Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Regan

J.D. Course 365 (cross-listed) | 2 credit hours

The goal of this course is to provide students with a more sophisticated understanding of the opportunities, risks, and trade-offs that are involved in working in large law firms. We will explore topics such as how law firm career paths are changing; different approaches to compensating associates and partners; how firms are responding to concerns about the balance between work and personal life; law firm business models in an age of increasing global competition; non-legal skills that are valuable for success in firms; and potential ethics and liability pitfalls for law firm lawyers. By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to analyze law firms as professional, social, and business organizations, and to identify the subtle cultural differences among them.

Material for the course will consist not only of scholarship on law firms, but articles from the legal press and case studies of particular firms. The grade for the course will be based on an exam and class participation.

Laptop use is not allowed during class.