Courses
*Courses approved for experiential credit
**Course taught virtually
***Courses approved for Energy Law and Policy Certificate
****Course approved for Graduate Certificate in Estate Planning and Taxation
Energy Regulatory Law***
This course will explore various segments of public utility regulation and ratemaking before the Louisiana Public Service Commission (“LPSC”). Students will participate in interactive discussion of case examples on major regulatory topics and key energy issues. Students will be required to review decisions of the LPSC on selected cases and topics, conduct research on the LPSC website, and draft discovery and/or prepare materials for discussion on energy regulatory topics.
Faculty: Randy Young, Gordon Polozola and Carrie Tournillon
Mergers and Acquisitions Workshop***
This course analyzes the key legal and practical aspects of a private merger and acquisition transaction. We will focus on deal structuring, due diligence investigations and transaction documentation, including purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, confidentiality agreements and other customary ancillary agreements. Students will learn how key provisions of a purchase and sale agreement are negotiated to create value for and allocate risks among the parties. Students will have the opportunity to practice drafting and negotiating skills.
Faculty: Caroline Blitzer Phillips
Prerequisites: BA1 and a demonstrated interest in business law.
Serving the Public and the Profession**/*
In the current economy, can lawyers serve themselves while also serving the public and the profession? This course will examine the challenges inherent in balancing the profession’s traditions with 21st Century realities. We will explore the dilemmas of self-regulation (lawyer ethics), the impetus for the “professionalism” movement, and the organized bar’s efforts to support access to the justice system. The focus will be on developing practical skills that assist professional advancement and public service. Students will be required to demonstrate their abilities to communicate (in writing and orally) with members of the public, the judiciary, and workplace colleagues/supervisors. Students will be asked to reflect on the concept of “justice” and the role that lawyer regulation plays in assuring justice.
Faculty: Stephanie Beaugh and Rachael Mills
Complex Litigation & Antitrust*
Have you ever wondered what actually happens in class action lawsuits? Multidistrict litigation? This course will give students a behind the scenes look at the procedural and substantive issues surrounding complex litigation cases from both a public protection and private action perspective. Students will receive instruction on state and federal antitrust claims as well as the FTC’s unfair and deceptive claims, and class discussions will involve both procedural and substantive legal issues related to these types of cases, including related discovery issues. Students will explore the practical implications of FRCP 26, including creating a litigation plan, complying with Rule 26, and drafting a forward-thinking complaint that addresses procedural obligations and discovery burdens.
Faculty: Stacie Lambert deBlieux
Managing the Personal Injury Case*
This course combines substantive and procedural personal injury law with the essential steps and elements of pursuing or defending a claim for personal injury damages – from client intake and case evaluation to settlement or trial. Topics may include any or all of the following: the essential elements of a personal injury case: parties, liabilities, damages, forms, documents, and witnesses; obtaining police, medical, and employment records necessary for calculation and proof of liability and damages; locating, retaining and preparing experts and their reports for case evaluation, assistance, and trial testimony; gathering information and preparing settlement proposals and demands; and preparing and presenting witnesses, exhibits, and documentation to support or defend a case at trial.
Faculty: Abboud Thomas and J. Cullens
Making Your Case. What Makes Judges Read and Hear What Lawyers Say*
Litigators spend the bulk on their time on motion practice because that is where cases are usually decided. You have one chance to present your best case to a judge, so use it wisely. Writing organized briefs and presenting effective oral argument that clearly identify the issues at play are keys to success. These skills apply to all lawyers whose practice includes some kind of litigation, no matter what the subject area or type of trial forum.
This course focuses on how to get and keep a trial judge’s attention through effective written and oral advocacy. Students will take a deep dive into the two motions most common to civil litigation—motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment. Students will have the opportunity to draft a brief in support of or opposing a motion for summary judgment and will argue their position before United States District Judge Susie Morgan.
Faculty: Kristen Amond
Sports Law/NIL Experience*
This course analyzes the key legal and practical aspects involved in the rapidly evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness (“NIL”). The Course will provide students an in-depth understanding of the core issues and challenges practitioners face when representing student-athletes, businesses/brands, universities, and other key stakeholders in NIL related matters. Students will explore the interplay between the everchanging legal and regulatory landscape governing NIL (including various states’ NIL law, potential federal legislation, NCAA rules and policies, university and athletic conference rules and policies, FERPA and privacy protections, and Title IX). Students will also get hands-on experience through: (1) the drafting and negotiation of an NIL agreement from the perspective of legal counsel for either a student-athlete or a business; and (2) the drafting of an opinion letter/memo to general counsel for a university analyzing specific NIL related issues (i.e., whether certain conduct constitutes a violation of Louisiana’s NIL statute, potential legal exposure for prohibiting a student-athlete from engaging in a NIL deal, international student-athletes’ rights to engage in NIL activities, etc.).
Faculty: David Fleshman, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney Thigpen, and Olivia Nuss
Community Development and Tax Policy****
This course will explore the nexus of finance and community development through three types of tax incentive programs: Historic Tax Credits, Renewable Energy Tax Credits and New Markets Tax Credits. Students will explore state and federal economic incentive programs, and the tools utilized to maximize the value of those incentives.
Faculty: Joel Boussert and Nick LaCour
Video Game Law
This course will examine a range of issues related to the creation and marketing of video games. Students will study copyright, trademark, publicity rights and other intellectual property rights, as well as statutory protections such as the Digital Millennial Copyright Act that are integral to the development and distribution of video games. Students will also evaluate the relationship between the developer and publisher of games and evaluate the key contractual provisions contained in every publisher and developer agreement. Finally, issues such as First Amendment protections and the danger to children through the promotion of violence will be evaluated. Students will engage in simulated negotiation and drafting of video game agreements incorporating the relevant concepts in the course.
Faculty: J. Michael Monahan
Construction Law*
This course will examine the laws, regulations, and requirements in the construction industry. It may include elements of contract law, property law, commercial law, employment law, or other substantive areas. Students will engage in exercises involving the drafting of contracts, the public bid process, liability and dispute resolution, insurance and bonding, and other areas relevant to the practice of construction law.
Faculty: Jeff Boudreaux and Kelsey Kornick-Funes
Higher Education Law
This course provides an overview of the laws, rules and regulations, and jurisprudence relating to public and private higher education institutions. Emphasis is placed on institutional governance, students’ rights and responsibilities, and federal and state laws, rules, and regulations that govern and guide higher education institutions. The overarching objective of this course is to educate students on the legal frameworks that affect institutions and apply them in practice.
Faculty: Winston G. DeCuir, Jr. and Ryan Brown
Energy Policy & Climate Change***
This seminar considers legal, political, technological, and economic aspects of current problems in the petroleum, natural gas, electrical, nuclear, coal and renewable energy industries with particular focus on the impact of climate change policies on energy use in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to global warming and other climate change issues, the seminar will examine (1) the nexus between oil and gas prices and geopolitics; (2) actual and potential international, U.S., and state carbon emission regulation and trading (“cap-and-trade”), and taxation and carbon pricing regimes; (3) the tensions between state and federal efforts to address energy issues; (4) the problems and prospects of introducing new fuels and fuel sources, including hydrogen, solar, wind and other renewables, into the U.S. and world economies; (5) transportation fuel issues, including biofuels and electric cars; (6) electricity markets and generation, regulated and unregulated markets, and the future of the electric utility industry and electricity grid, including demand-side management and distributed generation; and (7) the role of each of the 3 branches of government in developing and implementing climate change policies.
Faculty: Mark Menezes and Maryam Brown
Client Communication****
This course explores extraordinary attorney-client communication. Students will evaluate the tactics and technology of a modern communications strategy. They will learn how to communicate in a way that informs clients, answers frequently asked questions, saves time, increases profits, generates referrals, and earns testimonials. For the final project, students will develop a practical communications plan and engage in simulated hypothetical client communications.
Faculty: Parker Layrisson and Ebony Morris
Environmental Compliance***
This course will review most areas of environmental law in the United States with a particular focus on the federal statutory framework and state implementation of federal regulatory programs. Particular areas covered include air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, release notification and risk-based monitoring and remediation programs. The interaction between EPA and LDEQ will be addressed, including delegation of federal environmental programs and state implementation plans. How EPA and states work within the administrative law system will also be covered along with enforcement and compliance issues.
Faculty: Kyle Beall
The Law of Emergencies: Natural Disasters, Climate Crises, Pandemics, and Beyond
The legal framework and implementation challenges faced by federal, state, tribal, local, individuals, and private sector entities in the preparedness for and recovery from destructive events such as hurricanes, wildfires, terrorist attacks, climate change, and pandemics. Topics may include the role of federalism; pre-disaster mitigation and prevention programs; the National Response Framework; the role of the military; the tension between individual rights and government action in emergencies; disaster resistance, compensation, and insurance; and long-term recovery.
Faculty: Danielle Aymond
