Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors Charles Edson and Tatiana Gutierrez Abendschein

J.D. Seminar 209 | 3 credit hours

This seminar will examine how traditional lawyer skills are utilized and essential to provide affordable housing under today's federal housing programs. Emphasis will be on the economic and legal problems in producing affordable housing; this course does not cover owner-tenant relations and tenant rights issues. After an overview of current federal housing programs, the seminar examines the litigator's role in representing owners, and governmental bodies involved in HUD programs. Also examined will be the role of the tax, securities and business lawyer in the syndication of partnership interests in projects that qualify for the low income housing tax credit. The seminar also examines the role of the lawyer-lobbyist in shaping housing legislation, as well as the administrative lawyer in representing clients before the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal agencies. [This course is offered in alternate years with the Homelessness and Legal Advocacy Seminar.] [Note: This course requires a paper. Students must register for the 3 credit section of this course if they wish to write a paper fulfilling the J.D. Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement. The paper requirements of the 2-credit section will not fulfill the J.D. Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement.]

Recommended: Taxation I; Property.

This course requires a paper. Students must register for the 3 credit section of this course if they wish to write a paper fulfilling the J.D. Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement. The paper requirements of the 2 credit section will not fulfill the J.D. Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement.