LLM-Professional Skills (SKGL)

SKGL 0156. Counseling and Advocacy in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Matters. (2 Credits)

This course is designed as an experiential course for LL.M. students wishing to understand how to address the needs of diverse clients with issues related to intellectual property and information technology law in a comprehensible, business-friendly and cost-efficient manner.

Attributes: EXP, LAWT, LLM.

SKGL 0204. In-House Lawyering and Dispute Resolution. (2 Credits)

In this experiential, skills-based class co-taught by the former General Counsel of Mastercard, students will learn, and practice, the skills necessary to successfully prevent and manage disputes as an in-house lawyer – a skill that is critical if you become an in-house lawyer yourself and quite valuable when you have one for a client. Students will practice handling a dispute, beginning with interacting with senior management upon learning of a dispute, investigating and ascertaining the relative strengths and weaknesses of a matter, including preforming corporate early case assessments. This will include a damages analysis, law firm selection, early mediation decision-making and other methods which will help students understand the various options there are for early dispute resolution and how to determine how best to leverage these tools to drive thoughtful resolutions. The students will also learn about negotiating strategies, what to consider in selecting outside counsel, what to consider in drafting dispute resolution provisions (litigation vs. arbitration) and how to be an effective advocate in a mediation.

Attributes: EXP, LIDR, LLM.

SKGL 0299. Fundamental Lawyering for LLM. (3 Credits)

We will discuss some of the skills that affect most areas of law. We will begin the course with an overview of the professionalism demanded by the profession. We will then move onto communication skills, especially in the context of communicating with those from different backgrounds. After these introductory classes we will tackle the skills of interviewing, fact analysis, counseling, and negotiation. In each of these areas the students will simulate these important areas of practice and critique each other’s performance. There will be a panel where the students will hear from practitioners in various practice areas who will discuss how these skills are applied in their practice. Finally, we will wrap up the class with a discussion of what we can take away from these areas as we potentially head towards trial and students will apply the case theories developed over the course and deliver an opening statement. Students will be evaluated based on participation and preparation in simulations and analysis, developments of theories and strategies, and any written assignments. There will be no examination.

Attributes: EXP, LLM.

SKGL 0321. International Law and Justice Practicum. (2 Credits)

In this course students examine factual scenarios, identifying and analyzing whether international law rights are at risk. Through a series of integrated readings and interactive exercises, activities, and legal writing assignments, students develop lawyering skills as well as a nuanced understanding of the doctrine underlying publicinternational concepts, and the legal theory that has developed around specific areas of international law. Through integrated exercises, students refine their legal writing skillsand practice making legal arguments in small group formats and larger public settings, for a variety of audiences and sophistication-levels. With direct oversight and supervision, as well as a system of self-evaluation journaling, each student is provided with detailed feedback and training on their performance in a variety of lawyering tasks in the following four three-week units:Unit 1 - Crimes Against HumanityUnit 2 - Public Environmental International LawUnit 3 - Human Rights and Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and International WomenÆs Day andUnit 4 - Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, and Privacy: Regulation in International Law.

Attributes: EXP, INLJ, LLM.

SKGL 0521. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and Global Tax Compliance. (2 Credits)

SKGL 0615. LL.M. International Arbitration Practicum. (2 Credits)

In this experiential learning course, students develop professional skills needed to counsel and represent clients regarding legal, strategic, and ethical issues that typically arise in an international arbitration practice. Through a series of interactive, integrated exercises and legal writing and video assignments, students develop lawyering skills as well as an understanding of international arbitration law, rules and practice. With direct oversight and supervision, as well as written self-evaluation, each student is provided with detailed feedback and training on their performance in a variety of lawyering tasks. The class will include a mock arbitration hearing at the New York International Arbitration Center, one of the world’s leading arbitral facilities.

Attributes: EXP, LAWI, LIDR.

SKGL 0708. Commercial Drafting for LLMs. (2 Credits)

This course will teach you the principles of contemporary commercial drafting and introduce you to documents typically used in a variety of transactions. The skills you gain will apply to any transactional practice and will even be useful to litigators. Upon finishing the course, you will have learned: (i) the business purpose of each of the contract concepts, (ii) how to translate the business deal into contract concepts, (iii) how to draft each of a contract's parts, (iv) how to draft with clarity and without ambiguity, (v) how to add value to a deal, (vi) how to work through the drafting process and (vii) how to review and comment on a contract.

Attributes: LAWB, LAWI, LLM.

SKGL 0780. Advising the Global Commercial Client. (2 Credits)

This course is designed as an experiential course for any L.LM. student who wishes to understand the needs of the global commercial client in order to provide the best counselling and service. The hypotheticals we will address and role playing are presented from the in-house perspective, but apply equally to students who intend to enter the law firm setting. In-house counsel are among the most important clients for law firm counsel to retain.

Attributes: EXP, LAWB, LAWI, LLM.

SKGL 0909. International Business Transactions: A Practical Perspective. (2 Credits)

This course is designed to introduce the student to several types of frequently encountered private international transactions - joint ventures, private equity, strategic alliances, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions - and the role that counsel plays from inception to closing. Students will learn to identify different types of risk with the goal of understanding the ways they can be allocated among the parties to a transaction. We will discuss what makes a transaction international and how cross border arrangements differ from domestic deals. We will review basic concepts such as capital structure, how businesses are financed, and the interrelation between debt and equity. The purpose of the course is to provide students with an opportunity to experience the development of an international business transaction in a context that replicates actual legal practice. We will follow the stages of a hypothetical international transaction and the documentation that accompanies each phase. Through practical exercises and interactive participation, we will discuss, analyze and draft a letter of intent, a term sheet and selected sections of deal documents. We will discuss the importance of legal due diligence and how to undertake it. We will look at specific aspects of the US regulatory framework that may impact a cross border transaction as well as cultural barriers and ethical issues that an international lawyer may face in these types of arrangements. Emphasis will be made on real life examples and practical experience. Through direct supervision students will receive regular feedback and training during the semester. Negotiations and class assignments will help develop problem solving and written and oral communication skills. Students will gain insight into the dynamics of cross border deals and the different strategies used in negotiations. <p>Attendance Policy: Mandatory<br> Grading: Class participation counts for twenty percent (20%) of the final grade and a take-home final exam will account for the other eighty percent of the final grade (80%).

Attributes: EXP, LAWB, LAWI, LIDR, LLM.