Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Gabaldon

J.D. Course 300 | 2 credit hours

The course introduces students to basic accounting principles and how financial information is presented in a company’s financial statements. The course will cover how to account for certain specific items such as receivables, inventories, fixed assets, intangible assets, liabilities and contingencies, and revenue and expenses. In addition, students will study examples of accounting fraud and discuss how perpetrators of the frauds violated applicable accounting principles. The course also will cover the role and responsibilities of the independent auditor, senior company executives and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors in preparing a company’s financial statements and the concept of full and fair disclosure of financial information as required by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). Finally, the course will introduce students to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the implications of the convergence of US GAAP and IFRS.

Students may not receive credit for both this course and Accounting Concepts for Lawyers; or the graduate courses, Basic Accounting Concepts for Lawyers; or Financial Reporting and Accounting.

This course is intended for students who do not have a substantial background in accounting or who have not taken previous coursework in accounting.