Tailor your MSL to your career goals by selecting elective courses from the options below, public policy offerings, or other approved law courses with guidance from your academic advisor.

ELECTION LAW

This online asynchronous course will cover the main doctrinal concepts necessary to the practice of election law and offer practical assignments common to political law attorneys. Coverage includes constitutional law and principles, campaign finance law, election administration, and the Voting Rights Act, among other topics.

LOBBYING & POLITICS

This course explores how power and influence operate in state legislatures. The first part of the course examines the processes and pressures a legislator typically encounters before casting a vote in the Legislature, including campaigns for local and state office, fundraising, the influence of political parties and partisan leadership, grassroots supporters, and local-based interests. The second part of the course develops theories of legislative persuasion, including a blend of traditional advocacy skills and political strategy.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING LAW

This course provides a practical overview of local government law through the lens of housing law and policy. Students will learn the source of local governance authority and delve into its potential and limitations through examination of topics such as federalism, state-municipality relations, local lawmaking, public and private finance, zoning, land use, and anti-discrimination, fair housing, and related laws. As part of a semester project, students will have the opportunity to experience local decision-making and engage with lawmakers and their constituents on housing issues.

NEGOTIATIONS

This course examines the theoretical, ethical, and practical skills essential to effectively advocating legal dispute negotiations. Students learn negotiation skills through lectures, discussions, video simulations, and extensive interactive exercises and role-plays. Students are introduced to negotiation tools and techniques that enhance negotiation success. This course helps students identify strengths and weaknesses in their negotiating style. This course is primarily asynchronous; students negotiate synchronously online several times during the semester, detailed in the syllabus.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

This course surveys legal principles and policies relating to protecting and enhancing the physical environment. Particular attention is given to common law doctrines and public rights and remedies; federal and state control programs for air pollution, water pollution, noise, solid waste management, fish, and wildlife resources; and planning for federal, state, and local administrative agencies.

WATER RESOURCES LAW

This course introduces the legal principles that control water allocation for human and environmental purposes, taught via online exercises such as lectures, readings, videos, discussions, and research. Legal principles covered include surface and groundwater rights categories, management approaches, allocation for environmental purposes, federal-state relationships, tribal and reserved rights, reasonable use, waste, and the public trust doctrine. Students gain a practical understanding of water allocation and use in contemporary society, as well as critically examine the social policies that govern water management.

WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

This course will explore challenges and opportunities in meeting the goal of providing a healthy environment and safe, affordable, accessible, and reliable water supplies to all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, national origin, and education level. Specific topics may include, among others, the human right to water, disparate impacts from facility siting, toxic exposure, climate justice, food security, access to nature, participation in environmental governance, and capacity building in disadvantaged communities.

CONTRACT DRAFTING

In this course, students will learn the drafting process’s fundamental contract concepts. They will learn how to draft contracts that effectively deliver the parties’ expectations and manage their risks intentionally, as well as their remedies.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

In this course, students will learn about the laws governing business organizations, their formation, and strategic concerns related to various ownership structures.

EMPLOYMENT LAW

In this course, students will learn employment law topics, including testing, privacy, FLSA, benefits, rights to compensation, workplace emotional injuries, termination, and employer risk management strategies.

SURVEY OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

In this course, students will learn about the laws and policy rationales related to intellectual property law, with a focus on patents, copyrights, and trademarks.

DIRECTED RESEARCH IN GOVERNMENT LAW & POLICY

This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive individual research project under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. The work product may take the form of a scholarly paper, empirical study, analysis of topical readings, or other creative format that demonstrates in-depth legal research and original analysis.

MASTER’S THESIS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & POLICY

This course allows students to write a thesis under the guidance of a full-time faculty member acting as supervisor. The thesis should present an original idea or ideas, demonstrate mastery of research skills appropriate to the field, and be analytical and/or critical, as opposed to merely descriptive. The final product should exemplify high-quality academic writing consistent with the student’s professional goals, taking into account the supervisor’s and the student’s vision of the desired target audience for the product.