LAW 8885      Seminar In Philosophy And Law
An examination from a philosophical perspective of the historical and conceptual relationships present in the evolution, development and analysis of law, including natural law theory, legal positivism and legal realism, and focusing on a specific area of controversy in the law.
Credits: 2 hours
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LAW 8792      Seminar On Gun Law & Policy
This course examines legal and public policy issues relating to firearms and the role they play in the United States, with a particular emphasis on debates about the meaning of the Second Amendment and attempts to hold gun manufacturers and sellers liable under tort law. Research paper required. No prerequisite courses.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8881      Seminar On The Supreme Court
Students simulate the work of the Supreme Court on nine cases presently pending before that court. The student justices study the briefs and related material filed in each case, discuss and vote on the cases, and write majority and dissenting opinions. Enrollment in the seminar is limited-fittingly--to nine justices.
Credits: 3 hours
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LAW 8867      Social Security Administration Law Clinic
Students assist an Administrative Law Judge in performing duties handled by the Social Security Administration, including reviewing files of pending cases; conducting legal research; attending hearings and participating in conferences, as assigned; preparing recommendations for the disposition of motions and for on the record decisions; and preparing draft decisions. Students are supervised by an attorney advisor and attend regular conferences with a supervising faculty member who reviews copies of all clinic written work that may be so reviewed under Social Security Administration rules. Prerequisite: Administrative Law. Ungraded. Pass/Fail.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8770      State And Local Government Law
Structure, powers, and divisions of local governments in metropolitan areas; role and powers of cities, counties, towns, school and special districts; decentralized and neighborhood governmental units and other local governmental units; legislative, home-rule, and constitutional sources of power; sovereign immunity; boundary adjustments; public employee relations; citizen participation; reapportionment; licensing and permits; ethics and public access to records; regional governance; intergovernmental cooperation; interstate compacts and authorities; function of local government with reference to solution of problems created by urban growth; role of judicial, administrative, and political processes.
Credits: 2,3 hours
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LAW 8848      State And Local Taxation
State and local taxation of income, sales and property, including the apportionment of tax obligations to multiple states. Restrictions imposed by constitutional doctrines such as the uniformity and equality requirement and the prohibition on interfering with interstate commerce.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8900      Takings Law
An examination of all aspects of takings law including the historical and constitutional basis for eminent domain, the public use requirement, regulatory takings, development exactions, and alternatives to takings. Comparisons between U.S. and state regimes and comparative takings law.
Credits: 1-2 hours
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LAW 8834      Tax Procedure
Problem-method study of procedures and taxpayers' rights when deficiencies are assessed by the Internal Revenue Service; tax liens; commencement of litigation in Tax Court, Federal District Court, and Court of Claims.
Credits: 2 hours
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LAW 8612      Tax Planning With Life Insurance
An examination of the various tax consequences of using life insurance, including issues relating to the income, gift and estate tax consequences of life insurance ownership by an individual, and irrevocable trust, or business entity.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8874      Tax-Exempt Organizations
An in-depth examination of the state and federal laws that govern the formation and operation of tax-exempt organizations, with emphasis on Sec. 501 (c) (3) charities; criteria for tax-exempt status; IRS application and reporting procedures; unrealted business income tax issues.
Credits: 2 hours
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LAW 8603      Taxation Of Business Organization
Survey course of the taxation of business enterprises, particularly partnerships, corporations and subchapter S corporations. Prerequisites: Federal Taxation and Business Organizations.
Credits: 2,3 hours
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LAW 8892      Taxation Of Estates, Gifts And Trusts
Problem method study of estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes and the income taxation of estates and trusts. Emphasis on lifetime and post-mortem planning as well as compliance requirements.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8893      Taxation Of Property Transactions
Income taxation of property transactions. Detailed study of capital gains and losses, passive losses, the at-risk rules, and the alternative minimum tax.
Credits: hours
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LAW 8902      Topics and Cases Related to In-House Counsel
This course surveys a wide range of legal issues from the in-house counsel perspective, including those related to professional responsibility, corporate governance, transactions, compliance, risk management, intellectual property and litigation. Through the use of case studies, students will use legal principles and business judgement to analyze scenarios in various corporate settings. Prerequisites: Business Organizations.
Credits: 1 hours
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LAW 8511      Torts
Wrongs to the person and to property; legal remedies through which compensation or other relief may be obtained.
Credits: 3 hours
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LAW 8700      Trial Advocacy I
A practical skills course in advocacy which introduces students to the fundamental components of a typical civil and criminal trial and requires students to perform exercises involving each component and try a mock civil or criminal case from provided problem materials. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite or corequisite: Evidence.
Credits: 2 hours
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LAW 8703      Trial Advocacy II
A practical skills course in the art of trial advocacy with an emphasis on technique, style, and methods of persuasion. During class sessions, students perform exercises involving the various stages of a law suit, and are critiqued on their performances. Following performance of the exercises, students are divided into teams and try a mock case in a trial competition, from which the Law School's National Trial Competition Teams are selected. The trials are evaluated by trial lawyers and federal or state judges. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: Trial Advocacy I
Credits: 2,3 hours
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LAW 8705      Trial Advocacy III
Students, under the supervision of trial advocacy faculty, participate in trial competitions. Enrollment by invitation only. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite: Trial Advocacy I and II.
Credits: 2 hours
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LAW 8868      Trusts: Planning, Drafting, Administering & Litigating
Focus on advanced planning and drafting of inter vivos private express trusts for individuals, including proper use of readily available forms (tax-related drafting limited to marital and charitable deduction forms), consideration of trustee's duties, powers and liabilities pursuant to the Missouri Trust Code and related cases, and special emphasis on the recently-adopted Uniform Investor Act and the significant changes it has introduced to Missouri trust investment law. Estates & Trusts is a prerequisite to this course, and concurrent enrollment in Estate Planning & Drafting is advised.
Credits: 2,3 hours
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LAW 8637      U.S. Attorney's Office Law Clinic
Up to four students, under supervision of an Assistant United States Attorney, are selected as interns to work in the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri with members of the Strike Force, Narcotic Unit, General Crimes Unit or Civil Division. Activities include, legal research and writing, consisting of memoranda, motions and briefs; observations and participation in trials, pre-trial hearings and motions, as appropriate; and assistance with litigation. Students are expected to work a pre-approved schedule of six hours a week for fourteen weeks with a minimum of eighty hours a semester and to attend regular conferences with their supervising attorney and faculty supervisor. Prerequisites: Three semesters of law school and attainment of at least a B+ cumulative grade point average. Eligible interested students are screened and selected. Ungraded. Pass/Fail.
Credits: hours
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