Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors Davis and LaGarde

LL.M Course 689 (cross-listed) | 2 credit hours

Rising health care costs, increased government requirements, and ever-evolving plan designs have made health and welfare programs among the most dynamic of employee benefits. With the enactment of health reform, employers have seen considerable changes that are increasing the compliance burden to unprecedented levels. Focusing on the developing legal issues that govern health and welfare plans is extremely timely: the need for legal assistance with these programs is growing at an extraordinary rate and there is currently a shortage of attorneys who can help meet that need. This course will provide students a strong grounding in the plan design and administrative requirements that currently face employers. We will begin with an overview of the laws that govern health and welfare plans, including relevant provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. In addition to reviewing applicable statues and regulatory guidance, the course will examine the watershed cases that affect health and welfare plans today. The course will include problem-based discussions using real-life examples. Grades will be based on class participation and a take-home final exam.

Prerequisite: Taxation I.