This course explores legal challenges presented by the Internet, communications and information technologies. We will address, in particular, the interaction of emerging legal and technological rules for the Information Society of the 21st Century. Topics include governance, jurisdiction, intellectual property, privacy and electronic commerce. (3 credits)

This course will inform the student of relevant matters in the creation or acquisition of a business. Specific legal theory covering personal and business planning, selection of the right entity at the right time, contractual matters needing to be clarified early on, deciding when and how to rely on others to assist in the start-up or takeover, creating and understanding employment arrangements, and what to do when things go wrong will be covered. (3 credits)

This course examines the legal doctrines of privacy and confidentiality used to protect personal information. The aim of the course is to understand how courts and legislatures seek to protect information as new technologies and new institutional practices emerge.

The course examines the philosophical roots of the concepts of privacy and confidentiality, and traces the development in American law of the protection of an individual's right to control his or her personal information held by others. The course will review developments in Constitutional law, tort law, and statutory law, with a strong emphasis on the post 9-11 and Patriot Act era.

The class will examine case studies of landmark privacy legislation to understand how expectations of privacy and confidentiality are translated into legal frameworks. The course spends a considerable amount of time studying the scope and implications of federal statutes that attempt to establish fair information practices with respect to electronic personal information. (3 credits)

Analyzes the legal rules governing marriage, divorce, distribution of marital property, child custody, adoption and children’s rights. (3 credits)

Please read the Family Law Class Registration Memo before the first class.