| Course | Credit | Course Description | Course Area | |
Spring 2023 |
6237 Doing Deals |
2 |
This two-hour class will take students through the life cycle of private and public company mergers and acquisitions from the perspective of a practicing lawyer. Using actual deal documents, we will analyze how the business agreement between the parties gets translated into contract terms, as well as the role of the M&A lawyer in advising, negotiating and documenting the transaction. The course will be co-taught by Professor Douglas Moll and Ryan Maierson, a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP. Completion of a Business Organizations or Corporations course is a prerequisite to enrollment. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Spring 2023 |
5353 Business Planning |
3 |
COURSE DESCRIPTION: |
Taxation |
Spring 2023 |
7317 WRC: Federal Pretrial Drafting |
3 |
Federal Pretrial Drafting is an upper level writing class designed to prepare students for “real world” litigation practice after law school. In the context of a single federal court case, students will draft basic pleadings, some minimal discovery documents, a short motion for summary judgment and accompanying response, and a mediation statement. Lectures will cover requirements for these documents under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, but also enable students to refine their factual investigation, legal analysis and drafting skills. Students will receive ample feedback and opportunities to rewrite certain assignments to further hone these essential practice tools. Grading. The motion for summary judgment and response, along with associated rewrites, will comprise 50% of your final grade. Discovery documents and any associated rewrites will comprise 20% of your final grade. Your remaining grade will be apportioned at 10% each among the following assignments: the complaint; the answer; and the mediation statement. |
Practice Skills - (Research and Writing) |
Spring 2023 |
6305 NAFTA 2.0: North American Trade After the USMCA |
3 |
This course will introduce you to the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") and its revised version under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), along with the emerging legal issues surrounding the treaty. Because the NAFTA was the first U.S. regional trade agreement, it has been used as model for other regional trade agreements. We will discuss the context which brought about the NAFTA, study various USMCA provisions to understand the ways in which the USMCA changed (or not) the original NAFTA. Specifically, we will examine its dispute settlement processes (specifically current US disputes against Mexico on energy, environment, and labor), tariffs and the rules of origin and how they impact North American supply chain production, and the ways that the USMCA addresses environmental and labor controversies in the three countries. We will also examine the relationship between regional trade agreements like the USMCA to multilateral agreements and institutions such as GATT and the WTO as well as the impact of the USMCA on the economic, political, and social structures of the three participating countries. General issues of international law and trade will be discussed in the context of regional trade agreements and the ramifications for the North American region of having (or not) a free trade agreement. |
International Law |
Spring 2023 |
5369 Insurance Law & Justice |
3 |
This course covers contemporary American insurance law and regulation but with an emphasis on how conflicting notions of justice affect doctrines and policies in the field. There is also an emphasis on understanding the contemporary insurance industry, including various forms of insurance, reinsurance and public insurance schemes. We do cover the highlights of Texas law, particularly in understanding the duty to settle and duty to defend in liability insurance policies, but this should not be seen as a course in "Texas Insurance Law." We study both the "property/casualty" side of insurance, with an emphasis on liability insurance, and the life/health side, the latter emphasizing the Affordable Care Act. The goal is to prepare you not just for insurance issues likely to be present in the next few years, but to give you "insurance intuitions" that will help you understand insurance issues as they evolve during your career. |
Health Law |
Spring 2023 |
5223 Post Mortem Estate Planning |
2 |
Postmortem Estate Planning: Covers issues associated with estate administration with a goal toward minimization of income and estate taxes. Covers the estate tax system generally, income taxation of estates and planning opportunities associated therewith, issues associated with funding of pecuniary and residual bequests, disclaimers, special use valuation, and estate tax deferral techniques. Examines the use of Trusts and Partnerships in removing assets from exposure to estate tax and distribution and release agreements. Course uses material developed by the instructor, primarily from current advance estate planning and probate seminar material. |
Taxation |
Spring 2023 |
5384 Endangered Species and Biodiversity Law |
3 |
This course is an overview of biodiversity and conservation biology, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), other federal laws protecting species, Eeosystem diversity, threats to biodiversity & ecosystems and international biodiversity. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2023 |
6227 Oil & Gas Pipeline Regulation |
2 |
The increased demand for electric power generation and the development of shale gas plays in the United States have created a need for additional domestic pipeline infrastructure for natural gas pipelines and oil/condensate pipelines. At the same time, pipeline development and operation is receiving increased scrutiny and opposition from regulators and non-governmental organizations opposed to climate change and environmental impacts or concerned with pipeline safety. This course will provide an overview of the principal substantive laws and regulatory mechanisms that govern the construction and operation of oil and natural gas pipelines including the Interstate Commerce Act, Natural Gas Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Pipeline Safety Act, and Endangered Species Act among others. This course will be taught using statutes, court cases, and agency decisions assembled by Professor Johnson; these course reading materials will be made available through the Associate Dean's office prior to the first day of class. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2023 |
5234 Shale Gas & LNG |
2 |
This course explores the myriad of legal, policy and environmental issues pertaining to global natural gas markets with a particular focus on global shale gas development and the development of LNG import and export projects around the world, including recent developments in US LNG export projects. This semester will be particularly interesting, as we will discuss the role of natural gas and LNG in the current low-oil price environment. The first half of the semester will explore the growing role that natural gas will play around the world in the context of global shale gas development. By most accounts, shale gas development in the United States has been a “game changer” that could be replicated around the world so long as the right regulatory and environmental frameworks are put in place. This course will explore the existing regulatory and environmental frameworks for shale gas, especially those in the United States, as well as frameworks being developed around the world with the objective of exploring the substantive law of shale gas development as well as developing the analytical and practical skills necessary to the practice of law. The second half of the semester will explore the growing role that LNG is expected to play as the “glue” linking global gas markets. The course will explore the opportunities and challenges for various LNG import and export projects around the world in the current contextual reality wherein energy law and policy are increasingly intersecting with environmental law and geopolitics. Particular focus will be on recent policy and regulatory actions taken with respect to US LNG exports. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2023 |
5279 Texas Consumer Law |
2 |
This course will be a condensed version of the three-hour Texas Consumer Law course. Emphasis will be placed on the Texas Deceptive Trade practices Act, but material relating to warranty and arbitration will also be included. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Spring 2023 |
5360 Licensing & Technology Transfer |
3 |
A study of typical licensing problems in the following types of licenses: patent, copyright, trademark and franchising, know-how, and digital information access. The emphasis will be on case law reflecting drafting pitfalls and what to do to avoid them in practice. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Spring 2023 |
6223 Drafting & Negotiating Int'l Oil & Gas Agreements |
2 |
This course is designed to enhance the students´ knowledge of major types of international oil and gas agreements while providing practical, hands-on experience in contract drafting and negotiation. Students will be provided a detailed and realistic fact pattern showing how oil and gas deals are conceived of, proposed, negotiated and eventually formalized. The students will then apply the fact pattern to various types of oil and gas model agreements. In short, Professor Nadorff will show the students how an international oil and gas lawyer approaches every day oil and gas industry legal and commercial challenges, including how to navigate office “politics” and deal with various types of industry players. The course contains the following major components: • A discussion of the role of the contract drafters and negotiators in the oil and gas industry. • Practical tips on how to write contracts and other documents more clearly and effectively as well as identifying pitfalls to be avoided. • Contract drafting and negotiation strategies. • A thorough discussion of pre-contractual documents (letters of intent, memoranda of association, etc.), including a detailed in-class review and re-write of a poorly conceived and drafted letter of intent. • An introduction to the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and the AIPN Model Form Contracts (including their proper use and potential abuse). • In class, on-screen editing by the students of key AIPN Model Form Agreements (most likely: Confidentiality, Joint Study and Bidding, Farmout, Joint Operating Agreement, International Consultant, and Well Services). • In-class negotiations and other simulated exercises based on the supplied fact pattern. It is anticipated that for each class, Professor Nadorff will invite a different oil and gas lawyer or negotiator in order to: (i) share professional experiences; (ii) provide personal perspectives and (iii) to help facilitate the in-class exercises. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2023 |
7297 WRC: Poetry Law Interpretation |
2 |
This course will focus on the work of American modernist poet Wallace Stevens and the problem of interpretation as it applies to poetry, law, and language in general. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Summer I 2023 |
5183 Mediation Process |
1 |
The Mediation Clinic and Mediation Process Class go together to create one three hour course. The one hour graded Mediation Process Class is the classroom component associated with the two hour pass/fail Mediation Clinic. The classroom component (mediation process) is intended to provide the students with further mediation training, advanced mediation and communication skills, scheduling into courts and the BBB, and discussion of cases mediated and 40 hours of mediation certification training. The Mediation Clinic must be taken in conjunction with the 1 credit hour graded Mediation Process Class. Prerequisite: Good Academic Standing and 40 hours of mediation certification training. For more information regarding the Mediation Clinic contact Tasha Willis, tlwillis@central.uh.edu. The only first day assignment will involve scheduling. Once the students are registered, they will receive an email providing them the schedules for the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center, the Greater Houston Better Business Bureau, the Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts and the EEOC. This email will provide them with the instructions they will need to spend the first day of class scheduling mediation and reviewing instructions for beginning mediating in all of the above locations. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Summer I 2023 |
5283 Mediation Externship |
2 |
Mediation Clinic students add to their list of lawyering skills learned prior to graduation by mediating real cases in Justice Courts, the Better Business Bureau, the EEOC, and for parties who have been ordered to mediate by local judges. Students will mediate 2-3 mediations per week throughout the semester. The Mediation Process class is required at the same time. The Mediation Clinic and Mediation Process Class go together to create one three hour course. For more information regarding the Mediation Clinic contact Tasha Willis, tlwillis@central.uh.edu. Students must apply to the Clinic by submitting the online application at http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/. Students should not attempt to enroll themselves in these courses via PeopleSoft: if you’re accepted, the Clinic Program Manager will enroll you via the Office of Student Services. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Fall 2023 |
7324 WRC:Advanced Legal Writing |
3 |
ALW is an upper level class intended to help students become more proficient, efficient, and effective at researching, analyzing legal issues, and composing and organizing written documents. It will build on concepts learned in first year Lawyering Skills and Strategies classes and will help students to refine and further develop problem solving, factual investigation and drafting skills. Assignments will include (1) writing a brief involving a complex legal issue; (2) drafting an opinion letters, attorney-client agreements and other reflective documents, and court documents, such as pleadings and motions; (3) communicating orally in motion hearings and client meetings. |
Practice Skills - (Research and Writing) |
Fall 2023 |
7344 WRS: Energy and the Environment |
3 |
This writing seminar will explore pivotal issues involving the synergistic relationship between energy law and environmental law. The course will examine several critical topics of domestic and global importance associated with various sources of energy and the impact on natural resources and the environment. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2023 |
5364 Texas Coastal & Ocean Law |
3 |
This course explores laws and policies that affect decisions on United States ocean and coastal resources, with particular emphasis on Texas. The coastal zone is at the same time a very sensitive area, a very useful area, and an economically important area. We will examine statutes, regulations, attitudes, and cases that shape how the federal government and the State use, manage, and protect the coasts and oceans. We cover government and private approaches to coastal and ocean resources, including beaches, wetlands, estuaries, reefs, fisheries, endangered species, and special areas. Specific statutes of importance are the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, and the Texas Coastal Coordination Act, Coastal Management Plan, and Open Beaches Act. Many other environmental laws and issues come into play in the coastal zone, including NEPA, CWA, ESA, APA, flooding, the role of permitting, energy production, water rights, sea level rise, zoning, and these all operate on local, state and federal levels, both private and governmental. The course will emphasize the practical application of these laws and policies and we will be discussing actual cases and examples from around Texas. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2023 |
6334 Accounting & Finance for Lawyers |
3 |
The course teaches the basics every lawyer should know about accounting and finance in order to communicate, negotiate, and counsel effectively regarding business matters: the accounting process; the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow; financial statement analysis; auditing; time value of money; interest; credit; securities; risk; valuation; derivatives; financial decision rules; and financial markets and regulation. The course presumes no prior knowledge of accounting or finance. Exercises and brief business case studies will be assigned to develop comfort with calculations and concepts. No special mathematical knowledge is required, just basic arithmetic and algebra. This course is taught by a J.D. who has significant experience in startups and venture capital along with a master’s in accounting and significant experience as a lawyer both at one of the best New York law firms in the area of finance as well as in-house at various technology enterprises: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhanthakkar/ Additionally, Shobhan is part of MDAngels (https://www.mdangels.net/) and Buena Vista Angels (https://www.buenavistaangels.com/what-we-do) and has co-founded several companies. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Summer I 2023 |
6235 Juvenile Representation |
2 |
Dual-status youth (also often referred to as Crossover Youth) are juveniles who are involved in both the Juvenile Justice system as well as the child welfare system. Students will be trained to represent and advocate for juveniles who are in contact with two different legal systems. Students will be assigned to delinquency cases for dual-status youth and will be responsible for handling all legal aspects of the delinquency case under the supervision of the supervising attorney. Students will learn the law in a real-life context and develop professional and problem-solving skills. Students will be exposed to a wide range of cases, from misdemeanors to felonies. Students will have the opportunity to investigate cases, interview witnesses and prepare cases for trial. Students will also learn about the CPS system and factors in this system that impact the delinquency cases and the youth that are facing charges. The clinic will consist of a classroom component and a practical component. The classroom component will focus on case preparation, negotiating the CPS system, advocacy skills and ethical considerations. The practical component will allow students to handle different aspects of real cases including appearing in court, negotiating plea agreements and preparing cases for trial. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Summer I 2023 |
6234 Juvenile Representation II |
2 |
Dual-status youth (also often referred to as Crossover Youth) are juveniles who are involved in both the Juvenile Justice system as well as the child welfare system. Students will be trained to represent and advocate for juveniles who are in contact with two different legal systems. Students will be assigned to delinquency cases for dual-status youth and will be responsible for handling all legal aspects of the delinquency case under the supervision of the supervising attorney. Students will learn the law in a real-life context and develop professional and problem-solving skills. Students will be exposed to a wide range of cases, from misdemeanors to felonies. Students will have the opportunity to investigate cases, interview witnesses and prepare cases for trial. Students will also learn about the CPS system and factors in this system that impact the delinquency cases and the youth that are facing charges. The clinic will consist of a classroom component and a practical component. The classroom component will focus on case preparation, negotiating the CPS system, advocacy skills and ethical considerations. The practical component will allow students to handle different aspects of real cases including appearing in court, negotiating plea agreements and preparing cases for trial. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Spring 2024 |
5697 Immigration Clinic I |
6 |
As a student in this clinic, you will represent an asylum seeker from the first client interview, all the way through to the hearing in front of an immigration judge. You will be your client’s attorney and therefore responsible for all aspects of the case—client interviewing and counseling, fact investigation and development, working with expert witnesses, legal research and drafting documents, negotiations, and trial advocacy. You will work in pairs or groups of three under the supervision of one of the professors. In addition to the work you do on your client’s case, known as fieldwork, there is a classroom component to the clinic. The class will meet twice a week and will include learning lawyering skills, substantive law, procedural rules, and ethical considerations, practicing new skills through simulation, workshopping written product, and participating in case rounds. Case rounds are group problem solving sessions where a team presents a problem to the class and the class helps the team to examine the problem, consider their own goals, and brainstorm solutions. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Spring 2024 |
5230 Mergers & Acquisitions |
2 |
Mergers and Acquisitions: This course considers the economic and legal aspects of mergers and acquisitions. The course is roughly divided into three parts. The first part considers the problem of mergers and acquisitions through the lens of modern economic theory. This portion of the course addresses the value that business combinations create for society and asks why acquirers typically pay substantial premiums to purchase established companies. The second part of the course addresses the legal rules applicable to takeover defense and asks whether the law is a fair reflection of the economic conclusions drawn from the first part of the course. The third part of the course considers the federal securities laws applicable to mergers and acquisitions, principally Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities Exchange Act. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Spring 2024 |
7338 WRS: Texas v. United States |
3 |
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the state’s impact on Constitutional Law. Seminal decisions originating in Texas have shaped every area of constitutional doctrine from immigration to voting rights to administrative law. This class will explore the role that the state of Texas and localities within Texas have played in instigating constitutional change in our federal system. Each week, we will engage in and in-depth look at a landmark Supreme Court case that came out of Texas, including inquiries into how the case developed, why the Supreme Court granted certiorari, and the impact of the eventual decision on Texas and the nation. Each student will select a Supreme Court case that originated in Texas at the beginning of the semester. They will then be responsible for presenting and leading the class discussion on that case, as well as writing a paper related to some aspect of their case. |
Constitutional Law |
Spring 2024 |
7305 WRS: Hot Topics in Criminal Law & Procedure |
3 |
The seminar in “Hot Topics in Criminal Law and Procedure” will meet to discuss readings on some of the most pressing issues in the field. We will discuss readings that include law review articles, case law, and other types of materials. Topics may include forensic science, wrongful convictions, race in criminal justice, and best practices for bail hearings, mental health and criminal justice, and electronic surveillance, among other topics. Several guest speakers will lead class discussions. In addition, there is an optional field trip to a local area prison. The course is graded based on class preparation and participation and the writing of a 35-page seminar paper. A law librarian and a member of the Lawyering Skills and Strategies program will meet with the class to provide guidance on researching and writing the seminar paper. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Spring 2024 |
5341 Disabilities & the Law |
3 |
This 3 credit survey course examines the rights of people with disabilities in the American legal system. Topics covered include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We will also discuss the social meaning of disability and the American disability rights movement. |
Health Law |
Spring 2024 |
5340 Marital Property Rights |
3 |
Marital Property Rights is a survey of legal issues that arise from intimate relationships. The primary focus is Texas community property law, and the rights married couples have in property accumulated while married. The other primary topic covered is Texas homestead law, basically the protection Texas law provides for a family’s home, as well as the rules that govern encumbering or selling the home. |
Family Law |
Spring 2024 |
5273 International Intellectual Property |
2 |
This course covers international intellectual property ("IP") law from the following perspectives: (i) private international IP law (ii) public international IP law, such as under multilateral treaties, and (iii) comparative aspects of IP law among the major trading countries or regions of the world. The course is designed to introduce students to key international IP issues, principles and policy questions. Although it will cover several areas of IP law, it will focus more heavily on patents. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Spring 2024 |
5333 Health Transactions |
3 |
In this advanced health law course students learn and apply substantive laws and lawyering skills to model health care transactions. Working in teams of associates under the supervision of the professors, including practicing health care attorneys, students will engage in health care contract drafting, client interviews, negotiations, due diligence, and regulatory analysis. The model health care transactions are based on deals commonly entered into by hospitals and health systems, including hospital-physician employment agreements, health care joint ventures, and acquisitions. |
Health Law |
Spring 2024 |
7342 WRS: Transnational Petroleum Law |
3 |
Transnational petroleum law or lex petrolea is conceived as the rules of law and the transnational legal order created by the transnational petroleum community constituted by States, corporations, professional industry associations and other industry actors participating in the oil and gas sector. Therefore, the course will focus on the transnational rules commonly associated with the petroleum industry such as: investment protection standards included in international investment treaties, industry standards and best practices, general principles of international law, model contracts, and arbitration jurisprudence. All these sources of law have a common element which is their transnational legal nature that transcends parties’ agreements and the regulation enacted by oil and gas producing nations. Indeed, this plurality of sources of law is considered altogether “the network” that governs transnational petroleum operations in the 21st Century. The course will also provide model contracts, standardized regulation and a collection of excerpts of arbitral awards in the oil industry which will guide our understanding of the new legal practices in the oil and gas sector. The cases under review will cover oil and gas arbitration in Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. For example: cases of international arbitration related to expropriation or indirect expropriation in Russia, Venezuela, and Ecuador; the use of industry best practices in Nigeria, Sudan, Mexico and Canada; the protection of foreign investments in the case of armed conflicts (Libya, Sudan, and Colombia); the imposition of sanctions against the oil industry in Iran, Russia, Libya, and Venezuela, and environmental litigation related to oil and gas investments. |
Practice Skills - (Research and Writing) |
Summer I 2024 |
5424 Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic |
4 |
Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic explores the substantive law, investigative techniques, and post-conviction appellate remedies applicable in capital (death penalty) and non-capital cases. Lectures will cover topics such as: Texas criminal statutes, state/federal habeas law, clemency proceedings, investigative techniques, and capital trial strategy. In addition to attending lectures, students work on both death-penalty and non-death penalty cases. For death penalty cases, students investigate claims related to the guilt-innocence and punishment phases of death-penalty cases; and research/draft post-conviction appeals, and/or clemency petitions. For non-death penalty cases, students research and draft direct appeals. Given the strict filing deadlines in criminal appellate cases, it is vital that Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic students adhere to deadlines set by the course instructor. NO BOOK FOR THIS COURSE. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Summer I 2024 |
7311 WRS: Gender, Power, Law & Leadership |
3 |
This seminar is inspired by the glaring omission of women from positions of power and leadership in the legal profession and beyond. While women continue to enter law school and the legal profession in relatively equal numbers to men, they remain outside of the structures of power---in the judiciary, law firms, the corporate world and even legal education---in the United States and beyond. This reality is even worse for women of color. Researchers, scholars, and practitioners commit a great deal of time, energy and resources to trying to change the landscape, yet progress seems stalled. Interestingly, very little attention is paid to the site where it all begins: law school. In this way, it makes sense to devote attention in an academic context to this topic. Students must write a substantial research paper, and will receive guidance about how to potentially publish their research as an op-ed, trade publication essay, or scholarly article. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Summer I 2024 |
5497 Mediation Clinic II |
4 |
Mediation Clinic students add to their list of lawyering skills learned prior to graduation by mediating real cases in Justice Courts, the Better Business Bureau, the EEOC, and for parties who have been ordered to mediate by local judges. Students will mediate 2-3 mediations per week throughout the semester. The Mediation Process class is required at the same time. For more information regarding the Mediation Clinic contact Tasha Willis, tlwillis@central.uh.edu. Students must apply to the Clinic by submitting the online application at http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/. Students should not attempt to enroll themselves in these courses via PeopleSoft: if you’re accepted, the Clinic Program Manager will enroll you via the Office of Student Services. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Fall 2024 |
5391 Immigration and Family Law |
3 |
In this class, students will work individually and in groups to find legal solutions to hypothetical situations where immigration and family law intersect e.g. marriage, divorce, adoption, domestic violence, the Hague Convention and Suits Affecting the Parent Child Relationship. Students will study family-based immigration law and learn how it relates to representation of individuals in family court. They will develop practical skills that will enable them to successfully represent clients who are seeking immigration benefits through a family member. Students will learn the practical aspects of representation of non-citizens in family court. |
International Law |
Fall 2024 |
6315 Entrepreneurship |
3 |
The role of an attorney in the start, growth, and development of a business is indispensable. This course will give you practical exposure to some of the daily tasks and major issues that face an attorney working as in-house or external counsel for a start-up and early stage company. These issues include intellectual property . Students will learn how to interpret and write documents like stock option agreements, general contracts, standard operating procedures, constitutions and bylaws, and will be expected to draft versions of these documents to address real-world scenarios. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2024 |
7314 WRS: Antidiscrimination |
3 |
Antidiscrimination law has expanded dramatically over the past several decades. There has been a push to expand beyond traditionally protected classes – e.g., race, sex, and religion – to protect people on the basis of a wide range of considerations, including (but not limited to) weight, criminal records, credit histories, sexual orientation, prior salaries, genetics, disability, and appearance. Further, some laws protect only some groups within a band of identity (e.g., the ADEA protects only workers over the age of 40 and the ADA protects only persons with disabilities) while some laws protect all persons on the basis of a particular trait (e.g., Title VII protects all people on the basis of race and sex). The push to expand discrimination law and the legislative choices made to protect some groups, but not others, leads to a fundamental and somewhat rudimentary set of questions: What is discrimination? When is it wrong? And should the law do anything about it? This seminar will explore these questions and others. It will allow us to better understand why the law protects some people against some forms of discrimination – but not others. The first part of this seminar will approach discrimination law from a legal philosophy lens. We will consider hard questions, such as: What is discrimination? Why is it wrong? Is equality of opportunity possible? What is discrimination law? And what is the purpose of discrimination law? We will then move into more particular areas and queries. We will consider questions, such as: Is everyone biased? Can we do anything about it? What are the limits of discrimination law? Are there more creative approaches to achieving equality? And what are the next frontiers for discrimination law? The readings and discussions, taken together, will provide you with a foundation on which to build and revise your paper, which should fit generally within the ambit of antidiscrimination law or theory. This seminar is intended to provoke you to think long and deeply about the project of antidiscrimination. |
Employment and Labor Law |
Fall 2024 |
6344 U.S. Import Regulation |
3 |
This course is a practical study of U.S. import requirements including Customs procedures, legal issues related to the importation of merchandise, enforcement of the regulations of the myriad of federal agencies that regulate imports and, finally, the development of corporate import compliance programs. Broader topics include importing pursuant to trade agreements and importing within the context of developing security initiatives at home and abroad. The course is taught by an Adjunct Professor who began his career as an attorney within Customs and now, as a private practitioner, has 20 years of experience in this area of law. |
International Law |
Fall 2024 |
5291 Partnership Tax |
2 |
This course provides an overview of the US federal income taxation of business entities treated as partnerships for US federal income tax purposes with the objective of imparting a practical understanding of fundamental principles through a problem oriented approach to the subject matter. |
Taxation |
Fall 2024 |
5284 Energy Taxation |
2 |
The course will focus on the unique U.S. federal income tax aspects of (and tax planning and tax structuring related to) energy transition related investments (such as carbon capture use and sequestration), renewable and alternative energy (such as wind and solar), as well as each of the traditional energy sectors (including mining and mining and metals, power and utilities, and oil and gas). |
Taxation |
Fall 2024 |
5261 Real Estate Tax |
2 |
This course will cover selected federal income tax issues related to real estate acquisition, operation and disposition. Areas of focus include choice of entity, capitalization and cost recovery, the effects of mortgages on basis, dealer gain issues, like kind exchanges, and installment sales. The course is intended to be practical and cover federal income tax issues that arise daily for both clients and lawyers involved in commercial and investment real estate transactions. This course will include two or three writing assignments involving research, persuasive writing, and/or drafting agreements related to this concentration of tax law. |
Taxation |
Fall 2024 |
5374 American Legal History |
3 |
This class will examine major legal controversies and changes from the early Republic to the present, with an emphasis on how law, politics and society collided with and influenced each other in the 20th century. By studying recurring arguments over state vs. national power, who merits inclusion in the circle of legal and civil rights, and the balance between individual freedom and public authority in a changing society, we hope to explain how we got here — that is, to better understand today’s legal landscape. Topics include the legal battle over slavery and secession, the 19th and early 20th century struggle for women’s rights and suffrage, legal attacks on Native Americans and immigrants, the Lochner era and the Constitutional revolution of 1937, post-W.W.1 and W.W.2 Red Scares and McCarthyism, the legal war on Jim Crow and the Warren Court’s individual rights revolution, the conservative backlash to legal liberalism and the Bork and Thomas confirmations, Watergate and U.S. v. Nixon, the “War on Drugs” and mass incarceration, the 2000 election and Bush v. Gore, the battle for LGBT rights, and many others. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Fall 2024 |
5108 Advanced Health Law |
1 |
Professor Contact: michaelsewer@yahoo.com This course is required for all students enrolled in the University of Houston Law School, Health Law & Policy Institute's LL.M. degree program; it is also open to JD students. It may be taken during the first semester, but could be taken later as well. The course will require each student present a formal lecture on some aspect of health law that is timely, of special interest to the student, and relevant to health policy. These presentations should include a well thought out PowerPoint image deck prepared by the student that may be reviewed by the professor prior to the presentation if the student wishes additional guidance. The presentation will then be written in the form of a short paper for consideration for publication on line. The presentation, the paper, and class participation will constitute the criteria for grading; JD students who enroll must understand and agree that the grading curve will be applied. Students will distribute their topic for discussion to enrollees prior to their presentation day so that all can peruse the article, case, or commentary and be prepared to better offer opinions, critiques, and thoughts. The student presenting will lead the discussion and field questions from the other students or listeners; students will critique the presentation for content and communication skills anonymously; the professor will moderate and intervene as may be required. The intent of this course is to look at contemporary issues of health law, but additionally to enable students who may be seeking employment in health law to have a presentation that they may use or modify when asked to present as part of their pre-employment evaluation. The class will be open to observers, students, and faculty members who would like to attend or comment on a particular presentation. Office hours are before or after class, or to be arranged with the professor; discussion of topics and presentation style are encouraged. |
Health Law |
Fall 2024 |
6357 Comparative Judicial Systems |
3 |
The course surveys the variation of legal systems and courts across the world from a comparative perspective. Students will learn how constitutions, courts, and other legal actors vary and how these variations affect judicial decisions and the judiciary’s interaction with other branches of government in lawmaking and enforcement. |
Non-Law Courses |
Fall 2024 |
7304 WRS: Bioethics |
3 |
Bioethics explores the law and policy relating to issues such as informed consent, genetic screening, defining death, withholding and withdrawing life sustaining treatment, assisted reproduction, research involving human participants, and anatomical gifts. |
Health Law |
Fall 2024 |
6372 Analytic Methods for Lawyers |
3 |
This course equips law students with a diverse set of contemporary tools that will prove valuable in understanding law, expert testimony, and the latest in legal technology. By developing a strong interdisciplinary skillset, students will be well-positioned to take a leadership role in today's dynamic legal market, particularly in IP, energy, healthcare, and other areas in which AI will be pervasive. The curriculum covers eight key areas: (1) Databases, (2) Game Theory, (3) Network Theory, (4) Statistics, (5) Actuarial Finance, (6) AI, (7) Causal Inference, and (8) Privacy Science. Prior programming and advanced math experience are not required. Basic concepts in programming, calculus, and linear algebra will be covered by the instructor. Students will gain several practical benefits, including an ability to do basic programming with AI assistance, the technical fluency to ask intelligent questions in diverse fields; expertise in AI, including using large language models effectively; and a heightened ability to think through payoffs from legal rules and litigation strategies. Progress will be evaluated through two low-stakes formative assessments, a final exam, and a project. All sessions will be recorded via Zoom, with AI-generated summaries available for review. To participate, students will need a paid ChatGPT or Claude account, a Google Colab account, and the free Wolfram Language software provided by the University of Houston. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2024 |
6342 Climate Intervention Law & Policy |
3 |
As efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall short of international goals and concerns mount over worsening climate change damages, attention has begun to focus on an emerging set of technologies that seek to directly manipulate the global atmosphere or alter regional ecosystems to offset or prevent climate change itself. These efforts generally involve either carbon dioxide removal from the ambient atmosphere on a massive scale, or solar radiation management to reduce the amount of energy reaching the Earth’s surface. These climate intervention technologies raise novel and fundamental challenges for both international law and domestic regulatory policy. This class will be the first law course in the United States focusing on this new field of law. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2024 |
5396 Elections and the Law of Democracy |
3 |
This course covers the law that structures the democratic process in the United States. Subjects covered include the individual right to vote and participate; reapportionment and redistricting; the regulation of political parties and primary elections; campaign finance regulation; the contested boundaries of federal and state power over election regulation; the tension between majorities and minorities in the design of representative institutions; and the role of courts in overseeing democratic processes. The course will focus primarily on American law and doctrine. The course will consider important contemporary legal issues in this area, including obstacles to individuals’ ability to participate, litigation about racial vote dilution and partisan gerrymandering, new challenges for campaign finance regulation, and issues relating to the 2024 presidential election. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Spring 2025 |
7333 WRS: Law and Social Theory |
3 |
In this seminar you will learn to analyze law in conversation with a variety of social theories. We will read a selection of authors from the Frankfurt School of social theory, Harvard Legal Studies movement, Feminism, Psychoanalysis, post-structuralism, post-colonialism and race and law. With the insights of these authors in mind, we will then reflect on the applicability of their social visions and insights to legal adjudication, education, and practice. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Spring 2025 |
6396 Genetics & the Law |
3 |
This three credit course surveys the use of genetic information across several areas of law, including property law and IP, family law, criminal law, public health law, privacy law, and antidiscrimination law. Students enrolled in the class will produce three brief response papers of one to two pages in length and complete a take-home exam. |
Health Law |
Spring 2025 |
5362 Employment Discrimination |
3 |
This course focuses on employment discrimination law and theory, more specifically, on federal antidiscrimination statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. |
Employment and Labor Law |
Spring 2025 |
7318 WRS: Corporate Criminal Liability |
3 |
This seminar will explore issues surrounding holding corporations criminally accountable. It will discuss the basic rules of corporate criminal liability, the principles guiding the decision whether to prosecute a corporation, and the role of culture in corporate wrongdoing. It will ask students to consider the costs and benefits of, and rationales for, applying criminal law to non-persons, and to consider the role of criminal law more generally. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Spring 2025 |
7310 WRS: Credit Cards, Law & Policy |
3 |
Credit cards are everywhere in America, but in terms a payment system, they are a relatively recent innovation. In this writing seminar, we will read law review articles, cases, and other economics/business journal articles and/or books about the history of credit cards in America, the economics of credit cards, the consumer-protection issues related to credit cards, the credit card business, and the laws related to these issues. The goal is to obtain an in depth understanding of the credit card law and market and to produce a 10,000 word paper. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Spring 2025 |
5312 First Amendment |
3 |
This course surveys the free speech and press clauses and, if time permits, the religion clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Topics for discussion include political speech; artistic expression; commercial speech; time, place and manner restrictions; content versus content neutral regulations; and government speech. The course will emphasize the foundation, structure, and formulation of constitutional arguments and doctrines. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Spring 2025 |
6373 Tax Policy |
3 |
Designed (i) to introduce students to recurring themes of tax policy; and (ii) to develop students’ ability to analyze and discuss existing and proposed laws in terms of the tax policies that such laws do and do not serve. |
Taxation |
Spring 2025 |
5272 Clean Air Act |
2 |
With a focus on issues EPA is currently wrestling with, this course will examine critical air pollution challenges and the tools the federal Clean Act provides federal and state governments and local communities to use in addressing air pollution. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments were comprehensive and established numerous timelines and programs for achieving various clean air standards. As time and science has marched on, over three decades later, some problems have been solved, others improved, and yet others are still awaiting an implementable solution. Each class period will explore a particular air quality problem and the associated statutory and regulatory programs designed to address the issue. Among the topics the course will explore include aspects of climate change, regulation of mobile sources, acid rain, environmental justice, and ozone. Readings will mostly come from judicial decisions, filed briefs and relevant articles. No casebook is assigned. See the syllabus for more details. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2025 |
5270 Alternative Energy Transactions and Contracting |
2 |
Alternative Energy Transactions and Contracting: This course is designed to familiarize students with the most common forms of alternative energy currently in use in Texas, or which may become sources of alternative energy. In addition, the course will familiarize students with the problems involved in carbon sequestration. Students will prepare research papers and documents addressing issues common to alternative energy and carbon sequestration. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2025 |
6232 HIPAA |
2 |
This course is designed to help you understand the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and will look at the requirements of covered entities, business associates, and subcontractors. The course is open to all JD and LL.M students, and while recommended it is not required. The course will start with an overview of the HIPAA rule, and students will achieve an understanding of who is and who is not a covered entity, what constitutes protected health information, and how protected health information can and cannot be used or disclosed within the rule. The course will look beyond the rights of individuals to explore the public policy exceptions within the rule, and will look at when protected health information may be used or disclosed without specific permission, when oral permission to disclose limited information is sufficient, and when written disclosure is required. Limitations to disclosure for marketing and fundraising purposes will be discussed, as will specific requirements for psychotherapy notes. Notification requirements with regard to breaches and complaints as well as other administrative requirements will also be discussed. The course will consist of 15 sections; some but not all may be covered in a single session. 1) Introduction, overview, and covered entities 2) Protected health information 3) Uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, or operations 4) Uses and disclosures allowed under public policy 5) Disclosures for which oral permission is allowed 6) Uses and disclosures for which written authorization is required 7) Special considerations for disclosures of heightened protections 8) Uses and disclosures related to fundraising 9) Special considerations for research disclosures not requiring authorization 10) Business Associates and Business Associate agreements 11) Miscellaneous issues 12) Individual rights 13) Compliance and enforcement 14) Organizational issues 15) Preemption The course will use handout material and linked references; students will be required to prepare the assigned readings. A number of relevant cases will be discussed as time permits. A midterm written examination will be given, and we will discuss whether or not that should count toward the final grade on the first day of class. There will be a two-hour written final examination that will have both multiple-choice questions and an essay. Class participation and level of preparation may be counted toward the final grade. Attendance as required per University of Houston Law Center standards, and attendance will be recorded. The use of personal computers in class is restricted to activity related to this class; violations will be noted. Office hours are before each of the class sessions in the Health Law & Policy Institute library, or by arrangement. |
Health Law |
Spring 2025 |
6337 Appellate Civil Rights Clinic |
3 |
Students in the Appellate Civil Rights Clinic will represent clients and amici in appeals of civil rights claims in federal and state courts. Our appeals will include § 1983 cases arising from law enforcement misconduct and unconstitutional prison conditions; cases alleging discrimination in employment and public accommodations; First Amendment speech and religion clause cases; and others. We will not take criminal appeals or post-conviction petitions. Students will assume responsibility for all aspects of appellate representation, albeit with close faculty supervision. Tasks will include reviewing the trial court record, “big picture” strategizing about appellate themes, conducting legal research, drafting main and reply briefs, editing classmates’ briefs, and presenting oral argument where appropriate. Classroom instruction will teach the essentials of appellate advocacy: using the lower court record, thorough but well-tailored legal research, persuasive writing, close editing, and effective oral argument. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Spring 2025 |
5306 Criminal Litigation and Legal Issues in Criminal Procedure |
3 |
Criminal Litigation Practice is designed to incorporate the substantive law of criminal procedure into a trial advocacy course. The course will cover virtually all of the stages of a criminal case—from the probable cause hearing through the sentencing hearing and hearing on a motion for a new trial. Most of the issues addressed in this course implicate federal constitutional law principles applicable to all criminal prosecutions, whether they occur in state or federal court. |
Blakely Advocacy Simulation |
Spring 2025 |
6316 Energy Law & Policy |
3 |
This course provides an introduction to U.S. energy law and policy. It looks at how energy sources (water, wind, sun, coal, oil, gas, nuclear) are extracted, transported, and converted into energy as well as the physical, market, and legal structures governing each energy source. It introduces the key jurisdictional actors that play differing roles in energy controversies and provides students with an understanding of pervasive multi-jurisdictional approach to energy regulation. Finally, it explores current hot topics in energy law and policy and opens a dialog to analyze how those topics are interrelated to other topics such as business and economics, climate and environment, human rights, and energy security. This is a project course, no final examination. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Spring 2025 |
5240 Criminal Sentencing Law and Policy |
2 |
The purpose of this course is to examine the law and policy of criminal sentencing. The course will explore why society punishes; who holds the power to set sentences (the social institutions); what elements factor into sentencing decisions (offense and offender characteristics); and how sentencing and punishment decisions are made (procedure and proof). The course will also explore the typical outcomes of the sentence decision, including the most expensive and visible outcome: imprisonment. Finally, the course will consider sentencing-review doctrines, including new laws and advocacy surrounding “second look” sentencing mechanisms, and the role of executive clemency. |
Criminal Law |
Spring 2025 |
5216 Space Law |
2 |
If UH mandates during this term that alternate delivery of courses is required, as occurred during Spring of 2020, please note that this course may be delivered via distance education and/or primarily electronic interaction. The major objectives are to provide a basic understanding of the legal regime governing outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies. In providing this basic understanding the course would start with an analysis of the development of space law and fundamental legal principles applicable to outer space, to also include the International Space Station and its legal structure. After providing a basic understanding, the course will then concentrate on recent developments and more specific topics in space law which include property rights and claim of sovereignty over outer space and celestial bodies, Outer Space Treaty requirement that are applicability to new proposed activities in space, commercialization and privatization of low earth orbit, orbital debris legal issues and governance, intellectual property and export control laws as applicable to space activities. The course will also cover the very recent developments at a national level by examining recent U.S. developments in the areas of space law and policy. |
International Law |
Summer I 2025 |
5472 Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic |
4 |
Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic explores the substantive law, investigative techniques, and post-conviction appellate remedies applicable in capital (death penalty) and non-capital cases. Lectures will cover topics such as: Texas criminal statutes, state/federal habeas law, clemency proceedings, investigative techniques, and capital trial strategy. In addition to attending lectures, students work on both death-penalty and non-death penalty cases. For death penalty cases, students investigate claims related to the guilt-innocence and punishment phases of death-penalty cases; and research/draft post-conviction appeals, and/or clemency petitions. For non-death penalty cases, students research and draft direct appeals. Given the strict filing deadlines in criminal appellate cases, it is vital that Death Penalty & Criminal Appeals Clinic students adhere to deadlines set by the course instructor. NO BOOK FOR THIS COURSE. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
Summer I 2025 |
5470 Innocence Investigations |
4 |
This course explores the substantive law, investigative techniques, and post-conviction appellate remedies applicable in capital (death penalty) and non-capital cases. Lectures will cover topics such as: Texas criminal statutes, state/federal habeas law, clemency proceedings, investigative techniques, and capital trial strategy. In addition to attending lectures, students work on actual cases. For non-capital cases, students investigate inmates’ claims of actual innocence and assist attorneys in providing post-conviction legal assistance once those claims are verified. NO BOOK FOR THIS COURSE. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
SummerMini 2025 |
6217 Negotiation and Creative Problem Solving |
2 |
"Negotiation tactics & strategies, including creating value, claiming value, and coalition building. Will feature exercises and guest speakers and will link negotiation skills to legal practice. Mandatory attendance and participation, requiring robust pre-class preparation each week." |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
SummerMini 2025 |
6230 The Current Crisis in the Middle East |
2 |
This course will provide insight into substantive areas of history, religion, politics (regional and worldwide), longstanding relationships, legal systems, human rights and women’s rights framed by current events in the most volatile and important region in the world. Since the beginning of civilization, the Middle East has been the hotbed of ongoing conflict. It is to the point where one conflict is almost indistinguishable from another. The current provocation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran could potentially alter the map of the Middle East and have a massive irrevocable impact on the entire world. This course will begin by examining the issues leading up to the current hostility and continue through the potential outcomes and its potential impact on the world. This course will be a timely and interesting way to begin to understand the issues involved in this region and how it can impact Houston and the world. |
International Law |
SummerMini 2025 |
5233 Education Law: K-12 |
2 |
This course surveys the law affecting K-12 public school districts, including Public Information and Records Management, Open Meetings Act, Special Education/504, Competitive Purchasing, State and Federal Liability and Immunities, First Amendment Issues, Fourteenth Amendment Issues, Teacher Contracts, and Student Discipline/Harassment/Bullying. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Summer II 2025 |
5385 Introduction to the Laws of European Union |
3 |
The aim of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how the European Union uses the law as a means to achieve market objectives through national and international business transactions .To this end the class will examine the basic components lawyers need to know when preparing to draft contracts involving EU member states. These include: • the emergence of the European Economic Community • how the European Union is administered/governed by the four main institutions • the sources and general principles of the European Community law • how European Community law is integrated at a national level • the contributions of the Court of Justice to this process • how European community law is enforced at both a national and European level The course will be graded on a series of short and practical written assignments, which will guide students through the drafting of a basic contract enforceable within the European Union. There will be four contractual drafting assignments that will be designed to build upon each other so that the fourth and final assignment will result in a draft of a complete contractual agreement. Over the course of the semester, each student will prepare an agreement governed by European Union law. The agreement should not exceed ten (10) pages. Additionally, 15% of the grade will be based on a student experiential in class assignment. |
International Law |
Spring 2025 |
6201 Sexual Orientation & the Law |
2 |
In this course we will explore the relationship between sexual orientation (and/or identity) and the law. We will examine the manner in which the state regulates sexuality, gender, gender roles, and sexual orientation, in a variety of substantive legal areas. We will explore how the law is influenced by theories or myths regarding homosexuality and sexual identity as well as prevailing styles of judicial reasoning. The doctrinal discussions will focus both on the substantive law and a number of larger themes: the nature/nurture debate and its legal ramifications; the public/private distinction as exhibited in the legal conflicts between free expression and “coming out” and the right to be let alone; the reason/desire distinction, as manifested through sexual status versus sexual conduct; and the equality/diversity distinction which arises in the context of assimilation versus difference. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
5406 Procedure |
4 |
This course provides an introduction to the civil adjudicative process, primarily that of the federal courts, including jurisdiction, pleading, dispositive motions, discovery, and trial procedure. |
1st Year - Part-Time |
Fall 2025 |
5338 Legal Writing |
3 |
This is a course in two parts: As a preliminary matter, this course focuses on an introduction to the American legal education system and the skills a student must possess to succeed. The curriculum will include instruction in the case method of the study of law in the United States, including briefing a case and recitation; the importance of outlining as a method of exam preparation; and actual exam writing skills, especially if a majority of students are more familiar with an oral exam tradition. Then this course shifts focus to a skills-based examination of the U.S. legal system. This curriculum will be problem-based, using fact-pattern simulations to develop oral communication, legal writing, research, and analysis skills essential to practice in the U.S. legal system. |
Foreign LLM |
Fall 2025 |
5344 Appellate Advocacy |
3 |
The course introduces students to appellate advocacy and the appellate process, with a focus on oral appellate advocacy. Students engage with a hypothetical problem by identifying, researching, and analyzing legal issues and then honing their appellate advocacy skills with briefing and oral arguments. The course culminates with students delivering an oral argument to a panel. This is an experiential, simulation course. |
Blakely Advocacy Simulation |
Fall 2025 |
5365 Bankruptcy |
3 |
In bankruptcy, the answers are never obvious. Your client’s future will hinge upon whether you can solve seemingly impossible financial and legal issues. In this class, you will learn how to negotiate and litigate using the leverage created by the Bankruptcy Code. You will understand the roles, rights, and responsibilities of debtors, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, advisors, trustees, committees and bankruptcy courts. You will appreciate the differences among Ch. 11 business reorganizations, Ch. 13 consumer rehabilitations, and Ch. 7 liquidations. Guest lecturers from Houston’s bankruptcy community will balance legal theory with practical examples. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
6360 Trial Advocacy for Non-Litigators |
3 |
Trial Advocacy for Non-Litigators provides students who do not have any trial experience with a chance to gain basic litigation training. This class is ideal for students who plan to pursue a career as a transactional attorney, but want to acquire the knowledge and skills required to try a case. The class is a mirror of the evening trial advocacy class, so students will learn the skills of case analysis, direct examination, cross examination, opening statement, closing argument, and voir dire. The course provides learning by doing and requires skill performance by each student every week. The final examination is a full jury trial. Evidence is not a requirement for this course. Evidentiary issues relating to the case files will be identified by faculty and discussed in class. Mock trial students or students with previous trial training are not eligible for this class. |
Blakely Advocacy Simulation |
Fall 2025 |
5232 Trade Secrets |
2 |
In 2016, trade secret law became more important when the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) became federal law. This course studies the doctrine surrounding trade secrets – secret information that gives a company a competitive advantage. It examines ways in which an organization can identify and protect trade secret rights, as well as methods for enforcing those rights in court and otherwise focused predominantly on the trade secret misappropriation through an in-depth discussion of various provisions of the Uniform Trade Secret Act (state law), the DTSA (federal law), the Economic Espionage Act (federal law), and relevant case law. The course also examines issues related to employment (training, policy, hiring, firing), non-disclosure agreements, the relationship between trade secret law and unfair competition, and implied obligations concerning the use of confidential information. Most commercial litigators regularly have trade secret causes of action, so trade secret law is important for both the IP-litigator and the general litigator alike. It is also important for the transactional attorney, particularly as it relates to compliance and data protection. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
6210 Construction Law |
2 |
The course will provide students with an overview of the general principals of construction law and the issues construction law practitioners navigate in the representation of their construction industry clients. You will learn about issues relating to private and public construction projects such as mechanic’s liens and bond claims, the role of the various parties involved in the construction process (ie, owner/ developer, general contractor, subcontractor, supplier), risk-allocation clauses employed in construction contracts, issues arising during contract performance, and dispute resolution forums. |
Real Property, Trusts and Estates |
Fall 2025 |
6224 Remedies |
2 |
This course deals with the wide array of legal and equitable remedies available in civil actions - including injunctions (and the related contempt power), specific performance, common law "writs," restitution, money damages, attorney's fees, and pre-judgment interest. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
6238 International Risk Management |
2 |
This course will look at the legal framework for international oilfield service contracts, including both substantive law and practical counseling. The issues and solutions discussed in this course will be similar to those that arise in many other international agreements for the sale of services, which commonly form the substance of much international legal work in Houston. The course would be divided into three basic segments: 1. The first part of the course will set forth the background of international oilfield services contracts, including a review of the underlying treaties, statutes and regulations applicable to these contracts. These would include treaties and laws regulating the creation of oilfield projects, including international trade agreements, such as the WTO. This part will also include a series of discussions and reading assignments relating to enforcement, through litigation or arbitration, of international energy projects, including the New York Convention for Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, extraterritorial aspects of U.S. law, and conflict of laws and comparative law issues (e.g., differences between the law of the United States and England, as well as the general principals of law in common law and civil law countries). 2. The second part of the course will involve analysis of a specific hypothetical drilling agreement. We will use a format that involves the client having negotiated the basic terms of the agreement, which must then be dealt with by the attorneys for the client. The class will assist in the initial evaluation of the deal to advise the client concerning the risks that the company has undertaken. 3. The third part of the course will involve an analysis of problems that arise under the hypothetical drilling agreement, including: counseling of the client as the drilling commences and problems begin to arise; counseling the client and assisting the client them in protecting the company’s interests as the contract begins to slide towards dispute resolution; the conduct of the arbitration, with an emphasis on the strategic elements thereof. This will include multi-national mechanisms for the protection of assets. In each of the above stages, the General Counsel for the client will provide feedback to the class concerning the pragmatic, practical steps that should be taken to protect the client’s interest. The senior partners of your firm will serve as your mentor as to the substantive legal issues before you. The students will be given a project in which they will draft relevant contract provisions based on the materials taught in the first part of the course. The work will be discussed in class, citing specific “client issues and goals.” The students will participate in teams and will then be asked to redraft the provisions to provide solutions. A “model redraft” of the contract will then be given to the class. The students will be graded in two parts. First, they will be asked to analyze the “model redraft” provisions based on the legal issues and rules matters studied during the the course. This portion of the course will count for 20% of the final grade. Second, 80 percent of the grade will be based on a final exam that will be comprehensive and will cover the entire course material. |
International Law |
Fall 2025 |
5221 International Commercial Arbitration |
2 |
Winston Churchill said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the rest. For international commercial transactions, international arbitration is the worst form of dispute resolution, except for all the rest. Supported by an international treaty signed by more than 140 nations, international arbitration has become the prevailing method of resolving international commercial disputes. And international transactions have become increasingly common in the global economy,the daily volume of international trade today across national borders exceeds the total volume of international trade through the end of the nineteenth century! This is a comprehensive course covering all stages of the international arbitral process, from the drafting of the arbitration clause to the enforcement of the arbitral award. It should be of value both to students who plan to develop a transactional practice as well as those planning to become trial lawyers. This will be a highly interactive course. In addition to relevant written material, the course will also feature videotaped scenes from mock arbitrations that the Institute for Transnational Arbitration generated at its Annual Arbitration Workshops. Consisting of mock scenarios, and performed by some of the world's leading international arbitrators and counsel, the videotapes vividly demonstrate the major phases of an international arbitration. Students will be assigned roles as counsel and as arbitrators and will either argue (in the case of counsel) or deliberate (in the case of arbitrators) various issues presented in the hypothetical scenarios. The course will begin with preliminary considerations bearing on the selection of the international arbitral process. The course will then address the five stages of the international arbitral process: Stage I. The making and enforcement of the arbitration agreement. Stage II. The selection and appointment of the arbitral tribunal. Stage III. Preliminary proceedings, including procedural orders and interim relief. Stage IV. The evidentiary hearing on the merits. Stage V. The making and enforcement of the arbitral award. Ben H. Sheppard, Jr. is a Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center. Prior to his retirement, he was a partner at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in Houston, where he practiced from 1969-2005, and was co-chair of the firm's international dispute resolution practice. |
International Law |
Fall 2025 |
5321 Law Office Management: How to Make Money as a Lawyer |
3 |
This course is a guide to understanding how you can be successful financially and thrive as a practicing attorney by either working at a law firm or by starting your own practice. Topics covered include: understanding various firm business models, basic law firm accounting and finance, marketing, professional development, case selection and valuation, law firm niche selection, how firms cash flow, hiring/firing staff, and ethical issues. |
Procedure and Practice |
Fall 2025 |
5258 Eminent Domain and Private Property Rights |
2 |
Texas is home to eight of the nation’s 15 fastest-growing cities and boasts five of the top 10 cities in the total number of new residents. This growth is not a new phenomenon. Texas has added more residents than any other state since 2000. But what happens when the infrastructure growth associated with the Texas population boom impacts private property owners? An inherent tension exists between public projects needed to accommodate Texas’s expansive growth and fundamental property rights protected by the U.S. and Texas Constitutions. Eminent domain—the power of a governmental entity (or those with its delegated authority) to take private property and convert it into public use for just compensation—is designed to balance public and private property interests. Class discussions and reading assignments will explore whether the current eminent domain framework protects property owners and the public. The subject is generally divided into two interrelated parts: (1) the origins of eminent domain, public use, and public necessity; and (2) “just” compensation (including evidentiary and procedural issues that impact value). |
Real Property, Trusts and Estates |
Fall 2025 |
7335 WRS: Animal Law |
3 |
Animal Law is one of the fastest growing fields of legal practice and may involve issues of constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, family law, and estates and trusts. In this class, we will address a broad range of topics including: the historical status of animals in the law; state legislative efforts and citizen initiatives to strengthen animal protection laws; the application of federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, to captive animals, wildlife, and farm animals; animal-related torts; constitutional standing to sue on behalf of animals; companion animals and the law; and the movement to obtain legal recognition of the rights of animals. All perspectives will be considered in class discussion and assignments. The class will include a guest speaker and a field trip. Students will be assessed through a combination of classroom participation, written reflections, and a final paper. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Fall 2025 |
5323 Conflict of Laws |
3 |
Students interested in pursuing careers in litigation may find this course particularly beneficial. As more and more lawsuits involve disputes or transactions connected with more than one state or country, courts are increasingly called upon to decide what substantive law governs. For example, an Italian company enters into a contract with a California company that calls for performance at the Italian company’s facility in Arizona. In a breach of contract action between the two companies, will California law, Arizona law, or Italian law govern? And does (or should) the forum of the lawsuit affect the answer? Other topics of this course include the enforceability of judgments rendered in another state’s or nation’s court, as well as jurisdiction—not just personal jurisdiction over persons, but also the prescriptive jurisdiction of a state or country to regulate conduct that occurs within or outside its territory. Class discussions will provide practice in the application of theory to facts, and in the careful analysis of cases. |
Procedure and Practice |
Fall 2025 |
5133 U.S. Legal skills |
1 |
This listing is a non-operational placeholder. Students cannot directly register for this course. General information about this course is available here: https://www.law.uh.edu/llm/US-Legal-Skills-Class.asp |
Foreign LLM |
Fall 2025 |
5204 Commercial Finance Transactions |
2 |
This course will immerse students in practical business and legal concepts inherent in commercial financing transactions and demonstrate how those issues manifest themselves in the financing documents drafted by lawyers. Students will learn the provisions of financing documents, and, importantly, learn the legal and business issues behind the provisions. The tools and concepts taught in class lectures will be implemented by students in practice through negotiation and drafting of a commercial loan utilizing real world current forms of a syndicated credit agreement and term sheet. This course will provide the basic foundational legal and business concepts related to commercial loan agreements that practicing attorneys wish all first year attorneys were already familiar with. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
6233 Internet Law |
2 |
This course covers a survey of legal issues arising from the rapid growth of the internet and other on-line communications. The focus will be on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights on the Internet, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. The course will also include discussion on jurisdictional issues, data privacy, and computer crime. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
6377 Entertainment Law |
3 |
The course will focus on the constitutional, statutory, and common law framework of entertainment law and its practical implications for practitioners. With the Constitution as our base camp, we will explore the fusion of laws that govern the world of entertainment, including copyrights, trademarks, contracts, and tort law. We will then analyze their impact on the business and legal affairs of recording artists, record companies, publishers, radio and TV broadcasting, and the motion picture industry. The goal will be not only to provide you with a comprehensive insight into this unique field but also prepare you to advise clients with entertainment law related issues, whether they will be in transactions or litigation. Your Grade: Your course grade will be determined by a open-book final exam with short answer questions, longer answer questions, true/false questions which ask you to explain your answer, and multiple choice questions. The exam will count for 90% of your grade. The other 10% of your grade will be based on class participation, so come prepared to take part in class with the skill and eloquence of Vincent Gambini. While I will enforce attendance to the extent required by the school, your failure to attend and participate will be your loss. Since the course will not require a paper or homework assignments, the reading assignments will be non-wimpy. The class Web Board, which includes past exams and student answers, will give you an idea of what the course will cover. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
7321 WRC: Domestic Violence Law |
3 |
Students will work individually and in small groups as they learn about the State laws, Federal Laws, and case law related to issues surrounding Domestic Violence. The topics may include domestic violence in the family code, criminal laws dealing with family violence, employment laws relating to family violence, and immigration and domestic violence. Writing assignments may include short articles, letters (e.g., demand, opposing counsel, client, court), pleadings, motions, and one longer paper on a chosen topic related to domestic violence. Each student will complete three to five practical writing assignments, with total production of at least twenty-one pages, based on an average of 250-300 words per double-spaced page. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
6365 Health Law Finance and Transactions |
3 |
This course provides students with an understanding of how the health care system is currently organized, financed, and regulated, and explores what the health care system of tomorrow may look like. Students are introduced to the major laws and regulations that regulate health care finance and transactions, including the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare"). The first part of the course focuses on health insurance and looks at federal and state regulation of private health insurance, the public insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid, and the new health care exchanges. We then study the business of health care and the laws that impact health care business transactions, including the tax laws governing tax-exempt organizations, the antitrust laws, and the fraud and abuse laws. |
Health Law |
Fall 2025 |
5331 Anatomy of Corporate Agreement |
3 |
The purpose of this course is to prepare students for their first year of general corporate practice, whether in an in-house, law firm, or solo practice setting, by completing a simulated financing for an M&A transaction. The course will focus on how secured transactions law, bankruptcy law and corporate law influence the structuring and documenting of the financing for a typical M&A transaction. Students will work through a hypothetical transaction that will be the focal point of the entire semester. The class will begin by discussing alternative capital structures and how bank loans are used to finance acquisitions, along with growth and working capital needs. We will then analyze and draft credit and security documents, and learn how specific contract provisions are important to both borrowers and lenders. We will analyze all stages of a finance transaction, and discuss the often divergent strategies and goals of lenders and borrowers. The fundamentals of negotiating critical provisions of a leveraged finance transaction will be stressed, with emphasis on private equity investors and their finance sources. The professor will relate many of his experiences in global finance transactions and share provisions from actual loan documentation to demonstrate how those fundamentals are applied in actual transactions. Although the course will be of particular interest to those pursuing a corporate or commercial law career, the concepts are applicable to any transactional practice. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
5319 Introduction to American Law |
3 |
An introduction to U.S. law and the U.S. legal system for foreign lawyers. |
Foreign LLM |
Fall 2025 |
5118 Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Research |
1 |
This is a practical class, focused on finding the law and legal authorities relevant to taking and defending actions concerning the environment, energy, and natural resources. There are weekly assignments, a midterm research project and a final research project. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Summer I 2025 |
6338 Climate Change Law |
3 |
Between the election of Donald Trump, a more skeptical viewpoint by U.S. federal agencies and newly elected governments in other nations, and the enormous challenges created by physical reality of unabated global climate change, climate change law and litigation is poised for an explosion of activity over the next several years. Climate change law is already one of the most important fields of environmental law that affects virtually every major industry, civil and criminal enforcement action, large corporate deals, and international relations. Climate change lawsuits may also play a vital role in forcing action by reluctant governments and corporations as well as assigning liability for climate change damages created by past and current emissions of greenhouse gases. This course will focus on the use of international and domestic law to address climate change and to identify the obligations or liability of parties who allegedly contribute to it. We will review the current state of the science underlying climate change findings and predictions, examine how environmental and tort laws have responded to earlier novel environmental threats and risks, explore the fate of the Paris Accords and the future of other international agreements, weigh attempts to roll back federal regulations or to buttress state laws that address emissions of greenhouse gases and climate change effects, and assess how courts have responded to climate liability lawsuits and their specific legal challenges and evidentiary issues. We will focus on practical, real-world problems and solutions in this fast-growing field of law and how it will affect daily permitting decisions, lawsuits and corporate transactions. This class will use a dynamic combination of lectures, discussions, in-class exercises, sample problems and case studies. We will also bring several guest speakers to address aspects of climate change law and liability management that they encounter in their daily jobs and careers. Of course, all students should come to class prepared and able to join in discussions. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2025 |
5134 Advanced Legal Research: Trial Advocacy |
1 |
This is a specialized course on legal research methods as they pertain to trial advocacy. It will cover general legal research topics and resources (issue analysis, secondary sources, statutes, cases, etc.) within the litigation context, focusing on practical application. Students will apply their skills through research problems that simulate legal practice. |
Practice Skills - (Research and Writing) |
Fall 2025 |
5151 Tax Research |
1 |
This is a practical class, focused on finding the law and legal authorities relevant to taking and defending federal tax positions. There are weekly assignments, a midterm research project and a final research project. The class is open to all L.LM students in the tax program, and to J.D. students with the instructor's permission. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5327 Asylum Law |
3 |
This course will cover United States asylum and refugee law, as well as protection under the Convention Against Torture and withholding of removal. |
International Law |
Fall 2025 |
5310 White Collar Crime |
3 |
White collar offenses are typically non-violent, economically motivated conduct occurring in the course of business. Focusing on federal law, the course includes traditional offenses such as fraud and regulatory offenses such as healthcare violations. Students also analyze issues raised by white collar crime, such as the criminal liability of corporations, managerial liability, and prosecutorial discretion. The course is recommended to students who plan to represent business clients and to those who plan careers in criminal law. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
7326 WRC: Supreme Court Term |
3 |
A discussion of current Supreme Court cases. Document File for Fall 2025. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
5335 Land Use |
3 |
This course examines land use law and policy. Land is one of the most fundamental and valuable resources to individuals and communities, and a wide array of public regulation as well as private controls shape the use and development of land. Specific topics that will be covered in the course include planning, zoning, subdivision regulation, aesthetic and historic preservation, regulatory takings, inclusionary housing, environmental review, private covenants, and the role of markets. Throughout our study of these issues, we will consider competing ideas about how, when, and why land use should be regulated and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of various land uses controls. The objectives of this course are to: (1) gain a foundation in the substantive law of land use; (2) apply critical legal thinking to identify and understand constitutional, statutory, and regulatory constraints applicable to the subject matter; (3) develop an understanding the ethical and policy issues related to the subject matter; (4) integrate the doctrinal study of the subject matter with the analytical and practical skills necessary to the practice of law; and (5) develop skills in legal analysis, reasoning, problem-solving; and written and oral communication related to land use law. Classes will involve on-call discussion, lecture, small group exercises, and other learning modalities. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2025 |
5346 State & Local Gov't Law |
3 |
While much of law school focuses on federal law, state and local law affects people more directly and concretely.? States and local governments have substantial law-making and regulatory authority in areas as diverse as education policy, civil rights, tax law, land use and environmental issues. States and local governments are also responsible for the financing and provision of most public?services, and?are the?locus?of much political participation by voters.?This course examines both the law governing the powers of states and local governments and how those laws impact the substantive laws and policies of states and local governments, with a focus on the laws governing the relationship between state and local governments.?Although we will discuss examples and occasional cases from Texas, students should be aware that this is not a course on Texas state government or Texas local governments. The objectives of the course are to: (1) gain a foundation in the substantive doctrinal law underlying state and local government law and policy; (2) apply critical legal thinking to identify and understand constitutional, statutory, and regulatory constraints applicable to the subject matter; (3) develop an understanding the ethical and policy issues related to the subject matter; (4) integrate the doctrinal study of the subject matter with the analytical and practical skills necessary to the practice of law; and (5) develop skills in legal analysis, reasoning, problem-solving; and written and oral communication related to state & local government law. Classes will involve on-call discussion, lecture, small group exercises, and other learning modalities. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
5370 International Law |
3 |
This course has three objectives. First, it will address the nature and sources of international law, with a particular focus on how to reason like an international lawyer. Second, it will establish the powers, responsibilities, privileges, and immunities of the primary actors in the international legal system (particularly, states, international organizations, corporations, and individuals). Third, it will introduce select topics regarding international law, including the laws of war, human rights law, international criminal law, and incorporation of international law into the U.S. legal system. Throughout, the course will apply these doctrines to pressing current events, so that students leave the class with a nuanced understanding of how international law shapes (and is shaped by) geopolitics and prepared for more specific upper-level international law courses. |
International Law |
Fall 2025 |
6319 Civil Procedure (FLLM Only) |
3 |
This course provides an introduction to the civil adjudicative process, primarily that of the federal courts, including jurisdiction, pleading, dispositive motions, discovery, and trial procedures. |
Foreign LLM |
Fall 2025 |
5387 International Tax |
3 |
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the two most important fundamental areas of the U.S. income taxation system relevant to cross-border transactions: i) How does the United States tax non-resident aliens and foreign corporations on their income derived from U.S. sources? and, ii) How does the United States tax U.S. persons and U.S. corporations on the income which they receive from sources outside the United States? Specific topics to be covered will include: a) Taxation of U.S. citizens and enterprises organizing businesses and realizing income in foreign locations, including the use of the foreign tax credit and the taxation of tax haven based income b) U.S. and foreign income tax treatment of export and import income c) The possible economic reallocation of income and deductions between U.S. enterprises and related foreign enterprises d) Taxation of (i) foreign portfolio income realized by foreigners in the U.S., (ii) foreign businesses deriving income in the United States and (iii) gains from foreign investment in U.S. real estate; and (e) Foreign currency transactions. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5368 Estate Planning |
3 |
This course is designed (i) to familiarize students with statutory law (including the Internal Revenue Code and Texas Probate Code), case law, and administrative law of relevance in the practice area of estate planning; and (ii) to develop students¿ ability to understand and apply basic estate planning techniques. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
6336 The Law and Theology |
3 |
The goals of this course are (i) to introduce students to selected topics in the study of theology that conceptually parallel specific subjects in law and legal philosophy; (ii) to expand students’ understanding of how theological thought can inform legal inquiry, and how legal thought can inform theological inquiry; and (iii) to increase students’ awareness and enhance students’ comprehension of the variety of historical and contemporary approaches to resolving problems that have arisen in theological and legal thought. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Fall 2025 |
6386 Oil & Gas Tax |
3 |
Oil and Gas Income Taxation covers the United States federal income taxation of domestic oil and gas operations and transactions. The course examines taxation associated with the operational life cycle of oil and gas operations including exploration, development, production and abandonment. The study of transactions involving oil and gas interests analyzes acquisition, disposition, structuring and investment. Course participants learn the historical context and development of oil and gas provisions found in the U.S. tax law. Current tax legislative proposals or enactments that affect the oil and gas industry are addressed if warranted. The emphasis is on federal income taxation of domestic oil and gas transactions, although certain international tax aspects of the oil and gas business will be referenced and contrasted throughout the class. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5267 Tax Accounting |
2 |
Study of methods of accounting in the context of Federal tax laws including cash, accrual, installment methods, inventory taxation and time value of money concepts. The course will focus on the appropriate taxable year for including items of income, gain, loss and expense. The course will cover cash, accrual, installment and inventory methods as well as time value of money rules. The course will cover various judicial doctrines of taxation including the tax benefit rule, claim of right doctrine, economic benefit doctrine and constructive receipt concepts. Through the case method, students will learn the application of the principles of taxation in the context of tax planning. The reasoning and methodology utilized in the course will provide a sound basis for the study and analysis advanced tax topics in subsequent courses. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5288 Tax Ethics |
2 |
This course covers Tax Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the Tax Attorney. We will exam and review the interaction of various laws, regulations, and cases which govern the professional conduct of the tax attorney and other tax professionals. At the end of this course the student should understand the role of the tax lawyer in the practice of tax law; the rules and regulations which govern the professional ethics and responsibility to the client and the legal system in the area of tax practice. |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5292 Tax Procedure & Practice |
2 |
This class covers the procedural aspects of dealing with the Internal Revenue Service, the agency that administers the federal tax system. The focus is from the private practitioner's perspective in assisting clients navigate the daunting administrative requirements. The class offers the following principal subjects: • Administrative Organization of the IRS. • The Regulatory Process -- IRS Pronouncements such as Regulations, Revenue Rulings, Technical Advice Memoranda and Private Letter Rulings • IRS Audits, including use of IRS Administrative Summonses and Statutes of Limitations Penalties (Civil and Fraud) and Interest • IRS Administrative Appeals • Civil Tax Litigation with the IRS -- Tax Court, District Court, Court of Federal Claims, Courts of Appeals and United States Supreme Court. • Collections, including IRS liens and levies • Federal Tax Crimes, Methods of Proof and Investigative Techniques • Ethics of Practice in the Tax Procedure Context |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5259 State & Local Taxation |
2 |
This course will be an overview of the general issues involved in state and local taxation (income, franchise, sales and use, and property), including (1) constitutional limitations on a state’s ability to impose a tax on certain types of taxpayers and categories of income; (2) issues with respect to multistate income taxation, and (3) non-income based taxes (sales/use taxes, ad valorem taxes, franchise and other capital based taxes, etc.). We will also review procedure as it applies to state and local taxes. Weekly reading assignments in this course vary in length between 45-70+ pages, and therefore, there may be more reading than in a typical tax class. Students should keep in mind that such assignments may cover 3 to 4 cases on related topics. Students should come to class prepared and ready to discuss the assignments. Students with active and thoughtful class participation may see their grades raised by one grade interval (B to B+). Students who do not participate or have frequent absences are subject to a lower grade adjustment of one grade interval (B to B-). |
Taxation |
Fall 2025 |
5390 Environmental Law |
3 |
Environmental law plays a pivotal role in protecting our personal health and welfare, guiding economic development and business life, and shielding our most precious natural treasures and resources from misuse or harm. Because it protects such broad and often conflicting purposes, environmental law has evolved from its common law roots into a complex set of federal and state statutory protections, administrative regulatory prohibitions, and often convoluted judicial interpretations. This course will introduce you to the broad field of environmental law and give you a practical sense of the key skills and tools you would need to start handling environmental projects. This course will use a combination of lectures, class discussions, in-class exercises and sample problems, and case studies. We will use role-playing exercises to give you experience in real-life negotiations. The course will start with theoretical overviews of the commonality of environmental laws and will then focus on specific statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, RCRA, CERCLA, and the Endangered Species Act. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2025 |
6376 Intellectual Property Survey |
3 |
This course covers domestic intellectual property laws - patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret - through statues and cases. It is designed to afford the student who intends to practice in other areas an acquaintance with key IP issues, principles and doctrine, and to provide the intellectual property and information law specialist an introduction to the overall subject. The course will provide roughly equal treatment of patent, copyright and trademark law, approximately four weeks for each, with the remainder applied to the law of trade secrets, introduction, and/or review. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
5351 Juvenile Law |
3 |
This course focuses on the development of the juvenile delinquency system and the juvenile courts through the examination of the history of the juvenile justice system in the U.S., United States Supreme Court cases, state cases, statutes, and additional readings. We will discuss the process of how juvenile cases are handled when a child is charged with an act that would be criminal if committed by an adult. This course is based on theory and practice. Students will be responsible for participating in simulated role plays – client interviewing, a detention hearing, a transfer hearing, and/or a dispositional hearing. Students will be responsible for 3-4 reaction papers of approximately 1000 words each, and two other writing assignments. These will be described in more detail closer to the fall semester as part of the assignments will depend on our ability to visit different facilities or attend hearings in the juvenile courts. |
Constitutional and Criminal Law |
Fall 2025 |
6341 Water Law |
3 |
As water law issues become increasingly prominent in the news, public discourse, and legal practice, many ask: is water the most important natural resource? If so, why, and how does water law affect the ways that we use and develop land, energy, and other resources? This course combines a general survey of U.S. water law and policy with an examination of water law doctrines, institutions, and policy issues of particular significance to Texas. One goal of this class, therefore, is to give students a basic introduction to the laws and institutions that have shaped the use, development, and preservation of water throughout the United States. Thus, we will examine the legal principles and doctrines that have shaped the use of surface water and groundwater in different jurisdictions across the United States, as well as the evolution of public and private rights in these resources. In addition, this class is intended to examine how water law doctrines and water law institutions have evolved in Texas. The final goal of this class is to examine the evolution of water law as it influences the use, development, and preservation of other important resources. |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2025 |
6381 Large Language Models for Lawyers |
3 |
Introducing an exciting new course on how large language models are transforming the legal field. This hands-on course will provide students with practical experience using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance legal research, drafting, and litigation skills. Through workshops and simulations, students will learn how to leverage these powerful models to work more efficiently and creatively both in law school and legal practice. The course covers the leading AI applications in legal tech, discusses ethical considerations, and teaches the basic math and programming concepts behind neural networks. The course culminates in final projects where students demonstrate mastery of legal AI. With expert guest lecturers and a focus on real-world applications, this course will equip students to be at the forefront of the AI revolution in law. |
Law And Society/ Interdisciplinary |
Fall 2025 |
6326 Diplomacy for Oil and Gas |
3 |
This course features the crossroads between geopolitics and the law of the oil and gas industry. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia has highlighted energy security concerns in a global economy that still relies heavily on the use of hydrocarbons. Under a new system of balance of power, it is necessary to review the law that governs energy transactions including contracts, international treaties, and transnational sanctions regulation to deal with energy transition and energy security policies that affect the performance of energy operations. From Houston, a world capital of energy diplomacy, we will study the legal instruments that have been built to govern inter-state and state-corporate relations in the oil industry, providing to the students political and economic background for investment strategies of the oil industry. Readings for this course will be focused on international treaties and public international law applicable to the oil and gas industry. We will also study selected chapters on energy geopolitics such as: 1)The Energy World is Flat by Daniel Lacalle and Diego Parrilla 2)The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World by Daniel Yergin 3)The End of Power by Moises Naim 4)Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices by Robert McNally" 5) The New Map, by Daniel Yergin |
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law |
Fall 2025 |
5363 Securities Regulation |
3 |
SECURITIES REGULATION Federal securities law has three basic policy goals: (a) providing information to investors; (b) ensuring the orderly operation of American securities markets; and (c) preventing fraud. The course in Securities Regulation focuses on each of these areas. The first part of the course considers the law applicable to selling securities to the public. Specifically, it deals with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the exemptions that allow issuers to escape registration. The second part of the course examines the regulation of markets, brokers, and dealers by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The third part of the course reviews the most important antifraud provisions of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
7345 WRS: Law and Artificial Intelligence |
3 |
What can artificially intelligent machines do? What should they do? This course will explore those two questions, especially as they relate to law and legal process. Already, artificial intelligences make many explicitly-legal decisions—for example, about pre-trial incarceration and policing. They also make many other decisions that, when humans make them, the law closely regulates. AI systems determine which candidates are interviewed for jobs, which applicants’ loans are approved, and what stocks hedge funds buy and sell. Are these systems up to the job? Can they perform their assigned tasks competently and fairly? Or does their use generate systemic risks in the arenas where they operate? Even if they can perform these tasks, should we trust them? Or will AIs reproduce their human creators’ greatest flaws, acting unfairly and discriminatorily and thereby further entrenching already-dire social inequalities? |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
6392 Privacy & Data Protection |
3 |
This course will introduce the foundations of privacy and data protection law. These foundations include privacy-related constitutional guarantees, tort law, and consumer protection. The course will cover the life cycle of data and sector-specific privacy regulation. It will also encompass the EU’s data protection regulation. Overall, the course will focus on informational privacy in the digital age. There are no prerequisites. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
5358 Sales & Leasing |
3 |
Both nationally and internationally, sales and leases of goods play a central role in commerce. This three-hour course uses a problem-based approach to look in depth at the Uniform Commercial Code Articles 2 (sales) and 2A (leases) to study US law. To study international contract law, it will also cover the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (the CISG), which has been adopted by over 80 countries, including the United States. |
Business and Commercial Law |
Fall 2025 |
5262 Healthcare Compliance |
2 |
This course will examine health care compliance programs and the laws, regulations, and federal guidance attendant thereto, including OIG rules and federal agency enforcement actions. This course will explore ethical considerations of building effective compliance programs, including state law implications. This course will explore how to handle both internal and external investigations, including whistle-blower actions. This course will focus on the practical implications of laws that apply to health care organizations, and how organizations help ensure adherence to relevant rules through effective compliance programs. |
Health Law |
Fall 2025 |
5379 Copyright Law |
3 |
Basic Copyright, platformed on Copyright Act of 1976 as amended. (For primary emphasis on Internet, international, etc., see advanced courses in IPIL curriculum.) |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
7307 WRS: Advanced Topics in Intellectual Property |
3 |
Writing on a specific topic in patent, copyright, trade secret, or trademark law. Topics should best be chosen and approved before semester begins. The paper must be submitted in three graded parts at specified dates about a month apart, and the composite final paper due by the last day of regular classes. No extensions can be allowed. Learning Outcomes: During your time in this course, you will develop competence in thorough legal research and persuasive writing on subjects in the field of intellectual property law. The writing will be thoroughly supported by authorities, and clear enough to be understood by persons unfamiliar with the subject. The finished work will likely be acceptable for publication in a respected journal. |
Intellectual Property and Information Law |
Fall 2025 |
7000 Graduate Certificate in Real Estate - C.T. Bauer College of Business |
|
This Law Center course listing is not for a specific course. Instead, it provides information about an opportunity to obtain the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate from the Stanford Alexander Center for Real Estate at the UH C. T. Bauer College of Business. The graduate certificate credential will show up on your transcript and the Graduate and Professional Programs office at Bauer will issue the certificate. The certificate requires five courses, twelve credits, at Bauer (but these courses can count toward your 90 credits needed to graduate from the Law Center with your J.D.). These courses will provide graduate-level expertise in the business and finance of real estate at all levels. -- Information from Bauer about the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate is available at this link. -- Advising about this opportunity occurs at Bauer. Interested students should contact Bauer’s Stanford Alexander Center for Real Estate, contact information available at the above link, and: 713-743-7564 or realestate@bauer.uh.edu Students will need to work with both Bauer and the Law Center’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA). There will be a registration process at Bauer to get into the certificate. The Bauer web site shows that fifteen credits are needed for the certificate, but Bauer will use your 1L property course in place of the course FINA 7381 – Principles of Real Estate to satisfy three of those fifteen credits. There will also be course registration that will involve OSA at the Law Center. |
Non-Law Courses |
Fall 2025 |
5214 Elder Law |
2 |
This course is an Introduction to Elder Law in Texas. It covers the following topics: Elder Abuse, exploitation and neglect, powers of attorney and advance directives, Social Security and retirement planning, disability benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, Long term care insurance, Estate recovery, housing options, Veterans’ benefits, and special needs trusts. |
Health Law |
Fall 2025 |
5314 Lawyering Skills and Strategies - C4 |
3 |
Lawyering Skills and Strategies I will focus on an introduction to the American legal system and the skills and strategic planning lawyers must possess to succeed within it. The curriculum will be problem – based, using fact-pattern simulations to enable students to work through actual practice skills and strategies and ethical issues. Training in essential lawyering skills such as oral communication, legal writing, research and analysis will be embedded within fact pattern simulations involving typical transactional issues which students will work through to develop lawyering skills and problem-solving strategies. Students will be divided into small groups to represent opposing sides of the problem. |
1st Year - Section C |
Fall 2025 |
5219 E-Health |
2 |
Virtual Health, Telehealth, Artificial-Intelligence-Driven-Care, Healthcare Data Analytics Systems, are all descriptors of healthcare technology delivery systems and platforms: together, eHealth. This course will arm students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to approach legal solutions to eHealth challenges. |
Health Law |
Fall 2025 |
5197 US Attorney Clinical Lab |
1 |
Students will have the opportunity to continue advanced criminal law studies in a small group. The clinic work component will provide students with practical experience and valuable exposure to real USAO cases. |
Practice Skills - Clinics and Externships |
