This advanced legal writing course focuses on studying and practicing sophisticated persuasion and rhetorical strategies. Students who take this course will learn to write like the best legal advocates and will work to gain mastery in the exciting, challenging, and important field of practical, persuasive legal writing. We will consider sources from within and outside the law to identify what those sources reveal about effective persuasion. We will rigorously practice advanced persuasive writing by developing fluency with rhetorical and organizational techniques and a more sophisticated understanding of the impact of a writer’s choices and methods, including how those choices and methods both impact the reader as well as convey the character of the writer. Students will write and receive feedback on written assignments, which will require them to constantly refine and build their persuasive writing skills. The course culminates in an assignment that requires students to research, write, and conference with the professor to prepare a legal brief of considerable length on a complex legal issue and to present a compelling argument to a panel of judges.
 

This introductory course exposes students to a broad range of fundamental entity, business, and planning concepts. Beyond core doctrinal issues, the course focuses on the practical and analytical challenges of the business planning and client counseling process. We also review numerous drafting considerations and implementation mechanics. The course is designed to broaden a student’s substantive knowledge on a broad range of issues and to serve both those students who want to dig deeper in future courses and those students who choose to limit their legal training in business organizations to a single course. Numerous case studies are used to:
1. Strengthen the study of fundamental statutory and case law related to corporations, limited liability companies, and partnership entities;
2. Illustrate the dynamics of corporate and business law by focusing on contemporary challenges and developments;
3. Focus on a wide range of basic business planning challenges (choice-of entity, buy- sell agreements, employee protections, co-owner operational deal solutions, ethical challenges, shareholder debt, securities law exemptions, structuring business sales, director protections, oppression avoidance, corporate transition planning, controlling shareholder risks, hostile takeover bids, executive compensation, risk management, and more); and
4. Promote an understanding of core business literacy topics (reading financial statements, fundamental financial concepts and ratios, business entity taxation, capital formation challenges, going public realities, bonds, mutual funds, drafting key organizational documents, business valuation techniques, and more).

ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments provide you the opportunity to practice, and assist you in achieving the objectives of the course and instructional units. There will be five (5) graded assignments throughout the entire course. Modules will open at 12:00 am ET on the Saturday before the week in which the module is covered. All times are Eastern.
QUIZZES There will be six (6) graded quizzes to complete in this course. These quizzes will be given throughout the entire course.
FINAL EXAM A final exam will be administered online. Your Professor will give further details on the procedure, including whether notes, textbook, or other materials will be permitted to be used during the exam.
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.wlu.edu%2Ffaculty%2Ffull-time-faculty%2Fcarliss-chatman&data=02%7C01%7Ctwest%40law.miami.edu%7C4837bb089f294f6c093e08d7dcc8bc2c%7C2a144b72f23942d48c0e6f0f17c48e33%7C0%7C0%7C637220627009894841&sdata=ptIYOqb%2Fll7ooI52zY0TJIwmMELF7Q5JSAHaUKH9DQM%3D&reserved=0 
Course Concentrations:
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Area of Focus) More information
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Concentration) More information
The Business of Innovation, Law and Technology: BILT (Concentration) More information

See Website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/children-and-youth-law-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

See website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/children-and-youth-law-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

This advanced writing course focuses on electronic discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of the Southern District of Florida. As companies continue to move from relying on paper documents to virtually paperless operations, electronically stored information (ESI) plays an increasingly crucial role in litigation and corporate practice. This course will study a broad range of topics relating to e-discovery. Students will examine significant e-discovery case law and e-discovery civil procedure rules; study the preservation, collection, and production of relevant ESI; participate in mock e-discovery planning with opposing counsel and the court; prepare discovery tailored to uncovering ESI; and work through e-discovery issues such as costs, spoliation, sanctions, and attorney-client privilege. This course will also provide a unique opportunity for students to collaborate with UnitedLex to learn about consulting, operations, strategy, and technology relating to ESI. This course will use reading materials, fact patterns, in-class activities, writing exercises and assignments, oral presentations, and other tools to help students learn. At the conclusion of this course, students should have a solid foundation on how to navigate electronic discovery for contemporary legal practice.
 
Course Concentrations:
The Business of Innovation, Law and Technology: BILT (Concentration) More information
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Area of Focus) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

This course examines the law of proof and focuses on the Federal Rules of Evidence. The language, purpose, and policies underlying the evidence rules are stressed throughout in order to make the rules meaningful, predictable, and functional. In addition to covering the substantive rules of evidence, this course will explore the use of the rules of evidence as a tactical device to develop the narrative of a case and to disrupt the opponent’s narrative. Accordingly, the theme of this course is pragmatic, with a problem-based emphasis. The rules of evidence will be examined from an advocate’s perspective in order to develop students’ knowledge of what facts matter and how those facts can be proven.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Substantive law: Provide background knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which form the basis for most states’ evidence codes, with a particular focus on the rules of relevance, character evidence, hearsay, lay and expert opinion, and the Confrontation Clause.
• Policy: Facilitate exploration of the principles that animate the policy choices inherent in formulating and interpreting the rules of evidence and the relationship of these principles to issues of fairness and impartiality that govern the procedures of an adversary system of justice. To assess the soundness of the assumptions about truth, fact finding, and jury decision-making that justify the rules of evidence.
• Law in action: Understand the importance of the rules of evidence in shaping a lawyer’s perspective on legal representation beyond courtroom practice and in forming a core of knowledge central to what it means to “think like a lawyer.” In particular, to gain an appreciation for how questions of the admissibility of evidence affect a lawyer’s approach to gathering and investigating facts, assessing a client’s options, providing legal counsel to clients, and negotiating with opposing parties.
EVALUATION/GRAINDG/ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
• ASSIGNMENTS Each week, there will be 1 or 2 individual written assignments. All written assignments must be submitted within the course using the assignment Dropbox tool. You should expect to spend at least 2-3 hours per week on these assignments. Please reference the “Course Schedule” for deadlines.
• LECTURE ACTIVITIES Each lecture will include knowledge check questions that are embedded into the content and designed to reinforce your learning as you proceed through the lecture. Some lectures also have built-in interactive activities to further engage you with the topic. Additionally, there will be post-lecture multiple choice assessment questions with written feedback and rationale to help you independently develop your understanding of the topic. It is important that you complete all these activities to prepare yourself for the midterm and final and to cultivate your skills of arguing for and against evidence admissibility.
• DISCUSSION BOARD Two to three discussion questions will be posted to the discussion board each week. You are expected to directly respond to one discussion question and respond to two of your classmates’ responses. Your answers should demonstrate a mastery of the material assigned at that point in the course. Review the grading criteria and “Discussion Board Guidelines” to ensure maximum credit. You should expect to spend at least 2-3 hours per week on the discussion boards. Please reference the “Course Schedule” for deadlines.
• MIDTERM The midterm may be taken at your convenience during its designated week within the course. The midterm will be self-scheduled, and you will be bound by your law school’s honor code.
• FINAL EXAM Your final exam will be proctored through an automated online service that verifies your identity and records you taking your exam through your webcam. As your final exam approaches, additional details related to the final exam itself and exam administration will be available in the Final Exam Information module. The exam will consist of all essay questions and may be taken at your convenience during the exam period. You will be bound by your law school’s honor code.
 
Course Concentrations:
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information

The University of Miami School of Law Externship Program is a JD class that provides second-year (2L) and third-year (3L) students, in good academic standing, an opportunity to gain practical legal experience by working with corporations (in-house legal department or general counsel's office), government agencies, public interest organizations or the judiciary for academic credit. Students gain legal experience by working under the supervision of practicing lawyers, which is enhanced by a classroom component that allows students to maximize the learning opportunity. Law firms, of any size, do not qualify to serve as externship field placements. The Externship Program has two components: (1) a semester total of 200 hours at the approved externship field placement, and (2) a class that meets once per week. The works hours and classroom component must be completed concurrently. The Externship Program is an elective 3-credit course that is graded pass/fail and meets a skills graduation requirement. Students are responsible for securing your own externship placement. Please go to the Externship Program webpage where you will find information on current pre-approved placements and instructions on how to apply to each placement. You can also seek approval for a new placement that is not on the pre-approved list. You have until the end of the add/drop period to obtain an externship placement and enroll in the course. You will be enrolled in the course only after you have obtained an offer from your externship placement. For more information, please click here for the Externship Program webpage or contact Professor Jessi Tamayo (jtamayo@law.miami.edu). Enrollment is by permission of the Instructor.
https://www.law.miami.edu/iml/careers/miami-law-cdo-externship-program 
Course Concentrations:
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Area of Focus) More information
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Concentration) More information
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

The University of Miami School of Law Externship Program is a JD class that provides second-year (2L) and third-year (3L) students, in good academic standing, an opportunity to gain practical legal experience by working with corporations (in-house legal department or general counsel's office), government agencies, public interest organizations or the judiciary for academic credit. Students gain legal experience by working under the supervision of practicing lawyers, which is enhanced by a classroom component that allows students to maximize the learning opportunity. Law firms, of any size, do not qualify to serve as externship field placements. The Externship Program has two components: (1) a semester total of 200 hours at the approved externship field placement, and (2) a class that meets once per week. The works hours and classroom component must be completed concurrently. The Externship Program is an elective 3-credit course that is graded pass/fail and meets a skills graduation requirement. Students are responsible for securing your own externship placement. Please go to the Externship Program webpage where you will find information on current pre-approved placements and instructions on how to apply to each placement. You can also seek approval for a new placement that is not on the pre-approved list. You have until the end of the add/drop period to obtain an externship placement and enroll in the course. You will be enrolled in the course only after you have obtained an offer from your externship placement. For more information, please click here for the Externship Program webpage or contact Professor Jessi Tamayo (jtamayo@law.miami.edu). Enrollment is by permission of the Instructor.
 
Course Concentrations:
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

The University of Miami School of Law Externship Program is a JD class that provides second-year (2L) and third-year (3L) students, in good academic standing, an opportunity to gain practical legal experience by working with corporations (in-house legal department or general counsel's office), government agencies, public interest organizations or the judiciary for academic credit. Students gain legal experience by working under the supervision of practicing lawyers, which is enhanced by a classroom component that allows students to maximize the learning opportunity. Law firms, of any size, do not qualify to serve as externship field placements. The Externship Program has two components: (1) a semester total of 200 hours at the approved externship field placement, and (2) a class that meets once per week. The works hours and classroom component must be completed concurrently. The Externship Program is an elective 3-credit course that is graded pass/fail and meets a skills graduation requirement. Students are responsible for securing your own externship placement. Please go to the Externship Program webpage where you will find information on current pre-approved placements and instructions on how to apply to each placement. You can also seek approval for a new placement that is not on the pre-approved list. You have until the end of the add/drop period to obtain an externship placement and enroll in the course. You will be enrolled in the course only after you have obtained an offer from your externship placement. For more information, please click here for the Externship Program webpage or contact Professor Jessi Tamayo (jtamayo@law.miami.edu). Enrollment is by permission of the Instructor.
 
Course Concentrations:
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

This course is a distance learning course and physical presence at the Law School is not required. This online course is taught in a primarily asynchronous manner, meaning that students will have a designated amount of time each week to watch videos, review material, and complete class assignments, but will not have a regular live classroom experience except for the following. All students will be required to meet online at a few key points during the course as a class to allow for introductions/expectations, prepare for and/or review quizzes or exams, participate in class discussion and to facilitate the group project. These sessions, an estimated 4 to 5 real time sessions during the semester, are tentatively scheduled as shown below and are planned for Tuesday from 4:30pm to 6:10 pm EST.

May 25th - Introduction and course format
June 15th - Materials review and Quiz prep
June 22nd - Quiz results review (if needed)
July 6th – Group project discussions – (subject to change based on group availability)
July 20th - Final materials review
Although this course generally offers a great deal of flexibility in that students may log in and participate at any time during the week, the course is not self-paced. Students are expected to participate regularly and continually throughout each learning module in the course, and must participate in weekly interactive exercises (graded discussion boards and homework assignments) with classmates and the professors.

The course focuses on the analysis and use of financial accounting information in the evaluation of corporate performance. The course initially demonstrates the accounting process and resulting generation of financial statements. Building on these core accounting concepts, the course emphasizes the understanding of financial statements prepared under U.S. and International Accounting Standards and the analysis of these financial statements including common size analysis, ratio analysis, the impact of taxes, and credit analysis. Completion of the course will enhance the student's ability to read, interpret and analyze financial statements for making investment, credit, acquisition and other evaluation decisions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course you should be able to: Comprehend financial accounting's role in business and understand the differences between financial and management accounting. Read and understand company financial statements including the income statement, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in shareholders equity and the statement of cash flows Use common size analysis and ratio analysis to evaluate a company on the following dimensions: Efficiency, Liquidity, Solvency, Profitability, Cash flow Understand how creditors and investors evaluate a company, including an assessment of credit and investment worthiness.
 
Course Concentrations:
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Area of Focus) More information
Business Compliance and Sustainability (Concentration) More information
The Business of Innovation, Law and Technology: BILT (Concentration) More information

This asynchronous, online course is designed to introduce students to Florida legal resources and to provide hands-on experience in using those resources. The course goal is to provide students with the skills necessary to conduct effective and efficient research by emphasizing (i) the evaluation of resources, (ii) research strategies, and (iii) practical research concepts. As an asynchronous, online course, material will be presented through recorded research tutorials. After listening to the recorded tutorials, students will apply those research skills by completing research exercises in a variety of formats. A final research assignment will allow students to demonstrate their comprehensive understanding of the research skills covered throughout the semester.

Although this course offers flexibility, students are expected to participate regularly and continually throughout the semester, keeping in mind that the course material is compressed into 7 weeks (compared to a typical Fall/Spring semester of 13 weeks).
 

See website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/health-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship Law Area of Focus (Area of Focus) More information
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

See website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/health-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship Law Area of Focus (Area of Focus) More information
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

The Human Rights Clinic (HRC) works for the promotion of social and economic justice globally and in the U.S. The Clinic uses international human rights laws and norms, domestic law and policy, and multidimensional strategies, such as community organizing, political activism, and global networking, to draw attention to human rights violations, develop practical solutions to those problems, and promote accountability on the part of state and non-state actors. The Clinic’s work is primarily policy-oriented and focuses on the development of human rights advocacy campaigns, documentation projects, legislative advocacy, report-writing, and research in collaboration with organizational partners. The Clinic also represents clients in litigation before international, foreign, and domestic tribunals. The Clinic’s focus areas include gender justice, racial justice, and immigrants’ rights, Indigenous women's rights, and economic, social, and cultural rights. Working in case/project teams, students develop and hone essential lawyering skills, including oral advocacy, fact-finding, research (legal and non-legal, international and domestic), legal and non-legal writing, interviewing, media advocacy, cultural competency and strategic thinking. Additionally, students will critically examine the substance and application of human rights law, the use of interdisciplinary methodologies for documenting and responding to human rights violations, and the ethical challenges of working on human rights problems globally. The Clinic is being offered at 6 credits in Summer 2021. Students must submit an application to enroll in the Clinic.
http://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/human-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship Law Area of Focus (Area of Focus) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

The Human Rights Clinic (HRC) works for the promotion of social and economic justice globally and in the U.S. The Clinic uses international human rights laws and norms, domestic law and policy, and multidimensional strategies, such as community organizing, political activism, and global networking, to draw attention to human rights violations, develop practical solutions to those problems, and promote accountability on the part of state and non-state actors. The Clinic’s work is primarily policy-oriented and focuses on the development of human rights advocacy campaigns, documentation projects, legislative advocacy, report-writing, and research in collaboration with organizational partners. The Clinic also represents clients in litigation before international, foreign, and domestic tribunals. The Clinic’s focus areas include gender justice, racial justice, and immigrants’ rights, Indigenous women's rights, and economic, social, and cultural rights. Working in case/project teams, students develop and hone essential lawyering skills, including oral advocacy, fact-finding, research (legal and non-legal, international and domestic), legal and non-legal writing, interviewing, media advocacy, cultural competency and strategic thinking. Additionally, students will critically examine the substance and application of human rights law, the use of interdisciplinary methodologies for documenting and responding to human rights violations, and the ethical challenges of working on human rights problems globally. The Clinic is being offered at 6 credits in Summer 2021. Students must submit an application to enroll in the Clinic.
http://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/human-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship Law Area of Focus (Area of Focus) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

TBD
 

Please see link below.
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/investor-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

Please see link below.
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/clinics/investor-rights-clinic 
Course Concentrations:
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information

This seminar will explore how law and the mass media interreact by examining issues such as the development of sexual harassment law and the proliferation of high-profile trials. Because of the increased media coverage of legal stories, lawyers must confront new issues in advising clients. Cases which may be considered include those involving Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, O.J. Simpson, Amanda Knox, police-related killings such as that of George Floyd, and election lawsuits. The seminar will also address legal portrayals in film (feature and documentary); television (including "Law & Order," "CSI," TV judge shows, and 24/7 cables news); novels; attorney advertising; and social media and the internet, including pop culture figures such as the Kardashians. Among the legal issues analyzed will be the importance of video as well as media images of the law and their effect on juries, judges, elected officials, and public opinion. The seminar will also address the ethics and efficacy of media strategies, and the difference between public perception and the reality of the law.
 
Course Concentrations:
The Business of Innovation, Law and Technology: BILT (Concentration) More information

This is an asynchronous, online course which will focus on teaching “real-world” legal research skills to prepare you for the challenges you will face in legal practice. This course is designed to provide the skills necessary to conduct effective and efficient legal research and will provide hands on experiences using secondary sources, statutes, cases, regulations, legislative materials, and practice materials. As an asynchronous course, materials will be presented in 7 modules. Students should be prepared to keep up with the weekly modules.
 

see website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/litigation-skills-program 

see website:
https://www.law.miami.edu/academics/litigation-skills-program 

This course introduces students to the ethical requirements of the practice of law in The United States based on the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Utilizing a problem-oriented casebook, the course covers the responsibilities of lawyers and their relationships with clients, the legal profession, the courts, and the public. Particular emphasis is placed on the lawyer's fiduciary duties of client control, communication, competence, confidentiality, and conflict of interest resolution.
 

SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP - Students will engage in a survey course designed to introduce them to the foundations of public interest advocacy and social justice. A combination of readings, lectures, in-class projects/simulations and workshops will foster a greater understanding of various aspects of public interest law and the access to justice gaps in our legal system. Students will explore different mechanisms for change including direct service, policy, impact work, and movement lawyering, as well as conflict resolution strategies. Presentations by advocates will introduce students to focused and substantive areas of practice.

SPIF Boot Camp Monday May 24th – Thursday May 27th from 9:30-12:30
 

This course focuses on the primary legal and procedural requirements for acquisition, registering, maintaining, exploiting, and enforcing trademarks under federal law. Students will examine the legal issues arising from the registration process with special attention to the business perspectives on trademark protection. The course is designed to introduce students to the main legal doctrines of trademark transactional practice, as well as the strategic considerations underlying trademark infringement cases. A core component of this course is the use of simulations that require students to complete both written and oral assignments that emulate actual legal practice in trademark prosecution and enforcement, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Students will receive extensive feedback on weekly assignments in order to enhance active learning of legal research and writing skills and professional development.
 
Course Concentrations:
The Business of Innovation, Law and Technology: BILT (Concentration) More information

In this course, students will build on and reinforce the skills introduced in Legal Communication & Research Skills I and II. The course will provide students with additional opportunities to engage in realistic writing projects to strengthen their transition to legal practice. The course will emphasize writing as a recursive process, guiding students though the outlining, drafting, revising, and editing stages. Students will receive detailed feedback on their writing from the professor, and class size is limited to ensure a high level of individual attention.
 

The course will examine the criminal justice system from the point of view of innocence persons convicted of crimes. Students will examine the causes of and proposed remedies for wrongful conviction and analyze the legal principles associated with identifying and litigating innocence claims. Topics include the leading causes of wrongful convictions and postconviction claims and remedies in both the state and federal system. This course may be taken alone or as the co-requisite for the Miami Law Innocence Clinic.
 
Course Concentrations:
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Concentration) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Area of Focus) More information
Social Justice & Public Interest (Concentration) More information