description: Local agencies, developers, environmental interest groups, and others who regularly deal with the administrative and legislative applications of land use planning and development laws. Topics include zoning, general plans, local government land use regulation, and related areas of litigation. Expanding role of the California Environmental Quality Act.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 257 — Legislative Process (2 units)

Course Description: Fundamental elements of the legislative process, including legislative procedure; the legislature as an institution; lobbying; statutory interpretation, legislative-executive relations; and the legislature's constitutional powers and limitations.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 257A — Legislative Intent Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Theories and principles of statutory and constitutional interpretation. Original intent vs. living constitution; permissible kinds of evidence for determining legislative intent; canons of construction; extent to which initiatives should be interpreted similarly to legislative enactments.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 257B — Statutory Interpretation (3 units)

Course Description: Elective course for Environmental Law Certificate Program. Provides an introduction to the theory and practice of statutory interpretation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 257C — Applied Statutory Interpretation: California’s Housing-Framework Legislation (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Theory and practice of statutory interpretation, taught using California statutes that address local barriers to housing supply. Writing intensive.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 257C — Applied Statutory Interpretation: California’s Housing-Framework Legislation (3 units)
  • Course Description: Theory and practice of statutory interpretation using case studies from the body of California law concerned with locally-erected barriers to housing supply. Grading based on a set of writing assignments derived from real-world cases.
  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 257D — Legislative Drafting (2 units)

Course Description: Legislative Drafting provides practical experience in researching, analyzing, and drafting all legislative measures in the State of California, including bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 257 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258 — Professional Responsibility (3 units)

Course Description: The ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Code of Judicial Conduct, which are tested on the MPRE, and the California Rules of Professional Conduct, which are tested on the California Bar Examination.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Closed to students who have taken LAW 258A.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258A — Legal Ethics & Organizational Practice (3 units)

Course Description: Explores ethics rules governing the legal profession, including state Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs) and the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Discern how the various RPCs differ, and we apply them to real-life situations.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Closed to students who have taken LAW 258 or 258H.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258B — Mindfulness & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Reviews the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Code of Judicial Conduct, as tested on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and covers California Rules of Professional Conduct, which are tested on the California Bar Examination.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258C — Conscious Lawyering (1 unit)

Course Description: Introductions to the practice of conscious lawyering. Includes concepts in professional and personal identity, self-awareness, focus, emotional intelligence, cultural and personal values, mindfulness, meditation, and mind-body connection.

  • Learning Activities: Practice 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 258CT — The Business of Lawyering (2 units)

Course Description: Desired outcome is a thorough understanding of the business side of law practice and to promote an understanding of the relationship and balance between legal skills, business requirements of a practice, client needs and a work-life balance.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258D — Starting & Managing a Small Law Practice (2 units)

Course Description: Using real practice examples, in this discussion/simulation-based course learn how to open and successfully run a small law practice. Included topics: structure and organization, office set-up, billing, fees, time management, client handling, overseeing office staff, trust accounting, and ethical rules.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 258DT — Setting Up & Maintaining Solo Law Practice (1 unit)

Course Description: Introduction/overview of how to start a successful solo practice.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258E — Utility of Law School & Careers in the Law (1 unit)

Course Description: Despite improvements in the economy, some observers continue to question whether law school is a viable option for college graduates. Considers the controversy and expose students to the variety of careers in the legal profession.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 258F — Practice Ready Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Includes a discussion and review of the role of the junior attorney within a law firm/legal department, professional goal-setting, strategies for effective communication and work within teams, delegation and resource management, organization and time management, an introduction to common junior-level assignments and how to complete them efficiently and effectively, building a professional network, and an introduction to business development, among other topics.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 258G — Business Fundamentals for Lawyers (3 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Surveys accounting and financial statements, basic financial concepts (e.g., time value of money), business valuation, capital markets, and major transaction types. Should help with other business law courses and be useful for communicating with business clients.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 258G — Business Fundamentals for Lawyers (3 units)
  • Course Description: Overview of basic concepts of accounting and finance and their application to business valuation and in business contracts..
  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 258H — Professional Responsibility (2 units)

Course Description: Ethical duties of lawyers in a variety of different contexts. Examines topics such as client control over the major decisions in a case, the duty of zealous advocacy, representation of organizations, and the unique role of government attorneys. Covers the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the California Rules of Professional Conduct, which are tested (respectively) on the MPRE and the California Bar Exam.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students who take this course are ineligible for Law 258 and Law 258A.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 258J — Lawyers, the Rule of Law & Democracy (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar explores lawyer's roles, ethical obligations and critical choices regarding maintaining and preserving rule of law and democracy, by examining historical and contemporary scenarios. Class participation expected.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 259 — Feminist Legal Theory (2 units)

Course Description: Provides an overview of feminist legal theory and considers how its various strands inform legislative and judicial law making. Satisfies Advanced Writing Requirement.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 259A — Women, Islam & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Study legal and religious reform movements for women's rights within Muslim communities in the context of current scholarly and political debates about fundamentalism, democracy, equality, secularism, universalism, and multiculturalism.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 259B — Women's Human Rights (2 units)

Course Description: Overview of international legal and institutional system for the protection of women’s human rights from an academic perspective and the view of the practitioner. Includes the (CEDAW), violence against women, sexual and reproductive rights, economic rights, and more.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 259P — Women & the Law Practicum (1 unit)

Course Description: Complements the content of the feminist legal theory course by providing the opportunity to consider how feminist theory may be used to inform law-making.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 259 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 260 — Employment Discrimination (3 units)

Course Description: Examination of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 260A — Employment Law (3 units)

Course Description: Covers the rights of individual employees other than those covered in the Employment Discrimination or Labor Law courses.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 261 — Judicial Process (2 units)

Course Description: Examines a variety of issues concerning the judicial process. Focus is on judge's role in the legal process, the administration of justice, ethical issues, decision making, bias, and critical examination of the strengths and weaknesses in our current judicial system.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 261A — Comparative Judicial Process (2 units)

Course Description: Comparative law course focused on judicial institutions and judicial decision-making around the world.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 262 — Antitrust (3 units)

Course Description: Focus on the federal antitrust laws, concentrating on basic substantive areas of the Sherman and Clayton Acts.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 262AT — US Antitrust Law & Indian Competition Law: A Comparative Perspective (2 units)

Course Description: Fundamental principles of Indian Competition Law and US Antitrust Law in a comparative perspective. Helps American students, interested in future corporate law careers, to develop effective strategies for better managing cross border deals in India.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 262B — Regulated Industries (2 units)

Course Description: Examines regulation of business in sectors, traditionally described as “common carrier” and “utility” industries, where because of market failures normal competitive mechanism will not protect consumers from exercises of market power.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 262C — Antitrust & Intellectual Property (1 unit)

Course Description: Explores the challenges antitrust law faces in protecting the innovation incentives of dynamic technology-led market competition, motivating and incentivizing companies to innovate and allowing them to retain the profits of such market growth.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 263 — Criminal Trials: Theory & Practice (3 units)

Course Description: Trial advocacy centered on client relationship building, preparation for trial, and courtroom practice.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 263A — Trial Practice (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to trial. Featuring lectures, demonstrations, assigned readings, and trial drills. Students will formulate trial strategy, theory and theme and conduct all phases of a trial, including opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s), Laboratory 1 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 263B — Advanced Trial Practice (2 units)

Course Description: Train on the organization and presentation of a complex trial, including pretrial preparation, jury selection, strategy considerations, evidentiary issues, and effective handling of plaintiff and defense cases through verdict.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219; LAW 263A.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Class limited to 40 students.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 263C — Voir Dire: Theory & Practice (1 unit)

Course Description: Teaches (1) the law that restricts and supports jury selection in criminal law trials, (2) the most effective methods of engaging in jury selection, (3) how to think critically and strategically about voir dire questioning and juror challenges.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 264 — Water Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examine the diversity of water rights legal systems throughout the U.S., concerning surface water and groundwater rights. The course will also address major, current water law & policy issues including Native American rights & climate change impacts.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 264A — Ocean & Coastal Law (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the goals and challenges of coastal and ocean policy; the complicated web of public and private interests in coastal lands and ocean waters; regulation of coastal development; domestic and international fisheries management; and preservation of ocean resources.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 265 — Natural Resources Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: In-depth coverage of two foundational principles of natural resources law: public trust doctrine and private property rights protected under the Takings Clause of the U.S. and many state constitutions.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 285 or LAW 256 recommended, but not required.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 15 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 266 — Commercial Law (3 units)

Course Description: Survey of commercial transactions law under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Covers a number of topics under Articles 2, 3, & 9 of the UCC. Topics include attachment and perfection of security interests in personal property and general principles of negotiability. Primary goals are to provide a foundational knowledge and understanding of several articles of the UCC and improve problem-solving skills in this area.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 202.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 266A — Cyberlaw (2 units)

Course Description: Examines from a globalized perspective a broad range of internet governance issues, ranging from free speech, hate speech, defamation, copyright, intermediary liability, administrative censorship online, online anonymity, privacy, data protection, etc.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 266B — Artificial Intelligence & the Law (1 unit)

Course Description: Looks at AI's seemingly infinite possibilities and discusses where should the legal boundaries begin and end. Core lecturing centers on the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and the proposed EU AI Regulation requirements.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 267 — Civil Rights Law (2 units)

Course Description: Civil remedies for civil rights violations under the primary United States civil rights statute. Specifically, covers actions for constitutional and statutory violations under 42 USC §1983, affirmative defenses, and abstention doctrines.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 267C — DFEH Civil Rights Practicum (4-7 units)

Course Description: Yearlong practicum (4-7 units/semester) has (1) weekly two-hour in-class lectures and case review, and (2) student participation in DFEH investigations (fall) and mediations (spring). Gain experience analyzing and applying the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 268A — Blockchain & the Law: Introduction for Lawyers (2 units)

Course Description: Student-led review of blockchain/distributed ledger technology (dlt) and its impact on law and transactions, from the basic functioning of a blockchain to the implication of smart contracts in areas such as cryptocurrencies, decentralized autonomous organizations, and self-sovereign identity.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 268T — Suing the Government: Civil Rights, Torts, Takings, & More (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the basic requirements of suing government, including sovereign immunity, particular schemes for litigating against government (Federal Tort Claims Act, APA, False Claims Act, etc.), direct constitutional claims and the procedural pitfalls and remedies available against government.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269 — Basic Finance for Lawyers (2 units)

Course Description: Basic techniques of analysis that are part of the core curriculum in a good business school. Gives background necessary for understanding and advising your clients and for understanding other business-related law school courses.

Prerequisite(s): Students with a non-law basic finance course will not be admitted, except with consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269AT — The Financial Crisis: Law & Policy & Inequality (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the regulation of financial intermediaries. Stated goal of regulation is to ensure systemic stability and to pursue consumer protection. Question asked whether there is an imbalance between systematic stability and consumer protection before the crisis of 2008.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269B — Consumer Protection & Financial Regulation (3 units)

Course Description: Examines laws seeking a “fair” financial marketplace, including markets for consumer credit, residential mortgages, and student lending through Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; disclosure; and prohibitions on unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269C — Corporate Finance (3 units)

Course Description: Focus on how corporations raise money, stocks and bonds, etc.; how deals are structured and why corporations use one strategy instead of another.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 or concurrent enrollment recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269D — Seminar on Financial Regulation (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the legal and regulatory issues presented by contemporary capital markets.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269E — Public Finance (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the basic concepts of public finance, the underlying law governing public finance: in particular state law, federal tax law and federal securities law.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 269F — Fintech Innovation & Financial Inclusion (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on fintech innovation and financial inclusion. Explores how fintech is transforming traditional financial services and providing new opportunities and challenges for financial inclusion.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 270 — International Business Transactions (2 units)

Course Description: Select legal problems arising from international business transactions.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 270A — Life-Cycle Transactions & Drafting (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on analysis of contract drafting design for various types of transactions and actual transactional documents typically encountered.

Prerequisite(s): Business Associations and/or Trusts, Wills Estates are recommended for enhanced comprehension.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 270B — Technology Transactions (2 units)

Course Description: Practical overview of technology transactions, including licensing. In addition to substantive lectures, instruction via hypotheticals and scenarios to illustrate key issues in these transactions, drafting exercises, negotiation exercises, and group presentation exercises.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 270C — Contract Drafting & Development (3 units)

Course Description: Complete complex contracts. Learn various approaches to completing contracts (from term sheet to final document) and complete exercises and assignments to hone contract skills. Build a “contract skills toolbox” with the tools needed for completing and drafting contracts.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 270D — Transactional Lawyering Skills: Contract Drafting for Tech (2 units)

Course Description: Skills-based course applies legal concepts to client counselling and drafting of effective business documents with emphasis on the tech industry. Solve problems, analyze risk, and draft contracts in a real-world context.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 271 — Nonprofit Organizations & Drafting (4 units)

Course Description: Learn special legal rules and concepts applicable to non-profit organizations; particularly IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Combination skills class and lecture class.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215; or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Extensive Writing/Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 13 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 271A — NonProfit Organizations: State & Local Governance Issues (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the state and local laws applicable to nonprofit organizations; i.e., public interest, cultural, religious, educational and other not-for-profit entities.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215 (can be concurrent); or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 271B — Nonprofit Organizations: Tax Exemptions & Taxation Focus (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the conceptual basis and substantive law criteria for the federal and state income tax exemption of nonprofit organizations.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215; or consent of instructor; LAW 220 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 271T — Nonprofit Organizations-Key Legal Topics (2 units)

Course Description: Legal issues raised in operating and governing a nonprofit organization, primarily a public charity.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 272 — Family Law (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the legal regulation of the family.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 273A — Education Policy & the Law (3 units)

Course Description: Education law and policy, focusing in particular on efforts to use the law and policy to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 273B — Special Education Law & Policy (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the law of special education including the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and federal regulations governing special education law.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274 — Intellectual Property (3 units)

Course Description: Provides a broad survey of intellectual property law. Areas covered include trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Examines legal doctrine as well as the theories and policies animating the intellectual property system.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274A — International Intellectual Property & Development (2 units)

Course Description: Examines international trade law, national customs law, intermediary liability rules, claims for rights in traditional knowledge and genetic resources, protections for geographical indications, technology transfer, and intellectual property piracy.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274B — Trade Secrets (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the law of trade secrets, including the DTSA, the UTSA, current case law developments, and the overlap between trade secret laws and employment laws. No technical background required.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 274; or consent or instructor; prior coursework in property, torts, evidence, and contracts recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274CT — Knowledge Commons, Collaborative Authorship, Open Access (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the increasingly global diffusion and success of collaborative forms of cultural and technoscientific production rooted in copyright-based licenses.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274D — Intellectual Property in Historical Context Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: How the legal system has adapted to earlier periods of rapid change by creating, delimiting, and expanding intellectual property rights (IPRs). Required paper satisfies advanced writing requirement.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274ET — Intellectual Property, Human Rights & Social Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Examine the implications of copyright and patents for a broad set of social justice values, with particular emphasis on the interaction between intellectual property law and human rights law on the global stage.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274FT — Censorship in the Global Age (2 units)

Course Description: Examines from a globalized perspective a broad range of censorship issues, drawing from established cases and practices. This seminar attempts to identify a globally consistent set of theories that have gained traction in relevant regional or international debates.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274GT — Race, National Identity & Intellectual Properties (2 units)

Course Description: Drawing upon methods taken from critical race theory, critical/cultural studies, and rhetoric this course addresses the relationships between intellectual properties and processes racial/national identity formation in the US, particularly as exemplified in legal, popular cultural, and political texts.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274H — Theory & History of Intellectual Property (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar traces development of intellectual property law in the U.S. and Europe because it is not possible to understand the logic and shape of current Intellectual Property concepts outside of their messy history.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274J — Current Controversies in Intellectual Property Law (2 units)

Course Description: Examine controversial topics in intellectual property law and policy across a wide range of issues, from technology to the arts, to social justice, in their national and international dimensions.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 274K — International & Comparative Intellectual Property (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the international regulation of intellectual property rights and explores the place of the United States in the international IP community. Discusses international treaties and legal harmonization efforts, legislation and case law from different jurisdictions, and the role of technology.

Prerequisite(s): Completion or simultaneous enrollment in Copyright and/or Intellectual Property.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 275 — Complex Litigation in a Civil Rights Context (2 units)

Course Description: Study of the issues that frequently arise in large complex litigation involving multiple parties and multiple claims.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 275B — Federal Courts for Civil Rights Litigators (2 units)

Course Description: Tackles the complex strategic questions facing civil rights litigators. Evaluated cases include Floyd v. City of New York, Dukes v. Wal-Mart, and others. includes guest speakers involved in these cases.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 275TA — Intellectual Property Agreement Drafting for Biotech & Pharma (2 units)

Course Description: Covers the negotiation and drafting of intellectual property agreements common in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical arena.

Prerequisite(s): Upper division Business Law course or Intellectual Property course; priority given to students that have completed LAW 274.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 276 — Juvenile Justice Process (2 units)

Course Description: Legal and philosophical bases of a separate juvenile justice process for crimes committed by minors. The role of counsel at each phase of the process is examined.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 276A — Child Welfare & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on the welfare and legal rights of children, especially the most at risk in society, including those in foster care and victims of crime and civil torts. Learn the substantive law of juvenile dependency and the special duties of lawyers representing children in dependency and civil cases, as well as child witnesses in criminal cases.

Prerequisite(s): Constitutional Law I (required); Family Law (recommended); Juvenile Justice (recommended).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 276B — Children & the Law (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the unique status of children in our legal system, focusing on the juvenile legal system and the child welfare system. Additional topics include the rights of children, psychology of adolescence, representing children, international perspective.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 277 — Federal Indian Law (3 units)

Course Description: Focuses on legal relations between Native American tribes and the federal and state governments.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 277A — Tribal Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the administration of justice within tribal governments and courts and the efforts of advocates to achieve justice for tribes through litigation, policy advocacy, public education, organizing, and inter-governmental collaboration.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 277T — Indian Gaming Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Examines unique historical, political and legal context in which Indian tribes operate casinos, including impacts on tribal sovereignty, relations between tribes, states and local governments and changing relationships among the tribes themselves members, with particular reference to experience of California.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 20 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 278 — Pretrial Skills (2 units)

Course Description: Sharpen pretrial lawyering skills through readings, discussion, role-playing exercises, videotaped simulations, and related projects. Emphasis on client interviewing, witness interviewing and depositions. Some simulations conducted outside class sessions.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 279 — Legal Analysis (2 units)

Course Description: Focus on skills critical to law school success, and ultimately, bar exam success; skills include effective case reading, briefing, outlining, and exam writing. Receive individualized feedback on each of their written assignments.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to second-year law students only.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 280 — Advanced Legal Writing: Analytical & Persuasive Writing (2 units)

Course Description: Develop essay writing skills typically employed on the bar examination. Receive feedback on written work and learn analytical and persuasive writing skills transferable to the bar exam and legal practice.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to third-year Law students only.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 280B — Problem Solving & Analysis (2 units)

Course Description: Skills focused on the development of legal analytical and organizational methods essential to successful completion of the Performance Test component of the California Bar Exam (and other states), and, by extension, to success in the practice of law.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to third-year Law students only.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 281 — State & Local Government Law (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the law governing the relations between local governments and states.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 282 — Energy Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the history, law, and public policy of energy regulation in the United States, emphasizing economic and environmental regulation. Competitive restructuring of the natural gas and electric utility industries is emphasized. Basic regulatory schemes for other energy sources—hydroelectric power, coal, oil, and nuclear power—are explored depending on class interest.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 282A — Renewable Energy Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Provides a broad overview of renewable energy law and policy with a particular focus on the California policy context. Topics include renewable electricity, California’s renewable portfolio standard, and project development.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 283 — Remedies (2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Survey of modern American civil remedies law in both private and public law contexts. Topics include equitable remedies, equitable defenses, contempt power, injunctive relief, restitution, and money damages in torts and contracts.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 283 — Remedies (3 units)
  • Course Description: Survey of modern American civil remedies law in both private and public law contexts. Topics include equitable remedies, equitable defenses, contempt power, injunctive relief, restitution, and money damages in torts and contracts.
  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 284 — Law & Economics (3 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the economic analysis of law. Prior study of economics is not required.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285 — Environmental Law (4 units)

Course Description: Introduction to environmental law, focusing primarily on federal law.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285A — California Environmental Issues (2 units)

Course Description: The "Nation-state" of California has for many years been a national and global leader in environmental law and policy. Survey of key California environmental law and policy issues.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285B — Environmental Practice (3 units)

Course Description: Examines underlying theory and practice in securing compliance with our major environmental laws.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 285 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285BT — Food Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Focus on the law and policy of the emerging "food justice movement," which combines the goals and principles of the environmental justice movement with some of the policy initiatives involved in "ethical consumption" and "sustainable agriculture" movements.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285C — Food Systems Law & the Environment (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the various legal structures surrounding the governance of our food system; we will cover environmental regulation (or lack thereof), food safety laws, trade laws, and labor laws.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285D — Farmworkers & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Provides an overview of California and federal laws impacting farmworkers and how such laws have been applied to regulate working conditions in agriculture.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285E — Climate Change Law & Policy (3 units)

Course Description: Addresses the legal and public policy dimensions of climate change, perhaps the most important environmental issue of our time.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285F — Environmental Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to the field of environmental justice.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285H — Comparative Environmental Law (2 units)

Course Description: Focus on Pacific Rim, examining factors, similarities/differences in countries environmental regulation and success of environmental law. Including information and market-based regulatory approaches; compliance and enforcement gaps; citizen and community mobilization; the role of legal institutions; variations in regulatory style.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285J — Drafting a Solar Farm Bill Practicum (2 units)

Course Description: Drafting a Solar Farm Bill is a practicum in which the class acts as an advisory law firm for its client, a solar farm bill solution and its facilitator, the educational non-profit Climate Solutions Advocacy Institute (CSAI). The class objective is to provide the client with a white paper that can advise CSAI in its development of a massive solar farm bill, financed by green bonds.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 285 recommended (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 285K — Biodiversity Law (2 units)

Course Description: Covers the law of biodiversity, with a focus on the laws of the United States, including both science and federal, state, and local policies. Graded based on short response papers and participation in class discussions.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 285 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 285L — Food Innovation Law & Policy Seminar (1 unit)

Course Description: Introduction to the exciting world of new food discoveries and their relationship to food law and policy. Seminar looks at food innovation, the transfer of food technology, and how new products move into the marketplace.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 285TA — Environmental Law Seminar: Emerging Technologies & the Environment (2 units)

Course Description: Examines legal regimes that might apply to various emerging technologies and consider governance mechanisms and reforms that might enable more foresighted and participatory development and management of technology.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286 — Health Care Law (3 units)

Course Description: Law and policy issues in health care financing and access to health care. Use current events as well as cases, statutes and regulations. Contextualize issues to surface role of structural, institutional, and cultural inequalities.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286A — Topical Issues in Health Law (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses on four-six issues at the interface of law, medicine, bioethics, and health policy that are currently the subject of major litigation, legislation, and/or contentious debate in the domains of bioethics and public policy.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286B — Public Health Law (2 units)

Course Description: Public health law, seen broadly, is the government's power and responsibility to ensure the conditions for the population's health.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to 15 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286C — Bioethics (3 units)

Course Description: Ethical, legal, and social issues that arise from biomedical technologies. Topics may include human subject research, end-of-life care, assisted reproductive technologies, genetic testing and modification, and tissue transplantation.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286D — Legal Psychology Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Examines how psychological theory and research can be used to shape laws and policies to make them better reflect what we know empirically about how individuals process information, make decisions and behave.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286E — Reproductive Rights, Law, & Policy (3 units)

Course Description: Addresses a variety of laws and practices that affect reproductive health and procreative decision making.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286F — Neuroscience & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explore current topics at the crossroads of neuroscience and the law. Cover topics including neuroscience evidence at sentencing, brain-based lie detection, tort liability for brain injuries, brain based enhancement and the boundaries between life and death.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286G — Representing Life Science Companies (2 units)

Course Description: Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals are two of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S., and the legal issues that arise in connection with representing them are complex and evolving. Seminar focuses on the transactional, intellectual property, and regulatory legal issues that challenge lawyers working with clients in these industries.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286H — Mental Health & the Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explores how those with mental health needs interact with law enforcement and the justice system, including pre-arrest intervention, court diversion, serious crime prosecution, and re-entry after incarceration.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 286J — Health Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Examines health and health care through a social justice lens. Focuses on health risks disproportionately experienced by marginalized communities and individuals. Learning Activities Seminar 2 hour(s).

  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 287 — Public Land & Natural Resources Law (3 units)

Course Description: Covers the legal aspects of managing national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and other lands owned and managed by the federal government.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 235 or LAW 285 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 287A — Poverty Law (2 units)

Course Description: Explore the theory and practice of law pertaining to the enactment and enforcement of laws regulating or aiding the poor and other disadvantaged persons.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 287T — Law & Society Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Study of law and society challenges traditional legal scholarship by exploring multiple ways in which law both shapes and is shaped by societies and social interactions. Seminar introduction to important literature and debates in the field.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 288 — Advanced Constitutional Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Seminar explores in-depth selected topics or problems in constitutional law and theory. The current focus will include diverse topics including abortion rights, the development of Second Amendment jurisprudence, and other subject areas.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 218 (can be concurrent) or LAW 218A (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 288A — Presidential Powers Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Explores the Constitutional powers of the President in Article II and how they intersect with Congressional power. Emphasis on executive and legislative power, executive orders, appointment and removal powers, executive privilege and immunity, pardons, impeachment, Congressional investigations, independent and special counsels, and the 25th Amendment.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 288B — Supreme Court Simulation Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: Take on the role of Justices of, and advocates before, the Supreme Court of the United States.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Course may satisfy the Advanced Writing Requirement or the Professional Skills Requirement. Students must choose one.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 288C — National Security Law (2 units)

Course Description: Examines the allocation of national security powers among the three branches of government, and the laws & policies that govern military operations, the collection & use of intelligence, homeland security, and other current national security issues.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 205.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 288CS — National Security Law: Crisis Simulation Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: Explore Constitutional allocation of national security powers among three branches of government, and the vital role lawyers play in national security decision-making. Conduct deep dives on national security law case studies.

Prerequisite(s): Constitutional Law I; Public International Law (recommended).

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 289A — Biotechnology Law & Policy (2 units)

Course Description: Coverage includes the regulation of biotechnology research, including restrictions on cloning and fetal stem cell research; regulation of the products of biotechnology to protect human health or the environment, including restrictions on use or distribution of geneti- cally modified organisms; the availability and scope of intellectual property protection for biotechnology products, including genes and engineered organisms; and the international law governing access to the natural resources that provide the starting materi- als for biotechnology and trade in bioengineered organisms or their products.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 290 — International Trade Law (3 units)

Course Description: China has become factory to the world, India its back office, and the US its information intermediary. Trade law affects goods, safety of foods, and conditions under which clothes are produced. Reviews trade regulation from the World Trade Organization to regional organizations such as NAFTA. Considers the implications for developing economies and analyze strengths and weaknesses of the current international trade order.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 290AT — Privacy, Surveillance, & “Sousveillance” (3 units)

Course Description: Issues of privacy and surveillance are important to businesses, governments and citizens. Surveillance raises issues of autonomy and the abuse of power. “Sousveillance,” (citizen holds the camera), is a mechanism for rooting out corruption and exposing individuals to societal scrutiny.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 290BT — Surveillance & States (3 units)

Course Description: Examines the tensions between democracy and the rise of government power entailed by the growth of state surveillance, United States surveillance law and practice, and surveillance law and practice across the world. Considers international legal constraints on government surveillance.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 290C — Information Privacy Law (2 units)

Course Description: Examine several topics that arise in field of information privacy law, with a special emphasis on law enforcement access to this information.

Prerequisite(s): Criminal Procedure strongly recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfacoty Only.

LAW 290D — Comparative Privacy Law (3 units)

Course Description: Compares regulatory privacy framework. Core lecturing focuses on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and how it compares with U.S. law. Core concepts include controler/processor, personal data/personal information, data subject/consumer, etc.

Prerequisite(s): Recommended passing one of the IAPP certifications or Privacy Law Seminar.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 291A — International Finance (4 units)

Course Description: Money makes the world go round. We will try to follow that money, learning how a framework of national and international laws and institutions regulates (or perhaps fails to regulate) its flow.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 4 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 291B — International Investment Dispute Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: This seminar will examine the law of investor-State dispute resolution.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 291T — International Arbitration & Investment Law (2 units)

Course Description: Covers international arbitration involving States, individuals, and corporations; including: the parties; the agreement to arbitrate; the arbitrators; the arbitral proceeding; and, the arbitral award.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 292 — Immigration Law & Procedure (3 units)

Course Description: Surveys the history of U.S. immigration law and policy.

Prerequisite(s): Law 235 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 292A — Advanced Topics in Immigration & Citizenship Law Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Conducts a closer examination of various topics and subject matters that relate to immigration and citizenship law.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 292; may be waived by the professor.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 292B — Immigration Crimes (2 units)

Course Description: Every year, tens of thousands of people are charged with immigration-related crimes in the federal court system; almost all of the people prosecuted in these cases come from Spanish-speaking countries to the south of the United States. Examine the history of such immigration-related prosecutions, explores how they are currently conducted, and looks in particular at the streamlined proceedings that happen in districts along the southern border.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 292C — Humanizing Deportation (2 units)

Course Description: Focus on student's investigation, research, interviewing and client counseling skills. Review the stories in the UC Humanizing Deportation archive, research possible forms of immigration relief for deported individuals, and identify possible candidates for legal screening. After in-depth training, students travel to Tijuana, Mexico to provide know-your-rights and educational workshops with deported individuals.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 292D — Immigration Federalism (2 units)

Course Description: Study local government laws and practices that seek to regulate the lives of immigrants living within their jurisdiction. Areas include housing, labor and employment, driving and professional licenses, health, public benefits, and policing.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 292 and LAW 205 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 293 — Public Interest Law (2 units)

Course Description: This class will examine the issues and problems associated with providing civil legal services to persons and interests in American society that typically have been unable to afford or otherwise obtain representation from the private bar.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 293AT — Contemporary Issues in Economic Justice (2 units)

Course Description: Provides an introduction to the social justice critique of free markets.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 293B — Representing Spanish-Speaking Clients: Language, Culture, & Emotional Intelligence (1 unit)

Course Description: Goal is to prepare future attorneys to effectively represent Spanish-speaking clients through various key tools, including litigation tools, language, culture, and emotional intelligence.

Prerequisite(s): Spanish proficiency or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 293T — Public Interest Lawyering, Civil Rights & Employment Law (2 units)

Course Description: Advanced course covers employment law issues through the lens of public interest lawyers and their constituencies.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 260; LAW 260AT.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 294A — Law & Popular Culture (2 units)

Course Description: Examines works of popular culture, films, and legal texts. Each session focuses on a particular film and its cultural implications, particular problem or problems of law, law practice, legal ethics, traditional ethics, or public policy.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 294B — Video Game Law (2 units)

Course Description: Focuses primarily on intellectual property law through the lens of video game-related litigation, and addresses the ways in which video games and the video game industry shape law and society. Addresses the video game business, the structure and form of video-game-related legal transactions, and other current legal issues surrounding video games.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 294C — Business of Professional Sports (2 units)

Course Description: Provides a basic understanding of how sports teams are legally structured; diversification of business lines, e.g., real estate, hospitality, non-profits, venture capital, marketing; role, structure, and importance of arena/facility as the modern community campfire; legal areas of focus, e.g., contracts, IP, finance, legislation, administrative law, risk management, construction; cutting edge legal issues, e.g., music license rights on social media, gambling, equal pay, eSports.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 215.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 295A — Trademark & Unfair Competition Law (2 units)

Course Description: Intensive look at selected issues in Trademark Law, including the concepts of trademarks & unfair competition, acquisition & loss of trademark rights, infringement, trademarks as speech, and international aspects of trademark protection.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 274 recommended, not required.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 295B — University Brands (3 units)

Course Description: Universities gain from developing brands, to draw donors and students and lend prestige to a range of activities–merchandise, publishing, technology transfer, continuing education, hospitals, distance learning, etc. Whether private, public, elitist, or inclusive, the university can no longer avoid to brand itself. Discusses the role of trademarks in the university and changes affecting it.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 295T — Brands (3 units)

Course Description: Takes a close, interdisciplinary look at branding. Preparation to understand modern branding strategies and the challenges such strategies may pose to traditional trademark law and policy. Topics include merchandising rights, unfair competition, and counterfeits.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 296 — Copyright (3 units)

Course Description: Thorough examination of the law of copyright, including its application to literature, music, films, television, art, computer programs, and the Internet.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 296B — Entertainment Law (2 units)

Course Description: Provides a working knowledge of legal issues in the entertainment industry with general and more specialized knowledge in established media, including film, literature, music and television, as well as emerging online media and video games.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 296C — Fictional Characters & Real People (2 units)

Course Description: Celebrities and fictional characters both have a powerful hold on the human imagination and are important parts of our modern myths. Examines legal protection available for each.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 296D — Art Law (3 units)

Course Description: Selected issues in Art Law, including meaning of art, how to represent artists, copyright, publicity, first amendment rights, censorship, street art, government regulation, art markets, international protection of art and cultural property; and more.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 296E — Art & Cultural Heritage Law (3 units)

Course Description: Exploration of the law relevant to art and cultural heritage, including copyright, cultural property, and cultural heritage laws in international and comparative perspective. Studied issues include creativity, artists' moral rights, forgery, and repatriation.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture/Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 297 — Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to a wide variety of alternative dispute resolution procedures, with an emphasis on negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Discussion of skills/strategies, with a focus on laws/policies that affect how ADR procedures are conducted.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 297A — Federal Arbitration Act Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Trace the development of commercial arbitration law, with a special emphasis on hot-button contemporary issues like consumer and employment arbitration, the separability doctrine, preemption of state law, and the arbitrability of statutory claims.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 297BT — International Arbitration (2 units)

Course Description: Introduction to international arbitration; the preferred method of dispute resolution in international business. Discuss both commercial arbitration (between private parties) and investor-state arbitration (between private parties & sovereign states).

Prerequisite(s): LAW 202 highly recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 298 — Sociology of the Legal Profession Seminar (2 units)

Course Description: Comprehensive look at the organization, operation, and ideology of the legal profession.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 298A — Leadership & the Law (1 unit)

Course Description: Prepare for responsible leadership and service in the roles that lawyers perform in legal practice, and as social change agents.

  • Learning Activities: Lecture.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 298B — Trauma-Informed Lawyering (2 units)

Course Description: Equip students with knowledge and skills to navigate the landscape of trauma. Explore the science of trauma, and develop strategies for working with trauma in clients, ourselves, and others.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 298C — Empirical Legal Studies (2 units)

This version has ended; see updated course, below.
Course Description: Learn how to read and critique Empirical Legal Studies (ELS); e.g., legal writing that relies upon data as one of its primary sources of evidence. Write a data-focused research prospectus on a topic of the student's choosing.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • LAW 298C — Empirical Legal Studies (3 units)
  • Course Description: Learn about research design by reading important papers in the field of empirical legal studies. Complete empirical research project using originally collected data.
  • Prerequisite(s): Law 228C or a previous undergraduate class in statistics is highly recommended
  • Learning Activities: Seminar 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.
  • This course version is effective from, and including: Spring Semester 2025.

LAW 400A — Study Abroad: University College Dublin, Ireland (12 units)

Course Description: Semester away study abroad at the University College Dublin, Ireland. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students must apply and be accepted into the International Study Abroad Program.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400B — Study Abroad: University of Copenhagen, Denmark (12 units)

Course Description: Semester study abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students must apply and be accepted into the International Study Abroad Program.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400C — Study Abroad: China University of Political Science & Law (12 units)

Course Description: Semester-away study abroad at the China University of Political Science and Law. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Student must apply and be acceptance in the International Study Abroad Program.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400D — Study Abroad: University of Lausanne, Switzerland (12 units)

Course Description: Semester-away study abroad at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Student must apply and be accepted in the International Study Abroad Program.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400E — Study Abroad: Comillas Pontifical University Madrid, Spain (12 units)

Course Description: Semester-away study abroad at the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400F — Study Abroad: Université Paris Nanterre, Paris (12 units)

Course Description: Semester-away study abroad at the Universite Paris Nanterre, Paris. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain a global legal educational experience. Taught abroad.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Student must apply and be accepted in the International Study Abroad Program.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 400G — Study Abroad: Newcastle University, U.K. (12 units)

Course Description: Semester-away study abroad at Newcastle University, U.K. Enhance knowledge of international legal regimes and obtain global legal educational experience.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 408 — Community Education Seminar (3 units)

Course Description: Trains students to educate the community about basic legal rights and responsibilities. Students attend an initial four-hour orientation, followed by weekly seminars that will prepare students to teach in a local high school at least two times per week.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s), Clinical Activity.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 409 — Environmental Law Moot Court (1 unit)

Course Description: During the first eight weeks of fall semester, students research and submit briefs as appellants, respondents, or third parties on a problem of environmental law that is prepared by the National Environmental Law Moot Court Board.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 410A — Appellate Advocacy I (2 units)

Course Description: Basic appellate practice and procedure. Beginning instruction in oral advocacy skills and an opportunity to practice these skills in front of a moot court.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion/Laboratory.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 410B — Appellate Advocacy II (Moot Court) (2 units)

Course Description: Continuation of LAW 410A. Focuses on the development of effective appellate brief writing skills and the refinement of oral advocacy skills.

  • Learning Activities: Practice 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 411A — Journal of International Law & Policy (1-2 units)

Course Description: The UC Davis Journal of International Law & Policy publishes semi-annually and strives to contribute pertinent and interesting scholarly works to the field of international law.

  • Learning Activities: Variable 1-2 hour(s).
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 5 time(s) allowing participation in the journal for more than one term.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 411B — Social Justice Law Review (1-2 units)

Course Description: The Social Justice Law Review is a publication of the UC Davis School of Law that addresses the unique concerns of social justice in the American legal system.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study 1-2 hour(s).
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 5 time(s) allowing participation in the journal for more than one term.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 411C — UC Davis Business Law Journal (1-2 units)

Course Description: The UC Davis Business Law Journal is run by dedicated law students who are committed to providing current and valuable legal and business analysis.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study 1 hour(s).
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 5 time(s) allowing participation in the journal for more than one term.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 411D — Immigration & Nationality Law Review (1-2 units)

Course Description: The Immigration & Nationality Law Review (INLR) is in part a reprint journal and serves as an anthology of seminal articles on immigration, nationality, and citizenship law. INLR also creates space for student Notes.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 5 time(s) allowing participation in the journal for more than one term.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 412 — Carr Intraschool Trial Advocacy Competition (1 unit)

Course Description: Named after the late Justice Frances Carr, this competition is open to secondand third-year students. A preliminary round is followed by quarter-finals,semi-finals,and a final round. Students participate in mock trials presided over by judges and critiqued by experienced litigators.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 413 — Interschool Competition (1-3 units)

Course Description: Participation in interschool moot court and lawyering skills competitions. Competition must be authorized by the appropriate faculty advisor. Faculty advisor may condition the award of academic credit for any particular competition on the performance of such additional work as may be reasonable to justify the credit. May satisfy advanced legal writing requirement.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of appropriate faculty advisor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to students actually representing the School in the interschool competitions.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 414 — Moot Court Board (1 unit)

Course Description: Members of Moot Court Board may receive 1 unit for each semester of service on the board; maximum of 2 units. Credit awarded only after certification by Moot Court Board and approval of the faculty advisors to Moot Court Board.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 410A; LAW 410B.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 414A — Negotiations Board (1 unit)

Course Description: Members of the King Hall Negotiations Board assist in the administration of the King Hall Negotiation Team by performing a variety of tasks under the supervision of the course instructor.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Discussion 1 hour(s).
  • Credit Limitation(s): Only 1 unit of credit for each semester of service on the board; up to a maximum of 2 units per academic year (4 units maximum); credit awarded only after approval by the instructor.
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 415 — Trial Practice Honors Board (1 unit)

Course Description: Members of the Trial Practice Honors Board administer the Frances Carr competition. Members are nominated by their individual Trial Practice I adjuncts.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Credit Limitation(s): Receive 1 unit for serving on the Board; awarded upon approval of the faculty advisor.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 416 — Law Review Writer (1-2 units)

Course Description: Writing of a law review article under the editorial supervision of editors of the UC Davis Law Review. Office hours (including but not limited to Bluebooking and cite-checking) are required. 1 or 2 units.

  • Learning Activities: Variable 1-2 hour(s).
  • Credit Limitation(s): In the spring semester, credit is obtained only upon achieving status as a member of the UC Davis Law Review, which requires that the student has made substantial progress towards completing an editorship article; credit is awarded only after certification by the editor in chief and approval of the faculty advisors; 1 unit of credit is earned the first semester; 2 units are earned the second semester upon nomination and acceptance of nomination to the Editorial Board; 1 unit is earned second semester if only a membership draft and office hours are completed.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 417A — Law Review Editor (1-2 units)

Course Description: Editors must have completed an editorship article and must perform editorial duties (a substantial time commitment). Credit is awarded only after completion of both semesters.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable 1-2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 417B — Law Review Editor (1-2 units)

Course Description: Editors must have completed an editorship article and must perform editorial duties (a substantial time commitment). Credit is awarded only after completion of both semesters.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable 1-2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 418 — Environmental Law & Policy Journal (1-2 units)

Course Description: Environs is a biannual environmental law and policy journal that provides an open forum for the discussion of current environmental issues, particularly those pertaining to the state of California.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 5 time(s) allowing the student to participate in the journal for more than one term.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 419 — Advanced Writing Project (1-4 units)

Course Description: Completion of a writing requirement project under the active and regular supervision of a faculty member in satisfaction of the legal writing requirement. Writing project must be an individually authored work of rigorous intellectual effort of at least 20 typewritten double-spaced pages, excluding footnotes. Project may take any of several forms, for example, a paper, a brief, a memorandum of law, a proposed statute, a statutory scheme or set of administrative regulations (with explanatory comments), or a will or agreement (with explanatory comments). Advanced writing project may also be undertaken in connection with another course or seminar to satisfy the legal writing requirements. Number of units shall be approved by the faculty supervisor and will depend upon the scope of the writing effort.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 419A — Advanced Writing Project (1-4 units)

Course Description: Completion of a writing requirement project under the active and regular supervision of a faculty member in satisfaction of the legal writing requirement. Writing project must be an individually authored work of rigorous intellectual effort of at least 20 typewritten double-spaced pages, excluding footnotes. Project may take any of several forms, for example, a paper, a brief, a memorandum of law, a proposed statute, a statutory scheme or set of administrative regulations (with explanatory comments), or a will or agreement (with explanatory comments). Advanced writing project may also be undertaken in connection with another course or seminar to satisfy the legal writing requirements. Number of units shall be approved by the faculty supervisor and will depend upon the scope of the writing effort.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 420 — Civil Rights Clinic (2-6 units)

Course Description: Clinic provides practical experience in providing legal services to indigent clients who have filed civil rights actions in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Students work on clinic cases under the supervision of the clinic director.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219 (can be concurrent); and consent of instructor. Priority given to students enrolled in or have taken LAW 267.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 423 — Corporate Counsel Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Earn academic credit for field placements in a corporate counsel office, working under attorney supervision.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 424 — Professional Development Seminar (1 unit)

Course Description: Create strategic goals for their placement, focus on professionalism and professional identity issues in seminar meetings and with their small section coaches, and engage in reflection on what they are learning through discussion and written assignments.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Only for students enrolled in an externship.
  • Repeat Credit: Students repeating a placement will have the option to enroll in the seminar in the spring.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.

LAW 425 — Judicial Clinical (2-12 units)

Course Description: Students may arrange judicial clerkship clinical programs with an approved list of state and federal judges through the Clinical office and under the sponsorship of the faculty member in charge. All students must complete weekly time records and bi-weekly journals.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 261; Required for full-time clinical students and recommended for part-time clinical students.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 430 — Taxation Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Opportunity to work with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental tax agency. Journals and attendance at group meetings required.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 220; consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2-12 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 435 — Domestic & Sexual Violence Law Clinic (4 units)

Course Description: Provide civil legal assistance to victims of gender-based violence.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 203; LAW 219 (can be concurrent); LAW 272 LAW 263A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Required enrollment for two semesters, receiving 4 units each semester totaling 8 units; may satisfy the Advanced Writing Requirement or count towards the Professional Skills Requirement, student must choose one.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 4 time(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 440 — Immigration Law Clinic (4 units)

Course Description: Provides legal representation to indigent non-citizens in removal proceedings before U.S. Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 8 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Prior or concurrent enrollment in LAW 292 and LAW 219, recommended, not required.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 4 time(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 445 — Legislative Process Externship (2-5 units)

Course Description: Practical experience in the operation of the office of a legislator or a legislative committee. The major thrust of the program is to enable students to become familiar with the give and take realities of making laws, as contracted with their interpretation and enforcement. Journals are required.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 240 (can be concurrent); or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 445A — Aoki Water Justice Clinic (3-5 units)

Course Description: Work with drinking water providers to address the need for clean, affordable drinking water. Advise clients on potential governance structures and draft corporate documents, property agreements, and consolidation agreements.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 445B — Advanced Aoki Water Justice Clinic (2-5 units)

Course Description: The Advanced Aoki Water Justice Clinic allows students to leverage their legal research and practical lawyering skills to advance policies that ensure that low-income, California communities receive safe, clean, and affordable drinking water.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 445C — Small Farmer Water Justice Clinic (3-5 units)

Course Description: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) regulates groundwater use in California. Clinic helps small farmers protect their groundwater rights consistent with SGMA. Opportunity to work with, represent, and advocate for small farmers.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated for credit.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 446 — UC Davis Capital Law Scholars Externship Program (2-12 units)

Course Description: Program is designed to provide students with hands-on lawyering experience in a legislative office, with a legislative committee, or with a government/nonprofit office engaged in legislative and policy work. Grading is on a S/U basis.

  • Learning Activities: Fieldwork.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 446A — UC Davis Capital Law Scholars Seminar (1 unit)

Course Description: May be required for students enrolled in Capital Law Scholars Externship. Covers issues related to lawyering in California’s state capital, and help students maximize educational and professional experience in their externship placements.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 450 — Environmental Law Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Practical experience in environmental law. Students will work in an approved government, non-profit or private law office engaged in some form of environmental law work for a minimum of eight hours per week. Students must prepare a journal describing and reflecting upon their clinical experience, and meet periodically with the instructor.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 285; or consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 455 — Employment Relations Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Practical experience in employment relations, including employment discrimination and public sector labor law. Work under the direct supervision of a government lawyer. Opportunity to participate in a range of with emphasis on observation and participation in actual investigation, interviewing, drafting pleading, and attendance at hearings.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 251 or LAW 260 (can be concurrent).

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 460 — Public Interest Law Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Opportunity to work with a public interest practitioner in a nonprofit organization. Journals and attendance at two group meetings required. Students must complete an evaluative final paper of approximately eight pages. Hours completed in public interest setting may be applied toward the practicum requirement for the Public interest Law Program.

Prerequisite(s): Prior or concurrent enrollment in LAW 293 recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2-6 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 465 — Intellectual Property Externship (2-6 units)

Course Description: Opportunity to work for government, academic, and nonprofit entities.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 293 and Comparative Public Services recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2-6 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 470 — Administration of Criminal Justice Externship (2-12 units)

Course Description: Gain practical experience working full or part time in a District Attorney’s or Public Defender’s office in one of several surrounding counties or in a federal Public Defender or U.S. Attorney’s office. Participate in the many activities associated with the office for which they extern: observation, interviewing, research, counseling, motion practice, and trials under State Bar rules.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 219 (can be concurrent); LAW 227 (can be concurrent); completion of or concurrent enrollment in LAW 219 and LAW 227; LAW 263A recommended.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2-12 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited enrollment.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated 12 unit(s).
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 475 — Washington UC-DC Law Program (2-10 units)

Course Description: Uniquely collaborative externship program in Washington, D.C., combining weekly seminars with full-time field placement offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn how federal statutes, regulations, and policies are made, changed, and understood in the nation's capital. Taught in Washington, D.C.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Open to 2L & 3L students.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 475A — Law & Lawyering in the Nation’s Capital (3 units)

Course Description: Companion seminar to the Washington UC-DC Externship. Designed to enhance the externship experience in three principal ways. Taught in Washington, D.C.

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 3 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 475B — Law & Lawyering in the Nation's Capital (1 unit)

Course Description: Companion seminar to a remote/part-time externship where the organization or the supervisor is based in Washington DC. Designed to enhance a part-time/remote Washington D.C. experience.

Prerequisite(s): LAW 475 (concurrent enrollment required).

  • Learning Activities: Seminar 1 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 475P — Washington UC-DC Law Program (3-6 units)

Course Description: Uniquely collaborative externship program in Washington, D.C., Combines weekly seminars with part-time remote field placement offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn how federal statutes, regulations, and policies are made, changed, and understood in the nation's capital.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity.
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Restricted to second and third year law students.
  • Grade Mode: S/U only.

LAW 480 — Clinical Program in Prison Law (2-6 units)

Course Description: Provides practical experience in providing legal services to real clients who have various problems related to their incarceration in state prison. The services require analysis and application of Constitutional Law, state statutory law, agency regulations, and the rules of professional responsibility.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 2 hour(s).
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 485 — California Supreme Court Clinic (6 units)

Course Description: California Supreme Court Clinic provides students with an immersive experience in litigating cases before the state’s highest court.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 6 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to 6 students.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 490T — Aoki Federal Public Defender Clinic (4 units)

Course Description: Outgrowth of the work of the Aoki Center on Race and Nation. As part of its work, the Aoki Center provides educational opportunities to students interested in critical race perspectives in practice.

  • Learning Activities: Clinical Activity 4 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Students submit applications for the course.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 498 — Group Study (1-4 units)

Course Description: Groups of students with common interest in studying a stated legal problem may plan and conduct their own research and seminar program under the direction of faculty.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable 1-4 hour(s).
  • Enrollment Restriction(s): Limited to no fewer than 4 or more than 10 students.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 498A — Group Study (1-4 units)

Course Description: Groups of students with common interest in studying a stated legal problem may plan and conduct their own research and seminar program under the direction of faculty.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Letter.

LAW 499 — Independent Research Project (1-4 units)

Course Description: Students may receive credit for individual projects, subject to the following regulations: (1) the project may extend over no more than two semesters; (2) each project will be under the supervision of a faculty member; (3) an outline of the project must be approved by the supervising faculty member; (4) normally, no faculty member will be permitted to supervise more than 5 students working on individual programs during any semester; and (5) each student must submit an individual paper or approved alternative to the supervising faculty member.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 499A — Independent Research Project (1-4 units)

Course Description: Students may receive credit for individual projects, subject to the following regulations: (1) the project may extend over no more than two semesters; (2) each project will be under the supervision of a faculty member; (3) an outline of the project must be approved by the supervising faculty member; (4) normally, no faculty member will be permitted to supervise more than 5 students working on individual programs during any semester; and (5) each student must submit an individual paper or approved alternative to the supervising faculty member. Grading is on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis unless a request for letter grading has been made in advance.

  • Learning Activities: Variable.
  • Repeat Credit: May be repeated.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 499B — Law Students Study Away (10 units)

Course Description: Students studying away from UC Davis, School of Law. Taught abroad or off campus.

  • Learning Activities: Independent Study.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

LAW 499C — Joint Degree Student-GSM (10 units)

Course Description: Joint degree course for graduate School of Management students.

  • Learning Activities: Internship.
  • Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.