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LAW 6451 - Advanced Legal Writing
Required
This course covers advanced research and writing techniques, particularly those needed to write persuasive documents clearly, accurately and consistently. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7441 - Advanced Torts
Elective
This course focuses on the laws of personal relationships, including family relationships, economic relationships, intangible assets, privacy and publicity, defamation, and judicial and governmental processes. Units: (2 or 3 units)
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LAW 6441 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
Elective
A survey course on various dispute resolution mechanisms, which serve as alternatives to traditional litigation. Topics include negotiation techniques, mediation, arbitration, and other trial substitutes. Units: (2 units, P/F)
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LAW 6360 - Appellate Advocacy
Required
In this course, students participate on a team that researches and writes an appellate brief and argues it before a three-judge panel, in an intramural competition with students from another law school. Units: (2 units, P/F. Course is mandatory for all students entering as First Year students as of or after Fall 2014.)
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LAW 7270 - Bankruptcy Law
Elective
This course provides the general concepts and principles of Bankruptcy Law including, but not limited to, property of the estate, the automatic stay, claims and claim priorities, administration of bankruptcy estates (Ch. 7 and 13), bankruptcy litigation, reorganization in bankruptcy (Ch. 11), liquidation and discharge. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6351 - Bar Studies
Required
This course will emphasize the analytical, writing, time-management and organizational skills necessary to prepare for the California General Bar Exam. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the subjects tested and formats presented by the exam, including essay, multiple choice and performance test sections. Study and exam-taking strategies will be examined in the context of several bar-tested subjects. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 6230 - Business Associations
Required
This course provides an introduction to the modern business corporation. Among the issues covered are the formation, operation, financing, and control of closely held and public corporations. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7471 - Business Planning
Elective
A study of the issues raised by the formation of a new business, including choice of entity, formation of a partnership or corporation, liability concerns, and purchase and sale of a business. Units: (1-2 units)
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LAW 7370 - Civil Law and Motion Practice
Elective
An overview of civil law and motion practice in California state courts. Topics covered include: notice requirements, structure of points and authorities, declarations and other supporting papers, demurrers, motions for summary judgment, and discovery motions. Special emphasis is given to local rules of practice and policies in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6201 - Civil Procedure I
Required
This course covers the procedural rules governing civil lawsuits, primarily in federal courts. Topics include the proper court in which to file a lawsuit, joinder of parties and causes of action, discovery, pretrial motions, conduct of a trial, and conflict between state and federal judicial systems. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6202 - Civil Procedure II
Required
This course covers the procedural rules governing civil lawsuits, primarily in federal courts. Topics include the proper court in which to file a lawsuit, joinder of parties and causes of action, discovery, pretrial motions, conduct of a trial, and conflict between state and federal judicial systems. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 7490 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Elective
This class will examine the significant cases, statutes and historical context involved in the pursuit of the promises of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, with an emphasis on equality and religious freedom issues. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7251 - Client Interviewing & Counseling
Elective
Effective lawyering requires the knowledge of how to elicit necessary information from clients and an understanding of how to communicate effectively with clients to ascertain and advance their interests. This course explores techniques and strategies for interviewing and counseling clients facing the conflicts inherent in the legal arena. Units: (1─2 units, P/F)
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LAW 6220 - Community Property
Required
A survey of the laws relating to community property in California, the fundamentals of that property system, and how it affects virtually every other area of law. Separate and community property, liability for debts and torts, control and management of assets, fiduciary duties between spouses, and the distribution of property on dissolution or death are analyzed in this course. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7170 - Confessions Law
Elective
This course provides an overview of California confessions law, addressing voluntaries, Sixth Amendment issues, topics related to Miranda (including requirements, exceptions, and issues of waiver, invocation, violation, and re-interview), interrogation of juveniles, motions to suppress, fruit of the poisoned tree, use of silence and statements, and the corpus delicti rule. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 6410 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure
Required
An exploration of the basic constitutional issues underlying the criminal justice system and the limitations placed on government in its attempt to enforce the criminal law. Specifically covered are the exclusionary rules, arrest, search and seizure, identification of suspects, the right to counsel, and the right to a jury trial. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7500 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure ─ Selected Topics
Elective
Emphasizes the practical aspects of criminal procedures prior to trial. Included are topics relating to the lawyer’s responsibility in a criminal case; arrest, booking, and bail procedures; an examination of the accusatory pleading; the grand jury; and pretrial procedures, including preliminary hearings, pretrial discovery, and tactical considerations. Also covered are the types and consequences of pleas, and sentencing considerations. Units: (1─2 units)
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LAW 6311 - Constitutional Law I
Required
This course is designed to help the student understand and become familiar with the substantive issues presented in the study of constitutional law so that the student is able to recognize those issues, research their status as they evolve over time, and incorporate them as required to deal with factual situations presented in the practice of law. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6312 - Constitutional Law II
Required
This course is designed to help the student understand and become familiar with the substantive issues presented in the study of constitutional law so that the student is able to recognize those issues, research their status as they evolve over time, and incorporate them as required to deal with factual situations presented in the practice of law. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 7510 - Consumer Law
Elective
After considering the common law roots of consumer law, this course will survey obligations and remedies arising under federal and state statutes governing consumer transactions. Among the topics addressed will be consumer credit contracts and dealings; consumer sales contracts; fraud, including elder abuse and Internet fraud; false and misleading advertising; warranties; and product safety and standards. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6111 - Contracts I
Required
A study of the fundamental principles that govern the creation, interpretation, enforcement, and termination of agreements. Course coverage includes contract formation, the Statute of Frauds, assignment and delegation of contracts, express and implied contracts, and remedies available for breach of contract. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6112 - Contracts II
Required
A study of the fundamental principles that govern the creation, interpretation, enforcement, and termination of agreements. Course coverage includes contract formation, the Statute of Frauds, assignment and delegation of contracts, express and implied contracts, and remedies available for breach of contract. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 7410 - Criminal Defenses
Elective
This course will address a range of defenses including immaturity, insanity, diminished responsibility, duress, cultural defenses, provocation, rotten social background, and battered person syndrome. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6130 - Criminal Law
Required
This course enables the student to recognize and analyze key issues in substantive criminal law, including crimes, defenses, mental states and other general principles, and to understand the context in which such issues arise in the criminal justice system. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7520 - Criminal Law - Selected Topics
Elective
This course will closely examine one area of criminal law practice; potential topics include misdemeanor, felony, death penalty, and juvenile law practice. Units: (1-2 units)
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LAW 7330 - Criminal Pretrial Motions
Elective
This course considers selected pretrial motions in criminal cases, such as those involving efforts to squash indictments, discriminatory prosecution, speedy trial, self-representation and lost or destroyed evidence. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 7240 - Depositions
Elective
This course covers the taking and defending of depositions. It will address various deposition issues, including creating a deposition strategy, preparing the deponent, handling the adverse attorney, using exhibits, making objections, and effectively obtaining and preventing disclosures by the deponent. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6826 - Direct Study Continuation
Elective
This is a zero-unit continuation course that allows a student to have one additional term to complete a directed study project. Units: (0 units, P/F)
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LAW 6281 - Directed Study
Elective
This course allows qualifying students to earn one unit for in-depth research and preparation of a paper on a topic of special interest to the student, under direct faculty supervision. This course will ordinarily be available only on approval of the Faculty Chair to students with unique needs for additional units to complete their graduation requirements, and requires that the student both develop a project acceptable to the Faculty Chair and obtain consent of a faculty member to supervise the required research and paper. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 6282 - Directed Study
Elective
This course allows qualifying students to earn two units for in-depth research and preparation of a paper on a topic of special interest to the student, under direct faculty supervision. This course will ordinarily be available only on approval of the Faculty Chair to students with unique needs for additional units to complete their graduation requirements, and requires that the student both develop a project acceptable to the Faculty Chair and obtain consent of a faculty member to supervise the required research and paper. Units: (2 units, P/F)
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LAW 6283 - Directed Study
Elective
This course allows qualifying students to earn three units for in-depth research and preparation of a paper on a topic of special interest to the student, under direct faculty supervision. This course will ordinarily be available only on approval of the Faculty Chair to students with unique needs for additional units to complete their graduation requirements, and requires that the student both develop a project acceptable to the Faculty Chair and obtain consent of a faculty member to supervise the required research and paper. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 7230 - Domestic Violence
Elective
This course examines issues related to domestic violence, primarily as they arise in criminal and family law cases. Topics will include the nature of domestic violence; restraining orders; criminal prosecutions, including pre-trial and sentencing considerations; custody issues; and the victim’s perspective. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 7281 - Drafting Documents
Elective
This course will cover legal and stylistic principles of contract law used to effectively plan, organize, and draft written agreements that will withstand scrutiny and achieve clients’ objectives. Units: (1-2 units)
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LAW 7350 - Elder Law
Elective
This course surveys the law on issues facing the elderly, such as age discrimination, elder abuse, entitlement to government benefits, guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, and health care decisions, including end-of-life decisions. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7200 - Employment Law
Elective
A study of the legal rules surrounding the hiring, treatment, and termination of employees. The course includes Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state laws concerning employment discrimination and wrongful discharge. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7260 - Entertainment Law
Elective
This course considers issues arising in the entertainment industries - film, television, theatre, music, literary and related businesses - and applicable legal principles, which come largely from the areas of contracts, torts, governmental regulation, remedies, and intellectual property. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7100 - Environmental Law
Elective
An introduction to the public policy behind the setting of environmental standards, the course focuses on a major environmental law such as the Clean Air and Water Act, the National Environmental Protection Act, or the California Planning and Zoning Law. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7530 - Environmental Law - Selected Topics
Elective
This course will closely examine a selected topic or topics on major current environmental issues, such as climate change. Units: (1-2 units)
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LAW 7310 - Estate Planning
Elective
This course covers the basic principles of estate planning, including: an overview of applicable taxation rules; inter vivos gifts; living trusts, wills, and testamentary trusts; life insurance and annuities; charitable gifts, business interests, employee benefits, and post-mortem tax planning. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6301 - Evidence I
Required
This class will cover most of the basic evidence topics contained in the Federal Rules of Evidence including frequent comparisons with related provisions of the California Evidence Code. Units: (2-semester course; 4 units (1 in Fall and 3 in Spring))
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LAW 6302 - Evidence II
Required
This class will cover most of the basic evidence topics contained in the Federal Rules of Evidence including frequent comparisons with related provisions of the California Evidence Code. Units: (2-semester course; 4 units (1 in Fall and 3 in Spring))
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LAW 7150 - Family Law
Elective
Family Law focuses on the dissolution proceeding, including mediation, resolution of custody and visitation disputes, child and spousal support, property division, and attorney fees. Emphasis is on local court practices and forms. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7360 - Federalism
Elective
The course on Federalism will examine, in depth, selected topics relating to the division of power between the federal government and the states. Specifically, the course will examine the scope of power under the Commerce Clause; preemption; the Eleventh Amendment protection for states in federal courts; judicial restraint and abstention; and justifiability (including standing, mootness and ripeness). Units: (1─2 units)
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LAW 7140 - First Amendment
Elective
This course surveys cases and materials on selected First Amendment topics with an emphasis on issues relating to freedom of speech and press. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7540 - Insurance Law
Elective
This course focuses on basic aspects of insurance law, including the insurer’s duty to defend and indemnify, third-party liability, problems of insurance contracts, bad faith litigation, and current judicial and legislative trends in insurance law. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7290 - Intellectual Property
Elective
This course provides a general introduction to the law of copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. The areas covered include how the law applies to different types of intellectual property; the legal rights of the creators and owners of such property; the competing rights of others to use such property; and an overview of intellectual property litigation. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6101 - Introduction to Law
Required
The primary objective of this course is to ground students in the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the study of law. The course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of the American legal system, legal education, and legal profession. It also explores basic strategies for reading and “briefing” court opinions; taking useful class notes; outlining law courses; performing sound legal analysis; and answering essay and multiple-choice exam questions. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 7430 - Jurisprudence
Elective
Jurisprudence is the study and theory of law. This course will provide students with an understanding of the nature of law, legal reasoning, legal systems and legal institutions. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 7321 - Juvenile Law
Elective
This course covers the juvenile court system, including the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, detention and disposition of minors who are involved in juvenile proceedings, and other rights and responsibilities of minors, with specific emphasis on California law and procedure. Units: (2─3 units)
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LAW 7550 - Law of Sales
Elective
This course focuses on the law of sales through selected portions of Articles I and II of the Uniform Commercial Code. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7340 - Law Practice Management
Elective
This course surveys fundamental aspects of law practice management, including basic principles of bookkeeping and accounting, fee agreements and client trust accounts, document control, legal technology, and support staff management. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6102 - Legal Analysis
Required
This course is designed to develop expertise in legal analysis, the process by which lawyers determine how a legal problem should be resolved. To perform competent legal analysis, a law student must identify the legal issues raised by the problem, select and explain applicable rules needed to resolve those issues, link elements of the rules to legally significant facts, and predict a legal outcome. Students will have multiple opportunities to practice legal analysis by completing written exercises in which they resolve hypothetical legal problems based on the law of Torts and Contracts. Because students are concurrently enrolled in those courses, Legal Analysis will serve to reinforce their understanding of how to study for, and succeed on, exams in Torts and Contracts. Units: (2 units, P/F)
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LAW 6801 - Legal Internship
Required
Legal Internship provides an opportunity for students to work under the supervision of a judge or attorney to gain practical understanding of the legal system and the professional responsibilities of attorneys. To graduate students are required to earn at least one unit of credit in a pro bono setting such as a government agency or legal services agency; with approval additional units may be earned, in either pro bono or for-profit settings. See Section 8.7 for additional information. Units: (1-6 units, P/F)
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LAW 6806 - Legal Internship Continuation
Elective
Students who do not complete their legal internship within the first term may request a one term extension. When approved by the Faculty Chair, the student will be enrolled in this course. Units: (0 units, P/F)
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LAW 6140 - Legal Research
Required
This course provides an introduction to the tools and methods of legal research in primary and secondary sources. Emphasis is placed on federal and California materials, including constitutions, statutes, cases and regulations, in both print and electronic media. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6240 - Legal Writing
Required
This course focuses on the essential skills needed to write predictive legal memoranda, including techniques of legal analysis, organization, citation, drafting and revision. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7420 - Litigation Process
Elective
This course is designed to build the skill sets students need to succeed as part of today’s litigation teams. It will cover basic legal concepts, emphasizing the litigation process, critical thinking and developing practical legal skills. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7220 - Mental Health Law
Elective
This course will address the role of lawyers in providing representation for clients with various forms of mental illness. Topics will include the history of development of mental health law in California with discussions dealing with civil, probate and criminal proceedings. Students will have the opportunity to listen to professionals in the field of mental health and the law, and will be required to prepare a variety of legal documents relevant to the course topics. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 7160 - Negotiation Workshop
Elective
Through the use of lecture, case problems, role-play discussion and analysis, this course will provide a practical and theoretical approach to negotiation. In addition to addressing negotiation practice in varying contexts, the class will explore gender and cultural issues as well as the ethics of negotiation, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct as they apply to negotiations and the moral implications of negotiation practices. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 6431 - Post-Conviction Remedies
Elective
How will California’s dramatic 10/1/11 realignment of the state’s criminal justice resources into locally run community-based corrections programs, punishments, and evidence based practices, deal with the long term effects on individuals having criminal convictions? What are the legal events that occur after someone is convicted of a crime? This course considers the impacts on the individual as a result of a criminal conviction, including challenges to the actual conviction, and how the consequences of incarceration are addressed. Includes a hands-on examination of how one expunges California convictions. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 7460 - Preparation for Trial
Elective
This class will focus on the preparation for trial. Students will learn how to prepare trial books, draft motions in limine, prepare deposition indexes, draft questions for witnesses and prepare witnesses for trial testimony, prepare evidence binders, and learn some keys to success at trial. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 6320 - Professional Responsibility
Required
An overview of the role of an attorney in society, the attorney - client relationship, ethical standards and the responsibility of an attorney to the client, court and public. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7400 - Professional Skills
Elective
This course will provide the opportunity for students to further develop their legal writing skills. It focuses on performance tasks typically assigned in law practice, as tested on the California Bar Examination. (It is highly recommended that all students take this course.) Units: (2 units, P/F)
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LAW 7300 - Psychology for Lawyers
Elective
This course will outline the civil, criminal, probate and family law cases where psychological or psychiatric evidence is often presented and review the common principles and concepts necessary to understand, offer and challenge this evidence. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 7480 - Real Estate Transactions
Elective
This course emphasizes California law and provides students with an overview of real estate transactions, including brokerage arrangements, the purchase and sale process, due diligence (including physical and soils inspections, zoning and environmental considerations, title, surveys, and estoppel certificates), financing, construction, and leasing. Units: (2 units)
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LAW 6211 - Real Property I
Required
An analysis of basic property concepts, including the definition, acquisition and transfer of real property. Principal areas covered include the history of land transactions, landlord/tenant relations, land development, public and private control of land use, non-possessory rights in land, covenants and restrictions on the land, and recordation and title searches. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6212 - Real Property II
Required
An analysis of basic property concepts, including the definition, acquisition and transfer of real property. Principal areas covered include the history of land transactions, landlord/tenant relations, land development, public and private control of land use, non-possessory rights in land, covenants and restrictions on the land, and recordation and title searches. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6340 - Remedies
Required
Remedies is a comparison of legal and equitable remedies based on a particular fact scenario. Because most states have merged courts of law and courts of equity (“merger of law and equity”), a plaintiff may seek legal remedies and equitable remedies in the same action. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7390 - Restorative Justice
Elective
This class offers an introduction into the field of restorative justice, which involves including all the stakeholders (victims, offenders, family and community members) in the legal process in order to collectively address the needs and determine how to make things as right as possible. The class covers the various historical and current restorative practices being offered in our local communities and the world. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 7450 - Starting Your Solo Practice
Elective
This class will help prepare the new lawyer to start a solo practice. The course will look at the practical issues involved, including, among other things, office set-up, getting and keeping clients, getting mentorship, and insurance. Units: (1 unit, P/F)
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LAW 6440 - Statutory Interpretation
Elective
This course examines theories of statutory interpretation as well as the process and devices by which statutes are interpreted, such as canons of construction, legislative history and precedent. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to make effective statutory interpretation arguments on behalf of their clients. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 7180 - Taxation
Elective
An overview of general principles of income and estate/gift taxation, with particular focus on the application of such principles to areas commonly encountered by practitioners (for example, divorce, bankruptcy, personal injury settlements, and various business transactions). Units: (2 units)
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LAW 7560 - Tort Law - Selected Topics
Elective
In this course, students have the opportunity to closely examine a selected topic in tort law, such as products liability, medical malpractice, or government tort liability. Units: (1─3 units)
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LAW 6121 - Torts I
Required
This course considers the nature and extent of the legal protection afforded against interference by others with the security of one’s person, property, or intangible interests. The course covers civil liability for intentional and unintentional behavior, the law of negligence, strict liability, vicarious liability, various forms of immunity, damages and other remedies. Also addressed are: strict and products liability, defamation, invasion of privacy and business-related torts. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6122 - Torts II
Required
This course considers the nature and extent of the legal protection afforded against interference by others with the security of one’s person, property, or intangible interests. The course covers civil liability for intentional and unintentional behavior, the law of negligence, strict liability, vicarious liability, various forms of immunity, damages and other remedies. Also addressed are: strict and products liability, defamation, invasion of privacy and business-related torts. Units: (2-semester course; 3 units per semester)
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LAW 6430 - Trial Evidence
Elective
This class will further students’ knowledge of the rules of evidence and develop proficiency in the practical application of those rules in the federal and California state trial courts. Using hypothetical problems and in-class role-playing, students will apply evidentiary rules and trial procedures in various contexts to move for or oppose the introduction of evidence. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 6420 - Trial Practice
Elective
This course is an opportunity to apply the principles of law learned in the previous three years to a trial; exploring legal principles and fundamentals associated with preparing, litigating and presenting a criminal jury trial. Units: (3 units, P/F)
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LAW 7210 - Uniform Commercial Code
Elective
This course focuses on the law of sales through selected portions of Articles I and II of the Uniform Commercial Code. Units: (1 unit)
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LAW 6330 - Wills and Trusts
Required
This course enables the student to recognize key substantive issues in the law of Wills and Trusts; to become familiar with the relevant legal principles and to apply these principles as they evolve over time to factual situations in a lawyer-like manner in the potential practice of law; and to draft a Will and a Trust. Units: (3 units)
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LAW 7570 - Writs and Appeals
Elective
An overview of California writ and appellate procedure, from the filing of writs and notices of appeal to final determination by the reviewing court. Topics covered include: writs, appealable orders and judgments, scope of appellate review, assembling the record on appeal, ethical limitations, briefs, right to present oral argument, and discretionary review. Units: (1─2 units)
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Master of Legal Studies |
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MLS 459 - Administrative Process
Required
This course examines the roles of administrative agencies in promulgating, administering and enforcing regulations. After considering the relationship of agencies to the judicial and legislative branches of government, students will study the rulemaking process, modes of administrative adjudication and judicial review of agency decisions. Topics for discussion will include effective strategies for contributing to the rulemaking process and regulatory compliance audits. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 405 - American Legal System
Required
This course will introduce students to sources of law including Constitutions, statutes, case law, common law and regulations, the structure and functions of U.S. courts at both the federal and state levels, the jurisdiction of both federal and state courts as well as the roles of legal professionals and the role of law in society. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 555 - Basic Evidence
Elective
This course covers some of the basic principles of the law of evidence including relevance, privileges, hearsay, and documentary evidence. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 620 - Capstone Continuation
Elective
Students who do not complete the 4-unit Capstone course within one term may continue their capstone project for an additional term by enrolling in this course. Units: (0 units)
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MLS 468 - Capstone course
Required
This course is the culminating experience of the MLS program. It provides students with the opportunity to analyze the practical implications of legal principles and procedures in the context of a specific professional environment. Each student will identify a workplace (such as a hospital, school, law enforcement agency, small business, whether real or hypothetical) and will research the impact of laws and regulations on that setting. Students will present a comprehensive paper at the course conclusion. The Capstone course is supervised by a member of the faculty who approves both the topic and the specific format of the research project. Units: (4 units)
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MLS 603 - Disability Law
Elective
This course undertakes a study of disability law and policy. Included is study of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also included is a survey of legal rules, policies and regulations relating to physical impairments, mental illness, and intellectual disabilities. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 607 - Education Law
Elective
This class provides an overview of the various statutes, regulations, policies and case law that affect the education of children. Attention is also given to The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and regulations of the US Department of Education. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 516 - Employment Law
Elective
This course is a study of the legal rules surrounding the hiring, treatment, and termination of employees, their application in the workforce, and administrative and legal remedies for violations. The course covers Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state laws concerning employment discrimination and wrongful discharge. Topics include workforce policies, staff manual provisions, employee evaluations, and employment litigation. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 527 - Ethics
Elective
This course serves to facilitate the student’s understanding of the role of ethics in the law and how legal issues are impacted by ethical concerns. Among the topics addressed are conflicts of interest, confidentiality, legal privileges and the unauthorized practice of law. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 538 - Health Care Law
Elective
This survey course examines the laws that regulate health care organizations, as well as relationships between health care providers and patients. Among the topics for selective study are laws related to the internal structure of health care organizations, accreditation of providers and personnel, privacy of patient data, liability for medical malpractice and legal duties related to administration of health benefits. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 505 - Intellectual Property
Elective
This course provides a general introduction to the law of copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. The areas covered include how the law applies to different types of intellectual property; the legal rights of the creators and owners of such property; the competing rights of others to use such property; and an overview of intellectual property litigation. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 441 - Legal Communication
Required
This course will address oral and written communication in legal contexts, to provide students with an understanding of the underlying goals and implicit concerns involved in interactions among clients, legal counsel, legal adversaries, judges and juries. Students learn techniques for editing and revising their work to make it concise and clear, and produce both persuasive and objective legal documents. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 414 - Legal Fundamentals I
Required
This course will survey the fundamental legal principles of American law in the areas of torts, contracts, criminal law and property (including marital property.) The development of the law will be explored, from common law roots to more recent legislation and judicial decisions, culminating with discussion of current legal topics in each area and their implications for the workplace and society at large. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 423 - Legal Fundamentals II
Required
This course will survey the fundamental legal principles of American law in the area of business organizations, wills and trusts, constitutional law and evidence. The development of the law will be explored, from common law roots to more recent legislation and judicial decisions, culminating with discussion of current legal topics in each area and their implications for the workplace and society at large. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 450 - Legal Research
Required
In this course, students will learn the basics of how to perform legal research to identify and understand federal and state laws. Coverage will include major primary sources of federal and state law (statutes, cases and regulations) and key secondary sources that explain those laws (encyclopedias, digests, practice guides, etc.), in both print and online sources (including government websites and online databases such as Westlaw). Each student will create a legal research pathfinder identifying key research sources in his or her area of professional interest. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 432 - Litigation and Its Alternatives
Required
This course explores the proceedings by which criminal and civil matters are litigated, and alternative strategies such as plea bargaining, negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Students will study the stages of litigation from filing through appeal and the roles and responsibilities of the parties, witnesses (expert and lay), attorneys, judges and jurors. After examining litigation alternatives, they will compare the costs and consequences of the various strategies to individuals and society at large. Units: (2 units)
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MLS 549 - Negotiation
Elective
This course surveys the role of negotiation in the legal environment. Students will examine the principles, strategies, and tactics used to resolve disputes through negotiation. They will gain understanding of techniques used to assess stakeholder values, persuade others, deal with resistance, and manage conflict. Other topics will include ethical principles governing negotiation strategies, principles of collaborative negotiation, and effective negotiation planning. Units: (2 units)
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