Employment Law surveys the law of the workplace in the U.S., with an emphasis on those areas which predominate the work of lawyers who represent employees and employers in 21st Century practice. This course examines the statutory and common law regulation of the employment relationship; focusing on the employment at-will doctrine, public policy and wrongful discharge, employment-contract issues (including restrictive covenants, arbitration agreements, and employment-specific contract provisions), employment-specific tort claims (negligent hiring and supervision), wage-hours-and-compensation issues, leaves of absences and their interplay with disability laws and policy, and benefits and ERISA.
This survey course includes a practice-oriented classroom and project approach. Class discussions include how to advise and counsel clients about workplace issues. In addition, students will work on projects that present hypothetical “client” issues.