Fall 2019 Course Offerings

Instructor: Elizabeth Lenhart

Description: 

This course covers various aspects of civil litigation from the filing of a complaint up to the discovery process. Jurisdiction over the person, venue, and federal subject matter jurisdiction are explored. Coverage is also given to the decision in Erie RR v. Tompkins and its progeny, concerning the applicability of state law in federal courts. The remainder of the course is devoted to service of process, joinder of parties, counterclaims and amendments.

Instructor: Sandra Sperino

Description: 

This course covers various aspects of civil litigation from the filing of a complaint up to the discovery process. Jurisdiction over the person, venue, and federal subject matter jurisdiction are explored. Coverage is also given to the decision in Erie RR v. Tompkins and its progeny, concerning the applicability of state law in federal courts. The remainder of the course is devoted to service of process, joinder of parties, counterclaims and amendments.

Instructor: Louis Bilionis

Description: 

This is an introductory course covering judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and equal protection.

Instructor: Bert Lockwood

Description:

This is an introductory course covering judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and equal protection.

Instructor: Aaron Bryant

Description:

This is an introductory course covering judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and equal protection.

Instructor: Emily Houh

Description:

This course covers basic concepts and doctrines in contract law, including the legal grounds for enforcement of promises, the role of consent in contract formation, contract remedies, and interpretation. Attention is given to both the common law of contracts and to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Instructor: Jacob Cogan

Description:

This course covers basic concepts and doctrines in contract law, including the legal grounds for enforcement of promises, the role of consent in contract formation, contract remedies, and interpretation. Attention is given to both the common law of contracts and to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Instructor: Ann Hubbard

Description:

This course covers basic concepts and doctrines in contract law, including the legal grounds for enforcement of promises, the role of consent in contract formation, contract remedies, and interpretation. Attention is given to both the common law of contracts and to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Description:

This course covers skills basic to competent legal research and writing. The students write objective memoranda of law based on hypothetical problems composed by the instructors. The course emphasizes issue recognition, case and statutory interpretation, legal analysis, and the use of plain English.

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

This course covers skills basic to competent legal research and writing. The students write objective memoranda of law based on hypothetical problems composed by the instructors. The course emphasizes issue recognition, case and statutory interpretation, legal analysis, and the use of plain English.

Instructor: Rachel Smith

Description:

This course covers skills basic to competent legal research and writing. The students write objective memoranda of law based on hypothetical problems composed by the instructors. The course emphasizes issue recognition, case and statutory interpretation, legal analysis, and the use of plain English.

Instructor: Sandra Sperino

Description:

Torts examines the three basic theories of civil (non-criminal) liability for injuries to persons and property. International torts, negligence and strict liability. These subjects are considered together with causation problems, defenses to liability (such as consent, self-defense, comparative negligence and assumption of risk), and affirmative duties.

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description:

Torts examines the three basic theories of civil (non-criminal) liability for injuries to persons and property. International torts, negligence and strict liability. These subjects are considered together with causation problems, defenses to liability (such as consent, self-defense, comparative negligence and assumption of risk), and affirmative duties.

Instructor: Lori Krafte

Description:

This class explores copyright, trademark, right of publicity, and other intellectual property issues, as well as defamation and product disparagement issues surrounding the creative world of advertising. Topics will include logos; products and their packaging; the use of images in advertising; celebrity sponsorships; false advertising, comparative advertising; contests and lotteries; internet advertising; government regulation of "unfair" trade practices; children's advertising; and the relationship between First Amendment concerns and commercial speech.

Instructors: Patrick DeWine, Mary Stier

Description:

This covers the role and function of appellate courts: preserving issues for appeal; appealability; appeal strategy; the record on appeal; briefs and oral argument; operating procedures of appellate courts; motion practice; extraordinary writs; and related matters. Each student prepares a critique of an actual case pending in an appellate court

Instructor: Lin Bai

Description:

This course covers major topics in the law of agency, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations, as well as selected aspects of the federal securities laws.

Instructor: Sean Mangan

Description:

Virtually all forms of legal practice require a basic understanding of fundamental business concepts. This course is designed to help students gain a basic understanding of accounting and finance principles as well as general business concepts. We will cover topics such as reading financial statements, understanding cash flow, accounting requirements, and investment principles. Students with an MBA, joint JD/MBA, and undergraduate finance or accounting majors are ineligible for the course.

Instructors: Tracy Cook, Kimberly Helfrich, Scheherazade Washington-Childs

Description:

One of the most intrusive governmental actions is the removal of children from their families. The grounds for removal include abuse and neglect. These decisions are made by juvenile and family courts across the nation, resulting in nearly 500,000 children in the child protection system each year. The parties to a child protection action include county social workers, parents, best interests advocates known as Guardians ad Litem (GAL) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Volunteer), and the children. These parties are represented by attorneys in a variety of roles. This course is designed as an introduction to child protection actions and the roles of attorneys participating in them, and current practitioners.

Instructors: Tracy Cook, Kimberly Helfrich, Scheherazade Washington-Childs

Description:

One of the most intrusive governmental actions is the removal of children from their families. The grounds for removal include abuse and neglect. These decisions are made by juvenile and family courts across the nation, resulting in nearly 500,000 children in the child protection system each year. The parties to a child protection action include county social workers, parents, best interests advocates known as Guardians ad Litem (GAL) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Volunteer), and the children. These parties are represented by attorneys in a variety of roles. This course is designed as an introduction to child protection actions and the roles of attorneys participating in them, and current practitioners.

Instructor: Sean Mangan

Description: 

In this course, students consider the lawyer-client relationship in the context of realistic scenarios, examining the basic strategies and skills a lawyer must master in the lawyer-client relationship. Students will practice and demonstrate the skills of effective client communication and practice management. The instruction and simulations will be set in the business transaction context. This is an intensive course that meets over a condensed time period. Students must attend every class session. Do not sign up for this class if you must miss one of these sessions. Students may take only one (1) short course before the fall semester. Additional assignments outside of the classroom, a final skills exercise, and wrap-up classes will take place during the fall 2019 semester at times and dates to be announced. This is a required course that must be taken in the second year, unless you have met the requirement in another way. Students who participate in other experiences in the second year may have met the Client Counseling Requirement and are not required to take this course. These students, along with 3Ls who have not taken a client counseling course, will be permitted to take this Client Counseling class only if seats remain after students are placed in the sections of the course who must take it.

Instructor: Lin Bai

Description: 

This course examines the legal rules governing financial transactions within a corporation and between the corporation and its shareholders. The course will also cover financing the corporation and organic changes, including mergers, consolidation, recapitalizations, and charter amendments. Prerequisite: Corporations I.

Instructor: Arthur McMahon

Description:

This course builds on the core concepts learned in Corporations I and addresses advanced issues in modern corporation law, including the nature of the public corporation, corporate governance issues and the corporate social responsibility movement. It also covers federal and state corporate compliance issues along with the importance of adopting strong internal controls.

Instructors: Donald Caster, Brian Howe

Description:

This introductory course deals with the constitutional aspects of various police practices, focusing primarily on the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the US Constitution. The course specifically addresses the right to counsel; arrest, search and seizure; wiretapping, electronic eavesdropping and the use of secret agents; police interrogation and confession; and the scope and administration of the exclusionary rules.

Instructor: Mark Godsey

Description: 

This course covers the basic rules for post-arrest criminal litigation. Sources include constitutions, statutes and court rules, ethical codes, performance standards, research data, and appellate decisions interpreting these primary materials. Topics include the right to counsel; charging decisions; pretrial detention; discovery and investigation; plea bargaining; speedy trial and double jeopardy; jury selection; additional trial rights, including compulsory process and confrontation of witnesses; sentencing; and appeal/post-conviction procedures. The goal is clear understanding of the rules, their underlying theories, and their real-world consequences. SPECIAL NOTE: This course covers completely different material than that covered in Criminal Procedure I. Criminal Procedure I is not a prerequisite for this course, but it is recommended that Criminal Procedure I be taken first.

Instructor: Joseph Tomain

Description:

As we enter another elections season, together with all of the political conversation attending it, it is a good time to consider the nature of our polity and the values it contains.

The United States can be (and has been) described in a variety of ways. Our country is a capitalist democracy or a form of democratic capitalism or a modern liberal democratic state or a pluralist democracy. Note, then, the recurring use of the word “democratic.”

As you know from your study of constitutional law, we have a republican (and representative) form of government rather than a democracy of direct rule by citizens. Nevertheless, we continue to subscribe to the idea that “democratic” values are desirable.  What, then, are those values? Where can they be found? Are they to be found in our constitutional tradition and in our political history? Are they to be found in the structure of government? Are they values that can shape the future of our political economy? These are some of the questions that we will address by reading original documents, selected readings, the book Achieving Democracy: The Future of Progressive Regulation (Oxford University Press 2014) and another text to be chosen.

Instructor: Brandon Woodard

Description: 

This course will introduce taking and defending depositions. Major topics will include an overview of depositions (what depositions are and how they fit into the larger case strategy), preparing for a deposition (creating a deposition outline and exhibits), standard deposition admonitions (and what they actually mean), effective use of questioning (open vs. closed questions and the funnel technique), and form objections. Students will take part in deposition simulations and view videotaped depositions.

Description:

As part of collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, students act as advocates for victims of domestic violence. Advocacy includes interviewing and counseling clients, helping clients in civil protection order cases as well as issues as they relate to family law. Second-year students, who cannot be licensed as legal interns in Ohio, participate in interviewing, case preparation, and other aspects of clinic work.

Description: 

2L Domestic Violence & Civil Protection Order Field Placement. You must also enroll concurrently in the 2L DV&CPO Class (IRTS 7039). As part of collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, students act as advocates for victims of domestic violence. Advocacy includes interviewing and counseling clients, helping clients in civil protection order cases as well as issues as they relate to family law. Second-year students, who cannot be licensed as legal interns in Ohio, participate in interviewing, case preparation, and other aspects of clinic work.

Instructor: Anne Lucas

Description:

As part of collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, students act as advocates for victims of domestic violence.  Second-year students, who cannot be licensed as legal interns in Ohio, participate in interviewing, case preparation, and other aspects of clinic work.

Third year students must apply for and obtain an intern license before the start of the semester. Under the direct supervision of a supervising attorney, students will represent clients in court.

Instructor: Anne Lucas

Description:

As part of collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, students act as advocates for victims of domestic violence.  Second-year students, who cannot be licensed as legal interns in Ohio, participate in interviewing, case preparation, and other aspects of clinic work.

Third year students must apply for and obtain an intern license before the start of the semester. Under the direct supervision of a supervising attorney, students will represent clients in court.

Instructor: Ronna Schneider

Description: 

This course examines legal issues encountered at all levels of education. The course will focus on such problems as academic freedom, curriculum control, censorship, mandatory education, church – state issues, faculty and student rights, tort and civil liability of educational institutions, and educational opportunity, including rights of the handicapped.

Instructor: Ann Hubbard

Description: 

This course surveys the major legislative and executive provisions prohibiting various types of discrimination in employment. Discrimination is considered in the context of hiring, promotion, discharge, benefits, conditions, and the like. Consideration is also given to the procedures applicable to employment discrimination cases.

Instructor: Lori Ross

Description:

This course focuses on the legal relationship between employer and the individual employee. It will cover the common law aspects of that relationship, particularly the employment at will doctrine. It will then examine common law, contract, and statutory modifications of the doctrine. Statutes that may be examined include whistle-blower protection, unemployment and workers’ compensation acts, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and federal discrimination statutes. The course also covers other key features of the employment relationship including privacy concerns and contracts relating to protecting certain employer interests. The course is recommended for students contemplating a labor or employment law, corporate, or general practice.

Instructor: Sean Mangan

Description:

Open to 3L’s only. Enrollment is limited to 8-10 students selected by the instructor. No later than the first day of class, students must have a “legal intern certificate” from the Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Ohio. In this course, students will staff the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic (ECDC), obtaining “hands on” experience representing local businesses and entrepreneurs on transactional legal issues critical to their success, including assistance and counseling on entity selection and formation; regulatory compliance and licensing; trademark/copyright protection; lease review and negotiation; contract preparation/review/negotiation; tax - exempt applications; and other legal issues confronting small businesses, both for-profit and nonprofit. Students also will learn how a small law office operates, including procedures for client intake, file maintenance, project tracking, timekeeping, and scheduling. In addition to attending the weekly class, students will be expected to spend approximately10-12 hours per week on their clinic work, with a minimum of 4 of those hours spent working in the clinic offices, located at the law school and the Hamilton County Business Center. The ECDC will represent primarily clients of limited financial means who cannot afford the services of the private bar and will not represent clients in litigation.

Instructor: Sean Mangan

Description:

Entrepreneurship & Community Development Clinic Field Placement. Students will also be concurrently enrolled in BCL7038.

Instructor: Bradford Mank

Description: 

This course surveys the government's role in environmental protection, including the scope and nature of governmental control. Topics covered include pollution control, toxic substances and hazardous waste, as well as conservation measures.

Instructor: Mark Godsey

Description:

The goal of this course is for students to know and be able to apply (1) the Federal Rules of Evidence governing relevance, unfair prejudice, character evidence, impeachment, hearsay, and opinion testimony; (2) the rules as they intersect with a few constitutional provisions, such as the Sixth Amendment confrontation right; and (3) some housekeeping rules, such as Rules 102-105, 201, 611, and the Best Evidence rule.

Instructor: Stephanie McMahon

Description:

This course is structured around the two dominant themes of the taxation of individuals under the Internal Revenue Code: what is income, and what is deductible; and when must the taxpayer recognize income, and when can the taxpayer deduct a particular expense. Also the course examines miscellaneous topics such as capital gains and losses, identifying the proper taxpayer, and others.

Instructors: Emily Houh, Kristin Kalsem

Description: 

By permission of instructor. The Freedom Center Journal of Law and History engages its readership on issues historically driving African-American intellectual thought while challenging its student membership to fully develop their individual talents to compete on terms of academic equality in an international society governed by law and legal institutions. This class will be scheduled by the Registrar.

Instructors: Emily Houh, Kristin Kalsem

Description:

The Freedom Center Journal of Law and History engages its readership on issues historically driving African-American intellectual thought while challenging its student membership to fully develop their individual talents to compete on terms of academic equality in an international society governed by law and legal institutions. This class will be scheduled by the Registrar.

Instructor: Bert Lockwood

Description:

Editor Position: By permission of Instructor. Participating students engage in the selection and editing of articles for publication in the University of Cincinnati Human Rights Quarterly. Human Rights Quarterly Staff only.

Instructor: Bert Lockwood

Description: 

Participating students engage in the selection and editing of articles for publication in the University of Cincinnati Human Rights Quarterly. Human Rights Quarterly Staff only.

Instructor: Yolanda Vazquez

Description: 

Participating students engage in selection and preparation of articles for publication in the Review. Students also write notes and comments for publication in the Review. Students will be scheduled by the Registrar.

Instructor: Yolanda Vazquez

Description:

Participating students engage in selection and preparation of articles for publication in the Review. Students also write notes and comments for publication in the Review. Students will be scheduled by the Registrar.

Instructor: Jean Silverstein

Description:

Through the Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender, students provide representation to indigent criminal defendants in misdemeanor cases. Each student is closely supervised by a licensed attorney and handles all aspects of the case, from the initial client interview and investigation to motions practice and trial advocacy. During the year-long program, students must commit 15 hours each week to the clinic, including participation in a weekly Thursday evening classroom component. This is a continuation of the Clinic from fall semester; accepted and enrolled students commit to both semesters of their third year. Limited to students who participated in the Clinic in the fall 2018 semester; 3L’s only; students must qualify for the Ohio Student Intern License to enroll in this clinic.

Instructor: Jean Silverstein

Description:

Concurrent enrollment required in LITG 7051 as well as the full-year.

Description:

Under the direct supervision of a member of the faculty, upper level students engage in original research and prepare for credit a substantial work product. The research project is selected jointly by the student and faculty member. Customarily, the final product will be a research paper, and, in that case, the paper must be 10-15 pages long. The student must both register for the course and present a completed contract by the last day of the drop/add period. Contracts must be turned in on time or students will be dropped from the class. You are limited to five total credits of individual writing per academic year. Credits cannot be adjusted after the add/drop period.

Description:

Under the direct supervision of a member of the faculty, upper level students engage in original research and prepare for credit a substantial work product. The research project is selected jointly by the student and faculty member. Customarily, the final product will be a research paper, and, in that case, the paper must be 20-30 pages long for two credits. The student must both register for the course and present a completed contract by the last day of the drop/add period. Contracts must be turned in on time or students will be dropped from the class. You are limited to five total credits of individual writing per academic year. Credits cannot be adjusted after the add/drop period.

Description:

Under the direct supervision of a member of the faculty, upper level students engage in original research and prepare for credit a substantial work product. The research project is selected jointly by the student and faculty member. Customarily, the final product will be a research paper, and, in that case, the paper must be 35-50 pages long for three credits. The student must both register for the course and present a completed contract by the last day of the drop/add period. Contracts must be turned in on time or students will be dropped from the class. You are limited to five total credits of individual writing per academic year. Credits cannot be adjusted after the add/drop period.

Instructors: Jennifer Bergeron, Donald Caster, Mark Godsey, Brian Howe

Description:

The Ohio Innocence Project (OIP), a part of the Rosenthal Institute for Justice, harnesses the energy and intellect of students to identify inmates in Ohio prisons who are innocent of the crimes they were convicted of committing. Innocence is often determined by DNA testing, but can include other types of new evidence such as new witnesses, new expert testimony, or evidence of police misconduct. Once an inmate's innocence has been established through investigation, the OIP sends the case back to court and litigates in the hope of obtaining the inmate's freedom. SPECIAL NOTES: Enrollment by permission of instructor; full year commitment required; must complete year if participated in the fall of 2018.

Instructor: Timothy Armstrong

Description:

The Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal is dedicated to furthering knowledge associated with the research and practice of intellectual property law, computer law, and related fields concerning domestic and international media and telecommunications policy. The Journal will be published online. The Registrar will enroll students selected to participate in the necessary class through the registration system.

Instructor: Timothy Armstrong

Description:

Limited to students identified by supervising faculty member.

Instructor: Timothy Armstrong

Description: 

Intellectual Property & Computer Law Journal Editor-in-Chief. By permission of supervising faculty/instructor.

Instructor: John Pinney

Description:

The course is designed to introduce the student to international commercial arbitration. The course will focus on preparing the student both for advising companies on negotiating effective dispute resolution provisions in cross-border commercial contracts and representing clients having a dispute before an international commercial arbitration tribunal. The course will begin by emphasizing the importance of a well-crafted dispute resolution provision in cross-border agreements and the inadequacies of leaving dispute resolution to national courts. The course will then address the differences in customs and legal traditions in Europe, Asia and Latin America and the influence of such differences on the manner in which disputes are resolved and arbitrations are conducted. The student will be introduced to the principal international arbitral institutions administrating international arbitrations and their procedural rules, and also to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (for ad hoc non-administered arbitrations) and investor/state arbitrations under bilateral investment treaties. In addition, there will be a brief introduction to the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The remainder of the course will demonstrate, using a hypothetical international business dispute, the procedures step-by-step typically used in an international commercial arbitration, including: commencement and issuance of the statements of claims and defense, the selection of arbitrators, the disclosure process, the pleadings and submissions of pre-hearing briefs and memorials, the presentation of written and oral evidence at the hearing, the issuance of the award, the role of courts in enforcing arbitral agreements and ultimately enforcement or vacatur of the award under the New York Convention and a variety of specific arbitration laws, including those in the United States, England, France, Hong Kong and China. Plans are being made to field a University of Cincinnati College of Law team to compete in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong in March 2020. If funding is secured for fielding a team for the 2019-20 Moot, at least two “team” members will be chosen from students in the class. Four members of the UC Law Team would travel to Hong Kong in March 2020 and compete against about 130 law schools from around the world on the 2020 Moot Problem which is issued in early October 2019. The mid-term paper based on the 2019 Vis Moot Problem will be used as one of the vehicles from which team members will be selected.

Description:

Discusses the current trends in international commercial policies related to the multilateral trading system developed through the World Trade Organization, Free Trade Agreements and Investment Protection Treaties. Regulation of international trade is studied through the analysis of different sectors of the economy. Special interest is given to the relationship of trade policies with sectoral public policies. Additional interest is given to the recent tendencies of protectionist national economic policies and how they affect the international trading system. Topics are developed in class as a result of continuous discussions with students based on previously assigned readings. Classes are practical and case law based. Current trends are also analyzed through statistical data.

Instructor: Timothy Armstrong

Description:

This broadest and most basic course gives roughly equal time to the three primary federal doctrines in the area, copyright, trademark, and patent, and gives students a brief introduction to related state law doctrines such as rights of publicity and trade secrets. This course provides students with the basics of each doctrine as well as an understanding of the ways in which they interact with each other.

Instructor: James Hunt

Description:

This course introduces the student to the issues arising from the interaction of mentally ill or incapacitated individuals with the American civil and criminal justice system. It also considers the practice and structure of the mental health profession. This class is required for Weaver Fellows.

Instructor: Lee Black

Description:

This course will explore how law is an important part of all aspects of our society, including our economy, our democracy, and our personal lives. Using current topics in law, such as drones, online privacy issues, and issues of policing, students will explore the broad impact of the law and legal actors on our society. Fundamental concepts will be discussed that include property rights as a bundle of rights and law giving rise to settled expectations so that businesses are willing to make investments in the economy. The course will also explore the role of attorneys in society including how they are trained and licensed in the United States. Types of legal practices will be discussed such as business, criminal, intellectual property, litigation, employment, and other common types of practice areas. Important topics of legal ethics will be discussed. Students will have the opportunity to meet lawyers and law students, along with opportunities to visit places where law is important, which may include courtrooms, prisons, law firms, and businesses.

Instructor: Sean Mangan

Description: 

This class provides a comprehensive introduction to drafting legal documents in the transactional context, with a heavy emphasis on contracts and internal corporate documents. Students will learn the basic concepts that guide contract drafting and how mastery of these concepts aid in managing risk in legal transactions. Students will complete a number of short drafting exercises and four graded drafting assignments.

Instructor: Chirstine Szydlowski

Description:

Concurrent enrollment in Judicial Extern Class is required.

Instructor: Christine Szydlowski

Description:

The class component of the Judicial Extern Program covers writing for judges and proper conduct for judges and judicial clerks. The work performed in the judicial extern field placement is similar to that performed by a law clerk to a judge. It usually involves preparing memoranda on cases, reviewing case files, drafting opinions and orders, and attending court and conferences. The precise tasks performed, however, depend upon the type of court and the style of the judge.

SPECIAL NOTES: Concurrent enrollment in Judicial Externship class and field placement required. Complete the Judicial Externship Application Form on Symplicity in the “Job Postings” section. Upload your completed application form along with your current resume and transcript to be matched with a judicial extern placement. Students may not enroll concurrently in Extern programs. You may only take this class once – it is offered every semester.

Instructor: Kathleen Lenski

Description:

This class examines the status, rights, and obligations of children, parents, and government related to children's issues. It will focus on the areas of dependency, abuse, neglect, and other topics related to child advocacy as time permits. The course will also examine the role of the lawyer in adjudicating cases related to juvenile law.

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description:

Participating students engage in the selection and editing of articles for publication in the University of Cincinnati Law Review. Some students also write notes and comments for publication in the Review. Students must participate in a competition and be selected to participate. The College of Law Registrar will schedule you in the appropriate course; it is your responsibility to make sure you have room in your schedule to accommodate the addition of this course.

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description:

Participating students engage in the selection and editing of articles for publication in the University of Cincinnati Law Review. Some students also write notes and comments for publication in the Review. Students must participate in a competition and be selected to participate. The College of Law Registrar will schedule you in the appropriate course; it is your responsibility to make sure you have room in your schedule to accommodate the addition of this course.

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description:

The blog has student, professor and practitioner contributors. Knowledge of Bluebook and Texas Law Review Manual for Style and Usage, and ability to coordinate. The job responsibilities of the Blog Editor would include: • Actively solicit and select practitioners for blog posts • Ensure Contributing Members, Guest or Student Editors, and Student Contributors all meet posting requirements ensuring conformance with the Texas Law Review Manual for Style and Usage and that all footnote content conform with the Bluebook • Coordinating promotion and utilization of the blog including monitoring any comments/feedback. In recognition of the responsibilities of the Blog Editor, this position will receive 2 non-classroom credit hours; it would not meet the writing or seminar requirement. This position would only be open to 3L students. The UC Law Review Blog is of great importance to the future of the Law Review. With a dedicated position overseeing the blog, the maintenance and care of the blog can be guaranteed. By Permission Only

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description: 

By permission only.

Instructor: Betsy Malloy

Description:

Participating students engage in the selection and editing of articles for publication in the University of Cincinnati Law Review. Students also write notes and comments for publication in the Review.

Instructors: Michael Cioffi, Joseph Tomain

Description:

Traditionally, lawyers have played central roles in the organization of society and the administration of justice. They also further the interests of their clients through persuasive argumentation. Using a number of "great books," this course will examine forms of argument and forms of legal authority.

Instructor: William Strubbe

Description:

In this course students consider the lawyer-client relationship in the context of realistic scenarios, evaluating the complete choices an ethical lawyer must make to establish an effective lawyer-client relationship. Following an examination of the ABA Model Rules and the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, students consider the ethical components of the lawyer-client relationship, with an emphasis on competency, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. The course also includes substantial instruction in the history, goals, structure, values, and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members.

Instructor: Mark Vander Laan

Description:

In this course students consider the lawyer-client relationship in the context of realistic scenarios, evaluating the complete choices an ethical lawyer must make to establish an effective lawyer-client relationship. Following an examination of the ABA Model Rules and the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, students consider the ethical components of the lawyer-client relationship, with an emphasis on competency, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. The course also includes substantial instruction in the history, goals, structure, values, and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members.

Instructor: Grace-Marie Royalty

Description:

In this course students consider the lawyer-client relationship in the context of realistic scenarios, evaluating the complete choices an ethical lawyer must make to establish an effective lawyer-client relationship. Following an examination of the ABA Model Rules and the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, students consider the ethical components of the lawyer-client relationship, with an emphasis on competency, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. The course also includes substantial instruction in the history, goals, structure, values, and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members.

Instructors: Joel Chanvisanuruk, Rachel Smith

Description:

In this course, students consider the lawyer-client relationship in the context of realistic scenarios, evaluating the complex choices an ethical lawyer must make to establish an effective lawyer-client relationship. Following an examination of the ABA Model Rules, students consider the ethical components of the lawyer-client relationship, with an emphasis on competency, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. The course also includes multiple skills application exercises to introduce students to Performance Tests and Professional Responsibility Exams required by state bar examiners.

Instructor: Christine Szydlowski

Description:

The classroom component of the Legal Extern Program emphasizes practical lawyering skills, law office economics, and ethical issues. In their field placements, legal externs work under the supervision of attorneys in local, state, and federal public agencies, for legal aid and other non-profit organizations, and in businesses and other organizations in the private sector. SPECIAL NOTES: Concurrent enrollment in Legal Externship class and field placement required. Complete the Legal Externship Application Form on Symplicity in the “Job Postings” section. Upload your completed application form along with your current resume and transcript. Spots are limited and students will be chosen based on their placement preferences and availability. Students may not enroll concurrently in Extern programs. You may only take this class once – it is offered every semester.

Instructor: Christine Szydlowski

Description:

The classroom component of the Legal Extern Program emphasizes practical lawyering skills, law office economics, and ethical issues. In their field placements, legal externs work under the supervision of attorneys in local, state, and federal public agencies, for legal aid and other non-profit organizations, and in businesses and other organizations in the private sector. SPECIAL NOTES: Concurrent enrollment in Legal Externship class and field placement required. Complete the Legal Externship Application Form on Symplicity in the “Job Postings” section. Upload your completed application form along with your current resume and transcript. Spots are limited and students will be chosen based on their placement preferences and availability. Students may not enroll concurrently in Extern programs. You may only take this class once – it is offered every semester.

Legal research and writing for LLM students.

Instructor: Andrew Stephani

Description:

In this class, we will focus on the legal aspects of publicly-financed mental health care and the traditional and current governmental responses to mental disability. This course is open to Weaver Fellows; other interested students should contact the College of Law Registrar.

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

This is the intramural competition for the Moot Court Honor Board open to all 2L students. Students wishing to participate in the competition should enroll in this class.

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

Open to the Executive Director only.

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

Open to 2L students in their Spring Semester; prerequisite for Moot Court Executive Editor. Prereq: To enroll you must: Have taken LITG7017 Moot Court Competition

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

Prerequisite for Moot Court Executive Editor and other positions. Participating students represent the College of Law in various intercollegiate moot court competitions. Students will be scheduled by the Registrar.

Instructor: Nancy Oliver

Description:

Open to the Rendigs Problem Writer and by permission of instructor only. Prereq: To enroll you must: Have taken LITG7017 Moot Court Competition

Instructor: Marjorie Aaron

Description:

In this course students learn the "science and art" of negotiation. Students are introduced to significant literature and theory in negotiation and have the opportunity to practice negotiating through a sequenced series of negotiation simulations. This course will involve feedback on recorded negotiation performance; initially ungraded and solely for student benefit. The final grade will be based on a combination of written analysis in the form of analytical journal entries as well as your analysis of recorded negotiation performance.

Instructors: Jennifer Bergeron, Donald Caster, Mark Godsey, Brian Howe

Description:

In this course, students examine the various types of evidence that might lead to the wrongful conviction of innocent persons. They will also consider the roles police, prosecutors, and defense lawyers play in the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on discovering how errors can lead to the conviction of the innocent. SPECIAL NOTES: Field Study in the spring semester is required.

Instructor: Edwin Acheson

Description:

This course examines the federal statutory system of protection for useful, novel, and non-obvious inventions and those developments that enrich the technological arts. Although not a requisite, students with a science background will find it helpful to them in this course and this field.

Instructor: Steven Goldstein, Lori Krafte

Description:

In this course, students will work at the University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Patent and Trademark Clinic (PTC), obtaining “hands-on” experience representing local business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and inventors in identifying, protecting, and commercializing their intellectual property, focusing on work to be performed in the patent and trademark areas.  Services for individual clients may include completion of patent applications (provisional and non-provisional); completion of federal trademark applications; analysis and opinions on patent and trademark registrability; analysis and opinions on patent, trademark, and/or copyright infringement; assistance on responding to office actions from the USPTO; preparation, review, and/or negotiation of IP licenses and other related agreements; and general IP advice. The PTC will not represent its clients in litigation/dispute resolution or on foreign applications. PTC students also will learn how a small law office operates, including procedures for client intake, conflict checks, file maintenance, project tracking, timekeeping, scheduling, and client communications. Students will perform all work at the PTC under the close supervision of its directors and volunteer-lawyers with relevant expertise.  Students will be expected to average 8-12 hours per week working on clinic matters. The PTC will share the offices of the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. The PTC will represent only clients of limited financial means who cannot afford the services of the private bar and will not represent clients in litigation.

SPECIAL NOTES:

Interested students should look for email announcements regarding information sessions about the Clinic and how to apply.

Instructor: Steven Goldstein, Lori Krafte

Description:

PTC field placement.

Instructor: Elizabeth Lenhart

Description:

This course will focus solely on the litigation skills that an attorney must master in order to steer a civil case from the beginning of a dispute to the point immediately preceding a trial. Topics may include: development of the legal theory/theories in a case (causes of action and defenses); pleadings, including state and federal filing rules, proper parties, service considerations, electronic filing, and waiver of service of summons; development of discovery strategies; discovery, including interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for admissions, and motions to compel; depositions, taking and defending; experts, including retainer issues, drafting expert reports, and taking/defending expert depositions; pre-trial motion practice; trial-witness preparation; jury instructions and pre-trial statements; and court-ordered mediation and settlement.

Instructor: Jacob Cogan

Description:

This course is an introduction to the international legal system and particularly its decision-making processes – how international law is made and applied; the institutions created for making decisions; and the various legal regimes that are established. Consideration will be given to formal as well as operational prescriptions and practices. The role of power in this system will be candidly acknowledged, and the problems and opportunities it presents will be explored.

Instructor: Bicknell

Description:

This course will review and analyze the purposes, principles, and elements of criminal sentencing; including: the power to punish, sentencing considerations, judicial discretion, procedures, and types of sentences - from probation to death. This course will supplement caselaw and statutory analysis with hands-on experiences such as drafting a sentencing memorandum and participating in a mock sentencing hearing.

Instructor: Kristin Kalsem

Desecription:

This course focuses on laws governing secured transactions, specifically as set forth in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The topics addressed include the creation and perfection of security interests in personal property, priorities and remedies upon default in these secured transactions, and the interactions of the laws governing secured transactions with the Bankruptcy Code.

Instructors: Paulson, Colvin

Description:

Students from both the UC College of Law and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law will be participating.  In this clinic, students will work on cases for indigent clients whose cases are on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, a federal appellate court located in Cincinnati.  Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, students will analyze trial records, identify arguments to be used in the appeals process, and write motions and briefs for their clients. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about federal courts, criminal law, appellate procedure, and improve writing skills.  Students will also have the chance to learn from experienced lawyers, meet members of the federal bar, and meet federal judges.  Students will be expected to attend oral arguments at the Sixth Circuit as well as present their own oral arguments in class.  Some students have been able to argue before the Sixth Circuit, though such opportunities vary with timing and interest.

Instructors: Paulson, Colvin

Description:

Students from both the UC College of Law and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law will be participating.  In this clinic, students will work on cases for indigent clients whose cases are on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, a federal appellate court located in Cincinnati.  Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, students will analyze trial records, identify arguments to be used in the appeals process, and write motions and briefs for their clients. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about federal courts, criminal law, appellate procedure, and improve writing skills.  Students will also have the chance to learn from experienced lawyers, meet members of the federal bar, and meet federal judges.  Students will be expected to attend oral arguments at the Sixth Circuit as well as present their own oral arguments in class.  Some students have been able to argue before the Sixth Circuit, though such opportunities vary with timing and interest.

Instructor: David Willbrand

Description: 

This course introduces students to the various legal and business considerations involved in the organization and launch of startup companies, as well as in venture capital and private equity transactions. The first portion of the course focuses on the key issues involved in forming and operating an emerging growth business (a startup), including selecting and forming a business entity, structuring the economic benefits and management control among various owners, protecting intellectual property assets and complying with securities laws (with a look at crowdfunding). With that foundation, the second portion of the course focuses on the significant legal and business issues involved in a venture capital financing transaction from both the company and the investor perspective. Finally, the third portion of the course focuses on private equity transactions, including private equity as a method of financing and private equity as a means of liquidity or exit (with a look at M&A). The course combines theory and practice in order to prepare students for the types of projects and challenges they will confront as transactional lawyers. A knowledge of corporate and business associations law, as well as securities law and finance, will be helpful to a student in this course. That being said, there are no formal prerequisites, and the course is structured for beginners as well as for students with more subject matter expertise. 100% of the grade will be determined by the final examination, although I will take class attendance and preparation into account and may increase (but not decrease) a student’s grade based on his or her meaningful participation.

Instructor: Aaron Bryant

Description:

This course explores the enactment of statutes by federal and state legislators and the interpretation given by the courts and administrative agencies to such legislative enactments. The course will focus on various procedural, constitutional, and jurisprudential issues relating to the legislative and electoral processes embodied in our constitutional order, and to the methods of statutory interpretation employed by our courts and administrative agencies. Chief among the many aims of the course is to introduce students to the legal problems posed by legislative government, in the hopes that as practicing lawyers they will be more effective participants in the legislative process and the subsequent implementation and interpretation of statutes.

Instructor: Marjorie Aaron

Description: 

To be a trial lawyer is to be a story teller, stage director, and character in drama where the audience determines the resolution. This course will review and provide practice in each aspect of trial, from working with facts and developing strategy and then, to structure and techniques for effective opening statements, direct and cross examination, and closing argument. We will focus on those elements that are also applicable to professional presentations in other contexts: communicating to render complexity accessible, build your own and witness credibility and audience trust, and persuade the audience using emotion as well as reason.

Instructor: Marjorie Aaron

Description:

Students prepare for and participate in Trial Practice Competition Team events.

Instructor: Nora Wagner

Description:

US Legal System

Instructor: Felix Chang

Description:

This course covers the variety of ways in which people can arrange for the passage of their property at their death. Students study common law and statutory methods of dealing with property left by a decedent who did or did not leave a will; the procedures and problems of creating, construing, contesting, or revoking wills; the concerns for providing for surviving spouses and other family members; fiduciary duties in the administration of estates and some of the methods for avoiding the probate of estates.