LLM American & International (MLAI)

Course information contained within the Bulletin is accurate at the time of publication in July 2024 but is subject to change. For the most up-to-date course information, please refer to the Course Catalog.

MLAI C001. Amer & Int'l Law Pgm Assess. 0 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

MLAI C005. FLLM Dual Degree. 0 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

MLAI C100. Legal English / Communication. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

This course aims to help international students to improve their English language skills, as well as to provide them with an intensive introduction to legal vocabulary and concepts that will be important in their subsequent law school coursework. Attention is given to acquiring and practicing extensive legal English skills by exploring topics in various legal areas, including contract law, tort law, criminal law and other legal concepts in order to expand the students’ vocabulary and stimulate class discussions and debate.  In addition to participating in daily classroom discussions, students will be required to give short class presentations in English on different legal topics, as well as essay writing and various reading assignments. The main objective of the course is to build students' self-confidence in using English in their law school courses.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

MLAI C101. Intensv English Language. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C400. Admnstr TV/Telecommunctns. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C401. Civil Procedure/Evidence. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C402. Civil Procedure I. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C403. Administrative Law. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C404. Constitutional Law. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Judicial review of legislative and executive actions in a constitutional setting, the relationship of the states to the federal government (federalism), the relationship of the people to the government (fundamental rights and due process of law), and the powers of the legislative branch are considered in the context of the US Constitution.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C405. Legal Profssnlsm Practcm. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C406. Contracts I. 2 Credit Hours.

This course provides students with in-depth knowledge of the fundamental principles of contract law. The core elements include formation and creation of the contract, contract terms, contract performance and excuse for nonperformance, breach of contract and remedies for breach, and third party rights. Practical matters such as the principle of party autonomy, legal effect of a contract, and enforcement of contractual rights are emphasized. The teaching methods rely heavily on case analysis.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C407. Criminal Legal Process. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C408. Contracts II. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C414. Legal Research & Writing. 2 to 4 Credit Hours.

This course teaches the basics of writing like a lawyer. Students learn basic legal research skills and the fundamentals of legal writing. Students will be taught how to do computerized legal research using the Westlaw database.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C415. Legal Research. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course incorporates U.S. legal research methods with a teaching model specifically developed from years of teaching Chinese students some of the necessary skill sets required in Chinese foreign practice that involves English. The course is divided into four parts. The first part introduces students to the U.S. legal system, legal education, and legal profession. The second part focuses on instructing students in numerous legal terminology and phrases. In the third part, students learn to spot issue(s) from given facts, formulate research strategy, and conduct research on Lexis, Westlaw, and other online platforms. In the fourth part students acquire the ability to meticulously analyze cases and statutes discovered through Lexis or Westlaw, synthesize relevant rule(s), and create a comprehensive research log. Students also learn the essentials of Bluebook legal citation, learn to translate facts from Chinese into English, present fact patterns and issues, create a research plan and compile a legal research log.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C416. Professional Responsibility. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students will gain a broad understanding of professional responsibility, attorney ethics, and the laws of lawyering. Students will gain proficiency in applying the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the California Rules of Professional Conduct, the California Business and Professions Code (Selected Provisions), and state law variations of the Model Rules. The course includes topics on the regulation of lawyers, lawyer liability, confidentiality, the lawyer-client relationship, conflicts of interest, and lawyers' duties.

Class Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Classes: Law LLM.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C417. IP in Cyberspace. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C418. Real Property. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C419. American Legal System Theory. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

This course will provide students with a basic and broad understanding of the American legal system. We will focus on the following fundamental concepts: jurisdiction, the common law, the United States Constitution, a lawyer's role in an adversary system, the jury trial, and due process.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C420. Torts. 2 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on the basic concepts of civil liability between private parties, including intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability. It also acquaints students with the potential role of courts in providing individuals who are injured with a means of redress against other individuals, business entities, and government officials. Some specific issues, such as tortious interference with contracts and product liability, are addressed. In addition, the course considers the theoretical basis of civil liability, including providing justice, spreading risk and cost, and deterring socially harmful behavior

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C421. Markets. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C422. Legal Reasoning. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C424. International Civil Litigation. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

This course will examine the international law that governs "foreign" relations between individuals or business entities, and discuss the theory and practice of international civil dispute settlement. Issues to be covered include determination of the proper forum, finding of the applicable law, judicial assistance (e.g. service of process, discovery and foreign judgment enforcement), and litigation involving a foreign state. Also discussed will be: how to draft a dispute settlement clause in an international contract, how to make a meaningful choice of forum as well as applicable law to more effectively protect client's interest, and what are the potential obstacles facing lawyers engaging in the international practice.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate, Law.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C430. Electronic Commerce. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C432. Foreign Investment. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C434. Adv Con Law: Econ Rts & Reg. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C449. Business Entities. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C450. Mergers & Acquisitions. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C451. Intro to Trial Advocacy. 2 or 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C466. Intrnl Environmental Law. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C490. Law Electronic Commerce. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C501. Intl Dispute Resolution. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C504. Antitrust Law. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C505. Criminal Procedure. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

In Criminal Procedure students will learn about parts of the United States Constitution that impact the rights of criminal defendants in court. Specifically, students will study the impact of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments of the Bill of Rights on criminal cases. Study will focus on both how case law interprets these amendments and the real world impact of those decisions, as viewed through a racial justice framework.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C506. Banking/Financial Instns. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C508. Business Associations. 2 Credit Hours.

This course examines the law of corporate entities, including the reason for their existence, their functioning in a market economy, and the legal rules that govern their existence. It focuses primarily on the corporation, exposing students to an artificial entity, to corporate governance and management, and to the problems that tend to arise in the ongoing life of a corporation. In that context, the students examine the various types of corporate entities that exist and different assumptions underlying their existence.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C522. Conflict of Laws. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C524. International Commercial Arbitration. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Arbitration is an important alternative dispute resolution mechanism in international business transactions. It is in many respects a form of dispute settlement most often chosen by the parties and their lawyers, and it operates interactively among national legal rules and institutions. This course provides students with the theory and practice of international commercial arbitration with a focus on its jurisprudential underpinnings and legal structures. It examines and analyzes from comparative law aspects both procedural and substantive issues involved in the international commercial arbitration.

Class Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Classes: Second Year Law Prof, Third Year Law Prof, Fourth Year Law Prof, Law LLM.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate, Law.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C530. Creditors/Debtors Rights. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C540. Evidence. 2 or 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C545. Introduction to Compliance. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

This course will discuss the importance of corporate compliance and provide an overview of the legal and ethical considerations at play. The course will also explore relevant laws, examine emerging risks and provide an understanding of the design and implementation of compliance programs.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate, Law.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C547. Intellectual Property. 2 Credit Hours.

This course will cover the broad outlines of the four major branches of intellectual property law: patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret law. The course will look generally at why (and how) intellectual property law differs from the law governing real property or tangible personal property, as well as at the special features of each of these sub-fields of intellectual property law. The course should provide a helpful overview of this area of the law for students who do not plan to specialize in intellectual property, as well as providing those who plan to go on to more detailed study of, and practice in, this area with an introductory exposure to the kinds of problems that are common to all intellectual property disciplines.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C554. Intl Investment & Trade. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C556. International Law. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C557. Intervwng Negotng Counsl. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C558. Trial Skills. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C559. Jurisprudence. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C562. Comparative Labor Law. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C565. Adv Trial Advocacy Crmnl. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C568. Family Law. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C583. Intl Protctn Human Right. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C589. Secured Transactions. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C590. Securities Regulation. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C600. Taxation. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C622. Sales. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C623. Alt Dispute Resolution. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C625. Labor & Employment Law. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C637. International Business Transactions. 2 Credit Hours.

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the variety of issues that lawyers acting for clients in international business transactions encounter in their daily work. The first section of the course focuses on the three principal contracts used in international documentary sales transactions: the sales contract, the bill of lading and the letter of credit. Particular attention is given to contract formation issues under private international law and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The course then considers the impact of global trade regulation on private business deals, with an emphasis on customs law as well as the basic principles and evolving case law of the WTO.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Course Attributes: ANON

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C652. Intrnl Commercial Law. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C751. Ethics in Practice. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.

This course will focus on issues of professionalism and ethics. Students will learn about attorney obligations to the client, court, profession, and society, and develop an understanding of their own professional values and philosophy as practicing lawyers. In addition to examining global issues of ethics and professionalism, the course will utilize students' experiences to identify and explore issues particular to different areas of practice.

Class Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Classes: Second Year Law Prof, Third Year Law Prof, Fourth Year Law Prof, Law LLM.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate, Law.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C850. Jurisprudence. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C876. Mergers & Acquisitions. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

MLAI C900. Guided Research. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

MLAI C921. Law Electronic Commerce. 2 to 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.