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Instead of using physical books, our class will be using an online classroom called Matrix. Soon, you should be receiving an email from Matrix with login information. For the first class, you must:  

1. Access the Matrix Online Classroom
2. Read the Course Syllabus posted on Matrix under “Resources”

Class 1 - January 15, 2025
Translating the Business Deal into Contract Concepts. 

This unit provides the framework for the course. It teaches students the analytic skill that deal lawyers use when drafting and reviews the basic contract concepts from a deal lawyer’s perspective.

Reading Assignment
Chapter 1 – A Few Words.
Chapter 2 – The Building Blocks of Contracts.
Chapter 3 – Understanding Representations and Warranties
Chapter 4 – Understanding Covenants
Chapter 5 – Understanding Discretionary Authority and Declarations

Chapter 6 -- Understanding Conditions

Chapter 7 -- Summary of Contract Concepts Explained

Chapter 13 -- Overview of A Contract's Parts (pp. 133-43)

Drafting Assignment
None.

You will need the Code and Regulations (the one-volume version used in Income Taxation is fine). 

You will also need:  (1) the study problems, (2) the handout materials (cases and rulings), and (3) chapter 94 from the Bittker & Lokken treatise -- these three items will be available outside of my office -- Room 266 of Storey Hall -- beginning at noon on Thursday, January 9^th.

The first class will meet on Wednesday, January 15th.  Read pages 59-60 in the study problems (Lesson 9), read the first five cases in the handout materials, then read ¶94.1 and ¶94.2.1 in chapter 94.  Then go to Lesson 11A (Type A Reorganizations beginning on page 67) in the study problems and work problem 1 on page 68 (skip the alternatives in problem 1).  I will hand out a syllabus in class.  Bring your Code and Regulations to the first class.

You should soon receive an email from support@lawstudentonline.com with login information for the online platform we'll be using. Log on to the platform and complete the module entitled "Student Pre Work and Syllabus" (including carefully reading the Syllabus).

Text:  Legal Writing in Plain English (3d ed., Chicago 2023) (required)

Have a copy of the book with you each day. We’ll use it throughout the course.

Reading assignment in advance of the first-class meeting:

Pp. 1–25 (Introduction and “Framing Your Thoughts”

This demanding one-hour course is for law students who wish to improve their writing and editing skills. Although it targets students who are already competent writers, there is no prerequisite of in-depth grammatical knowledge.

The class spans two days: from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday (with breaks, of course). Students will do several writing exercises, and there will be an overnight assignment due Saturday morning. Attendance is mandatory, and class participation is encouraged.

Textbook -- pages 3-11 (skim), pages 13, 22-52 (omit the Problems); The assigned pages are available on the Canvas page for this course; 

If on-campus classes are cancelled, our first class on Thursday January 9th will be held on Zoom. The Zoom link is on the Canvas page for the course.

Read the U.S. Constitution, Arts. I-VII (casebook pp. lxi-lxix).

The professor has not yet submitted an assignment. 

The reading assignment will be: Chapter 1 & 2, Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry 4^th Edition, By Mark Litwak.

Please note that I am estimating what we will cover; actual coverage will be based on the pace of the class as we move through the materials.

For the first two classes please read the materials on congressional restriction of jurisdiction at pages H&W at 9-10; 20-23; 406-482 in the required casebook:  Hart and Wechsler's, The Federal Courts and the Federal System (8th ed. 2024) ("H&W").

The professor has not yet submitted an assignment. 

The reading assignment in the Drahozal textbook is pp. 1-47; Probs. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4.

For the first class, please read the following handouts (all on our TWEN page):

a. Rita Charon, “Narrative and Medicine”

b. James Boyd White, “Legal Knowledge”

c. Benjamin DeMott, “English and the Promise of Happiness”

d. Billy Collins, "Introduction to Poetry"

e. John Stone, “The Truck”

Read the Simple Syllabus for basic course information. 

Read the casebook ("CB") pp. v-vii & 1-5.

Class 1:

a. Mass Tort Litigation 3rd Ed, Mullenix at 14-19 (Section B), 87-92 (Section A);

b. Mass Tort Litigation 3rd Ed, Mullenix at 231-234 [Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor,

521 U.S. 59 (1997)]

The casebook is Fundamentals of Partnership Taxation (11th ed.) by Schwarz, Lathrope and Hellwig.  You will also need the Code and Regulations (the one volume version is fine).

The first class will meet on Thursday, January 9th.  Please read Chapter 1 and pages 33-40 of Chapter 2.  Work the problem on pages 40-41.  We will go through the problem in class the first day.  I will hand out a syllabus during the first class.  Bring the casebook and Code and Regulations to the first class.

Ethical Problems in the Practice of Law, 6^th edition, Lisa G. Lerman, Philip G. Schrag, Robert Rubinson

Pages. xxxi-xxxv, 1-37

Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Legal Profession: Bar Admission, History, and
Diversity
A. Admission to the bar
Problem 1-1: Adderall

Ethical Problems in the Practice of Law: Model Rules, State Variations, and Practice Questions

2025-2026 edition, Lisa G. Lerman, Philip G. Schrag, Anjum Gupta

Preamble and Scope

Model Rule 8.1

For our first class on Monday, Jan. 13, please carefully read pp. 1-17 and 25-32 in Thomas W. Merrill, Henry E. Smith & Maureen E. Brady, Property: Principles and Policies (Fourth Edition).

Please note that I am estimating what we will cover; actual coverage will be based on the pace of the class as we move through the materials.

For the first class, please read pp. 1-40 of the required casebook:   Perea, et al, Race and Races:  Cases and Resources for a Diverse America (4th ed 2023).

 The professor has not yet submitted an assignment. 

For our first class meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, please carefully read pages 1-22 and 34-40 in Sitkoff & Dukeminier, Wills, Trusts & Estates (Eleventh Edition).