LL.M. Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States—Part II

Intro II Quicklinks

LAW-7200 (2 Credits)

Spring 2020
Section 176D—Class Number 15082
Mondays from 4:35-6:35 p.m.
Room 350

Course Description

LL.M. in Comparative Law Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States-Part II (1 or 2 credits). Continuing coverage of legal education, professionalism and the law and legal system of the United States, conducted over one or two full semesters. Typically, it will be conducted over two semesters with one teaching hour per semester week. Alternately, it will be taught as a two-credit course with two teaching hours per semester week.

The course will be taught as two 55-minute sessions with a 10-minute break between sessions over our 13-week semester.

Take Home Examination: Spring 2020

Reading Assignments: Spring 2020

Textbook

Your assigned textbook will continue to be William Burnham, Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States (6th Ed. 2016).

  • I will supplement the text with pdf handouts distributed here or through CANVAS.
    • For those of you who are new to the LLM in US Law class, please download the Edited Materials Supplement from the Canvas page.
  • I expect us to cover four topics during the Spring semester, in this order: Constitutional Law, Contract Law, and both Civil and Criminal Procedure.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

  • Burnham Chapter IX: Constitutional Law
    • Monday, January 13, 2020:
    • Session 1
      • Syllabus Overview for New Students
      • We already covered Part I. of Chapter IX in the Fall
        • Judicial Review. 371-385
        • Part I. Federalism, 386-399
      • In the Spring 2020 we will start with:
      • Part II.A-C. Individual Rights. 399-419
      • Part II.D. Freedom of Speech, 419-448
    • Monday, January 27, 2020:
    • Session 2
      • Part II.D. Freedom of Speech, 419-448 (finished)
      • Part II.E. Freedom of Religion, 448-457
    • Monday, February 3, 2020
    • Session 3
      • Part II.D. Freedom of Speech, 419-448, finished
      • Part II.E. Freedom of Religion, 448-457, completed
  • Burnham, Chapter X: Contracts
    • Monday, February 10, 2020:
    • Session 4
      • Part I: Formation, Interpretation, Performance, Burnham pages 458-467
    • Monday, February 17, 2020:
    • Session 5
      • Part I: Justified Nonperformance, Breach, Remedies, Burnham pages 467-475
      • Part II: The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Burnham pages 475-486
    • Monday, February 24, 2020
    • Session 6
      • Part II: The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Burnham pages 475-486
        • Part II: Consumer Protection Laws, Burnham pages 486-496
    Monday, March 2 to Friday, March 6, 2020 is
    SPRING BREAK
    • Burnham Chapter VII: Civil Procedure
      • Monday, March 9, 2020:
      • Session 7
        • Part I.A.: The Course of a Civil Suit, pages 246-251
        • Part I.B&C: Discovery and Final Pretrial Order, pages 251-260
      • Monday, March 16, 2020:
      • Session 8
        • Part I.B&C: Discovery and Final Pretrial Order, pages 251-260 (continued if necessary).
        • Part I.D-G.: Trial, Jury Verdict and Judgments, Settlement, pages 260-282
      • Covered in the Fall of 2019 abridged in Spring 2020
        • I covered most of the Federalism materials last Fall, so I will have a very condensed discussion of it this time. I will then move on to Criminal Procedure
          • Part II.A-C.: Federalism Issues: Personal Jurisdiction, pages 282-294
          • Part II.D.: Federalism Issue: Choice of Law in Federal Courts, pages 294-301
    • Burnham Chapter VIII: Criminal Procedure
      • Monday, March 23, 2020:
      • Session 9
        • Part I: Outline of the Criminal Process, pages 302-315
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, 4th and 5th Amendment, prior to trial, pages 315-340
      • Monday, March 30, 2020:
      • Session 10
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, 4th and 5th Amendment, prior to trial, pages 315-340 (continued)
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, 6th Amendment and Trial rights, 340-355
      • Monday, April 6, 2020:
      • Session 11
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, 4th and 5th Amendment, prior to trial, pages 315-340 (continued)
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, 6th Amendment and Trial rights, 340-355 (continued)
      • Monday, April 13, 2020:
      • Session 12
        • Part II: Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Sentencing, post-conviction, 356-370
      • Monday, April 20, 2020
      • Session 13
        • TBA
        • I may simply extend our discussion of Criminal Procedure, which always seems to stimulte great interest. Alternately, we will review and discuss the examination.