LAW 7849: Mediation Boot Camp
Mediation skills are invaluable to success in everything from negotiating commercial transactions to family interactions. Lawyers mediate most litigated cases, even those never filed in court. Do you want to be in the majority of people who constantly mediate, but never take a single mediation course? This course is a quick immersion in mediation advocacy, and mediation. It is intended for those who want to avoid being entirely unprepared for an essential part of legal practice and life. It is also intended for those who want to take a first step to see if mediation interests them. The two days of class will be an interactive exploration of the strategies, tactics and theories of mediation, and mediation advocacy. Class will include: 1) a concise overview of mediation approaches and theories, 2) skills exercises, 3) multiple mediation role plays, and 4) individualized video review. Together these will allow students to think about, practice, and experiment with, the most effective appr
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Mediation skills are invaluable to success in everything from negotiating commercial transactions to family interactions. Lawyers mediate most litigated cases, even those never filed in court. Do you want to be in the majority of people who constantly mediate, but never take a single mediation course? This course is a quick immersion in mediation advocacy, and mediation. It is intended for those who want to avoid being entirely unprepared for an essential part of legal practice and life. It is also intended for those who want to take a first step to see if mediation interests them. The two days of class will be an interactive exploration of the strategies, tactics and theories of mediation, and mediation advocacy. Class will include: 1) a concise overview of mediation approaches and theories, 2) skills exercises, 3) multiple mediation role plays, and 4) individualized video review. Together these will allow students to think about, practice, and experiment with, the most effective approaches to mediation advocacy and mediation. The course will be taught by Michael E. Dickstein, a full-time mediator of complex cases across the U.S. and Canada for more than twenty years, and a former partner in a leading law firm. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, and Video Review. In Winter Quarter, this class will meet Friday, February 20, 2:00 to 6:30 pm and Saturday, February 21, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. This class is limited to 15 students. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available at
https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/consent-of-instructor-forms/. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
Terms: Win
| Units: 1
Instructors:
Dickstein, M. (PI)
LAW 7850: Advanced Legal Writing: High-Tech Transactions
This is a practice-based, skills-building class requiring students to draft, edit, and negotiate a complex technology agreement. Using a biotechnology case as context, the curriculum is designed to translate contract principles and doctrine (to which students have been exposed,) into real-world practice. Students will acquire the foundational tools necessary to write clear, effective, plain-language provisions into agreements that memorialize a bargain between parties based on realistic situations. Exercises include simulations in which students will draft, edit, and negotiate sections of agreements. Students will also be expected to show an understanding of what it means to develop, foster, and sustain client trust, advocate in a client's best interests, as well as effectively and ethically engage with a counter-party's counsel. Students will function as senior associates in a law firm, or as in-house counsel tasked with managing licensing and commercial transactions for a technology
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This is a practice-based, skills-building class requiring students to draft, edit, and negotiate a complex technology agreement. Using a biotechnology case as context, the curriculum is designed to translate contract principles and doctrine (to which students have been exposed,) into real-world practice. Students will acquire the foundational tools necessary to write clear, effective, plain-language provisions into agreements that memorialize a bargain between parties based on realistic situations. Exercises include simulations in which students will draft, edit, and negotiate sections of agreements. Students will also be expected to show an understanding of what it means to develop, foster, and sustain client trust, advocate in a client's best interests, as well as effectively and ethically engage with a counter-party's counsel. Students will function as senior associates in a law firm, or as in-house counsel tasked with managing licensing and commercial transactions for a technology developer. A focus will be placed on understanding client's needs versus wants, as well as modes of supporting clients to achieve their goals while identifying, counseling, and mitigating legal risk. Exercises are designed to help students improve their critical thinking, due diligence, analysis, drafting, and editing skills, which deepens an understanding as to the expectations of attorneys and clients with whom they will be working and supporting respectively. Grades will be based heavily on class participation, skills built in simulated negotiations, as well as drafting exercises weighted by level of complexity. Prerequisite: Completed an Introductory level Intellectual Property class (
LAW 4005) or comparable prior experience with consent of the instructor on a case-by-case basis. Special Instructions: Students on the waitlist for the course will be admitted if spots are available on the basis of priority and degree program.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Erciyas Bailey, F. (PI)
;
Kailasanath, V. (PI)
;
Moon, P. (PI)
;
Mosher, R. (PI)
...
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Instructors:
Erciyas Bailey, F. (PI)
;
Kailasanath, V. (PI)
;
Moon, P. (PI)
;
Mosher, R. (PI)
;
Park, T. (PI)
LAW 7851: Introduction to Legal Research
This course will introduce law students to the sources and methods used in legal research. Students will (1) gain familiarity with core primary and secondary U.S. legal information sources, how this material is used, organized, published, indexed, and kept current, and how to efficiently find and use these sources; (2) build foundational research skills that can be used to approach legal research questions in any area of law; and (3) develop basic strategies to effectively use both familiar and unfamiliar research databases, sources, and tools. Learning legal research requires a hands-on approach, so students will be expected to be active participants in class and through out-of-class assignments. There will not be a final exam. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, Written Assignments. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS Registrar website
https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/. Click SUNetID Login in the top right corner of the page and then click the "Consent Courses" tab. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline. This course is only open to first-year JD (1L) students.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 2
Instructors:
Marks, T. (PI)
LAW 7853: Advanced Legal Research: Transactional
This course aims to prepare students to research as a corporate or transactional lawyer, including the analysis, search process, information evaluation, and reasoning necessary to ethically research transactional law problems and advise clients on transactional law matters. We aim to broaden your knowledge of the methods, databases, sources, and materials that you will encounter when conducting transactional law research, including both extractive and generative AI tools; and to increase your familiarity with common transactional law issues and the research requests that typically accompany those issues. Students' learning objectives are to develop best practices for research strategies, identify sources, and enhance their research skills related to several common transactional law research problems, which may include corporate formation and organization; SEC filings; and precedent documents and forms. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, Written Assignments.
Last offered: Winter 2025
| Units: 3
LAW 7854: Lawyers as Leaders Intensive Boot Camp
You've got the substantive legal knowledge and intellectual firepower necessary to be a good lawyer, but do you have the leadership skills it takes to be a great one? Leaders in law and business want trusted advisors who excel in skills like problem solving, creativity, ability to deal with ambiguity and complexity, and exceptional communication and persuasion skills. This course focuses on strengthening these critical skills for the career that you are developing. In this highly immersive class, our hands-on exercises and discussions assess and develop your skills in strategic decision making, influence techniques, motivating others, leading teams, and managing change in unpredictable environments. We use neuroscience techniques that optimize adult learning, with real-time feedback on classroom exercises and short reflection papers to help create new habits for success. The course meets in a three full-day session immediately before the start of Fall Quarter (Sept. 9-11). We then meet
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You've got the substantive legal knowledge and intellectual firepower necessary to be a good lawyer, but do you have the leadership skills it takes to be a great one? Leaders in law and business want trusted advisors who excel in skills like problem solving, creativity, ability to deal with ambiguity and complexity, and exceptional communication and persuasion skills. This course focuses on strengthening these critical skills for the career that you are developing. In this highly immersive class, our hands-on exercises and discussions assess and develop your skills in strategic decision making, influence techniques, motivating others, leading teams, and managing change in unpredictable environments. We use neuroscience techniques that optimize adult learning, with real-time feedback on classroom exercises and short reflection papers to help create new habits for success. The course meets in a three full-day session immediately before the start of Fall Quarter (Sept. 9-11). We then meet 3 hours/month through the academic year in workshop style -- interactive sessions in which students bring and work on actual leadership challenges, brainstorming and problem solving as a cohort Precise meeting dates/time TBA by instructors. Enrollment in the class (4 units) is in Autumn Quarter 2020. An "N" grade (indicates satisfactory progress in a course that has not yet reached completion) will be given at the end of Autumn Quarter 2020. Final grades will be given at the end of Spring Quarter 2021 and will be applied to Autumn Quarter 2020. Elements used in grading: Class participation and attendance, course exercises and written assignments. Class Outline (
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_XAWnMhQE0bFVgRE2eR0kA488plZddvJhDKxw_PdZEo/edit) . Info Sheet (
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xhgnenqkq99shd1/Lawyers%20As%20Leaders%20%20Poster.pdf?dl=0 ). CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS website (Click Courses at the bottom of the homepage and then click Consent of Instructor Forms). See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
Last offered: Autumn 2020
| Units: 4
LAW 7855: Successfully Launching Your Nonprofit Public Interest Career: Preparing for Practice
This professional development seminar is intended for 2Ls, 3Ls, and graduating Advanced Degree students who plan to start their public interest careers working at a nonprofit organization. This course is not open to 1Ls. All participants must have: (1) worked--or have plans to work--at least part of one summer at a nonprofit; and/or (2) have specific plans to work at a nonprofit after graduation. Through lectures, readings, simulations, and exercises, students will learn key skills required to excel at their role at a nonprofit legal organization. Areas of focus will include: (1) creating strategies for managing projects, caseloads, and advocacy campaigns; (2) understanding and working with nonprofit financial systems, revenue models, and expense budgets as well as personal financial planning; (3) developing an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens for work with clients, colleagues, and external partners (e.g., community partners, opposing counsel, pro bono collaborators); (4) communication and facilitation skills; and (5) building effective coalitions and partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., community leaders, policy-makers, pro bono partners, etc.). Elements used in grading: Attendance, Performance, Class Participation, Written Assignments.
Last offered: Spring 2025
| Units: 2
LAW 7856: Public Speaking for Lawyers
This interactive workshop explores the public speaking and performance skills necessary to help you excel as an advocate and leader. Through a series of group exercises and simulations, individual presentations, performance theory discussions, and short assignments, we will actively explore the artistic and athletic craft of delivery, using performance techniques embraced by award-winning performers, world leaders, and Olympic athletes. By the end of this course, you should be able to speak and move with more freedom, presence, and humanity, listen effectively, and joyfully connect with audiences of all sizes and backgrounds. No prior performance or public speaking experience necessary, but you will be expected to bring your full attention, a sense of curiosity and play, respectful support for your fellow students as they learn, and a willingness to discover, use, and share your authentic voice. Grading will be based on attendance, class participation, and written and/or oral assignments.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Marchegiani, P. (PI)
LAW 7857: Advanced Legal Research: Administrative Law
This course aims to prepare students to research federal administrative law. Students will develop research strategies, information evaluation skills, and the reasoning necessary to navigate heavily federally-regulated areas of the law, participate effectively in the administrative rulemaking process, and advise clients on regulatory matters. The purpose of this course is to broaden your knowledge of the methods, databases, sources, and primary materials you will encounter when conducting administrative law research, and to increase your familiarity with advanced research strategies. At the end of the course, students will be able to: (1) locate sources of federal administrative regulation, regulatory history, administrative decisions and opinions, and administrative guidance; (2) adapt administrative law research strategies across multiple agencies and federally-regulated legal areas; (3) identify stakeholders and locate interdisciplinary research sources to deepen the analysis of reg
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This course aims to prepare students to research federal administrative law. Students will develop research strategies, information evaluation skills, and the reasoning necessary to navigate heavily federally-regulated areas of the law, participate effectively in the administrative rulemaking process, and advise clients on regulatory matters. The purpose of this course is to broaden your knowledge of the methods, databases, sources, and primary materials you will encounter when conducting administrative law research, and to increase your familiarity with advanced research strategies. At the end of the course, students will be able to: (1) locate sources of federal administrative regulation, regulatory history, administrative decisions and opinions, and administrative guidance; (2) adapt administrative law research strategies across multiple agencies and federally-regulated legal areas; (3) identify stakeholders and locate interdisciplinary research sources to deepen the analysis of regulatory actions and their broader legal, social, and economic impacts; and (4) engage in the rulemaking process. Learning legal research requires a hands-on approach. Grades are based on: class participation, in-class exercises, asynchronous class work, homework assignments, and a final project. There is no final exam. This course does not require Advanced Legal Research: Litigation as a prerequisite nor does taking ALR: Litigation exempt you from taking this class. While students who have taken ALR: Litigation will benefit from applying their research skills in new contexts, this course covers distinct materials and methods that are not addressed in ALR: Litigation, offering a complementary learning experience.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
LAW 7858: Strategic Advocacy
Law students' steady diet of appellate opinions tends to eclipse the role of the advocacy that leads to decisions. In fact, lawyers make countless strategic decisions about how best to present the facts and law, and how best to advance their clients' interests. These decisions include issues of substance and tone, as well as building coalitions to support the positions being advanced. In this seminar, we will explore various elements of lawyers' advocacy by examining a series of criminal appeals. Some of these will be cases (including capital cases) that the instructor handled; some of the others will involve significant criminal law and/or criminal procedure cases of the modern era. We will read the briefs, decisions, and (in some instances) secondary materials relating to the cases we will be studying. We will also consider how some general literature on strategic advocacy relates to the cases we are examining. Our discussions will include a critical assessment of the strategic decis
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Law students' steady diet of appellate opinions tends to eclipse the role of the advocacy that leads to decisions. In fact, lawyers make countless strategic decisions about how best to present the facts and law, and how best to advance their clients' interests. These decisions include issues of substance and tone, as well as building coalitions to support the positions being advanced. In this seminar, we will explore various elements of lawyers' advocacy by examining a series of criminal appeals. Some of these will be cases (including capital cases) that the instructor handled; some of the others will involve significant criminal law and/or criminal procedure cases of the modern era. We will read the briefs, decisions, and (in some instances) secondary materials relating to the cases we will be studying. We will also consider how some general literature on strategic advocacy relates to the cases we are examining. Our discussions will include a critical assessment of the strategic decisions the prosecution, the defense and (in some instances) amici made in these cases. In several of the cases we will also be examining the lawyers' relationships with the media and the community during the pendency of the case, as well as the ethical implications of the lawyers' conduct in those and other areas. Although the matters to be examined are all criminal appeals, the underlying focus on strategic advocacy applies to any kind of advocacy--criminal or civil, trial or appellate, judicial or administrative, litigation-oriented or negotiation-focused. Each student will write a final paper on a subject to be discussed with the instructor. After the term begins, students enrolled in the course can transfer from section (01) into section (02), which meets the R requirement, with consent of the instructor. Grading is on the H/P/RC/F system and will be based on class-participation and the final paper.
| Units: 2
LAW 7859: Effective Representation in Mediation
This experiential course provides an intensive opportunity to practice the core skills needed to be an effective representative of a client in mediation. The class includes an introduction to the mediation process and how it fits into the various options for dispute resolution commonly used in our legal system. Students also learn about the most important styles of mediation and considerations in selecting an appropriate mediator. The bulk of the class consists of exercises and simulations providing an opportunity to practice the various analytical, oral, and written skills that are needed to perform effectively as an advocate for a client in mediation. Individualized feedback from the instructor will be provided. Students will have an opportunity to serve as counsel in at least one simulated mediation session conducted by a professional mediator. By the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Distinguish mediation from other methods of dispute resolution. 2. Identify various
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This experiential course provides an intensive opportunity to practice the core skills needed to be an effective representative of a client in mediation. The class includes an introduction to the mediation process and how it fits into the various options for dispute resolution commonly used in our legal system. Students also learn about the most important styles of mediation and considerations in selecting an appropriate mediator. The bulk of the class consists of exercises and simulations providing an opportunity to practice the various analytical, oral, and written skills that are needed to perform effectively as an advocate for a client in mediation. Individualized feedback from the instructor will be provided. Students will have an opportunity to serve as counsel in at least one simulated mediation session conducted by a professional mediator. By the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Distinguish mediation from other methods of dispute resolution. 2. Identify various styles of mediation. 3. Work appropriately with a client to prepare for mediation. 4. Write a persuasive mediation statement addressed to the other side and the mediator. 5. Deliver an opening presentation at a mediation session. 6. Understand the fundamentals of negotiating in a mediated environment. 7. Recognize the core legal and ethical issues of concern to lawyers representing clients in mediation. The course meets for six three-hour sessions during the month of October: Fridays, October 3, 10, 17, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Tuesdays, October 7, 14, 21, from 4:15 pm to 7:15 pm. Attendance at all six sessions is mandatory. Elements used in grading: class participation, attendance at all classes, written assignments. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete a Consent Application Form available at SLS Registrar
https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/. You are encouraged to apply if you have taken, or are concurrently taking, the basic negotiation class or its equivalent in studies or experience.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 2