Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

Overview of property law, including acquisition of rights in personal property, fixtures, estates in land and future interests, and landlord and tenant law.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Property I.

Modes of transferring real estate, including contracts to transfer, problems affecting transfer, methods of title assurance, adverse possession, third-party interests in land, including easements, covenants and natural rights, and a brief introduction to deeds of trust and mortgages.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

A study of the basic principles of contract formation and enforceability, including offer and acceptance, mutual assent, consideration, promissory estoppel, and the statute of frauds. The course also considers invalidating causes, such as incapacity, misrepresentation and fraud, duress, mistake, unconscionability, and illegality, and provides an introduction to remedies for breach of contract. The common law of contracts and the relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, including warranties and their disclaimer, are considered.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Contracts I.

A continuation of the study of contracts, including remedies for breach of contract, interpretation of contract language, the parol evidence rule, performance and breach of contract, express and constructive conditions, excuse and discharge, impracticability and frustration of purpose, third party beneficiary contracts, and assignment and delegation. The common law of contracts and the relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code are considered.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

The course focus is upon the basic understanding of criminal accountability that dictates, in other than strict liability offenses, the government must establish four basic components: a mens rea (or mental state), an actus reus (a prohibited act), a concurrence of the two, and causation. The primary offenses focused upon as well as their historical and philosophical development include homicide, non-homicide offenses against the person or against public safety, accomplice liability and inchoate offenses, theft and related crimes, strict liability offenses, and law of the parties. Attention will also be given to the presumption of innocence, burdens of proof, and a number of defenses, such as self-defense, defense of others, defense of property, and insanity. Additional topics covered may include theories of punishment, sentencing, constitutional limitations on penal legislation, historical development of certain felonies and defenses, the Model Penal Code, Texas criminal law, the role of prosecutorial discretion, modern federal criminal statutes, and regulatory offenses.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

This first section of the basic Torts course includes the fundamentals of the intentional torts, including the concept of intent, and a study of the elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass to land and chattels, conversion, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, together with the privileges that defeat these causes of action. The major portion of this course is devoted to study of the negligence cause of action, including the elements of duty, breach of duty, and actual and proximate cause. This part of the course also considers negligence per se, the special problems of the negligence liability of owners and occupiers of land, and the defenses of contributory and comparative negligence, limitations and immunities. Also studied are the principles relating to the calculation and recovery of damages, including joint and several liability and the concepts underlying the wrongful death and survival actions.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Torts I.

This second section of the basic Torts course introduces the concept of liability without fault (strict liability), including vicarious liability and strict liability for ownership of animals and for engaging in abnormally dangerous activities. The law of products liability will then be examined. The course will also consider some of the more specialized areas of civil wrongs, including the law of public and private nuisance; defamation, including libel and slander and the related common law and constitutional privileges; fraud and misrepresentation; injuries to relationships, including business and intrafamily torts; and misuse of legal procedure.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered three times each academic year.

History and development of the rules relating to presentation of proof and evidentiary matters pertaining to the judicial functions, with emphasis on the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Texas Rules of Evidence, including preparation for trial, examination of witnesses, competency of witnesses, types of evidence, burden of proof, hearsay rule and exceptions, judicial notice, privileges, and impeachment in civil and criminal proceedings.

Crossover bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered three times each academic year.

This is an introductory course in the fundamentals of federal income taxation designed to prepare students, as lawyers, to recognize and appreciate the impact of income tax consequences on transactions and events they encounter in the general practice of law, including family law, dispute settlement, real estate, investments of various types and small business counseling. Areas of coverage include the definition and characterization of income, exclusions from income, deductions, and the determination of gain or loss from property transactions. With an emphasis placed on the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations, students are introduced to essential legal skills of learning to read and understand the language of statutes and regulations as well as judicial interpretations and administrative pronouncements.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

Examination of the organization and operation of legislative bodies, including the role of the executive, public agencies, and private groups in the legislative process; drafting of statutes; enactment, amendment and repeal of statutes; limitations on legislative power and statutory interpretation and the use of legislative history.

Three semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

Survey of the basic relationship between federal, state, and local government; state constitutional authority for local government; land use, zoning and planning; municipal budgeting and finance; rights and duties of public officials and office holders and government tort immunity and liability.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered three times each academic year. 

Nature of ownership of oil, gas and other minerals; oil, gas and mineral leases; express and implied covenants; title and conveyance problems arising from transfers by fee owners and lessors; transfers subsequent to lease; pooling and unitization; and governmental regulation.

Two semester hours credit. Normally offered once each academic year.

A general survey of private and public rights in water, their character, extent, regulation and enjoyment. Course coverage includes surface water, groundwater, interstate and international usage disputes, navigability and recreational use.

Two semester hours credit. Normally offered three times each academic year. Enrollment limited to 24 students.

This course provides students an opportunity to develop, practice drafting, comment on, and redline the substantive portions of an agreement. The primary goal of the class is to teach students how to translate the terms of a business deal into contract concepts, and draft the contract to close the transaction. Specifically, students will learn how and when to use the basic contract building blocks: covenants, conditions, representations, warranties, rights, discretionary authority, and declarations. The basic parts of a contract will be analyzed in detail and students will learn how to (1) avoid legalese, (2) obtain clarity through document formatting and sentence structure, (3) prevent ambiguity, (4) understand the appropriate use of vague terms, and (5) use various other drafting considerations. Learning how the transactional attorney adds value to the deal by helping the client attain the client’s business goals while avoiding unacceptable risks will be covered as well as several typical ethics issues that arise in transactional work.

Two semester hours credit. Normally offered twice each academic year. Enrollment limited to 24 students.

This course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to: (1) identify issues that should be negotiated in complex business contracts; (2) draft several key provisions to be included in the final contract as negotiated; and (3) negotiate a “real” business contract. A variety of assignments help to assure each student completes a variety of tasks that need to be integrated based on an appropriate level of legal issue analysis resulting in an effective and usable work product. Skill development also includes an appreciation of business and legal risks that need to be dealt with when negotiating and drafting.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

This course provides a comprehensive survey of the various processes known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). These include negotiation, mediation, evaluative processes such as neutral case evaluation and summary jury trials, and arbitration. The primary focus is the theory and law of ADR as the procedures relate to the court system and law practice, and, in particular, the lawyer’s role. Classwork also includes a number of simulations providing students opportunities to become familiar with the skills essential to competent practice in these procedures.

Two semester hours credit. Normally offered twice each academic year.

Prerequisites: Must have completed 45 semester hours and have taken or be concurrently enrolled in Texas Pretrial Procedure. These prerequisites will be strictly enforced.

The structure of the course involves students in preparing a realistic civil case against an opponent. Students engage in all aspects of pretrial discovery and motion practice, including client interview, attempts to settle, drafting pleadings, paper discovery, taking depositions, procedural and dispositive motions, and pretrial orders.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered twice each academic year.

Prerequisites: Must have completed 45 semester hours and Evidence. These prerequisites will be strictly enforced.

Note: Students may receive credit toward graduation for only one trial advocacy course (Civil Trial Advocacy, Criminal Trial Advocacy, or Family Law Trial Advocacy).

The structure of the course involves students in trying a realistic civil case against an opponent. Students engage in all aspects of the trial, including trial motions, voir dire examination of jurors, opening statement, examination of witnesses and closing argument.

Two semester hours credit. Graded honors pass, pass, low pass, or fail. Normally offered as an intersession course.

This course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to take and defend depositions. Students will explore why and when to take depositions; how to draft deposition notices for individual deponents, non-party witnesses, and corporate designees; how to draft successful deposition outlines; proper deposition questions and objections; and approaches to dealing with unruly and unprofessional opposing counsel during positions. Students will take and defend several mock depositions.

Three or four semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses required for graduation (with the exception of the substantial writing requirement) and not less than 45 credit hours and a 2.8 grade point average. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Criminal Procedure is recommended.

Students arrange their own placements in the office of the Harris County District Attorney, the district attorney’s office of neighboring counties, or with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office. Potential placement sections within the prosecutor’s office include felony, misdemeanor, welfare fraud, domestic violence, and environmental crimes. Depending upon the placement, and upon obtaining a temporary bar card, students may observe and participate in pretrial investigation, plea negotiations, and trial.

Three or four semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses required for graduation (with the exception of the substantial writing requirement) and not less than 45 credit hours and a 2.8 grade point average. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Texas Pretrial Procedure is recommended.

Students arrange their own placements with local governmental agencies. Potential placements include the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the legal department of the City of South Texas College of Law, the Harris County Attorney’s Office, the EEOC, the IRS, the Office of Homeland Security, and many others. These placements provide access to the South Texas College of Law legal community and give law students the opportunity to expand their professional skills and identify challenging and fulfilling work possibilities.

Three semester credit hours. Offered periodically.

This is a survey course intended to serve as an introduction to the relevant issues in energy law. The course covers most aspects of energy not covered in others courses, including coal; water; nuclear power; the generation, transportation, and distribution of electricity; and the extraction and transportation of natural gas.

Three or four semester hours credit.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses required for graduation (with the exception of the substantial writing requirement) and not less than 45 credit hours and a 2.8 grade point average. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Texas Pretrial Procedure is suggested.

Students arrange their own placements with local nonprofit agencies or with charitable organizations. Potential placements include the Lone Star Legal Aid Society, the Texas Defender Project, Catholic Charities, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, South Texas College of Law Volunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP), Children at Risk, the Cathedral Justice Project, and many others. These placements provide broad access to the South Texas College of Law legal community and give law students the opportunity to expand their professional skills and identify challenging and fulfilling work possibilities. Students with a particular interest in family law should contact Assistant Dean Elizabeth Dennis to inquire about the Family Law Internship Program (FLIP) where students work in private law offices on HVLP referral cases.

Students who have completed 60 credit hours, or have completed 45 credit hours and are concurrently enrolled in an academic internship, are encouraged to acquire a temporary bar card and thereby increase opportunities to apply their knowledge in practice under the tutelage and supervision of a licensed attorney.

Two semester hours credit. Graded honors pass, pass, low pass, or fail. Normally offered as an intersession course.

Prerequisites: Property I is required; Property II is recommended.

This course will provide ground-level experience in property law representation for future lawyers who will engage in real estate, land use, family law, estate planning, or related fields. The course is focused on drafting practical property documents and associated matters, from client counseling and preliminary advice, to performing real estate transactions, drafting deeds, and litigating claims about property rights and ownership. Classroom work will focus intensively on reviewing the property doctrine from a practitioner’s perspective, and collaborative work on the writing process. Students must participate in all class sessions and will complete two writing assignments per day, plus one prior to and one following the course.

Three semester hours credit. See Handbook for additional information, including prerequisites.

Students will learn about helping three individuals who want to invest together in commercial real estate. Determining who is the client and drafting an engagement letter will be followed by study of choice-of-entity issues. A limited partnership agreement will be reviewed, and students will draft an earnest money contract for purchase of the real estate. Additionally, students will draft a promissory note, a deed of trust, a guaranty, a security agreement, an attorney’s opinion letter, and various other documents. Environmental issues and real estate title commitments and surveys will be examined. Professional responsibility issues will be included.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered three times each academic year.

A study of the legal doctrines governing the formation, operation, and termination of corporations, including the rights, duties, and obligations of shareholders, directors, and officers.

Relevant bar examination topic.

Three semester hours credit. Normally offered twice each academic year.

A study of the legal doctrines governing the formation, operation, and termination of agency relationships, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies, including the rights, duties, and obligations of owners and managers.

Three semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

An examination of the issues and major federal statutes commonly associated with corporate and white collar prosecutions, including such topics as mail fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, RICO, criminal liability of corporations and corporate executives, and the jurisprudence of white collar crime. Some attention will be given to major parallel state provisions.