Course Offerings

This course concerns crimes that, though ordinarily domestic, become "transnational" when some aspect crosses national borders. To be studied: extraterritorial jurisdiction; obligations of law enforcement officers operating overseas; substantive law of crimes like trafficking, public corruption, money laundering, and terrorism; and procedural matters like extradition, rendition, evidence gathering, and judgment-enforcement.

A study of trial methodology, including jury voir dire, opening statements in jury and bench trials, introduction of proof and pre-trial as well as trial objections to evidence, and delivery of final arguments. Problems in civil and criminal litigation are analyzed, with emphasis upon demonstration of techniques by students in the course. Course is graded S/U.

Substantive and procedural rules concerning holding and gratuitous disposition of wealth, including intestate succession, wills, will substitutes and inter vivos and testamentary trusts; substantive law of express and charitable trusts; remedies for wrongs relating to disposition of wealth; fiduciary powers, duties and liabilities; construction problems relating to future interests and powers of appointment.

Students will earn credit through participation as members of the University of Georgia Mock Trial Team. Participants in the course will assume roles as lawyers, witnesses, and/or student coaches preparing for and competing in tournaments sponsored by the American Mock Trial Association. Limited to members of the UGA Mock Trial Team.

The Veterans Legal Clinic enlists students to help veterans, to learn about veterans' needs and experiences, and to learn about advocacy in administrative and judicial forums. The Veteran's Clinic represents veterans and their dependents in claims for VA and military benefits. The Clinic serves the entire state of Georgia. Students interview and advise clients, advocate for them before the VA and other agencies, and engage in public outreach. Students work in collaboration with other related professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and other providers who work with veterans. A weekly seminar teaches the law related to the practice, offers perspectives on the experience of veterans, and includes regular assessment of ongoing cases. Students can earn between 4 - 6 credits depending on the hours they work.

Through simulation exercises, this course examines present trends in wage-and-hour litigation, a significant subject area in current labor and employment law. The course examines the history of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and also treats wage-and-hour law in the states, both statutory and common law. Because multi-plaintiff litigation under the FLSA proceeds on a collective, or opt-in, basis, the course will examine the differences between opt-in and Rule 23 opt-out class actions, including increasingly successful efforts to use the two approaches simultaneously in wage-and-hour claims. There are no prerequisites for this course.

The course will examine the legal structures that govern water allocation and use in the United States beginning with an understanding of the riparian doctrine, undergirding water rights in the Eastern U.S., and the prior-appropriation doctrine, applicable in Western states.  Focus will be given to Georgia’s regulated riparian system with key statutory frameworks governing surface water and groundwater allocation and supply.  Additional topics include the Endangered Species Act and its impact on water rights and allocation; the Federal Clean Water Act and issues of water quality, including navigable waters, regulation of point and non-point source pollution, Section 401 water quality certification, water quality standards under Section 303 and regulatory tools to bring bodies of water back into compliance with water quality standards, and Section 404 and its intersection with water supply planning and development.  In addition to providing a survey of key water law topics, the course will introduce students to contemporary water issues facing the Southeast and provide students with exposure to specific examples of the types of legal work that one could expect to pursue in an environmental law practice in the Southeast. 

An introduction to economic and political crimes (Georgia focus) under the label of “white collar crime,” including conspiracy, theft, fraud, racketeer-influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO), money laundering, computer and cyber-crimes, perjury and false statements, securities fraud, fraud upon financial institutions, and parallel non-criminal procedures associated with white collar crimes.

Analyzes law governing workplace accidents and diseases and its relationship to orthodox tort doctrine. Among topics studied are substantive limitations on coverage, administrative process in handling claims, and various approaches toward computing compensation awards.

Students will study key concepts and institutions of our system of government as well as the practical and political realities impacting law and policy-making in Washington. Students will consider and hear directly from senior government officials, lawmakers and policy leaders regarding their actual work on the ground. Students will apply this practical understanding to analyze issues of national importance including, for example, the immigration crisis and President Trump's "Travel Ban." Class also will expose students to the wide range of professional opportunities available to them in Washington.

This course introduces students to the workings of judicial chambers and provides experience in writing the types of documents commonly required of judicial clerks, such as jury instructions, trial court opinions, appellate court opinions, and bench memoranda.