Spring 2025 Class Descriptions
Peace, War and Environment (LWEV569)
Instructor(s): Catherine MacKenzie
1 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Environmental and Energy Law (JD), International Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), International Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG), LLM in International Law (LLMI), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS), International Law (MSLS)
This two day course explores environmental protection during and after armed conflict. Focusing on the intersection of international humanitarian law (i.e. the law of armed conflict), international environmental law and international dispute settlement, it considers current conflicts in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. These may include water in Israel/Palestine, piracy and marine pollution in East Africa, destruction of cultural heritage in the Middle East, and forced migration and environmental degradation in Central America. It reviews the role of the United States and its allies in international peace and security, evaluates the effectiveness of United Nations peace-keeping and the UN Security Council and considers how environmental obligations may be incorporated into the laws of new states. This course is particularly relevant to students planning an international career, military students, veterans, and anyone interested in international dispute settlement.
Pre-Trial Practice (LWLP567)
Instructor(s): Shaun Martin
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD)
This course discusses the procedural rules that control the pretrial stage of a civil lawsuit, as well as the strategic and tactical utilization of those rules. The course is practice-oriented and particularly focuses on the discovery process, but also discusses pleadings as well as a wide variety of law and motion procedures. The course focuses on practice and procedure in both federal courts in California as well as in California state court.
Privacy & Data Security (LWGC582)
Instructor(s): Christian Andreu-von Euw, Jessica Roberts
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Intellectual Property (JD), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Intellectual Property Law (LLMG), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)
Privacy and information security are critical legal and social issues in today’s interconnected world. Most businesses store and use the personal information of others—and have obligations to protect that data and use it legally. All networked computers—from Google’s email servers, to the phones in our pockets, to the “smart” appliances in our homes— are under constant attack, and any breach can lead to serious liability for many parties. This course explores the roots of privacy and data security law and its evolution in the face of rapid technological change. We will think critically about the trade-offs and challenges presented by the ever-changing role of technology, the risks and rewards of data collection, and the rapidly changing legal landscape. We will touch on the relationships between privacy, security, and risk; on identification and re-identification of individuals; on encryption, ransomware, and open access to data; and other current issues in privacy and information technology.
Additional Information: Intellectual Property Concentration (JD)
Products Liability (LWLP568)
Instructor(s): Linda Lane
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Products Liability Law is the civil liability of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers for injuries caused to consumers, users, and bystanders by defective products. This course will examine the evolution of products liability law, with origins in both tort and contract, and will explore how these foundations shape contemporary doctrine. Students will learn the four primary theories of liability: negligence, breach of warranty, strict liability, and misrepresentation. The course will also cover types of product defects, causation issues, available damages, and various defenses, including assumption of the risk, comparative fault and product misuse. We will discuss emerging issues in products liability and how practitioners are addressing these challenges in today’s market. The grade in this course will be based on a final exam with class participation also considered.
Professional Responsibility (LWAA580)
Instructor(s): Kimberly Gosling
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
The roles of the lawyer in society and the obligations implied in those roles are examined. Topics include disciplinary standards and procedures, the history and organization of the legal profession; avoiding conflict of interest; obligations to clients, the courts, and society, and conflicts presented by the adversary system for settlements of disputes; and responsibilities of lawyers as public servants and citizens. American Bar standards will be reviewed.
Property (LWAA530)
Instructor(s): Staff
4 credit(s), Letter Graded
Consideration is given, in both a historical and modern sense, to the rights and obligations that arise out of the legal ownership of possessory and non-possessory interests, tangible, and to a limited extent, intangible, personal, and real property. Areas covered include estates in land, landlord-tenant, conveyancing, land development, public and private control of land use, non-possessory rights in land, bailments, lost and misplaced property, gifts, and an introduction to gratuitous transfers of realty.
Public Interest Law Clinic (LWVL544)
Instructor(s): Marcus Friedman
1-3 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Environmental and Energy Law (JD), Health Law (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG)
Students who enjoy CA Regulatory Law and Public Interest Parts I & II frequently go on to take Public Interest Law Clinic, in which they may design their own writing or advocacy project related to regulatory or public interest law. In the past, these projects have included written critiques of agencies or agency programs; petitioning an agency to adopt regulations; drafting model legislation; participating in litigation to enforce the state's sunshine statutes; or submitting amicus curiae briefs on public interest issues pending appeal. Student critiques of publishable quality may satisfy USD's written work requirement. Students interested in Public Interest Law Clinic must secure a permission slip prior to pre-registration from Professor Marcus Friedman at CPIL's offices. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.
Note: There are limitations on JD concentration eligibility. Please check the Environmental and Energy Law Concentration and Health Law Concentration web pages for more information.
Additional Information: Environmental and Energy Law Concentration, Health Law Concentration