DCSIMG

Course Descriptions

Required Courses

Administrative Law (3)

Administrative Law is the law relating to administrative agencies in both the state and federal governments. All agencies, from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the State Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, are required to comply with administrative law. Agencies make legally binding laws, called regulations, and have the power to decide who has violated the laws they have created. This course will teach students the law governing agencies and how to challenge or defend agency actions. This course will also examine such topics as the separation of powers (and other constitutional issues), state statutory law (especially the California Administrative Procedure Act), the role the judiciary has in controlling agencies, whether agencies can take actions for political reasons, and the procedures agencies must provide for people who apply for benefits. Regardless of the type of law a student intends to practice, it is highly probable that the student will have to deal with agencies. Surveyed lawyers consistently report that this is one of the courses they would most recommend current students take to be prepared for law practice.

Legislation and Statutory Interpretation (3)

In this age of statutory proliferation, an understanding of how courts interpret statutes is a crucial skill every attorney should possess. The dominant purpose of this class is to train students to make effective statutory interpretation arguments on behalf of their clients. Through a combination of exercises and cases, the class explores the academic and judicial debate concerning appropriate methods of statutory interpretation. In addition to studying the legislative process, students will learn different devices that are used in the interpretation of statutes, such as canons of construction, legislative history and precedent, as well as different theories of statutory interpretation, such as textualism, dynamic statutory interpretation and purposive interpretation.

Government Law, Theory and Practice Seminar (2)

In this course, students reflect upon the theory that underlies government operations and conduct independent research applying theory to a current government law issue. Using a combination of theoretical and practical approaches, students engage in a thorough analysis of a specific complex contemporary government law issue and then develop proposals to resolve the issue through legislative or administrative processes. A substantial paper and class presentation is a requirement of the course.

Field Placement/Externship (3) *

Students perform on-site legal work as externs under the supervision of field placement supervisors in governmental units which specialize in matters of local, state or federal government law and policy or in a legislative office, a lobbyist's office, or in the legislative office of a government agency.

* With the approval of the Capital Certificate Director, students may substitute work in a Pacific McGeorge legal clinic for a field placement/externship.

Electives

Offered in Fall 2011

Offered in Spring 2012