Summer Term Course Offerings
June Course offerings
American Legal History
Professor Robert Whitman
This seminar explores selected topics in the history of American law, including the role of law in American society, patterns of litigation, the forms of action and their demise, and the development of contract. As the course is taught, it presents students with the opportunity to review fascinating materials and practice team oral presentations. 3 credits. There is no final exam for this course, a paper is required. Students will have the opportunity to choose to write a paper for an American legal history book which will be published. With the addition of a Special Research Project, this course may be used to satisfy a student's upperclass writing requirement. Course meets Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:00-10:30am.
Animal Law
Professor Jessica Rubin
This course provides an introduction to the law regulating human interaction with animals, an area of growing practical and conceptual interest. Specific issues considered include: the definition of "animal" in anti-cruelty statutes; tort liability for injuries caused by and to animals; veterinary malpractice; trusts and estates issues arising from efforts to direct disposition of animals; the problem of standing in animal-related litigation; constitutional protections for animal owners and animal protection groups; the nuances of various federal laws including the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act; and legal issues surrounding animal experimentation, recent efforts at animal cloning and other advances in genomic and neuroscience. 3 credits. There is a pass/fail grading option for this course. A proctored exam will be given on June 23, 2008. Course meets: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 11:30-2:00pm.
Evidence
Professor Katharine Van Tassel
This course is a study of the rules regulating the introduction and exclusion of evidence in civil and criminal trials. Specific subjects dealt with are: relevancy of evidence; the burden of producing evidence and the burden of persuasion; presumptions; competency of witnesses; examination of witnesses; privileges; the hearsay rule and its exceptions; demonstrative evidence; writings; judicial notice; functions of judge and jury. A Proctored exam will be given June 23, 2008. Course meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6:30-9:15pm.
Legal Profession
Professor Paul Bader
This course is an examination of: the status and function of the legal profession and of the importance of professional responsibility to the legal profession, to the administration of justice, and to society; the problems faced by the practicing lawyer and the standards he or she should apply in their solution; and the duties of the attorney to her or her client, to other lawyers and to the court, as functions of the adversary system. 3 credits. A Proctored exam will be given June 23, 2008. This course meets: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6:15pm-9:00pm.
July Course offerings
Business Organizations
Professor Eric Gouvin
This course analyzes legal issues of the closely held and publicly held corporation. Among the topics considered are: planning for the closed corporation; management and control issues of corporations; the proxy system; duties of officers, directors and controlling shareholders; transactions in shares by directors and others; and public policy implications of the publicly held corporation. Although primary consideration is given to the corporation, the course also includes some materials on partnership law. There is a pass/fail grading option for this course. A Proctored exam will be given August 4, 2008 Course meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6:30-9:15pm.
Criminal Procedure
Professor Stephen Cribari
Deals with the law governing the questions involved in the investigation and disposition of persons who may have engaged in criminal behavior, with particular emphasis on the nature and special purposes of the criminal process and the constitutional principles applicable to it. Course meets Thursday and Friday 8:30am-12:30pm. A take home exam will be given in this class, due August 6, 2008.