Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors Bryson, Hatcher, and Latham

J.D. Seminar 116 | 2 credit hours

This weekly seminar will examine the evolving role of the diversity lawyer in counseling Corporate, Federal, state and local agency clients in a broad range of issues, such as contemporary class action employment discrimination litigation; principles of effective settlement negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and governmental entities; strategies for community relations/public relations media management; regulatory compliance; legal vulnerability assessments; and crisis avoidance and management. Students will learn about the unique legal and business perspectives the diversity counseling lawyer can offer CEOs, General Counsel, and other senior executives when they are confronted with a diversity crisis, such as an employment discrimination class action lawsuit, or are attempting to avoid such a crisis. The seminar will also address the reasons why companies and other organizations frequently seek to assess the legal and business risk of an actual or potential diversity crisis by engaging expert diversity counsel to conduct confidential analyses of their legal vulnerabilities, as well as their diversity performance and image. Similarly, we will analyze case studies of clients that have sought to enhance their diversity performance and image by working with diversity counsel to develop comprehensive diversity action plans designed to address issues of concern to senior management. Grades will be primarily based on two reflection papers of approximately 5-10 pages and a final paper/presentation that analyzes the assigned readings. Class participation will also be reflected in the students' overall grade.

Recommended: Employment Discrimination.