Legal Research and Writing is the students foundational clinical module and focuses on practice-oriented legal analysis. During this module, students develop the analytic skill set needed by practising lawyers and desired by legal employers.  Students are introduced to fundamentals of legal reasoning, the structure of objective and persuasive arguments, effective written analysis, legal research methods, statutory interpretation, compelling oral advocacy, fact investigation, client counseling, and negotiation. 

A trademark is a designation that distinguishes the source of goods or services. The law of trademarks is part of the broader law of unfair competition, which protects against a variety of “deceptive” and “inequitable” business practices. In this course, we will examine the subject matter of trademark law, the relationship between trademark law and patent and copyright law, the requirements for acquiring and retaining trademark rights, the standards for determining whether a trademark (registered or unregistered) has been infringed or diluted, limitations on the scope of trademark rights and various defensive doctrines.

This course will introduce students to the basic concepts and problems of public international law and the international legal system. The course will deal with a broad range of topics including the origins and sources of international law; Swiss foreign relations law; statehood and recognition in international law; principles of state sovereignty, territory, and jurisdiction; the law of treaties; state responsibility; state immunity and immunity of diplomats and consular; responsibility for injury to aliens; international criminal and humanitarian law; the United Nations and collective enforcement; the use of force and self-defense; terrorism; international human rights; international trade; and the law of the sea, air, and space.

This course surveys the taxation and structuring aspects of corporate and partnership merger and acquisition transactions. Coverage will include tax-free corporate acquisitions and divisions, the tax aspects of troubled company restructurings and workouts, and innovative acquisition and disposition techniques involving partnerships. Our objective will be to gain a conceptual understanding of the tax planning considerations for these transactions. 

This course surveys the law of wills and trusts. Topics include: interstate succession, wills (with an emphasis on execution and revocation), will substitutes, planning for incapacity, trusts, and problems arising during trust administration.