University of Georgia Law : Business Law and Ethics Program

Business Law and Ethics Program

To better prepare students for a business law practice, the School of Law created the Business Law and Ethics Program in 2009, providing students greatly expanded opportunities to study business law as well as business concepts and ethical issues confronting today’s business leaders. The program includes practice-based courses, which are designed to link legal theory to the practice of law, with a particular focus on transactional practice. Experiential learning, through participation in externships and clinical experiences and on the school’s negotiation competition team, is a key element of the program. Students have the opportunity, both in and out of the classroom, to practice essential skills such as negotiation, legal drafting, critical thinking, counseling, and creative problem-solving. It is a point of pride and an indicator of the program’s success that Georgia Law’s negotiation team has captured national titles and earned other significant recognition.

Negotiation & Transactional Competitions
Georgia Law’s negotiation competition team, which boasts several national championships, allows select second- and third-year students to vie against teams from other respected law schools across the country to hone their negotiation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Try-outs for second-year students are typically held in the fall.

History of competitions and wins.

Core Courses and Electives
Students interested in a business law practice are encouraged to take the following core courses:

Corporations
Securities Regulation
Legal Accounting
Income Tax
At least one of the following: Corporate Finance, Bankruptcy, or Secured Transactions

In addition, students benefit from Georgia Law's generous offering of business law electives.

Practice Based Courses:

• Anatomy of a Mergers & Acquisitions Deal

• Business Negotiations

• Document Drafting

• Interviewing, Counseling, Negotiating

• Legal Drafting for Transactional Practice

• Life Cycle of a Corporation

Business Ethics Focus
Business clients confront ethical challenges, even in situations that are legally compliant. A distinguishing feature of Georgia Law’s Business Law and Ethics Program is a strong emphasis on business ethics, particularly with respect to the lawyer’s role in advising business clients. Courses with a special focus on business ethics include: Business Ethics Seminar, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Business Practices.

Externships and Clinical Experiences
Externships and clinical experiences provide essential hands-on learning opportunities. The Corporate Counsel Externship Program allows law students to explore the practice of law from the perspective of an in-house counsel while developing key transactional skills. With more than 20 student placements in legal departments in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, Georgia Law students have worked at entities such as: Acuity Brands, Inc., American Cancer Society, Asbury Automotive Group, BlueLinx Corporation, CARE, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, InterContinental Hotels Group, NCR Corporation, Verizon Wireless, and YKK Corporation of America, among others.

Additionally, in 2013, Georgia Law debuted its Business Law Clinic, which presents students with the opportunity to represent nonprofit business organizations and small business owners in corporate matters relating to formation, corporate governance and contracts.

Other clinical experiences that offer transactional opportunities include the following :

The Business Law Society
The Business Law Society brings together law students interested in corporate and business law for educational and professional development, including participation in events involving corporate and business law firms and organizations.

Related Links

Contact

Carol Morgan

Hirsch Hall Room 203

706-542-2003

Alumni Insight

"I hoped the Negotiation Team would be a place to learn, practice and sharpen the skills I would need going forward in a career as a transactional lawyer. The experience turned out to be that and more. I now feel comfortable that I can sit down across the table from anyone and represent my client's interests in an effective and efficient manner."

Patrick S. Baldwin, Class of 2010

www.law.uga.edu

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Alumni Insight

	Negotiation & Transactional Competitions Georgia Law’s negotiation competition team, which boasts several national championships, allows select second- and third-year students to vie against teams from other respected law schools across the country to hone their negotiation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Try-outs for second-year students are typically held in the fall. History of competitions and wins.
	Core Courses and Electives Students interested in a business law practice are encouraged to take the following core courses: Corporations Securities Regulation Legal Accounting Income Tax At least one of the following: Corporate Finance, Bankruptcy, or Secured Transactions In addition, students benefit from Georgia Law's generous offering of business law electives.
	Practice Based Courses: • Anatomy of a Mergers & Acquisitions Deal • Business Negotiations • Document Drafting • Interviewing, Counseling, Negotiating • Legal Drafting for Transactional Practice • Life Cycle of a Corporation
	Business Ethics Focus Business clients confront ethical challenges, even in situations that are legally compliant. A distinguishing feature of Georgia Law’s Business Law and Ethics Program is a strong emphasis on business ethics, particularly with respect to the lawyer’s role in advising business clients. Courses with a special focus on business ethics include: Business Ethics Seminar, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Business Practices.
	Externships and Clinical Experiences Externships and clinical experiences provide essential hands-on learning opportunities. The Corporate Counsel Externship Program allows law students to explore the practice of law from the perspective of an in-house counsel while developing key transactional skills. With more than 20 student placements in legal departments in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, Georgia Law students have worked at entities such as: Acuity Brands, Inc., American Cancer Society, Asbury Automotive Group, BlueLinx Corporation, CARE, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, InterContinental Hotels Group, NCR Corporation, Verizon Wireless, and YKK Corporation of America, among others. Additionally, in 2013, Georgia Law debuted its Business Law Clinic, which presents students with the opportunity to represent nonprofit business organizations and small business owners in corporate matters relating to formation, corporate governance and contracts. Other clinical experiences that offer transactional opportunities include the following : Civil Externship Program Environmental Practicum Public Interest Practicum
	The Business Law Society The Business Law Society brings together law students interested in corporate and business law for educational and professional development, including participation in events involving corporate and business law firms and organizations.