Relevant bar examination topic.

Four semester hours credit.

Historical development of the federal constitution; the judicial function in constitutional cases; express and implied federal legislative power, including the Commerce Clause; express and implied federal executive power; doctrine of separation of powers; doctrine of delegation of powers; doctrines of federalism, including powers reserved to the states, federal preemption, and the dormant commerce clause; incorporation of the Bill of Rights into the 14th Amendment; the state action doctrine; substantive and procedural due process; the Equal Protection Clause; and procedures regarding constitutional amendment. (Material on the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and the press, free exercise of religion, the Establishment Clause, and right of assembly and freedom of association are covered in an upper-level First Amendment Law elective course.)

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.

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.

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

Organization and procedure of federal and state administrative agencies; boards and bureaus; distinction between legislative, executive and judicial powers; delegation of powers; requirements of due process; constitutional limitations; and judicial control over administrative agencies are among the topics covered.

Three semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

Consideration of the special problems encountered in complex litigation. Topics include permitted, required, and forbidden party joinder issues; the problem of parallel litigation, including consolidation of separate actions, transfers between federal courts, parallel federal and state lawsuits, and multidistrict litigation transfers; class actions, including general requirements for a class action, defendant classes, and class-wide and individual remedies; discovery issues; judicial control of the litigation, including selecting lead counsel, attorney’s fees, and sanctions; former adjudication issues, such as claim preclusion and issue preclusion; and alternatives to litigation, such as nonjudicial processes or mini-trials and other judicial devices.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

This course covers the development and protection of confidential and proprietary business information that gives its possessor a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Coverage includes: the subject matter of trade secrets, the relationship of trade secrets to other forms of intellectual property, implementation of protective programs, methods of enforcement either civil or criminal, available remedies, and the international dimension of protection. The course will also cover related areas of misappropriation, idea protection, interference torts, and covenants not to compete.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

Extension of the law of torts to competitive interference with business relations. The course focus is on problems of business conflicts concerning interference with business contracts and employee relationships, trademark and trade-name rights, good will and trade secrets, product and package simulation, deceptive advertising and trade practices, product disparagement, trade libel and statutory unfair trade practices.

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.

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 twice each academic year.

Texas civil procedure in trial courts from the prelitigation phase to the beginning of trial. Includes subject matter jurisdiction in the Texas courts, provisional remedies, prelitigation devices, jurisdiction over the person, venue, pleadings, parties, res judicata and collateral estoppel, discovery tools and techniques, and summary judgment and other methods of disposition without trial, as governed by Texas law.

Relevant bar examination topic.

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

Texas civil procedure in trial courts from the beginning of the trial through the motion for new trial with particular emphasis on pleading and practice in Texas and jury charge, jury and non-jury trial, verdict and judgment. Appellate procedure, method, nature and scope of appellate relief; appealable judgments; jurisdiction of appellate courts; procedure and parties; effect of transfer; supersedeas; records and brief; motion for rehearing review by the Court of Civil Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.

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

Examination of the attorney-client relationship, including establishing the relationship in the initial interview; billing arrangements; the importance of continuing communications; case analysis; decision-making; counseling with the client as to case development and strategy; preparation of the client for settlement negotiations as well as trial; termination of the relationship, including the collection of fees. Students will conduct several mock interviews throughout the course.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

This course first provides an in-depth study of negotiation because mediation is essentially a facilitated negotiation. Next, students will be exposed to mediation theory and process in order to gain an understanding of what is important while representing clients in the mediation session itself. Pre-mediation matters will be addressed including preparing cases and clients for mediation. The course will also cover advocacy during the mediation process. All students will have the opportunity to play the role of advocate in several in-class mediations. The goal of this interactive course is for students to develop the essential problem-solving skills for effective client representation in the mediation process.

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

Provides students with mediation certificate training, during which students serve as third-party neutrals, settlement advocates and parties to the dispute. Emphasis is on the practice of mediation through intensive skills training. Students develop an appreciation both for the functioning of the third-party neutral and for the advocate’s role in the alternative dispute resolution process. This course is designed to satisfy the current 40-hour Texas requirement for mediator certification.

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

This course examines mediation theory and practice. A variety of readings, exercises, and role-plays will be employed to encourage rigorous analysis of mediation concepts and critical assessment of the application of these concepts in practice. Topics to be covered include negotiation theory, stages of the mediation process, ethical issues in mediation, bringing parties to agreement, legal issues in mediation, dealing with power imbalances, and the lawyer’s role in the mediation process. Students will participate in exercises at various stages of the mediation process.

Three or four semester hours credit. Normally offered twice each academic year. Maximum of twelve students.

Prerequisites: Mediation Practice, Mediation Theory, or Mediation Theory & Practice.

Students serve as third-party neutrals in Harris County cases requiring dispute resolution procedures and also participate in a classroom component featuring simulated mediation exercises. Students may also participate in EEOC mediations. Throughout the semester, emphasis is on a broad-based exposure to the development, research, and practice of alternative dispute resolution.

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.

Two semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

Elements and measurements of damage in torts, contract, eminent domain and restitution with emphasis on the procedural aspects of damage litigation, special damages, punitive damages, the doctrine of avoidable consequences and other relevant topics.

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

Nature and sources of equitable rights, principles of equity jurisdiction, enforcement of equity decrees, specific performance of contracts, injunction of torts, reformation of instruments, rescission, restitution, monetary damages and other remedies.

Three semester hours credit. Offered periodically.

This course involves synthesizing a variety of subject matters, including contracts, torts, property (real, personal, and intellectual), ethics and professional responsibility, and state and federal laws in context of the entertainment industry–music, film, television, theater, book publishing, and the internet. The course emphasizes both legal and business aspects of the entertainment industry.

Relevant bar examination topic.

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

The course focuses on the law related to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Topics include Constitutional protections relating to the freedom of speech, and the press; the free exercise of religion; the establishment clause; and the freedom of association. Special Constitutional rules governing special categories of speech, such as advocacy of illegal conduct, fighting words, libel, obscenity and child pornography, speech by government employees on matters of public concern, and commercial speech, are also covered.

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

This course examines problems encountered in establishing and operating the business side of a successful law practice, and offers practical solutions. During the course, students will design a business plan for their own potential practice with the professor’s guidance. Among the subjects covered are office location and layout, technology, including the web-based law library, filing and control systems and accounting methods, insurance needs, IOLTA, SBOT and other administrative obligations, document retention requirements, alternative systems of fee determination and billing with an introduction to case evaluation, and attracting, retaining, interviewing and counseling clients.