The Spring Quarter started this week and the students are returning after a relaxing spring break for the final quarter of the year. One of the GREAT parts of our curriculum is that during this quarter first years get to take an elective class in addition to their core classes which include Criminal Law, Contracts, Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing. The offerings this year include American Legal History with Professor LaCroix, Copyright with Professor Picker, Health Law with Professor Malani, Parent Child and State with Professor Buss, Roman Law with Professor Epstein , Trade Secrets with Professor Strahilevitz and Trademarks & Unfair Competition with Professor Landes. First years choose one of these electives and will be taking these classes with second and third year students. As you can see, there are a broad range of topics being covered and this gives first years an opportunity to start sampling different areas of interest.
American Legal History is survey course that examines major themes and interpretations in the history of American law and legal institutions from the earliest European settlements through the Civil War. Parent, Child and State examines the legal rights of parents and children and the state's authority to define and regulate the parent-child relationship. Among the topics discussed are children's and parent's rights of expression and religious exercise, termination of parental rights and adoption, paternity rights, the state's response to child abuse and neglect, the role of race in defining the family, and the legal issues raised by the development of new reproductive technologies. Another popular course is Roman Law, a seminar that develops a skill in analyzing legal problems according to the processes of the Roman civil law, in contrast with those of the common law. No knowledge of Latin is required!!
This sampling of elective course will hopefully give you an idea of the number of exciting choices students get to make during their second and third years when there are no required courses.