Course Offerings

The evolution of First Amendment principles and how they apply to media providers, media consumers, and social media.  The course includes readings, classroom discussion, and independent research projects in which the student will complete a research paper and then present that paper to the class. (This class is pass/fail).

This course for MSL students focuses on analytical skills such as reading critically, deconstructing rules, synthesizing authorities, organizing legal analysis, and communicating that analysis in writing. Emphasis is also placed on writing style and skills that will enable MSL students to communicate professionally about legal issues in their chosen careers.

Introduces the process of legal analysis and reasoning and teaches students to produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose, with an emphasis on objective analysis and writing

Course develops advanced skills of legal analysis and reasoning within the context of both objective analysis and legal argument. Students will produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose. Also covered are basic concepts, conventions, and formats for drafting legal documents.

This basic survey course has two major goals. First, though we think of ourselves as a common law country, most of our laws come from statutes. Lawyers, in whatever kind of law practice they engage, find themselves confronted regularly with statutes which must be made sense of. Therefore, the ability to read, interpret, and argue from statutes is a fundamental skill for any attorney. The first goal of this course, then, is to introduce the practical skills and basic theory for working with statutes. Second, and more broadly, students may have noticed that "law school" might be better described as "court school." That is, there is much education about courts, judges, and judicial process, but far less about how most of our laws are made. The second goal of this course, then, is to explore the legislative process and to begin to understand how the three branches of the federal government (and most states, as well) speak to one another. The course will combine standard law school teaching methods (lecture and Socratic discussion) with interactive classroom exercises. Most of the course grade will be based on an exam, but classroom engagement and perhaps one or two (very very short) written assignments will factor in as well. This course will be taught as a blended learning course. It will meet each Tuesday in person. On Fridays, it will sometimes meet in person, and sometimes virtually. In addition, some Friday classes will be replaced by podcasts that students can listen to at their leisure, together with writing assignments and small group meetings. Please email Professor Levin with any questions (hlevin@uga.edu).

This basic survey course has two major goals. First, though we think of ourselves as a common law country, most of our laws come from statutes. Lawyers, in whatever kind of law practice they engage, find themselves confronted regularly with statutes which must be made sense of. Therefore, the ability to read, interpret, and argue from statutes is a fundamental skill for any attorney. The first goal of this course, then, is to introduce the practical skills and basic theory for working with statutes. Second, and more broadly, students may have noticed that "law school" might be better described as "court school." That is, there is much education about courts, judges, and judicial process, but far less about how most of our laws are made. The second goal of this course, then, is to explore the legislative process and to begin to understand how the three branches of the federal government (and most states, as well) speak to one another. The course will combine standard law school teaching methods (lecture and Socratic discussion) with interactive classroom exercises. Most of the course grade will be based on an exam, but classroom engagement and perhaps one or two (very very short) written assignments will factor in as well.

Life Cycle of a Corporation covers the legal transactions involved in each stage of business evolution - from a founder leaving a current employer and the birth of a new company, through raising venture capital and growing the business, culminating in an initial public offering (IPO), acquisition or other exit strategy.

This class follows the life-cycle of a corporation from inception through venture financing, IPO, M&A, and bankruptcy, aiming to provide an overview of corporate practice. The class incorporates Harvard Business School cases and emphasizes group work and participation. Beyond the substantive coverage, the course introduces students to the various kinds of drafting a corporate practice requires. Students are evaluated on class participation, 3 drafting exercises, and a final paper and presentation.

Limited liability companies (LLCs) and partnerships are the most common legal entity forms used by U.S. businesses today.  This course focuses on the legal, financial, tax, and other practical matters relating to LLCs and partnerships and the terms of their governing documents.  Class attendance and participation are required. 

LLM Legal Writing and Research introduces LLM students to the process of legal analysis, reasoning, and research in American law. The course teaches students to produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose, with an emphasis on objective analysis and writing. The course also teaches students the fundamentals of legal research.

This seminar focuses on the legal problems and issues associated with the unique, growing phenomenon of mass torts, e.g., the B.P. Oil Spill, the 9/11 litigation, tobacco, Agent Orange, Dalkon Shield, breast implants, asbestos personal injury litigation, etc. We will examine such issues as consolidation of state and federal litigation in one forum, judicial determination of who should appropriately manage the litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants, how courts determine legal causation, strategic and ethical considerations for plaintiffs and defendants, strategies for litigation funding, alternatives to judicial resolution, and issues associated with Congressional intervention. This class will explore the overriding question of whether the courts can dispense individual justice in cases involving thousands of litigants. Course requirements will include writing a substantial research paper as well as actively participating in class discussion.

Examines a variety of legal issues affecting the news media. After an introductory examination of traditional constitutional issues arising out of the First Amendment and a philosophical look at the justifications for free speech protection, the course explores how these traditional principles are balanced against competing interests not only in constitutional law but also in common law and statutory regulations. Issues dealt with include prior restraint, defamation, privacy, access to court proceedings, access to government meetings and documents, the reporter's privilege, and intellectual property issues affecting the press. In addition this course addresses issues specific to electronic media, although it focuses on the communicative, as opposed to the administrative or regulatory aspects of this emerging area of law.

Media law is dynamic and colorful, and our understanding of it is changing. New communication technologies, for example, are prompting lawyers, judges, and scholars to reconsider traditional legal doctrines and concepts. This course addresses the old and the new, with a focus on the philosophical basis of free expression; the principles that animate the First Amendment; and the discrete issues that most often impact the media, including prior restraints, privacy, defamation, intellectual property, access to public meetings and records, protection of news sources and notes, access to courts, and obscenity and indecency. The fine print: This is an online class that meets by Zoom from 7 to 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday, with other asynchronous material assigned weekly. Final grades will be determined by writing projects, not a traditional exam. If you have questions, please email jonathan.peters@uga.edu. Instructor: Jonathan Peters is a media law professor at the University of Georgia, with appointments in the School of Law and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is the press freedom correspondent for the Columbia Journalism Review, and he is a frequent commentator on media law issues for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, CNN, NPR, and PBS. Peters conducts research in both American and international media law, and he is coauthor of the book The Law of Public Communication.

JURI 5576E: Media Law Summer Term 2020 (3 Credit Hours) Description: Media law is dynamic and colorful, and our understanding of it is changing. New communication technologies, for example, are prompting lawyers, judges, and scholars to reconsider traditional legal doctrines and concepts. This course addresses the old and the new, with a focus on the philosophical basis of free expression; the principles that animate the First Amendment; and the discrete issues that most often impact the media, including prior restraints, privacy, defamation, intellectual property, access to public meetings and records, protection of news sources and notes, access to courts, and obscenity and indecency. The fine print: This is an online class that meets by Zoom from 7 to 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday, with other asynchronous material assigned weekly. Final grades will be determined by writing projects, not a traditional exam. This course will soon be posted in the scheduling system, at which point the school will circulate the registration number. If you have questions, please email jonathan.peters@uga.edu. Instructor: Jonathan Peters is a media law professor at the University of Georgia, with appointments in the School of Law and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is the press freedom correspondent for the Columbia Journalism Review, and he has written about legal issues for Esquire, The Atlantic, and Wired, among others. Peters conducts research in both American and international media law, and he is coauthor of the book The Law of Public Communication.

This clinical course includes four primary components: 1) solo mediation of selected cases in the Clarke County Magistrate Court, 2) weekly two-hour class sessions which will combine in-depth assessments of completed cases and integrated discussions of readings in mediation theory and practice, 3) advanced readings on mediation and dispute resolution theory, and 4) regular periodic reflective writing in the form of two journals and a learning appraisal. Students will meet individually with the clinical supervisor for individual feedback and evaluation.

The course consists of in-class, simulation-based training, including interactive training on the mediation process, the role and competencies of the mediator, ethical and regulatory rules governing mediation and a series of specific topics of mediation practice. It also includes an introduction to small claims court and to the primary legal issues that students will encounter in practice. This course is designed to satisfy the requirements of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution ("GODR") for the training of court-certified mediators.

A nuts and bolts approach to medical malpractice law and litigation in Georgia. Taught by practicing attorneys, plaintiff and defense perspectives are offered. While the focus is on substantive law, the procedural aspects of such cases are also covered.

The legal issues relating to mental health and illness, including competency, disability, confidentiality (HIPAA), duty to warn, civil commitment, criminal defenses, discrimination, and similar issues. Recommended for students planning careers in the helping professions, including social work, therapy, psychology, education, and criminal justice.

This course surveys the legal issues relating to mental health and illness, including competency, disability, confidentiality (HIPAA), duty to warn, civil commitment, criminal defenses, discrimination, and similar issues. The course will help students planning careers in the helping professions, including social work, therapy, psychology, education, and criminal justice.

This course will focus on the role of the Judge Advocate in the six service branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, with particular emphasis on the largest Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Students will learn about the six core competencies of military law, which include administrative and civil law, claims, contract and fiscal law, international and operational law, legal assistance, and military justice. We will review some of the most significant Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), and federal court decisions as they relate to military law. This course is ideal for any student who wishes to learn more about the role of a military lawyer and the unique skills and value they bring to the mission and to a Commander’s decision-making.

Student teams prepare civil or criminal jury trials under the supervision of a faculty advisor by preparing and presenting pretrial evidentiary motions, opening statements, direct and cross examinations of witnesses, and closing arguments. A student must be selected as a competing advocate who will attend a competition in the semester in which the student registers.

This is a study in the theories that animate modern legal scholarship and practice. The course surveys classic articles and book excerpts and reviews to provide a basic understanding of the dominant theoretical movements and their development.

This is an online course studying in the theories that animate modern legal scholarship and practice. The course surveys classic articles and book excerpts and reviews to provide a basic understanding of the dominant theoretical movements and their development.

Student teams prepare appellate briefs and bench briefs and practice oral arguments under the supervision of a faculty advisor for regional, national, and international competitions. A student must be selected as a competing advocate who will attend a competition in the semester in which the student registers. This course is graded S/U.

Preparation, handling of international law moot court case and representation of hypothetical states before international legal tribunal. Topics covered impart knowledge of international legal reasoning, novel research and effective oral advocacy. Enrollment extended by permission. This course is graded S/U.