Property 1 (LAW 5400), A, Fall 2005
Course description: A study of the extent to which various property rights come or fail to be recognized. The course includes both private sector and governmental arrangements and influences on the definition of property rights. Particular topics include the law of finders, landlord and tenant, concurrent ownership, licenses, easements, profits, restrictive covenants, an introduction of zoning and growth control and constitutional "takings" analysis.
Property 2 (LAW 5402), B+, Spring 2006
Course description: A study of the extent to which various property rights come or fail to be recognized. The course includes both private sector and governmental arrangements and influences on the definition of property rights. Particular topics include the law of finders, landlord and tenant, concurrent ownership, licenses, easements, profits, restrictive covenants, an introduction of zoning and growth control and constitutional "takings" analysis.
Patent and Trademark Law(LAW 6571), C, Fall 2006
Course description: This course covers the law of patents and trademarks. These "industrial property rights" play a critical role in American and international business. Patents are granted to inventors of new, useful and non-obvious products or processes. Students will examine the subject matter scope of patent protection, the criteria of patentability and the basic mechanics of filing patent applications. The nature of the rights granted to patent holders, and the enforcement of those rights, is considered. Trademarks are symbols that distinguish the goods and services of one enterprise from another in commerce. Students will examine the types of symbols that may serve as trademarks, how an enterprise goes about securing trademark protection (common law and registration) and the rights that are accorded to trademark owners. They will also learn about the limits on the use of certain symbols (e.g., generic terms) as trademarks and the rights reserved to the public (e.g., fair use).
Copyright Law (LAW 6572), C+, Spring 2007
Course description: This course is a comprehensive, three-credit introduction to U.S. copyright law. The course begins with an analysis of copyright's underlying policies and theoretical framework. It then examines the substantive and formal requirements for copyright protection; the rights accorded to authors and other copyright holders; the fair use defense; issues involving copyright ownership and transfer; copyright duration; possible Constitutional limitations on copyright; contributory and vicarious liability (focusing on music file trading services like Napster and Kazaa); and the Copyright Act preemption of state law. There are no prerequisites for this course.
International Aspects of Intellectual Property (LAW 7574), B+, Spring 2007
Course description: Advanced study of law and policy for the protection of intellectual property rights (IRPs) on an international basis, including framework created by various treaties and conventions.
Cyber Law Seminar (LAW 7233), B, Fall 2007
Course description: This is a seminar covering some of the legal issues that have arisen with the growth of the Internet. Topics examined will include e-commerce, intellectual property, crime on the Internet, first amendment, privacy, tort liability, and others. Each of these topics will be explored through the lens of a series of jurisprudential themes: What are the appropriate metaphors for conceptualizing cyberspace? Is there any role for law in regulating speech and conduct in cyberspace, or will social norms suffice? If law has a role in cyberspace, are traditional legal doctrines and categories adequate? If traditional doctrines and categories are inadequate, which legal institutions are the best to implement the changes this new technology requires--courts, legislatures, or administrative agencies? Prerequisites: None
Global Regulation of the Pharmaceutical Sector (LAW 7930), B, Spring 2007
Course description: Global sales of pharmaceuticals total more than $600 billion annually, with the United States constituting the world's largest pharmaceutical market. This course addresses legal regulation of the pharmaceutical sector, from research and development to manufacturing and distribution. The principal focus is on U.S. law, including the FDA regulatory system. In addition, the course examines foreign regulation, such as the European pharmaceutical regulatory system, and the role of multilateral agencies, including the World Health Organization. Prerequisites: None
Contracts 1 (LAW 5000), C+, Fall 2005
Course description: An introduction to the basic foundations of forceability of contractual arrangements: formation, performance, breach and damages, rights of third parties, conditions, Statute of Frauds, and assignments. Inquiry is made into the historical developments of contract law and nineteenth-century notions of the doctrine of consideration in light of developing twentieth-century concepts and alterations. Economic aspects of the subject are considered along with modern statutory developments, including the Uniform Commercial Code. A primary objective of this course is for students to develop a pattern of analysis and expression central to their work as lawyers.
Contracts 2 (LAW 5001), B, Spring 2006
Course description: An introduction to the basic foundations of forceability of contractual arrangements: formation, performance, breach and damages, rights of third parties, conditions, Statute of Frauds, and assignments. Inquiry is made into the historical developments of contract law and nineteenth-century notions of the doctrine of consideration in light of developing twentieth-century concepts and alterations. Economic aspects of the subject are considered along with modern statutory developments, including the Uniform Commercial Code. A primary objective of this course is for students to develop a pattern of analysis and expression central to their work as lawyers.
Insurance Law (LAW 6080), B+, Summer 2006
Course description: This course covers basic legal principles and their applicability to insurance generally. Construction of contracts, government supervision, insurance practice and litigation, and industry organization are reviewed. Prerequisites: None
Gratutitous Transfers (LAW 6430), A, Fall 2006
Course description: Covers all varieties of family wealth transactions, including attendant problems of administration. Topics may include intestate succession of property, establishment and validity of private and charitable trusts, individual and class gifts, powers of appointment, future interests, the Rule Against Perpetuities and the execution, validity, and construction of wills. Prerequisites: None
Administrative Law (LAW 6520), B, Fall 2007
Course description: A study of the legislative, executive, and judicial control of administrative action. The course includes discussion of formal and informal administrative processes, the opportunity to be heard, adequacy of notice, restrictions on the deciding body, and appellate review. Prequisites: None
Non-Profit Organizations (LAW 7930), S, Spring 2008
Course description: This is a 3-credit exam class focusing on the law of non-profit organizations. The first major component of the course will cover state-law rules governing the formation, operation, and dissolution of non-profits. The second component – a bit more than half the class – will involve federally-created incentives for non-profit behavior: the conditions organizations must meet in order to be exempt from U.S. tax. In both components, we will see similar themes: What is charity? Why do we give organizations that engage in it special advantages? How can we trust those organizations to use the powers we give them for the good purposes they promise? Who should monitor their behavior, and what should we do if they misbehave? Prerequisites: None.
Constitutional Law 1 (LAW 5501), B+, Spring 2006
Course description: A study of general principles of constitutional law under the United States Constitution. Also reviewed are the judicial function in constitutional cases, the federal system, the powers of the national government, and the powers reserved to the states.
Constitutional Law 2 (LAW 5502), B, Summer 2006
Course description: Required. An advanced study of freedom of expression and association, substantive and procedural due process of law, and the equal protection of the laws. Prerequisites: Constitutional Law I
Taxation Law 1 (LAW 6600), B, Fall 2007
Course description: A study of the fundamental concepts employed in federal income taxation, the public policies that underlie the current system and the impact of that system on individuals and business entities. Could be called Federal Income Tax, Income Tax or Tax. Prerequisites: None
Legal Writing and Research 1 (LAW 5792), B, Fall 2005
Course description: Development of skills in analysis, writing and research in the context of writing primarily interoffice or predictive memoranda; introduction to the legal research process and to selected primary and secondary sources; emphasis on plain English. Students build from early exercises applying a rule to a short set of facts to synthesizing and applying complex rules to more extensive fact patterns.
Legal Writing and Research 2 (LAW 5793), B, Spring 2006
Course description: Introduction of persuasive writing techniques; building on analytical skills developed in first semester, with increased emphasis on organizing arguments to a trial or appellate court; introduction to standards of review and other aspects of appellate practice; instruction in on-line research and additional primary and secondary sources. The major project of the semester is the production of an appellate brief and presentation of oral argument to members of the local bar.
Bioethics and the Law (ULWR) (LAW 7722), B+, Fall 2006
Course description: The seminar examines issues related to the rationing, rendering, harvesting, supply, demand and destruction of the human body and its genetic components. The seminar broadly engages genetics from the narrow study of gene patenting to broader questions of altruism versus markets in organs and reproductive materials. We will study whether human behaviors can be determined by genetics and investigate whether studies that pursue questions of behavior-determinant genes overstate what the research can uncover. We will cover issues regarding the ability of the state to regulate the body; the use of genes, gene patenting and control of tissues; organ donation; artificial insemination and markets for reproductive materials; genetic testing; eugenics and genetic diagnosis; genetic information and its effect on criminal law; cloning and property rights in individuals; behavioral genetics; gene therapy; and discrimination. Prerequisites: None
Civil Pre-trial Practice (LAW 7940), S, Fall 2006
Course description: May be taken as a S/U grade only. The course provides a hands-on, experience-based exposure to civil pre-trial law and practice. Skill areas addressed include client interviewing, negotiation and dispute resolution, as well as the drafting of pleadings, motions, requests and other documents pertaining to discovery and other pre-trial matters. In addition, students will gain exposure to the theoretical, strategic and practical ramifications of civil pre-trial practice. Prerequisites: None
Civil Externship (LAW 7949), S, Summer 2007
Course description: I externed at Legal Services of North Florida, a non profit organization which provides free-of-charge legal services to indigent clients. My supervisor was Marc Taps (now retired). I performed legal research, summarized research into memorandum form, and drafted pleadings and documents in court cases.
Civil Externship Perspectives (LAW 7949), S, Summer 2007
Course description: This is a seminar in which all students in civil law externships meet and discuss their experiences. This allowed me a glimpse into day-to-day activities in a variety of legal environments.
Civil Procedure (LAW 5300), C+, Fall 2005
Course description: An introduction to the principles of adjudication of the formalities of litigation in federal courts. Allocation of judicial business between state and federal judiciaries and the civil rights of defendants to be immune from inconvenient civil litigation are examined along with other aspects for jurisdiction. Phases of litigation - pleadings, complaint, discovery, answer and reply, motions for judgment on the pleadings, and summary judgment - are reviewed in depth.
Torts (LAW 5700), B+, Fall 2005
Course description: The study of civil wrongs for which the common law provides a remedy in the form of an action for damages. Topics include how accident losses are distributed; the role of trial judge, jury, and appellate judiciary; the language of negligence; and intentional wrongs.
Criminal Law (LAW 5100),B+, Spring 2006
Course description: An examination of substantive requirements of criminal law offenses and defenses, the social and political forces influencing the content of the criminal law, and the constitutional limits and requirements informing its content and application.
Evidence (LAW 6330), B, Spring 2007
Course description: A study of the rules of evidence developed by courts and by legislatures. Topics include competency, examination of witnesses, privilege, relevancy, expert testimony, hearsay rule and its exceptions, judicial notice and presumptions. Prerequisites: None
Jessup Moot Court (LAW 7951), S, Fall 2007
Judicial Externship (LAW 7949), S, Spring 2008
Judicial Externship Perspectives (LAW 7949), S, Spring 2008
Professional Responsibility (LAW 7750), A, Summer 2006
Course description: Required. Satisfies the Florida Bar requirement for curricular study of the regulation of the integrated bar. Studies include the exclusionary and anticompetitive practices of the organized bar, problems in the allocation of legal services, controversies over the deficiencies of various methods of regulating lawyer behavior, customs and courtesies of the bar, and the socio-economic expectations of lawyers, clients, and the public. Prerequisites: None
Usability Analysis (LIS 5275), A, Fall 2009
Course description: Design, execution, and reporting of tests for usability of information products and services. Includes cost justifying assessments and human cognition concepts required for information processing.
Human Resources Management (LIS 5403), A, Fall 2009
Course description: An examination of the basic concepts, practices, and problems of human resource management in information organizations.
Information Organization (LIS 5703), A, Fall 2009
Course description: Establishes the conceptual and theoretical framework for organizing and retrieving information, including the study of systems, their objectives and structure, formats. standards, and vocabularies; and the information object and its relationship to organizing systems and to other information objects.
Design and Production of Networked Media (LIS 5362), A , Spring 2010
Course description: Examines theory, concepts and techniques for designing, producing, and evaluating network multimedia resources to meet specific information needs. Students engage in collaborative design projects applying theoretical constructs from communication, education, engineering, graphic design and information science to the provision of resources using emerging multimedia network technologies.
Introduction to Information Policy (LIS 5411), A , Spring 2010
Course description: Course examines selected fundamental policy questions relating to information use, access, and dissemination. Particular attention is given to complex policy issues that involve value conflicts among information ownership rights, personal privacy rights, and public access rights to information in a societal context.
Fundamentals of Metadata Theory and Practice (LIS 5787), A , Spring 2010
Course description: Metadata is critical in accessing, managing, and exchanging electronic resources. This course will introduce students to the basic theories and principles of metadata design and creation using ER modeling, XML and RDF. Students will gain an understanding of current metadata standards and ability to evaluate these critically. They will also develop concrete experience and accomplishment in encoding metadata using current standards as well as designing new metadata schemas for different kinds of electronic resources and uses. Real-life scenarios and metadata collections will be used to highlight and gain understanding of the issues related to metadata aggregation and reuse. Prerequisite: LIS 5703
Assessing Information Needs (LIS 5203), A , Fall 2010
Course description: Provides students with an overview of the user's perspective in the analysis of information needs and preferences. Provides the fundamentals to a broad approach emphasizing a unifying structure to understand human information seeking behaviors.
Digital Libraries (LIS 5472), A, Fall 2010
Course description: The course offers a comprehensive overview of digital libraries, beginning with the conceptual underpinnings of digital libraries and broadening to include issues in design, management and evaluation of digital libraries, such as: collection management and digitization; knowledge representation; access and user interfaces; archiving and digital preservation; and evaluation. The research literature addressing digital library development will also be discussed. Prerequisite: LIS 5362 Design and Production of Network Multimedia; Prerequisite or C0-requisite: LIS 5703 Information Organization
Database Management Systems (5782), A , Fall 2010
Course description: Examines the basic principles, elements and concepts of design, implementation, and utilization of database management systems. Within database management systems, treats various models of data and databases. Also considers the administrative tasks associated in the database management environment.
Evaluation of Networked Information (LIS 5270), A-, Spring 2011
Course description: This course introduces the importance and applications of evaluating networked information services and systems. It examines a number of research methods and specific data collection to assess their quality and impact, emphasizing assessment in public and governmental sectors. Descriptions of the development of performance measures also are discussed.
Virtual Science Collaboration (LIS 5900), S, Spring 2011
Course description: I assisted in social science research on distance collaboration between physicists performing experiments at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Internship (LIS 5945), S, Spring 2011
I interned at the Florida State University College of Law Research Center (formerly called FSU Law Library).
Management of Information Organizations (LIS 5408), A, Summer 2011
Course description: This course is designed to develop a conceptual framework for integrating fundamental management concepts, principles, theories, and practices into an effective personal management process that relates to information organizations of the 21st century.