Course Descriptions

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Patent Prosecution (LWIP571)

Instructor(s): Mark Abumeri

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Intellectual Property (JD), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Intellectual Property Law (LLMG), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)
Prerequisite(s): Intellectual Property Survey or Patent Law

This course provides an overview of practical aspects of U.S. patent practice, with a particular focus on issues that will be faced by a patent attorney in the early years of his/her career. Topics covered include preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, discussing strategic and practical considerations in addition to the applicable law, regulations and procedures. The course will also cover development and execution of an IP strategy for a client, evaluation of the scope of issued patents, and issues relating to ownership, assignment, and licensing of patent rights. In addition, ethical issues related to inequitable conduct, duty of candor, and proper representation of clients are addressed. Students will complete a series of real-world assignments, including the drafting of claims and other patent application content, responses to Office actions, and provisions directed to the transfer of patent rights.

No technical background is required. Grade will be based on a series of practical projects over the course of the semester.

Note:

Students must have taken Patent Law or Intellectual Property Survey, or have work experience in the field and permission of the professor, to register for the course.

Peace, War and Environment (LWEV569)

Instructor(s): Catherine MacKenzie

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
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 weekend 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.   

Note:

This short course is taught over 2 weekends, February 5/6 and 12/13, 2027.

Persuasion (LWLP564)

Instructor(s): Robert Wright

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Criminal Litigation (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), Criminal Law (LLMUS), Criminal Law (LLMG), Criminal Law (MSLS)

This course will expose you to classical and modern techniques for increasing your personal abilities to persuade others. Through lecture and student exercises, you will have opportunities to develop and expand your persuasive skills in many legal situations, with an emphasis on persuasion in trial and appellate courts, and in arbitration. We will cover the history of great advocates, voice training, and the use of rhetorical devices, including the uses of emotion when appropriate, presenting witnesses, arguments, and other related subjects. We plan to hear from outstanding judges and trial lawyers on these subjects. The goals of the class are to develop confidence when speaking (including mastering stage fright), to learn self-critique, and to improve verbal skills. Another goal is to teach you the persuasive techniques of America’s most effective trial lawyers. Grades in the course will be dependent on class presentations, class participation, and improvement in skills.

Additional Information: Criminal Litigation Concentration, Public Interest Law Concentration

Poverty Law (LWPP573)

Instructor(s): Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Children's Rights (JD), Public Interest Law (JD)

This is a survey course on the policy and practice of poverty law. Students will receive an introduction into the theory and practice of law pertaining to the enactment and enforcement of laws that advance the lives of people living in poverty. The course provides a broad overview and history of federal anti-poverty laws and programs, including programs addressing economic security, access to healthcare and nutrition, and subsidized housing. The course will study the administration of these anti-poverty programs and the practice of poverty law, including administrative law procedures (with a focus on due process), judicial review, and systemic litigation. The final grade for the course will be based on an examination. 

Additional Information: Children's Rights Concentration, Public Interest Law Concentration

Pre-Trial Practice (LWLP567)

Instructor(s): Shaun Martin

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD)

Additional Information: Civil Litigation Concentration

Privacy Law (Formerly Privacy & Data Security) (LWGC581)

Instructor(s): Christina Lee

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Intellectual Property (JD), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Intellectual Property Law (LLMG), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)

This course provides an introduction to the law of information privacy in the United States: the body of law governing how entities, public or private, can collect, process, store, and share personal information. Topics may include the concept of privacy; constitutional, statutory, and common law foundations of information privacy law; trade-offs between privacy and competing social values and legal rights; privacy constraints on law enforcement activities; information privacy statutes and regulations at the state and federal levels governing businesses’ data practices; Europe’s approach to privacy and data protection; and information security. Throughout the course, we will explore various privacy implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Additional Information: Intellectual Property Concentration

Products Liability (LWLP568)

Instructor(s): Linda Lane

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD)

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.

Additional Information: Civil Litigation Concentration

Professional Identity Formation (LWGC582)

Instructor(s): Rohanee Zapanta

1 credit(s), P/F Graded

Drawing on scholarship on professional identity formation in the law, as well as research on philosophy and psychology, this course examines industry norms, identity and bias in the workplace, values conflicts, and trauma-informed support, all of which impact competent and ethical practice of law, and the development of a meaningful and satisfying career. This course will help students to articulate the values and personal narratives that inform their professional identities, learn skills to build their individual resilience to stressors, as well as leadership skills to advocate for their own professional development, while identifying opportunities to shift the legal profession toward better promotion of lawyer well-being and ethical conduct. The course incorporates activities from the California Judges Association’s workshop series on ethics and wellness for law students, and assignments will help students to create a blueprint of their professional persona to carry forward in their careers. 

Note:

This is a short course that meets for the first seven weeks of the semester.

Professional Responsibility (LWAA580)

Instructor(s): Robert Muth

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), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS)

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

Public Land & Natural Resource Law (LWEV575)

Instructor(s): Natalie Jacewicz

3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Environmental and Energy Law (JD), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMUS), Environmental and Energy Law (LLMG), Environmental and Energy Law (MSLS)

This course surveys the laws and policies governing the management of lands and natural resources under federal ownership (some one-third of the nation’s continental land area). After a brief review of the history of federal land policy, topics will include environmental impact assessment, national forests, minerals, protected lands, tribal lands, endangered species, water, and fire. Special attention is given to the historical, normative, economic, scientific, and political factors that influence land and resource law.  

Note:

This course is decile graded.