Hague Exchange Program

The semester abroad exchange program with The Hague University of Applied Sciences allows for two Southwestern students to attend The Hague Law School for up to one year of study, with credits earned there counting toward completion of their J.D. degree from Southwestern. Please visit The Hague Semester Abroad web page on the Southwestern website at http://www.swlaw.edu/curriculum/study-abroad-summe r-session/semester-abroad for more important details regarding this program.

The semester abroad exchange program with The Hague University of Applied Sciences allows for two Southwestern students to attend The Hague Law School for up to one year of study, with credits earned there counting toward completion of their J.D. degree from Southwestern.

Please visit semester abroad page for more important details regarding this program.

Externship: Vn Public Defndr

The Ventura County Public Defender's Office and Southwestern Year-Long Externship is an opportunity for Southwestern students to work in the delinquency division of the Public Defender's Office and receive specialized training in and assisting with the representation of juveniles. Work in the externship will involve one or more of the following: initial client interviews, case evaluation and assessment, research and writing, appearances before the juvenile court, subpoena preparation, and writing and arguing (if certified) motions to expunge clients' prior convictions.

The Ventura County Public Defender's Office and Southwestern's Year-Long Externship is an opportunity for Southwestern students to work in the delinquency division of the Public Defender's Office and receive specialized training in and assisting with the representation of juveniles.

Work involves one or more of the following: initial client interviews, case evaluation and assessment, research and writing, appearances before the juvenile court, subpoena preparation, and writing and arguing (if certified) motions to expunge clients' prior convictions.

Advanced Entertainment Law Seminar

This seminar covers new developments in the entertainment industry, and analysis of cutting edge issues that arise from those developments. Although the specific topics covered in a given semester will vary, likely areas of interest include constitutional protection of entertainment projects, copyright protection, creative control, credit, defamation, enforcement of contracts, idea disclosure, impact of new technologies, marketing of entertainment product, privacy, right of publicity, social regulation of entertainment products, talent representatives and trademark protection.

This seminar covers new developments in the entertainment industry and analysis of cutting edge issues that arise from those developments.

Although the specific topics covered in a given semester will vary, likely areas of interest include constitutional protection of entertainment projects, copyright protection, creative control, credit, defamation, enforcement of contracts, idea disclosure, impact of new technologies, marketing of entertainment product, privacy, right of publicity, social regulation of entertainment products, talent representatives and trademark protection.

Animal Law

This course combines theoretical understandings of relevant legal principles in animal law, with technical skills necessary to understand and develop impact litigation. The semester will begin with an introductory overview of moral philosophy and history of animal law in the United States. Building from this foundation, we will examine laws impacting animals in varying contexts, including laboratories, exhibition, and food production.

This course combines theoretical understandings of relevant legal principles in animal law, with technical skills necessary to understand and develop impact litigation. The semester will begin with an introductory overview of moral philosophy and history of animal law in the United States. Building from this foundation, we will examine laws impacting animals in varying contexts, including laboratories, exhibition, and food production.

Insurance Law

This is a survey course which examines the legal rules and principles associated with the formation, interpretation and enforcement of insurance contracts. The course covers basic law applicable to all insurance contracts as well as more specific legal doctrine applicable to special lines of insurance, such as property; liability; and life, health and disability. The course also covers the rights, duties and obligations of both insurers and policyholders under both the law of contract and the law of tort.

This is a survey course examining the legal rules and principles associated with the formation, interpretation and enforcement of insurance contracts. The course covers basic law applicable to all insurance contracts as well as more specific legal doctrine applicable to special lines of insurance, such as property; liability; and life, health and disability.

The course also covers the rights, duties, and obligations of both insurers and policyholders under tort and contract laws.

Advanced Legal Research

This course will offer students the opportunity to expand their skills in using primary and secondary legal sources and research the types of issues encountered in the practice of law. The course covers a range of topics, including in-depth statutory and case law research, legislative history, and administrative law research. Additionally, California practice materials and specialized topical resources will be examined. Students will be exposed to real-life situations, including the ethics of legal research and cost-effectiveness.

This course offers students the opportunity to expand their skills in using primary and secondary legal sources and research the types of issues encountered in the practice of law.

The course covers a range of topics, including in-depth statutory and case law research, legislative history, and administrative law research. Additionally, California practice materials and specialized topical resources will be examined.

Students are exposed to real-life situations, including the ethics of legal research and cost-effectiveness.

Estate Planning and Drafting

This course presents an overview of estate planning for individuals and focuses particularly on lifetime and death tax consequences to members of a family. Coverage includes estate, gift, corporate, partnership and individual tax issues. Issues regarding life insurance, trusts, wills, family transactions, investment analysis and other financial considerations are also discussed. Prerequisite: Wills & Trusts (360).

This course presents an overview of estate planning for individuals and focuses particularly on lifetime and death tax consequences to members of a family.

Coverage includes estate, gift, corporate, partnership and individual tax issues. Issues regarding life insurance, trusts, wills, family transactions, investment analysis and other financial considerations are also discussed.

Prerequisite: Wills & Trusts (360).

The Music Publishing Industry

This course provides an overview of the legal and business aspects of the music publishing industry, which itself is a major part of the entire entertainment ecosystem. It is a complex field, composed of a framework of legal regulations and evolving business practices. It governs virtually every aspect of the music business, including recorded music, film, television, video games, commercials, and live performance. A music publisher represents composers, songwriters, and the musical compositions they create.

This course provides an overview of the legal and business aspects of the music publishing industry, which itself is a major part of the entire entertainment ecosystem. It is a complex field, composed of a framework of legal regulations and evolving business practices. It governs virtually every aspect of the music business, including recorded music, film, television, video games, commercials, and live performance.

A music publisher represents composers, songwriters, and the musical compositions they create.

Negotiation & Dispute Resolution

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution. Through weekly reading, lectures, and class discussions, students will gain a solid foundation in negotiation principles and techniques developed by leading negotiation experts, as well as the ethical and practical issues that arise when lawyers negotiate on behalf of their clients. Students will have the opportunity to apply these techniques - and develop their own negotiation methods - through a series of intensive negotiation exercises focused on a range of legal and practical issues.

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution. Through weekly reading, lectures, and class discussions, students will gain a solid foundation in negotiation principles and techniques developed by leading negotiation experts, as well as the ethical and practical issues that arise when lawyers negotiate on behalf of their clients.