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  Home > Academics >  A-Z Curriculum Listing
   
 

A-B C E F G H I J K L M N O Q R S T U V W X Y Z


(Course Name | Credit Hours)

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 9020 - (2 or 3)
An introduction to the legal rules and principles that specify the authority and structure of administrative agencies, determine the validity of administrative actions and decisions, and define the relationships between administrative agencies and other organs of government, particularly the courts. The course will address topics such as delegation and separation of powers, obtaining judicial review, procedural due process in the administrative context, standing, ripeness, mootness, exhaustion of remedies, and rule-making authority and procedure.

ADVANCED TORTS 9510 - (3)
An in-depth examination of selected topics such as products liability, statutory modifications of the common law (e.g. no fault systems), nuisance, the misuse of process, mass torts, tort reform and tort alternatives, liability of government officials, and alternatives to trials.

ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH 9700 - (2)
Prerequisite: Legal Reasoning and Analysis I and Legal Research and Persuasion    The course will focus on enhancing legal research skills beyond those obtained in the first-year legal research and writing course. Students will learn how to compile legislative histories and develop cost effective legal research strategies. Instruction will be provided through specialized materials within a particular field of law as well as practice and procedure sources, looseleaf services, reference sources and free and fee-based electronic sources.

ADVANCED TAXATION 9210 - (3)
Pre-requisite: Taxation 8050.
A study of selected areas of income taxation involving property transactions including capital gains and losses, depreciation, passive losses, installment sales, and like-kind exchanges.

ADVOCACY MEDIATION 8016 - (2)
Mediation is now a necessary component of almost every lawsuit filed in North Carolina. Lawyers must be prepared to "coach" their clients through the process. This course will provide hands-on instruction on effective representation of clients in mediation. Students will learn about various mediation processes, how to prepare their case for mediation (as opposed to trial), and how to prepare themselves and their client for mediation through a blend of practice and theory.

AGENCY- PARTNERSHIP (Evening Program Only) 8201 - (3)
A study of agency as a means of conducting business through others and of the partnership as a business form. The course explores vicarious liability of an employer for the torts of an employee, the duties between an agent and principal, and the power of an agent to bind the principal. The characteristics of general and limited partnerships are examined, and the recent impact of limited liability entities is considered. The course is designed to complement Corporations 8040.

AIDS AND THE LAW 8002 - (3)
This seminar will explore complex issues raised by the emergence of HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally.  We will explore how the institutions of law and medicine as well as the social sciences have sought to resolve these issues.  Topics covered may include family law issues, public health issues, insurance and employee benefit issues Torts and HIV related lawsuits as well as housing and employment discrimination.  Course materials will include articles from periodicals and newspapers, journal articles and excerpts from casebooks and court cases.  A portion of the class will be led by students and an extensive research paper will be required in lieu of an exam.  There will also be shorter writing assignments. One goal of the seminar is to prepare students to produce publishable quality scholarship.  This course satisfies the third year seminar writing requirement.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CLINIC 9503 - (2)
The ADR Clinic is designed to introduce students to the range of available dispute resolution processes, particularly within North Carolina court-annexed ADR programs, and to teach them how to determine what process may be most appropriate for resolving different kinds of cases. Students will be required to complete a 40-hour training program in Basic Mediation, Arbitration, Collaborative Law, and related subjects. Students must also attend at least five district court sessions as mediators and participate in at least six mediations, attend and observe Drug Treatment Court and district court arbitrations, participate in or observe an elective from a wide range of cases including mediation, mediation-arbitration and arbitration, and keep a journal. The course will be graded on a pass/fail basis.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 8600 - (2)
Study of arbitration, mediation, and other non-litigation means of resolving disputes.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 9504 - (3)
This course will focus on the theory and practice of mediation, including an in-depth look at transformative, facilitative, directive-evaluative, and narrative approaches to mediation.  The course features highly interactive role plays and simulations to teach the skills necessary to operate effectively as a mediator, assisting parties toward collaborative and constructive resolutions.   North Carolina's court-annexed mediation programs will also be featured.  This course is offered in two-hour and three-hour formats.

APPELLATE ADVOCACY I - 8000 - (2)
An overview of the appellate process. This course includes lectures and reading and writing assignments, discussions relating to the fundamentals of appellate brief writing and oral advocacy. The course will culminate in an appellate brief and/or argument.

APPELLATE ADVOCACY II (MOOT COURT BOARD) - 8060
Pre-requisite: Appellate Advocacy I Co-Curricular (1) Students who have excelled in Appellate Advocacy I are chosen, through in-house moot court competitions, to participate in various regional and national moot court competitions. Participating students must prepare an appellate brief and present an oral argument in a certified competition in order to obtain Senior Board status and to earn a grade.

APPELLATE ADVOCACY III (MOOT COURT BOARD) - 9580
Co-Curricular (1)
Pre-requisites: Appellate Advocacy I and II.
This is a continuation of Appellate Advocacy 8060.

ARBITRATION 9505 - (2)
This course will examine arbitration practice, the responsibilities of an arbitrator, and the variety of contexts in which arbitration plays a role.  The law related to arbitration, such as judicial review, enforcement of arbitral awards, inarbitrability, and the role of contract law, is a major topic of study.  Students will also participate in simulated exercises as both advocates and arbitrators.  This course is offered in two-hour and three-hour formats.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS 9040 - (4) (Day Program Only) 
  An introduction to partnerships, limited partnerships, the new limited
liability entities, and corporations. The course also includes an
introduction to the law of agency as it relates to the various business
forms. The majority of class time is spent dealing with corporations
and their formation; corporate powers; corporate liability; powers
and duties of shareholders, directors, and officers; the sale of stock in
publicly held corporations; and special issues concerning closely held
corporations.

BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR 9045 - (2)
Introduction to the law governing relations between debtors and creditors, particularly Federal bankruptcy law and practice.

BIOETHICS 9571 - (2-3)
The bioethics course is taught as a seminar course that examines how the legal system reconciles competing values and interests in medical treatment conflicts. The seminar considers ethical and practical concerns and their application in a variety of bioethical settings. General topics include procreation, the new reproductive technologies, patient autonomy, organ donations, euthanasia, definitions of death and prolongation of life.

BUSINESS PLANNING 9031 - (3)
Pre-requisites: Business Associations, Taxation, and Taxation of Business Entities.
A series of realistic business situations are worked through, with attention to the application and interaction of corporate law, tax law, and securities regulation. The trade-offs and the conflicts of interest typically encountered among the several parties are illuminated by the study of legal issues, economic implications, and professional responsibilities.

BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS FOR LAWYERS 9012 - (2)
This course is designed to provide students unfamiliar with the world of business with enough background and information to understandthe business decision-making process. Areas of coverage include: real estate finance, retirement planning, life insurance, basic accounting, federal taxation, business entities, the stock market and investment strategy.

CIVIL PROCEDURE I - 7031 - (2)
An introduction to the principles of subject matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, proper venue, removal and transfer.

CIVIL PROCEDURE II - 7130 - (3)
Pre-requisite: Civil Procedure I. A survey of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as they apply to pleadings, motions, practice, joinder of claims and parties, and discovery.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I *8031 - (4)
  An examination of the allocation of power between the federal and state governments, the separation of powers between the three branches of government, and the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. The course also covers equal protection of the law and both substantive and procedural due process.

CONSITUTIONAL LAW II - 8131 - (2)
Pre-requisite: Constitutional Law I.
This course examines judicial review and the First Amendment.Subjects include jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court, standing, mootness, ripeness and political questions. The First Amendment topics include freedom of press, assembly and religion.

CONTRACTS I - 7010 - (3)
An introduction to contract formation including offer, acceptance and consideration, contract formalities including the Statute of Frauds, the parol evidence rule and implied obligations.

CONTRACTS II - 7111 - (2)
Pre-requisite: Contracts I. An examination of contract interpretation; performance of the contract, conditions and breach; avoidance of the contract, including the defenses of frustration of purpose, impracticability, impossibility, incapacity, duress, undue influence, mistake, misrepresentation and unconscionability; and remedies.

CORPORATIONS 8040 - (3) (Evening Program Only)
  A study of the corporation as a business form. The course explores
the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation. The formation,
management, and control of both closely-held and publicly-traded
corporations are examined. The course is designed to complement
Agency-Partnership 8200.


CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC (CLASSROOM) 9230 - (2)
Pre-requisite: Trial Practice 8170.
The classroom component of the clinic includes lectures, readings, written assignments and trial simulations.

CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC (FIELD/SUMMER) 9231 - (3)
Pre-requisites: Trial Practice 8170 and Civil Litigation Clinic 9230.
Students participate in the supervised representation of civil litigants under the North Carolina third-year practice rule. Students work in the law school clinic for a minimum of 15 hours per week. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC (FIELD) 9232 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Trial Practice 8170 and Civil Litigation Clinic 9230.
Students participate in the supervised representation of civil litigants under the North Carolina third-year practice rule. Students work in the law school clinic for a minimum of 10 hours per week. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

CIVIL RIGHTS 8240 - (3)
An in-depth study of special problems involved in litigating federal civil rights actions. The study includes jurisdiction, class actions, standing, causes of action, and other Constitutional questions. Class discussion involves practical problems associated with preparing, filing and litigating specific claims and the impact of those claims on the relationship which citizens have with their government. In addition, students participate in a public seminar where they debate a significant civil rights issue that confronts North Carolina citizens.

CHILDREN AND THE LAW 9010 - (2)
Persons under the age of eighteen make up just over a quarter of the United States population. The well-being of children depends, to a large extent, on their rights under the law. Perhaps the key theme in the law of children is that they do not act in the legal world in isolation; rather, they are part of a triangle that includes parents and the state. In this seminar course, students will examine issues related to the place of children in society and the implications of those issues for both law and policy. Students are required to complete a substantial seminar paper as part of the course requirements.

COMMERCIAL PAPER 9130 - (3)
An overview of the legal principles applicable to negotiable instruments and bank collections. The course is organized around Articles 3 and 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code and emphasizes (1) the doctrine of holder in due course, (2) contractual and warranty liability arising from negotiable instruments, and (3) the processing and collection of checks. The latter portion of the course emphasizes the relationship between the customer and the payor bank and attendant problems of forgery.

CONSUMER PROTECTION 8220 - (2)
An examination of common law and statutory principles applicable to consumer transactions. The course focuses on such topics as fraud and unconscionability as well as administrative regulation of consumer transactions by state agencies and the Federal Trade Commission. In addition, various common law and statutory protections of debtors are examined.

CRIMINAL LAW 7080 - (3)
A survey of the substantive criminal law, emphasizing elements of criminal culpability including defenses, constitutional limitations on declaring certain conduct criminal, and the purposes of punishment.

CRIMINAL LITIGATION CLINIC (CLASSROOM) 9270 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence and Trial Practice.
The classroom component of the clinic includes lectures, readings, written assignments and trial simulations. The course focuses on learning the procedure that governs the disposition of criminal cases in North Carolina. The course grade is based on an examination and students' prosecution or defense of a mock criminal trial.

CRIMINAL LITIGATION CLINIC (FIELD) 9271 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Trial Practice 8170 and Criminal Litigation Clinic 9270.
Students participate in the supervised representation of criminal defendants under the North Carolina third-year practice rule. Students work for a minimum of 10 hours per week and earn two credit hours graded on a pass-fail basis. Cases may be referred by the Public Defenders Program or students may be placed in a local prosecutor's office. The students role-play attorney members of a law firm which meet on a weekly basis. Each student is required to be present in the clinic offices to assist in its operation a minimum of two (2) hours per week.

CRIMINAL LITIGATION CLINIC (FIELD) 9272 - (3)
Pre-requisites: Trial Practice 8170 and Criminal Litigation Clinic 9270.
This is the same as Course Number 9271 except that students work for a minimum of 15 hours-per week and earn three credit hours.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 8210 - (3)
An examination of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution and the regulation of law enforcement conduct during criminal investigations. Subjects covered include arrests, searches and seizures, indictments, trials, punishments, confessions, and the right to an attorney. Course coverage begins with the Due Process Clause and its impact on the trial of criminal defendants.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY SEMINAR 8021 - (3)
Critical Race Theory is a body of legal theory that emerged approximately 30 years ago. It took root as a viewpoint because there was concern that the political climate of the 1970s and 1980s had begun to steadily corrode the gains made by the civil rights laws of the 1960s. Although it touches on several other disciplines, such as history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, it is centrally a legal concept that is designed to have students more closely examine the interplay that exists between the subjects of race, the judicial system, power, and privilege. It would likely not be a doctrinally-based class, but would focus more on commentaries about how race, gender, and class have played a critical role in legal outcomes that affect society at large. At the conclusion of the course, it is my hope that students would have a much greater understanding of the law's role in both imposing and correcting inequities suffered by groups who have been consistently omitted from positions of influence, be they social, economic, or political.

DECEDENTS' ESTATES I 8020 - (3)
  An examination of the substantive law of intestate succession, wills,
and trusts. Topics covered include the execution, revocation, and
construction of wills and trusts, and the protection of family members
against disinheritance.

DECEDENTS' ESTATES II - 8120 - (3)
Pre-requisite: Decedents' Estates I.
An examination of the law of future interests, including rules regarding class gifts, powers of appointment, and the Rule against Perpetuities.

DEBTOR-CREDITOR RIGHTS 9320 - (3)
A study of the relationship between debtors and creditors and priority among creditors. Subjects covered include attachment, garnishment, judgment, execution, assignments, fraudulent conveyances, exemptions, and consumer bankruptcy.

DISABILITY LAW 8711 - (3)
A study of legal issues surrounding discrimination against citizens with disabilities. The course will cover, among other statutes, the American with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), the Rehabilitation Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"). The course will address protection against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, education and governmental services. This is a 3-credit course. The format of the course may be taught as aregular substantive elective course or a writing seminar.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 8901 - (2 regular session / 3 summer session)
Pre-requisite: Domestic Violence: History, Law and Practice
In this clinical component course, students will first complete a classroom-based training program. Students will then provide advice and counsel to victims of domestic violence referred from local programs, shelters and hotlines, on how to obtain immediate legal protection against their aggressors. All students will practice under the supervision of the Domestic Violence Clinical Supervising Attorney. Credit received is dependent upon hours invested by the student in accordance with the formula provided by the ABA Standards. Students eligible under the third-year practice rule have the opportunity to represent clients in obtaining protective orders in the Durham County District Court. This clinical course is graded on a pass fail basis.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: HISTORY, LAW AND PRACTICE 8900 - (3)

Pre-requisites: Civil Procedure I and II
This class will train students to advocate for clients in need of assistance with cases of domestic violence and abuse. The domestic violence legal clinic is designed to complement both the Day and part-time Evening programs. The course provides a thorough survey of the state and federal criminal civil laws applicable to domestic violence victims and offenders in the United States, with special emphasis on North Carolina law. The historical development of domestic violence related law and the current reform efforts are addressed as well as the practical approaches to working with cases that are often challenging, such as criminal prosecution without victim cooperation.

ELDER LAW 9572 - (2)
Topics include issues confronting an aging society and the challenge the aging population presents to the law and the delivery of legal services. Specific topics that will be discussed will be: Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Income Maintenance (Social Security, Retirement Income, Reverse Mortgages), Health Care (Access, Medicare and Medicaid), Long-term Care (Options and Financing), Housing (Community-based and Continuing Care Retirement Communities), Guardianship and Conservatorship, Proxy Decision-Making (Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney, Living Wills), Elder Abuse and Neglect.

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION 9220 - (3)
A study of legal issues surrounding discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability, and age. The Equal Employment Opportunity Act will be discussed.

ENTERTAINMENT LAW 8250 - (2)
An examination of the legal problems encountered in the production, marketing and distribution of literary, musical and artistic properties; the negotiation and drafting of related contracts; and the production of creative works.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 8004 - (3)
In this course we will explore an exciting field of law that looks not just at legal issues, but also social, scientific, and moral issues. This class covers the history of environmental values and policies, including a discussion of economics and the environment, common law roots, approaches to federalism, and environmental justice. We look at specific case studies, such as the ongoing debate about opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Among the specific regulatory mechanisms we study are the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Superfund, and the Endangered Species Act. We also explore biodiversity protection, land use regulation, and environmental enforcement. Throughout the class, we ask questions about how environmental justice issues have or have not been taken into account.

ESTATE AND GIFT TAX PLANNING 9150 - (3)
Pre-requisites: Decedents' Estates 8020 and Taxation 8050.
A study of statutory law, and judicial and administrative decisions governing federal and North Carolina estate and gift taxation. Subjects covered include gross estate, deductions, tax rates, tax, and computation of the taxable estate, and basic estate and gift tax planning techniques.

ESTATE PLANNING 9540 - (2)
An examination of problems in estate analysis and planning, involving the use of life insurance, future interests, and marital and charitable deductions. Subjects covered include probating an estate, drafting wills and trusts, and tax returns.

EVIDENCE 8010 - (3)
  An examination of the rules of evidence and the roles of the judge,
jury, and attorney in the fact-finding process. Subjects covered include
witness examination, competency, privileges, exclusion, the hearsay
rule, authenticity, best evidence rule, parol evidence rule, and opinion
evidence.

FAMILY LAW CLINIC (CLASSROOM) 9050 - (2)
Prerequisites: Family Law (may be taken concurrently), Trial Practice I.
The classroom component of the clinic includes lectures, reading, drafting pleadings, mock interviews, a bench trial and/or a community project.

FAMILY LAW CLINIC (FIELD) 9051 - (2)
Prerequisite: Family Law Clinic (CLASSROOM).
Students participate in the supervised representation of family law litigants under the North Carolina third-year practice rule. Areas of practice include divorce, custody, name changes, and domestic violence. Students must work ten hours a week and complete all documentation. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

FAMILY LAW 8070 - (3)
A survey course that examines the nature and law of marriage, the contract to marry and its consequences, prenuptial agreements, annulment, divorce and separation, alimony and support obligations.  Equitable distribution, the concept of family, rights and duties of parent and child, child custody, visitation and support, termination of parental rights and adoption, and procreation including legitimacy, contraception and new reproduction technologies are also covered. 

GENERAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM 9800 - (2)
This program is designed primarily for students who are not enrolled in one of the seven structured clinics. This externship will provide opportunities for students who study a specialized area of the law in one of the elective courses such as Immigration, Patents and Trademarks, or Judicial. The program will operate via the ABA Standards for Study Outside the Classroom and provide exposure to the skills and methods of that area of practice.

Before you register, you must be approved for placement by the Director of Clinical Education and have at least one recommendation from a faculty member who teaches in the area of the proposed placement. You must have performed 100 documented hours toward the externship , and present a final report (or weekly journal) that is reflective of the learning experience. Some work hours will be at the site of the externship placement. As in the on-site clinical programs, students will focus on interview and client counseling skills, legal research, identification and analysis of relevant legal issues, document preparation, and other legal writing. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

HEALTHCARE LAW & POLICY 3370 - (3)
This course will cover the law covering health care organizations and health policy.  The course will cover health care topics such as regulation, liability, access, and fraud & abuse.  There are no formal prerequisites to the course although a course in Business Associations is strongly recommended.

HEALTH LAW/BIOETHICS 9370 - (2)
A seminar course that examines how the legal system reconciles competing values and interests in medical treatment conflicts. The seminar considers ethical and practical concerns and their application in a variety of bioethical settings. General topics include procreation, the new reproductive technologies, patient autonomy, organ donations, euthanasia, definitions of death and prolongation of life. The professor facilitates the first half of the seminar. Individual students conduct classes for the second half of the seminar. A paper is required for this course. There is no examination. Students are graded on their class presentations and their seminar paper.

INSURANCE 9060 - (2)
The study of various types of insurance organizations, state supervision and control of the insurance business, the interests protected by insurance contracts, the selection and control of risks, and the adjustment of losses.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 8222 - (4)
A survey of the law as it relates to the protection of products of the mind, including copyright, trademark, unfair trade practices, trade secrets, and state-based tort law protections. The course will familiarize students with both federal and state schemes and prepare students to identify the appropriate form of protection for a variety of situations. Patent protection is covered in Patent Law 9360.

INTERNATIONAL LAW 9550 - (2)
An examination of the basic principles of Public International Law. Emphasis is placed on the development of international organizations and the roles they play in the management of world affairs.

JUVENILE LAW CLINIC 8630 (2)
Prerequisites: Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure and Trial Practice. (Criminal Procedure and Trial Practice may be taken concurrently with the clinic.)
Students participating will represent clients in juvenile detention and long-term suspension administrative hearings. The Clinic will entail a 30-40 hour classroom component consisting of the Juvenile Delinquency Code and Durham Public Schools' Policies and Procedures on long-term suspension as well as 60-70 hours in the field for a total of 100 hours. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

LAND LOSS LAW 9529 - (2)
Examines the problems that cause rural and urban land loss. Coverage includes tax sales, foreclosures, partitions, heirs' property, eminent domain, zoning, adverse possession, estate planning, and land speculation.

LAW AND HUMANITIES SEMINAR 8712 - (2)
This seminar aims to facilitate examination of one's values and prospective life in the law through the rich and engaging resources of the humanities(e.g., literature, cinema, history, philosophy, religion), addressing important moral and philosophical issues that confront each of us as professionals.

Specific objectives include: self-reflection and clarification of personal values and aspirations; consideration of law as a calling to public and professional service;
appreciation for the humanities in personal and professional renewal; and understanding of the ideals and realities of legal practice

LAW JOURNAL I Co-Curricular 8260 - (1)
Emphasizes the utilization of research methodology as well as legal writing skills in developing significant research topics and editing contributions by legal scholars for publication in the North Carolina Central University Law Journal.

LAW JOURNAL II Co-Curricular 9160 - (1)
This is a continuation of Law Journal 8260.

LAW JOURNAL III Co-Curricular 9260 - (1)
This is a continuation of Law Journal 9160 and is available only to members of the Board of Editors of the North Carolina Central University Law Journal.

LAW OFFICE PRACTICE 9280 - (1)
Subjects covered include organizational theory, forms of practice, support staff selection, time keeping, fee schedules, billing practice, calendar systems, library and information retrieval systems, office equipment, and client development.

LEGAL ACCOUNTING 8161 - (2)
An introductory course designed to familiarize students with little or no accounting background with the fundamentals of accounting and financial analysis. Students will gain familiarity with accounting and business theory, accounting and business terminology, and the financial instruments used in accounting (the balance sheet, the income statement and the cash flow statement). Some emphasis will be placed on analyzing and planning various business transactions from an accounting and legal perspective, using financial data. Students without any accounting training or experience should consider taking this course before taking Personal Income Tax and Business Associations, although it is not a pre-requisite for those courses.

LEGAL LETTERS 8013 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Legal Reasoning and Analysis I and Legal Research and Persuasive Writing.
  To strengthen the student's legal research, analytical and communication skills, students will prepare a research memo. Students will be assigned to prepare various letters such as a detailed client letter, a demand letter, a response to a demand letter, a letter to an administrative or regulatory agency, an investigative letter from Agency to Respondent and a decision letter from the Agency.

LEGAL REASONING AND ANALYSIS I - 7121 - (3)
Students are introduced to the basics of legal reasoning, analysis and writing, such as preparation of case briefs, issue identification, identification of key facts, analogy, distinction, case synthesis, and statutory construction. The course concludes with a closed-research, objective memorandum of law.

LEGAL RESEARCH AND PERSUASION 7122 - (3)
Pre-requisite: Legal Reasoning and Analysis I. This course will teach students the fundamentals of legal research and citation form and will provide advanced instruction in legal reasoning and analysis.  The course identifies and describes the primary sources of law and relevant finding tools in print and electronic format.  Students receive instruction on the research strategies necessary to find and update the law.  Students prepare a research outline and an open-research, persuasive memorandum of law.

LEGAL SYSTEMS 8003 - (2)
An intermediate survey course that provides an overview of court systems, judicial opinions, prominent schools of legal thought, approaches to legal problems solving (including alternative dispute resolution), and statutory drafting, interpretation, and analysis.  Evaluation of students is through examination at the end of each unit of study.

LICENSING AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 9032 - (3)
Pre-requisites: Contracts I and II.
Practical training dealing with contractual agreements governing the exchange of intellectual property, including negotiation of agreements, franchising arrangements, cross-licensing, taxation considerations, and anti-trust prohibitions.

NATIONAL SECURITY LAW (SEMINAR) 9070 - (2)
A study of presidential and congressional national security powers under the Constitution and case law; the domestic effect of international law; the use of military force in international relations; investigating terrorism and other national security threats, with a focus on surveillance and other counterterrorism measures; prosecuting terrorists in the federal courts; detention and trial of terrorists by military commissions; the domestic use of the military in law enforcement; and public access to national security information in civil litigation.

NATIVE AMERICAN LAW 8001 - (3)
This course presents the basic doctrines and historical underpinnings of federal Indian law, including the history of federal Indian policy, the foundations of tribal sovereignty, the federal role in Indian affairs, and the interplay of federal, tribal, and state authority in Indian country.  Students study the sources of and limitations on federal power over Indians and Indian tribes; the sources of and federal restraints on tribal governmental authority; the various areas in which tribal governments exercise authority, such as criminal jurisdiction, judicial jurisdiction, regulatory jurisdiction, and jurisdiction over tribal affairs; and state claims to power over both Indian tribes and non-Indians who live or work within Indian country.

N.C. DISTINCTIONS 9570 - (3)
  A team-taught synthesis course for third-year students that integrates procedural and substantive subjects in a comprehensive format utilizing the statutory framework of a single jurisdiction, North Carolina .  The key subject areas are Criminal Procedure, Future Interests, Real Estate Finance, and Family Law.

NEGOTIATION ALL AROUND US 9506 - (3)
An elective class designed to appeal to law school students who want to improve their negotiation skills and style and who want to realize more effective outcomes when faced with conflict. Students gain a theoretical framework for understanding negotiation practices and processes through current literature in the area, tested against experience gained through realistic role-plays and simulation exercises. The class is highly interactive and challenges students to use past experiences with conflict to simulate the complexity of circumstances they will face in their future professional careers.

The course focuses on three major areas of bioethics: autonomy, the right to life and the right to die. The autonomy section includes informed consent, capacity and incompetence and anatomical gifts. The right to life section includes assisted reproductive technology, abortion, posthumous reproduction, sterilization, contraception and pregnancy and prenatal testing. The right to die section includes sustaining and terminating life-support, advance directives, physician assisted suicide, determinations of death and organ donation.

NORTH CAROLINA RULES 9535 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Civil Procedure I and II and Evidence.
A selective review of North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and the North Carolina Rules of Evidence. The course will focus on specific rules and the interplay between these rules and decisions of North Carolina appellate courts interpreting them. Discussions will be based on a series of hypothetical questions that students will consider prior to each class.

PATENT LAW 9360 - (3)

Comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of patent law. Subjects covered include patentable subject matter, conditions for a valid patent, procedures in the patent office, amendments and correction of patents, and litigation procedure, remedies, defenses, and judgments. Trademark, copyright and other state protections for Intellectual Property are covered in Intellectual Property 8222.

PLEADINGS AND PRACTICE 9016 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Legal Reasoning and Analysis I and Legal Research and Persuasive Writing. This course focuses on drafting pleadings, motions, discovery, and other legal documents.

PRO BONO CLINIC 9025 - (1)
This course allows students to participate in pro bono projects offered through the Pro Bono Program Office or a self-designed, instructor approved pro bono project. Each student is required to work a minimum of 45 hours and to provide either a finished written work product from the project or a final report describing the completed pro bono project. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY 9290 - (2)
  An examination of the Rules of Professional Conduct, the roles and
functions of lawyers in society, responsibilities involved in representing clients, and the organization and functions of the bar.

PROPERTY I - 7050 - (3)
An introduction to private real and personal property rights and estates in land. Subjects covered may include the law of finders and other possessors, bailments, adverse possession, and present, future, and concurrent estates in land.

PROPERTY II - 7051 - (2)
Pre-requisite: Property I. Subjects typically covered include landlord and tenant law, covenants and easements, and conveyancing.

RACE AND THE LAW 8019 - (3)
An extensive examination of the impact of law on race, racism, and racial interactions in the United States. This examination addresses constitutional intent and impact on the rights of African-Americans and other ethnic minorities as well as the development of federal and state statutory enactments affecting those rights. In addition to the study of the historical context of specific race-related cases, students organize and present seminars that explore several contemporary and emerging racial issues and concerns.

RELATIONAL INJURIES II 8620 - (2)
Prerequisites: Torts 7040 and 7140.
A selective examination of tort actions for interference with a recognizable relationship, including familial relationships, societal relationships, and business relationships. Areas covered include alienation of affections, loss of consortium, criminal conversation, interference with prospective advantage, state unfair competition law, common law copyright, defamation, and rights of privacy.

REMEDIES 9110 - (3)
An examination of the legal rules and principles that determine the nature and measurement of relief to which a successful litigant may be entitled. Students will examine issues related to the elements and measure of money damages, specific performance of contracts, availability and scope of preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, declaratory judgment and restitution.  Other areas typically covered include the relationship between legal and equitable relief and ancillary issues such as attorneys' fees, collection of judgments, governmental immunity and punitive damages.

SALES AND SECURED TRANSACTIONS 9030 - (4)
  An overview of the legal principles applicable to the sale of goods
and security interests in personal property used as collateral for the
extension of credit. The first part of the course is organized around
the performance and warranty provisions of Article 2 of the Uniform
Commercial Code and is designed to build upon and not duplicate the
first-year course in Contracts. The second part of the course is
organized around Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

SENIOR WRITING 9500 - (3) (Evening Program Only)
  An intensive writing class based on a single case file. Students will
write several practical skills-oriented documents, including letters,
pleadings, settlement brochures, motions, and supporting briefs

SEXUAL IDENTITY AND THE LAW 8713 - (2)
This class will explore a variety of legal issues related to sexual identity and sexual orientation. This area of the law is ever-changing, and we will discuss legal issues related to sexual identity and orientation in the context of today's culture; particularly, how these issues are affected by religion and cultural morality. Though much of the legal doctrine considered in this course will be constitutional in nature, the course will also touch on basic family law and possibly employment law.

SMALL BUSINESS LEGAL CLINIC 9029 - (2)
Pre-requisites: Business Associations and Taxation 8050. Business Planning Externship program that will allow students to provide legal assistance to existing small business owners and those planning to go into business. Under the direction of a supervising professor, students are required to perform 100 documented hours. Students focus on interview and client counseling skills, legal research, identification and analysis of various business issues, document preparation and other legal writing and client case documentation and reporting. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

SPORTS LAW 7200 - (2)
An analysis of the sports industry and the laws that regulate it. Areas include history of professional sports, relevant contracts, perspectives of athletes, management and unions, and legal and business representational issues.

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW 8191 - (3)
A study of the sources of state and local governmental power, issues relating to special legislation, local government taxing authority and land-use regulations; and an examination of governmental assistance to private business, privatizing of governmental services, the law of eminent domain, and constitutional limitations on local government regulatory authority.

STREET LAW 8171 - (1)
Law students learn how to teach Street Law to middle and high school students. Methods of instruction include lectures, role-playing, guest speakers, and the development of lesson plans. Students are assigned to a Durham Public School location and teach a unit on law as part of a social studies course, in cooperation with the regular teacher. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

TAXATION OF BUSINESS ENTITIES 9080 - (3)
Pre-requisite: Taxation 8050 and Advanced Taxation 9210.
An examination of the federal income taxation of S and C corporations and shareholders. Consideration is given to tax aspects of the formation, operation, liquidation, purchase and sale of corporations, and choice of business entity.

TAXATION 8050 - (3)
  An introduction to the basic structure of federal income taxation
including gross income, deductions, tax rates, treatment of gains and
losses, and computation of taxable income. Emphasis is placed on
fundamentals and areas of concern to general practitioners.

  To strengthen students writing and analytical skills, students are required to take at least one writing seminar.

TORTS I - 7040 - (3)
An introduction to the principles of tort liability for intentional and negligently caused injuries to persons and property. Subjects covered typically include assault, battery, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, and trespass and defenses to liability, including consent.

TORTS II - 7041 -  (2)
Pre-requisite: Torts I.
An examination of defenses to liability based on negligence, including contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and statutes of limitation. Coverage also includes releases and covenants not to sue, vicarious liability, wrongful death actions, negligent infliction of emotional distress, nuisance, misrepresentation, strict liability, and products liability.

 

TRIAL PRACTICE I  - 8170 - (3)
Pre-requisite:  Evidence   8010
A study of the process of client representation focusing on trial preparation: fact gathering, negotiating and counseling, and the final trial.  The course involves exercises on direct and cross-examination, jury selection, and closing arguments.  Each student participates in a mock trial.

TRIAL PRACTICE II (TRIAL ADVOCACY BOARD) 8172 - (1)
Pre-requisite: Trial Practice I Co-Curricular
Students who have excelled in Trial Practice I are chosen, through in-house trial competitions, to participate in various regional and national competitions. Students must participate in a certified trial competition in order to obtain Senior Board status and to earn a grade for credit.

WOMEN IN THE LAW 9043 - (2)
This course examines the unique impact of the law on issues affecting women, including the role of women in the legal profession, reproductive rights, workplace conflicts, violence against women, and lesbian rights.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION 8230 - (2)
A study of the system of compensation provided by statute for injury to or death of employees arising out of and in the course of their employment, including statutory procedures for determination and review of compensation awards. Discussion also includes the interplay between workers' compensation and the tort system of personal injury recovery.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION (EVENING) 8231 - (3)
An in-depth version of 8230.

U.S.  PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE PRACTICE & PROCEDURE 8223 - (1)
This course will introduce students to the primary legal systems that protect IP (i.e., patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret law) and policies underlying these laws.  Emphasis is placed on the laws underlying the US patent grant including inventorship, section 102 bars, specification and claims, patentable subject matter, requirements for patentability, filing and prosecution of a patent application, claim interpretation, infringement and litigation issues.  A comparison is made of patents with other main areas of intellectual property protection. 

This course is intended to serve as a supplement and pathway to more specialized courses in the law school's IP courses and students are strongly encouraged to enroll as early as they can, typically in their third semester.  No technical background is expected or required. The final grade for the course will be pass/fail.

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