Course Offerings

This course addresses the meaning and impact of the Constitution of the United States, particularly with regard to the subjects of federalism, separation of powers, the judicial function and due process of law.

This course focuses on constitutional protections of liberty and equality apart from protections that stem from principles of substantive and procedural due process. Subjects typically covered in the course include the Contract Clause, equal protection, freedom of expression, the right to free exercise of religion and the prohibition of laws respecting an establishment of religion. This course will be taught as a blended learning course. It will meet each Tuesday in person. On Fridays, it will sometimes meet in person, and sometimes virtually. In addition, some Friday classes will be replaced by podcasts that students can listen to at their leisure, together with writing assignments and small group meetings. Please email Professor Levin with any questions (hlevin@uga.edu).

This course focuses on constitutional protections of liberty and equality apart from protections that stem from principles of substantive and procedural due process. Subjects typically covered in the course include the Contract Clause, equal protection, freedom of expression, the right to free exercise of religion and the prohibition of laws respecting an establishment of religion.

Addresses a number of issues arising in damages actions brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, which authorizes a cause of action against persons who violate constitutional rights under color of state law. Topics covered may include distinction between common law and constitutional torts, scope of governmental liability, official immunity, damages, causation, state court suits, procedural defenses, attorney's fees, and meaning of "under color of." Suits against federal officers, under principle established in Bivens v. Six Federal Narcotics Agents, may also be discussed.

Introduces students to students' and teachers' constitutional rights and obligations in the education context.

The goal will be to take a deep dive into the law of constitutional structures, with a focus on constitutional federalism. Students in the course will do significant written work, but not the sort of written work that will satisfy upper-level writing requirements.

This course will investigate the history and theory surrounding the creation and ratification of the American Constitution, as well overarching themes and principles that have guided the development of constitutional law over time. Attention will focus in part on the work of Madison, Hamilton, and other leading thinkers at the time of the founding. Areas of study also will include various thematic approaches brought to bear by the Supreme Court as it decides constitutional cases. Student responsibilities will include regular attendance at, thoughtful preparation for, and active participation in class sessions. The major determinant of the student's grade will be work done in connection with a written project on a topic approved by the professor and an oral presentation on that topic made to the class. Written work for the course will be designed to satisfy the Law School's capstone writing requirement. Previous, or at least concurrent, enrollment in Constitutional Law II is recommended for students in this course.

The fundamentals of contract drafting applied to the context of fast growth technology startups and other new business ventures. Students will be introduced to multiple concepts including: interviewing clients, avoiding ambiguity, considering legal consequences, understanding core contract concepts, and reviewing and revising based on negotiations. This course will require students to produce successive drafts of documents that incorporate feedback from the professor. Students who have taken JURI 5850, Document Drafting: Contracts, are not eligible to take this class.

Contracts provides an introduction to the law of legally enforceable promises under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the common law. Among other topics, the course considers offers and their acceptance; consideration, formalities, and promissory estoppel; the parole evidence rule and the statute of frauds; third-party enforcement; material breach of contract; and damages. Students are expected to be able to explain in writing how these and additional legal issues under the UCC and the common law apply to various complex factual scenarios.

Focus is upon various methods to protect literary, musical, and artistic work under law of copyright. Copyright is a statutory subject based upon Copyright Act of 1909 and its amendments and Copyright Act of 1976. The course deals with what can be copyrighted, infringement actions, rights enjoyed by the copyright proprietor, jurisdiction and various remedies. Students in the class of 2013 and later are encouraged to take the IP Survey course before taking this course. NOTE: One cannot take the IP Survey (JURI 5050) after having taken any two of the following courses: Copyright Law (JURI 4430), Patent Law (JURI 4920), or Trademark Law (JURI 4930). If the IP Survey course is taken first, any or all three of the advanced intellectual property courses can be taken.

This course explores the practice of law from the perspective of an in-house counsel. Students will spend 1-2 days each week in a corporate legal department where they will have work assignments and experience firsthand the inner workings of a legal department. A 2-hour seminar each week will supplement the on-site work with discussions about relevant substantive topics and opportunities to build skills through drafting projects and simulations. In lieu of a final exam, students will prepare an appraisal with critical reflections about their externship and an oral presentation.

A second-semester exploration of the practice of law from the perspective of an in-house counsel. Covers legal and practical issues typically encountered in an in-house practice.

This course teaches concepts and methodologies used by corporations in major financing activities, as well as legal issues that may arise in those activities. Course materials are divided into four parts: equity financing, debt financing, valuation methodologies, and financial derivatives. For equity financing, discussions will focus on the IPO process, ADRs and GDRs, rights offerings and stock repurchases. For debt financing, discussions will focus on bond features and trading environment, bond issuance, valuation and risk management, convertible bonds, key provisions in an indenture and legal implications, characteristics of medium term notes and commercial paper programs. For valuation methodologies, discussions will focus on discounted cash flows, net present values, and dividend discount models. For financial derivatives, discussions will focus on options trading, pricing and risk management, the futures market and interest rate swaps. Securities Regulation helpful, but not required.

This course explores the inner workings of expedited and summary litigation, problems in the organization and functioning of a corporation, and mergers and transfers of control. Students will be given the opportunity for hands on experience in litigating corporate cases through oral argument. This course will also include discussion of the scholarly theories of corporate law, statutory and judicial law relating to corporations, and Delaware's prominence in corporate law.

The great economist and Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman famously stated that a corporation has "one and only one social responsibility - to increase its profits." Is this true today? As evidenced by the passage of the landmark Dodd-Frank legislation in 2010, the conduct and performance of several of America's leading corporations in recent years have seriously undermined confidence in U.S. businesses and their leaders. This course will explore contemporary trends in corporate governance and will examine whether a responsible corporation can integrate relevant societal concerns, such as environmental matters, and actually strengthen long-term shareholder value and the sustainability of both the corporation and the society in which is exists. This course is pass/fail.

Examination of legal structures aimed at promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability of corporate activities, with particular emphasis placed on how publicly traded companies are governed and regulated in some of the world's leading commercial and financial jurisdictions. The seminar further considers the intersection of corporate law with other legal fields and disciplines that impact corporate sustainability.

This course covers the taxation of corporations and their shareholders. Major topics include: contributions of property to corporations, distributions and redemptions by corporations, and taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions.

Examination of problems in the organization and functioning of a corporation, including such matters as disregard of the corporate entity, management and control, federal regulation of insider trading, proxy solicitation and shareholder voting, derivative actions, and special problems of the close corporation.

This course is an introduction to the American judicial system designed specifically to provide future journalists with the knowledge to accurately and responsibly report on legal issues.

This is a class about the carceral state, which is a term used to speak about one particular mode of organizing, distributing, and justifying government power in American society. What is unique about the carceral state is that it uses the criminal punishment system to achieve its goals: Specifically, police, prosecutors, prisons, criminal courts, and sometimes even borders and welfare agencies, work on its behalf. We will examine the carceral state in great detail, with a particular focus on how it came about, how it sustains itself, the role it plays in society, and how and why it may be changing. We will start by looking at the history of policing and prisons in both the North and South, trace its development from the mid-19th century to the present day, and discuss the current debates about abolition. This class is also about mass incarceration. You may have heard this term, and may have heard some of the statistics that often accompany its use, including for example the number of people under some form of custodial supervision in the United States and the overrepresentation of people of color in this pool. Nowadays, many people have decided mass incarceration is a serious problem.  A question worth asking, however, is whether the prescriptions put forward to “fix” mass incarceration have any chance of succeeding. One of the many problems with these “solutions” is that they have misdiagnosed the problem. We will work to correctly diagnose the problem and study the various proposals for reform. This course will be reading intensive. You can write one long paper or several shorter papers throughout the course. I expect active and lively debate. My goal is to offer a critical historical and sociological context that will help you better understand criminal law and procedure in operation. Come with an open mind and I can (almost) guarantee a memorable experience.

The Criminal Defense Practicum places law students inside public defender offices throughout Georgia - including the Atlanta, Northern, Northeastern, Piedmont, Stone Mountain, and Western Circuits.  Students perform part-time externships within a selected public defender office under the supervision of one of more staff attorneys.  The externship is coupled with a weekly seminar where a range of issues related to criminal law practice and indigent defense systems are discussed.   Criminal Defense Practicum I is an introduction to the inner workings of the public defender system and local courts. Students work part-time with a supervising attorney and assist with client and witness interviewing, case investigation, legal research and writing, and courtroom advocacy under the Student Practice Rule. Admission to CDP 1 is through an application and interview process. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. 4 credit hours.

The Criminal Defense Practicum places law students inside public defender offices throughout Georgia - including the Atlanta, Northern, Northeastern, Piedmont, Stone Mountain, and Western Circuits.  Students perform part-time externships within a selected public defender office under the supervision of one of more staff attorneys.  The externship is coupled with a weekly seminar where a range of issues related to criminal law practice and indigent defense systems are discussed. Criminal Defense Practicum II is for students who have previously taken Criminal Defense Practicum I. In CDP II, students continue working in a public defender office and engage in the full range of advocacy implicated in criminal defense. Admission to CDP 2 is through an application process and enrollment is through permission of the instructor. 4, 5, or 6 credits. 

The Criminal Defense Practicum – Summer Semester is designed for students who plan to work in a public defender officer and are seeking course credit. Students will arrange their own public defender internship and are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. The program is remote and there is no weekly seminar, and so students can work in a public defender office anywhere in the country. There are regular assignments and remote meetings with the instructor throughout the semester. There are no prerequisites. CDP – Summer Semester is also available to students who have previously taken CDP 1 or CDP 2. 2, 3, or 4 credits.

The historical development of criminal law as well as the analysis of the necessary elements of crimes and the consideration of the principal classes of crimes.

The fundamentals of document drafting in the context criminal law. Students will prepare documents that arise in a criminal law setting including charging documents, notices, motions, bench briefs, and orders. Students will examine the function of these documents within the criminal justice system, including applicable statutory and case law. This course will require students to produce various graded documents of increasing complexity. Students will receive feedback from the professor on all graded assignments.