Indiana University

» Skip to page content

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Course Descriptions

Elective Courses

Before enrolling in any of the following elective courses,
students should complete all required basic-level courses.

Accounting for Law Students (2 cr.) D/N 675 introduces students to basic principles and techniques of accounting for law students with little or no prior background in accounting. Selected legal problems involving the application of accounting concepts will be considered. Enrollment is limited to students with no previous credits in accounting.

Administrative Law (3 cr.) D/N 647 considers the role of administrative agencies in the scheme of government, constitutional limitations on agency action, and analysis of agency functions; emphasizing informal procedures and placing formal procedures of investigation, rule-making, and hearings in perspective. P: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Constitutional Law (DN620) or permission of instructor.

Admiralty Law (2 cr.) D/N 775 covers maritime law, including jurisdiction in admiralty, maritime liens, maritime torts and wrongful death, salvage, limitation of liability, pilotage, and towage.

Advanced Civil Procedure: E Discovery (2 Cr) D/N_____ This course provides an understanding of both the legal and technical aspects of the electronic discovery process. Specific topics include the rules governing the electronic discovery life cycle, preservation, collection and processing, analytics, review and production. Although the course will not extensively study the effects of cloud computing and social media on electronic discovery, it will provide an overview of the utilization of electronic discovery in these emerging technologies.

Advanced Course-related Experience Connected to a Classroom (ACE) (1 or 2 cr.) D/N 803 Advanced Course-Related Experience (ACE) (1 or 2 cr.) D/N 803 This option provides a mechanism for students to earn academic credit for experiential learning done in conjunction with a classroom course. Students design and execute proposals for learning how the law and theory learned in the classroom applies and operates outside the classroom. The experiential learning project must be approved by the faculty member teaching the classroom course to which the experiential learning opportunity is related and the Director of Clinical Programs and Externships. Non-graded (S/F) credit is awarded upon completion of assigned project.
More info about ACE | ACE Application

Advanced Research in Health Law (2 cr.) D/N 662 provides a vehicle for students to conduct research, prepare a major paper and present a talk on a health law topic in order to complete their advanced writing requirement and/or the required major research paper for the concentration in health law.

Advanced Torts (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 822 covers selected topics from the following types of harm to dignitary and relational interests: interference with reputation, business relationships, political relationships, family relationships, and right to privacy.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 844 explores the theories and processes of dispute resolution outside the traditional framework of state or federal court litigation. Particular emphasis will be placed on negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Additional topics may include "mixed-alternative" processes (e.g., court-annexed arbitration, mini-trials, and private judging).

Animals and the Law (2 cr.) D/N 640 explores the historical and evolving legal status of non-human animals. Students will examine cases, arising in a variety of contexts, in which the resolution of the dispute depends upon policy decisions about the nature of non-human animals.

Antitrust and the Health Care Industry (2 cr.) D/N 866 focuses on antitrust issues that are relevant to health care providers, including such areas as hospital and physician mergers, virtual mergers and joint ventures; exclusive contracts and other medical staff exclusion issues; covenants not to compete; physician collective bargaining with, and exclusion from, managed care plans; antitrust defenses such as state action, nonprofit, learned profession, efficiencies, failing business, etc.; and federal and state health care antitrust regulatory efforts, including health care collaborative guidelines.

Antitrust Law (3 cr.) D/N 751 covers the law regulating private economic power and maintaining competition under the Sherman Antitrust Act and Clayton Antitrust Act; course content emphasizes monopolization, restraints of trade, refusals to deal, and mergers.

Appellate Practice (2 cr.) D/N 810 covers appellate practice, from the preservation of error at trial through review by the court of last resort. Both civil and criminal appeals processes will be discussed. The focus will be on the technical aspects of perfecting an appeal and practicing before an appellate court, but the course will also cover techniques for effective appellate advocacy. Lawyering Practice (DN701) and Trial Practice (DN718) are not prerequisites to this course.

Art Museum and Publishing Law (2 cr.) D/N 896 This course will cover the law, people and institutions which constitute the world of the visual arts, including artists, museums, collectors, dealers, publishers and auctioneers. The course will also cover non-legal material geared to shaping practices of art market participants, such as codes and guidelines adopted by art-museum associations, as well as some relevant literature from other academic disciplines.

Aviation Law (3 cr.) D/N 779 This course explores the sources of aviation law and the application of legal principles to aircraft acquisition, operation and taxation, pilot and aircraft mechanic certification, Federal Aviation Regulation and enforcement procedures, airline and airport legal issues, and aviation tort litigation. The course normally provides an opportunity for students to interact with Indianapolis aviation practitioners, who may serve as guest lecturers.

Bankruptcy Law (3 cr.) D/N 619 examines the rights and duties of financially distressed debtors and their creditors under the Bankruptcy Code and related state laws. Topics include fraudulent transfers, property exemptions, the automatic stay, the powers of a bankruptcy trustee, relative priorities among secured and unsecured creditors, liquidation vs. debtor rehabilitation, and the social and economic implications of debt forgiveness.

Bioethics and Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 838 examines how the law in bioethics is shaped by the interplay of ethical principles, medical considerations, and social forces. Topics that will be covered include: the refusal of life-sustaining treatment, physician-assisted suicide, organ transplantation, abortion, the balance between individual liberty and protection of the public health, access to health care, and rationing of health care. An important theme of the course will be to consider the extent to which individuals have--and should have--control over medical decision making.

Business and Legal Aspects of Health Care Organizations (2 cr.) D/N 859 addresses the business and legal aspects of various health care organizations, including hospitals, nursing homes, physician-professional organizations, physician-hospital organizations, managed care organizations, and integrated delivery networks. Areas of law discussed include the corporate and tax aspects of not-for-profit organizations, antitrust law, state insurance regulation, corporate practice of medicine, Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse rules, and professional and corporate liability.

Civil Rights (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 872 explores selected issues relating to civil rights and liberties with an emphasis on Section 1983 and related statutes. P: Constitutional Law (DN620).

Climate Law and Policy (3 cr.) D/N 641 This course examines the wide array of legal and policy issues relating to climate change. Students will learn about the science of climate change, the socio-economic consequences of rising global mean temperatures (along with uncertainties and other issues in climate models), climate change laws and policies at international national, state, and even municipal levels of government, and climate change litigation. The goal of the course is to prepare students to engage effectively as lawyers and policy makers in the developing field of climate law and policy.

Closely Held Business Organizations (3 cr.) D/N 645 considers the formation, management, and control of partnerships and closely held corporations, including distribution of powers within such organizations and application to them of agency and fiduciary principles.

Commercial Paper (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 617 considers the creation and transfer of negotiable instruments, liability of parties thereon, bank-collection systems, electronic funds transfers, and payment by credit card; with an emphasis on Articles 3 and 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code and applicable federal statutes and regulations.

Comparative Competition Law (3 cr. ) D/N 742 After introducing the economic rationale for antitrust or competition law and enforcement, the course analyses the rules and their interpretation in the U.S. and E.U. with regard to the three major pillars of antitrust law: cartels/collusion, abuse of dominant position/monopolization, and merger control. Some discussion of the laws of other countries will be added for illustrative purposes or in response to student interest. Prerequisites: None.

Comparative Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 821 focuses on select features of civil and common law systems. It provides an overview of the history, legal structures, and legal reasoning of several systems, including countries in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, with comparisons to legal institutions and cultures of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Conflict of Laws (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 804 considers issues that arise when the significant facts of a case have contacts with more than one jurisdiction, including recognition and effect of foreign judgments, choice of law, and jurisdiction of courts.

Consumer Law (2 cr.) D/N 799 addresses consumer rights and remedies under common law and under federal and state statutes, with particular emphasis on the federal Truth-In-Lending Act and Uniform Consumer Credit Code.

Copyright Law (3 cr.) D/N 626 considers the principles of copyright law, with attention to its historical development and future adaptability to technological developments and new circumstances, foundations for securing copyright privileges and allowing fair use of existing works, and comparisons to other legal protections of intellectual property.

Corporate Compliance Overview (3 cr.) D/N ___ This introductory overview course emphasizes the areas of corporate and regulatory law that impose requirements on corporations including health care provider organizations as well as pharmaceutical and medical device companies. The course emphasizes the importance of corporate compliance for these organizations, and gives and overview of relevant regulatory authorities and their underlying theories and rationales. This course examines the pertinent government regulations, guidance documents and enforcement initiatives forming the framework for corporate compliance. The course will focus on the process of compliance which should be established internally irrespective of the regulatory authority involved. The course will also examine on the various requirements of financial disclosures and conflict of interest in the health care arena.

Corporate Reorganization and Bankruptcy (2 cr.) D/N 846 considers various means of reorganization through out-of-court trust agreements, extensions, compositions, and Chapter 11 reorganizations. There is a major focus on Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and concepts of the filing requirements, cash collateral, adequate protection, disclosure statement, plan, confirmation, and consummation. The course also includes a brief overview of Chapters 7, 12, and 13 of the code. P: Bankruptcy Law (DN619), or permission of instructor.

Criminal Procedure: Adjudication (3 cr.) D/N 704 covers the criminal trial process and post-trial proceedings, including pretrial motions, discovery, guilty pleas, jury selection, trials, sentencing, appeals, and post-conviction relief procedures. Criminal Procedure: Investigation (DN702) is not a prerequisite for Criminal Procedure: Adjudication.

Criminal Procedure: Investigation (3 cr.) D/N 702 covers the pretrial criminal process from arrest to charging decision, with emphasis on constitutional criminal procedure, criminal investigation, and criminal evidence. Arrests, searches and seizures, interrogations and confessions, lineups and identification evidence, preliminary hearings, grand jury proceedings, and indictments and informations are considered.

Criminal Sentencing (2 cr.) D/N 741 addresses legislative and judicial rules governing punishment for criminal violations. Topics may include factors considered in sentencing, sentencing guidelines, the relationship between sentencing and race, class or gender, theories underlying criminal punishment and the effects of such punishment.

Discrimination in Employment (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 653 considers federal and state statutes and regulations relating to discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and other factors with respect to terms and conditions of employment by either employers or unions.

Domestic Violence and the Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 609 examines legal responses to domestic violence in many areas of law, including civil, criminal, state and federal law. A research paper, in lieu of an examination, may be required.

Drug Innovation and Competition Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 635 provides and understanding of the processes by which pharmaceutical exclusivity is obtained and challenged on a global scale. The course examines the interplay between patents, data package exclusivity, pediatric exclusivity, and orphan drug exclusivity; and surveys the procedural and substantive aspects of US Hatch-Waxman litigation, drug reimportation/parallel trade, and exceptions to exclusivity. Finally, it addresses the influence of public policy on the evolution of pharmaceutical exclusivity law.

Election Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 601 introduces students to legal issues related to the very core of democracy - the right to vote. The course will touch upon a number of timely issues including: one person, one vote; the role of race and partisanship in redistricting; campaign finance; and "ballot access" issues such as voter ID, felon disfranchisement, and the recently enacted Help America Vote Act.

Employment Law (3 cr.) D/N 672 is a study of the historical development of employment law from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. Topics include establishing employment and its terms; employers' obligation to employees; termination of the employee relationship; protecting employees' reputations, privacy, and dignity; and protecting employees' physical integrity through the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Entertainment Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 731 examines intellectual property law, contract law and constitutional law as these doctrinal areas apply to major issues in the fields of music, publishing and the film and television industries.

Environmental and Toxic Tort Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 611 covers tort actions used to provide redress for injury caused by toxic substances and dangerous environmental conditions. Topics may include trespass, nuisance, strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities, product liability, federal preemption, and special problems in causation.

Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (2 Cr.) D/N____ This course examines the intersection of agricultural practices and environmental law. Students will explore key federal and state laws and institutions that regulate the environmental and natural resource impacts of agricultural operations. They will also study the scientific context and public policy framework within which these legal standards are designed and implemented.

Environmental Law (3 or 4 cr.) D/N 891 introduces students to many of the major concepts and statutes in federal environmental law. Laws covered may include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, CERCLA/Superfund, and the Solid Waste Disposal Act/RCRA. Additional topics may include cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, ecosystem services and valuing the environment, and statutory interpretation.

ERISA Retirement Plans: Formation and Structure (2 cr.) D/N 656 focuses on the formation and structure of qualified retirement plans, such as defined benefit pension plans and 401(k) defined contribution plans. The course looks at the technical requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, as well as plan design issues. The course also reviews ongoing reporting and disclosure compliance issues imposed under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

European Law-Doing Business in and with the Internal Market (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 770 is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the pros and cons of economic integration and the specific European model of market integration. The second part provides detailed analysis of the free movement of goods, employed people, services, capital, and the freedom of establishment in the internal market. The third part examines specific rules for U.S. and other third country businesses, in particular the customs and trade law of the EU.

European Union Law-Foundations (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 769 analyzes in detail the legal system of the European Union and its interaction with Member State law and policy. There will be an emphasis on decision making, supremacy, direct effect, breaches of European law, legal remedies, the protection of human rights and procedural guarantees, as well as the challenges of widening, deepening, and enlarging the European Union.

Evidence (4 cr.) D/N 632 covers the law governing proof at trial of disputed issues of fact, burden of proof, presumptions and judicial notice, examination, impeachment, competency, privileges of witnesses, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, and the functions of judge and jury.

Family Law (3 cr.) D/N 610 addresses state, federal, and constitutional regulation of family relationships, premarital agreements, and domestic partnerships, marriage, and divorce. It explores common dissolution issues such as property division, child and spousal support, child custody and visitation, and modification and enforcement orders. Other topics may include domestic violence, non-marital family rights, incest, polygamy, family law courts, and jurisdiction

Federal Courts (3 cr.) D/N 848 covers congressional and judicial efforts to allocate jurisdiction between federal and state courts or administrative agencies and the resulting tensions arising from separation-of-powers and federalism concerns. Topics may include federal question and diversity jurisdiction, removal of cases to federal court, the Erie doctrine, federal common law, state sovereign immunity, various abstention doctrines, and federal habeas corpus relief.

Financing and Regulating Health Care (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 845 covers selected legal issues in financing and regulation of the American health care system. The course emphasizes chief policy issues facing the American health care system today--cost, access, and equality of health care services for all Americans.

First Amendment (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 622 provides an in-depth study of the limitations the First Amendment places upon the power of government to regulate speech, the press, and religion. P: Constitutional Law (DN620).

Food and Drug Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 888 surveys statutes and regulations dealing with the production, distribution, and sale of food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. The course focuses primarily on substantive and procedural requirements of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Health Care Fraud and Abuse Regulation (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 600 This course examines legal issues relevant to healthcare providers that involve health care fraud and abuse regulation. Health care fraud is an intentional attempt to collect money for medical services wrongly and abuse pertains to actions which are inconsistent with acceptable business and medical practices. The course will focus on fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the four major statutes containing federal fraud and abuse prohibitions. Specific statutes studied include the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark law and regulations, the False Claims Act and the Civil Monetary Penalty Act.

Health Care Quality and Safety (2 or 3 Cr) D/N____ This is an advanced health law course that explores the legal issues that arise between and among patients, health care providers and regulators with regard to the quality and safety of health care. Quality is one of the major themes in the study of health care law and policy, in particular as it is frequently in tension with cost and access considerations. This course focuses on both private and public law responses to quality and safety issues, examines the impact of common law liability models on changing provider behavior, federal and state regulatory agencies and their quality and safety research, and process and technology- driven reforms. While not a prerequisite, it is assumed that most students will have taken the health law survey course, Introduction to Health Care Law and Policy.

Health Care Reimbursement (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 771 This course examines the Medicare and Medicaid systems and the regulation of health care providers participating in those programs. The course describes how health care providers set charges and relate to public and private health insurers. The course will provide an overview of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program as well as the administrative law framework for governmental decisions. Additionally, each major provider type will be examined (e.g., hospitals, long term care facilities, home health care providers, hospices, and physicians) including the regulations specific to each. In all cases, both the reimbursement structure and legal requirements for participation in the program will be discussed. The course will also focus on recent developments and trends in the law and policies that affect public payers. Students will apply these statutes (and related regulations) and other regulatory materials to hypothetical healthcare business arrangements and will address the health care sector’s complex regulatory environment.

Housing Discrimination and Segregation (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 743 covers legal and other aspects of discrimination and segregation in all sectors of the housing industry (sales, rentals, financing, zoning, land use, and insurance). The course includes the study of public and private housing, with reference to federal and state constitutional and statutory law.

Housing, Development and the Law (2 or 3 cr) D/N 760 This course will study housing problems in the United States and government programs that purport to address them. Participants will consider a variety of issues, including affordability; physical conditions (including overcrowding); racial, ethnic, and economic segregation; insecurity of tenure (including foreclosure and other forms of displacement); and homelessness. The history and nature of federal, state, and local government interventions will be reviewed and assessed. The discussions will involve both housing policy and issues raised in courses in administrative law, constitutional law, legislative interpretation, and federal courts, though none of these is a prerequisite to this course. Some foreign and international legal standards, programs, and cases will be presented as well.

Immigration Law and Procedure (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 709 covers citizenship, acquisition, and maintenance of major immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications, along with admission into and exclusion or deportation from the United States. Topics addressed include the structure and procedures of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Income Taxation of Individuals, Fiduciaries and Business Associations (4 cr.) D/N 648 addresses basic problems of income taxation of individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and corporations. Topics covered include gross income, deductions, tax computations, rates, credits, accounting methods, accounting periods, as well as practice before the United States Department of the Treasury, federal courts, and tax court. The course emphasizes statutory and policy interpretation, using problems extensively.

Insurance Law (2 cr.) D/N 851 covers contract, indemnity, persons and interests protected, risks transferred, disposition of claims, liability claims, and defense and settlement.

Intellectual Property (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 862 surveys the legal principles and management of intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents.

Intellectual Property of Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Devices (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 698 This seminar/course will offer a detailed and high-level analysis of intellectual property law as it applies to medical devices and medical therapeutics, including pharmaceuticals, genetics, proteomics, etc. Topics to be covered are patent law, coyright law and trademark law, as well as some discussion of their potential anticompetitive effects in the biomedical industry. Coursework or related experience in intellectual property, patent law or copyright law is required to enroll. No background in pharmaceuticals or medical technology will be necessary, but some knowledge of any of the life sciences or of chemistry will be helpful. Students will be expected to write and present a research paper of adequate length to satisfy the advanced writing requirement when the course is taught as a seminar. This course may be taught either as a seminar or as a regular course.

Intellectual Property Transactions & Licensing (2 cr.) D/N 627 facilitates an appreciation of how intellectual property issues arise in the context of various transactions and explores the possible responses to those issues. Where applicable, this class will consider international aspects of IP issues.

International Business Transactions (3 cr.) D/N 783 analyzes the most common issues related to international sales and other business transactions, in particular the choice of law, drafting of the main contract, methods of financing problems related to shipping, passing of property and risk, insurance, as well as related issues, such as licensing and technology transfer.

International Commercial Arbitration (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 784 provides a thorough introduction to this modern method of choice for disputes arising from international commercial transactions, including the specifics of the arbitration agreement, selection of arbitrators, presentation of cases, and the effect, limits, and enforcement of arbitration awards.

International Criminal Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 713 covers the application of domestic and international law to questions of jurisdiction over international criminal activities, granting of amnesty to persons responsible for international crimes, international cooperation in criminal matters, substantive international law as contained in multilateral treaties concerning war crimes and terrorism, and the permanent International Criminal Court.

International Environmental Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 754 examines how international law and legal institutions are responding to transboundary and global environmental challenges. Students review prominent issues such as climate change, water scarcity, deforestation, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, mineral extraction, and marine resource threats, in the context of international development and transboundary trade. Students then analyze selected issues in depth, looking at the science and law of specific environmental challenges as well as the political, economic, and cultural context within which solutions must be formulated.

International Human Rights Law (3 cr.) D/N 813 considers selected problems in international human rights law, including problems related to U.S. law and practice. The course focuses on the growing role of human rights in international relations, emphasizing the United Nations system for the promotion and protection of human rights as well as the regional systems in Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

International Intellectual Property Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 634 examines the international context of the development of copyright, patent, and trademark law, with an emphasis on multinational treaties, developments in the European Union and other jurisdictions, and enforcement of international claims. Prerequisite: completion of any other law school course on intellectual property law or permission of the instructor.

International Law (3 cr.) D/N 818 introduces basic concepts and principles such as sources of public international law, the law of treaties and international agreements, states and recognition, state liability and human rights, and jurisdiction and immunities from jurisdiction. The course also covers act of state doctrine, law of the sea, and resolution of transnational disputes through national and international courts, arbitration tribunals, the United Nations, and diplomatic exchanges. Course topics include terrorism and hostage-taking, U.S. executive-legislative conflict in the conduct of foreign relations, suits by and against foreign states, worldwide improvement of civil and political rights, extraction of seabed resources, and prohibition of the use of force in international relations.

International Tax (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 674 This course introduces the fundamental U.S. income tax issues arising when (1) U.S. persons or entities earn income outside of the U.S. or (2) foreign persons or entities earn income inside the U.S. Depending upon the number of credit hours, specific topics may include the rules for classifying income as U.S. or foreign-source income, transfer pricing, income deferral and controlled corporations, double taxation and the foreign tax credit, foreign currency transactions, and the role of tax treaties. Although the course will not study non-U.S. tax systems in detail, it will highlight significant differences between the U.S. approach to cross-border transactions and those adopted by other taxing authorities. P: Income Taxation (DN 648) or permission of instructor.

International Trade Law (2 cr.) D/N 857 addresses theory and practice of international business law issues likely to be encountered by attorneys representing clients engaged in international operations. Topics include foreign investment by U.S. companies, foreign investment in the U.S., international joint ventures, licenses, exporting of goods, international marketing, U.S. trade controls, customs, antidumping, and international antitrust.

Internet Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 732 examines a wide variety of legal and policy issues raised by the internet, involving many areas of law. The questions addressed may include issues of copyright, trademark, defamation, the Communications Decency Act, cybercrime, contracts, privacy and personal jurisdiction.

Introduction to Health Care Law and Policy (3 Cr) D/N____ This introductory health law course is designed to introduce students to the legal issues that arise between and among patients and health care providers and surveys current federal and state regulatory schemes of health care law and policy, quality, access and cost containment. Topics surveyed will include accreditation and licensure, individual and institutional liability, the legal and ethical properties of the hospital/medical staff relationships, the regulation of health insurers, funding mechanisms such as Medicare/Medicaid, federal self-referral and "anti-kickback" prohibitions, and other topics.

Issues in Death and Dying (2 cr.) D/N 694 examines the ethical, legal and medical issues concerning the refusal, removal and/or withdrawal of life-sustaining medical procedures, and assisted suicide. The course will consider whether there is a morally relevant distinction that should be reflected in our legal norms between passive measures, such as the refusal or removal of life support, and more active measures that bring about death. The course will survey legal issues such as treatment of the unconscious or non-competent patient, including infants, a discussion of living wills and durable powers of attorney, and recent constitutional developments relevant to the patient's right to refuse medical treatment.

Japanese Law (2 cr.) D/N 773 This course will survey various aspects of Japanese law, including not only a review of how Japan addresses different areas of law, but also a review of the Japanese judicial and legislative systems, Japan as a civil-code country, Japanese legal education and its evolution, and how law in Japan shapes and is shaped by the Japanese culture and economy. No background in Japanese law or culture will be necessary, and certainly no knowledge of the Japanese language will be required.

Jurisprudence (2 cr.) D/N 849 introduces American or world legal theories and movements. The focus is on philosophical aspects of legal arguments and development of basic insights into law and legal processes. This course may, at the option of the instructor, be offered as a seminar.

Juvenile Justice (2 cr.) D/N 842 explores juvenile delinquency and status offenses from their investigation to resolution, including the constitutional rights of juveniles under police scrutiny, the decision to prosecute and alternatives to prosecution, the right to and role of counsel, waiver to adult court, adjudicatory and disposition hearings, and the array of rehabilitative and punitive sanctions. The course also considers the historical and philosophical evolution of the juvenile justice system and courts.

Juvenile Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 612 is a study of the rights of children in relation to their parents, other adults, and the state. It reviews topics such as the definition of "child" in light of alternative methods of reproduction, and constitutional rights, including free speech, free exercise, and abortion rights. It explores the educational, financial, medical, and maintenance needs of children, including adoption and foster care. Finally, it also surveys the abuse and neglect of children and the termination of parental rights or the emancipation of children. Family Law (DN610) is not a prerequisite for Juvenile Law.

Labor Arbitration/Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) D/N 703 includes court enforcement of collective bargaining agreements under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act; and private enforcement through arbitration, including coverage of arbitration substance and procedure. Labor Law (DN651) would be helpful to a student taking this course.

Labor Law (4 cr.) D/N 651 covers the National Labor Relations Act as administered by the National Labor Relations Board, including employer and union unfair labor practice provisions and board practice under the act in conducting elections to determine a union's representative status.

Land Use (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 740 covers theoretical and practical problems of private and public controls on use, development, and distribution of land, nuisance, planning and subdivision controls, zoning, building codes, and environmental and aesthetic regulations.

Law & Social Change: The Civil Rights Movement (3 or 4 cr.) D/N 867 examines the Civil Rights Movement, focusing on the roles of lawyers and 'the law', and their relationships to direct action and other forms of advocacy, in advancing and impeding social change. Topics include: marches on Washington; the Journey to Reconciliation and the Freedom Rides; school desegregation (Little Rock, New Orleans, Ole Miss); the murders of Emmett Till and many others; the Montgomery Bus Boycott; student sit-ins; Freedom Summer; Black Nationalism and the Black Power Movement; and the Selma-to-Montgomery March. The course is permeated with consideration of the conflicts between violence and nonviolence and among law, politics, and morality. Each student will write a weekly reflection and a book review.

Law and Economics (3 cr.) D/N 624 introduces basic economic theory and philosophy relevant to legal problems in property, torts, contract damages, civil and criminal procedure, taxation, and civil rights, among others. No prior background in economics is required.

Law and Forensic Science (2 cr.) D/N 774 integrates theory and practice as to scientific evidence in civil and criminal cases. Emphasis will be on physical, biological, and behavioral evidence and the skills necessary to present effective expert fact and opinion evidence. This is a summer course that meets for 30 hours over a two week period. It is a required junior/senior integrator course for IUPUI undergraduates seeking the Forensic and Investigative Science degree. Law students and undergraduates will be graded separately by group. Lawyers and members of the forensic science profession may also attend this course.

Law and Poverty (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 875 addresses law and policy pertaining to federal and state social welfare systems designed to meet basic needs of the poor, such as cash assistance, disability insurance, housing, and health care. The course emphasizes legal aspects of social problems of the poor, such as discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and handicap.

Law and Public Health (2 cr.) D/N 761 covers the law governing the practice of public health by state, local, and federal agencies, as well as health care professionals and institutions. Topics addressed include legal mandates on public health agencies, physicians, and other health practitioners regarding testing, reporting, and contact tracing with respect to specific diseases, as well as laws for the imposition of quarantine, civil commitment, and mandatory treatment. Also covered are public health aspects of the regulation of health care institutions, legal issues associated with risk assessment and cost benefit analysis, along with the environment.

Law and Society of China (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 719 This course provides an introductory overview of China and its legal system. Emphasizing both legal theory and the practical aspects of a Chna-related practice, the course is a compliment to study abroad. The first half of the course examines contextual "law and society" topics necessary to give informed legal advice in China, including the Chinese legal profession, economy, business environment, political system, culture, history and rule of law tradition. The second half considers substantive legal topics of interest to U.S. counsel, including China's constitutional, foreign investment, administrative, property, contract and arbitration laws.

Law of Hazardous Waste Regulation (2 cr.) D/N 665 focuses on two complementary federal statutes: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). CERCLA is a law designed to remediate contamination from hazardous waste disposals that endanger public health and the environment. RCRA is a regulatory program designed to prevent such endangerment in the first place. In reviewing these statues, students also will consider the role of common law tort actions in compensating those who have been harmed by hazardous waste.

Law of Medical Malpractice (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 824 covers law relating to the practice of medicine and allied fields in contexts of organizing and regulating professions, theories of liability and defenses pertinent to claims of patients for injurious professional conduct, along with practice and procedure in professional malpractice claims.

Law of Nonprofit Organizations (2 cr) D/N 843 This course explores the legal issues related to nonprofit organizations with an emphasis upon charitable organizations. The first unit of the course considers issues of state law, including state nonprofit statutes, duties of officers and directors, and laws regulating charitable solititation. The second unit considers issues of federal law, examining how nonprofit organizations qualify for tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code. This part examines what it means for an organization to be engaged in "charitable activities," and the political and unrelated business activities of tax-exempt organizations. The course also addresses current isues impacting nonprofits, such as nonprofits in cyberspace and recent charitable reforms. The course may be taught either as a regular course or as a seminar.

Law of the Death Penalty (3 cr.) D/N 733 explores the historical, moral, and philosophical underpinnings of the death penalty in the United States and Indiana. It also explores modern capital litigation, focusing upon state, federal, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions outlining the parameters of death penalty trials and appeals, and the post-conviction process. The course concentrates upon the role of both prosecutor and defense counsel. Participants will consider the roles of politics, poverty, and race.

Law Practice Management (2 cr) D/N_____ This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the the information and resources necessary to establish a law practice. It is targeted toward students who are considering opening their own practice, either as solo practioners or with others. Issues addressed include office space and equipment, technologies used in law office management, client acquisition,insurance, fee structures and billing, budgeting, integrated practice management tools, and ethics and professionalism.

Legal Aspects of Government Finance (2 cr.) D/N 758 addresses the general question: With what law must state and local governments comply in order to finance public improvements, provide public benefits, and engage in other government finance activities? Using current topics, students will explore legal aspects of how state and local governments raise and spend public dollars. The course will focus primarily on substantive law, but will give some attention to the procedures that state and local governments must follow to engage in finance activities.

Legislation (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 602 addresses legislative process, with emphasis on lawyers' perspectives and functions, along with issues of representative theory, legislative organization and procedure, interaction of the legislature with other branches of government, and legislative research and drafting.

Life Sciences Compliance Law (2 or 3) D/N ____ The course examines law and regulation pertaining to the initiation of research projects involving human and animal subjects by both universities and manufacturers. It examines the pertinent government regulations, guidance documents and enforcement initiatives forming the framework for the conduct of clinical trials and focuses upon the practical aspects of clinical trial contracting, application of regulatory guidelines, quality system compliance and corresponding documentation requirements. The course will provide experience in drafting and negotiating clinical trial contract provisions, addressing publication rights, intellectual property ownership, indemnification and confidentiality.

Mediation (2 cr.) D/N 876 examines theories and procedures for resolution of disputes through mediation, including mediation concepts and trends, "win-win" options, lateral thinking, etc. This course does not satisfy the skills requirement for graduation. While students may enroll in this course or in Mediation Practice (DN___) or in Public Policy Mediation (DN714), they may not receive credit for more than one of these courses.

Mergers and Acquisitions (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 780 studies the motives for acquisitions, acquisition structures and techniques, friendly and hostile acquisitions, takeover defenses, regulation of acquisitions under federal securities law, state anti-takeover statutes, and corporate acquisitions agreements. P: Closely Held Business Organizations (DN645) or Publicly Traded Corporations (DN646).

Military Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 830 examines the law applicable to members of the armed forces, including the Uniform Code of Military justice. Additional topics may include such matters as free speech rights of military personnel, military policies regarding sexual orientation of service members, religious expression in the military, service member reemployment rights, and the service member Civil Relief Act.

National Security Law (3 cr.) D/N 889 Examines legal aspects of intelligence gathering, anti-terrorism laws, separation of powers, issues associated with intelligence and anti-terrorist measures, Fourth Amendment and other constitutional rights, issues raised by these measures, detention and interrogation of terrorist suspects, and the domestic role of the armed services.

Natural Resources Law (3 cr.) D/N 717 covers the law and policy of natural resources regulation, focusing on the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and laws concerning water and timber use and protection; energy-related resource issues other than oil and gas; and land-use planning issues.

Partnership Tax (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 730 covers federal income taxation of partnerships and limited liability companies. Topics include classification of entities as partnerships for tax purposes, formation and operation of partnerships and LLCs, transfers of members' interests, distributions to members, and death or retirement of a member. P: Income Taxation (DN648), or permission of instructor.

Patent Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 873 covers issues relating to preparing, filing, and prosecuting U.S. and foreign applications for patents. Patent scope, enforcement, and licensing will also be addressed. Additional topics will include ownership and administration of patent rights in the business setting.

Patent Litigation (2 cr.) D/N 625 explores the issues involved in pursuing a patent case through trial and appeal. The course outline is roughly designed to parallel a patent trial case. Weekly readings will focus on particular case law, statutes, and rules. (May be taught online and when so taught is subject to distance education limitations, including credit hour limitations.

Patent Prosecution (2 cr.) D/N 643 focuses on representing a client with patent matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Deals with all phases of the patent process, including soliciting full invention disclosure from the client, prior art searching and patentability opinions, preparing patent application and claims, responding to Examiner Office Actions, patent issuance process, and a variety of post-issuance matters.

Popular Constitutional Change (3 or 4 cr) D/N 649 This course will examine how popular movements change the meaning of the Constitution. The course will examine how each generation of Americans has amended the Constitution through a combination of mass action and judicial adaptation. It will start with the Founding, and move through Jeffersonian Democracy, Jacksonian Democracy, Reconstruction, the Populist movement of William Jennings Bryan, the New Deal, the Civil Rights Movement, the Reagan Revolution, and the Obama Administration.

Principles of Rhetoric (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 523 Knowing there is insufficient time during the first year writing course to explore in depth the different aspects of the classical rhetorical techniques used to persuade - the appeal to logos, pathos, and ethos - this course will provide further instruction on the way these techniques are applied for persuasive effect. The course will not focus on writing specific legal documents; instead, students will critically read about and review rhetorical techniques used in the legal community and through social media and then apply those techniques when writing individual and group exercises for review. The course will begin with an in-class session; the remainder of the class will be online. Online quizzes and written exercises for review will be assigned throughout the course, culminating in an online exam.

Products Liability (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 894 addresses civil actions for harm caused by defective products, modern bases for recovery of damages, along with theories of negligence, warranty, strict tort liability, and tortuous misrepresentation.

Psychiatry and the Law (2 cr.) D/N 874 introduces the psychiatric discipline as it relates to the law and covers its use as a forensic art in court.

Publicly Traded Corporations (2 cr.) D/N 646 covers the management and control of publicly held corporations, including proxy regulations, struggles for control, transactions in shares by insiders, shareholder litigation, and fundamental changes in corporate structure. Closely Held Business Organizations (DN645) is not a prerequisite for this course.

Real Estate Transfer, Finance, and Development (3 cr.) D/N 605 introduces fundamentals of land transfer, finance, and development. Topics include the perfection and priority of mortgages and liens on real property, and the role of brokers, lawyers, and other participants in real estate transactions.

Representing the Government (2 cr) D/N____ This course examines the role of government attorneys and compares the issues and challenges faced by them at all levels of state and federal government in both civil and criminal law. Particular focus will be given to state attorneys general, the common law and constitutional bases for their role as a government's attorney, and the obligations of government counsel in both their advisory and litigation capacities. State attorneys general have recently transformed their role into influencers of national policy through litigation on a wide range of issues. This course will examine and critique the traditional functions of government counsel, the challenges of representing modern governments, and the emerging role that attorneys general play in shaping national legal policy.

Secured Transactions (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 618 covers creation, perfection, and enforcement of security interests in personal property under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Securities Regulation (3 cr.) D/N 738 addresses state and federal laws governing the offering and distribution of securities to the public by corporate issuers and others, regulation of securities markets, and the rights and liabilities of purchasers and sellers of securities under such statutes. The course emphasizes statutes administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. P: Closely Held Business Organizations (DN645) or Publicly Traded Corporations (DN646).

Sex Discrimination (3 cr.) D/N 826 explores areas in which discrimination, or differentiation in treatment, is based solely or primarily on sex, and examines the effect of constitutional provisions and federal and state statutes on such discrimination.

Sexual Harassment Law (3 cr.) D/N 811 explores the legal response to harassment based upon sex, gender, sexual orientation and transgendered status in the workplace. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Indiana Civil Rights Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act will be examined, as well as pertinent case law and scholarly articles that discuss the theory and public policy concerns regarding sexual harassment. The second half of the course will consider responsive strategies (informal action and formal complaint procedures) and specialty areas of interest, explore the relevance of the First Amendment protection of free speech, and discuss topics such as: intersectionality (the Anita Hill hearings), the plaintiff’s litigation considerations (including the psychological impact of sexual harassment), the defense's litigation considerations (including false claims), the admissibility of sexual history evidence, and alternative dispute resolution.

Social Regulation of the Body and Its Processes (2 cr.) D/N 691 examines problems related to the social allocation of the body and its products such as the extent to which individuals have an ethically and legally protectable interest in their bodies and body processes. Topics for consideration will include the legal status of human ova and sperm, frozen embryos, and the products of medical research developed from materials taken from the bodies of interested subjects. The course will also consider the ethics and the legal regulation of organ allocation.

Sports Law: Individual, Amateur and Olympic Sports (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 727 covers a range of doctrinal areas as they apply to non-league professional sports, international Olympic sports and intercollegiate sports. Interpretation and application of the rules and regulations of sports governing bodies are also examined.

Sports Law: Professional League Sports (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 728 examines a range of doctrinal areas as they apply to major issues confronting professional sports leagues, including association law, antitrust, labor law, contracts law, and constitutional law.

State and Local Government Law (2 cr.) D/N 756 is designed to build upon substantive knowledge about legal issues facing state and local governments. Topics emphasized include structural issues (creation and scope of local governments and the interrelations of federal, state, and local governments), powers and limitations of state and local governments, fundamental legal issues facing state and local governments (such as public finance and government liability), and the role of state and local governments in setting public policy (specifically, the class will address areas such as federalism and school finance). Through classroom participation, collaborative exercises, and occasional (short) writing assignments, a student in this class will gain a better understanding of the operation of state and local governments, how those governmental entities use their powers to respond to public obligations, and the legal dynamics between the public and private sectors.

State and Local Taxation (2 cr.) D/N 805 examines principles of state and local taxation and of budgeting procedures. Taxes studied are inheritance taxes, estate taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes, and excise taxes. Basic procedural requirements concerning taxpayer document filings, the audit process, and court procedures are also studied.

State Constitutional Law (2 cr.) D/N 757 considers state constitutional law with a focus on Indiana's Constitution in the comparative context of the federal and other state constitutions. P: Constitutional Law (DN620).

Supervised Research (1 to 4 cr.) D/N 661 requires the student to write an in-depth and comprehensive research paper on a current legal problem. (Approximately 25 pages, exclusive of footnotes, are required for each hour of credit.) Supervised Research may be taken in a student's last semester in law school: 1.If the student is a candidate for the J.D. degree, only under the following conditions: (a) the student is taking at least one course or seminar requiring classroom attendance, and (b) the student enrolls in the course during fall or spring semester; or 2. If the student is a candidate for the LL.M. degree, the course may be taken in any semester whether or not the student in enrolled in any other course. P: Permission of instructor.

Tax Procedure (2 cr.) D/N 893 covers administrative and judicial procedures applicable to civil and criminal tax controversies. It also addresses such issues as pre-litigation administrative procedures, selection of forum, jurisdiction, pleadings, and trial proceedings.

Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders (2 cr.) D/N 869 considers such issues as classification of corporations for tax purposes, organization decisions, post-incorporation elections, types of normal and special taxes that may be imposed on corporations and shareholders, and elections under subchapter S and terminations thereof; as well as compensation arrangements for directors, officers, and employees; non-liquidating and liquidating distributions; and reorganizations. P: Income Taxation (DN648) or permission of instructor.

Taxation of Transferors, Fiduciaries, and Beneficiaries [Estate and Gift Tax] (3 cr.) D/N 725 covers basic laws of federal gift and estate taxation, federal decedents' and fiduciary income taxation, and Indiana inheritance and estate taxation. The course places emphasis on statutory and policy interpretation and also includes an introduction to basic estate planning principles, along with a study of decedents' family revocable estate tax marital deduction trust and estate tax credit shelter trust agreement.

The Right of Publicity (2 cr.) D/N 633 covers various aspects of this IP doctrine including its historical evolution, the statutory and common law sources, and its relationship to other aspects of intellectual property, as well as litigation, licensing and business applications. Cases reviewed will include those focusing on personalities such as Rosa Parks, Outkast, Tom Cruise and Bette Midler; and on endorsement deals, celebrity branding and advertising campaigns.

Trademark Law (2 cr.) D/N 630 provides students with a synthesis of the current and developing law in key areas of trademark and unfair competition law in the U.S. and abroad.

Trusts and Estates (3 or 4 cr.) D/N 722 surveys the law on family property settlement, including intestate succession, wills and will substitutes, intervivos and testamentary trusts, fiduciary administration, powers of appointment, and future interests.

Water Law (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 882 This course examines national and regional problems relating to the scarcity, allocation, management, and protection of water. Topics covered include riparian and prior appropriation doctrines, competing public and private interests, groundwater doctrines and management, federal control of water development and quality, and the allocation and conservation of transboundary and interstate waters.

White Collar Crime (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 699 This course focuses on aspects of criminal law relating to nonviolent crime, typically committed by means of deception for financial gain under color of legitimate activity. Subjects addressed will include the bases of corporate and individual criminal liability, principles of federal prosecution, prosecutorial discretion, and the balance between the government's interests in investigating white collar crime and the rights of corporate and individual investigatory targets.

Worker's Compensation (2 cr.) D/N 736 provides an understanding of worker's compensation laws and the litigation process, from both a theoretical and practical view. The course will examine the interrelationship of worker's compensation, tort, contract, and family law. Topics of discussion will include insurance requirements, the determination of compensability, remedies, occupational diseases, statutes of limitation, statutory interpretation, and policy rationales.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Law (3 cr.) D/N 650 begins with analysis of why nations trade and the effects of free trade vs. protectionism, typical import and export rules and procedures, and various forms of trade barriers. The main focus is on establishment of GATT and WTO rules and their impact on modern trade in goods and services. The course finishes with an outlook on twenty-first century hot spots in international trade, such as intellectual property rights, environmental protection, human rights and labor standards, and the perspectives of developing countries.



Required Courses | Electives | Seminars | Clinics | LARC | Study Abroad | Law Review | Skills Courses | Externships


» Search | Section Topics