Last update: August 10, 2022

Course Schedules

Fall 2022 courses run from August 29 to December 6. For further information as to courses or scheduling, please contact us.

Course Title Credits Instructor Day/Time Start Date Room
Constitutional Law I 3 Joe Sasanuma Monday,
18:45-21:30
Aug 29 403
International Commercial Transactions 3 Peter Allen Tuesday,
18:45-21:30
Aug 30 403
International Dispute Resolution 3 Tony Andriotis, 
Michael Mroczek
Wednesday,
18:45-21:30
Sep 21 403
Introduction to American Legal Systems (IUSL) 3 Mason Hester Wednesday,
18:45-21:30
Aug 31 611
Criminal Procedure I 3 Johnathan   McCaskill Thursday,
18:45-21:30
Sep 1 403
Survey of Legal Topics
(US Bar Exam Study I: Fundamental Knowledge and Writing)
2 Mason Hester Saturday,
10:00-12:45
Sep 3 Online
Guided Research 2 or 3 Tina Saunders      

Note: 

  • The schedule is subject to change. Courses are held in-person with online accommodation.

Course Descriptions

This tentative course schedule is subject to change.

Constitutional Law I (3 credits)

Joe Sasanuma, Head of Amazon Web Services Japan (Public Legal Sector), Adjunct Professor of Law

Joe Sasanuma

Judicial review of legislative and executive actions in a constitutional setting, the relationship of the states to the federal government (Federalism), the relationship of the people to government (Bill of Rights) and the powers of the Congress are considered.

This subject is tested on many U.S. Bar Examinations.

International Commercial Transactions (3 credits)

Peter M. Allen, Adjunct Professor of Law, Legal Consultant

Peter M. Allen

This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to international commercial transactions with an emphasis on managing legal risk and delivering legal services to meet clients’ needs. We will begin with an overview of global business and the perspective of business clients. We will then consider the legal and commercial aspects of international sales agreements (including documentary sales and letter of credit law), licensing and franchising, and foreign direct investment (FDI), including joint ventures. Finally, we will explore related issues such as dispute resolution, legal compliance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and the relationship of public international law to private business transactions.

International Dispute Resolution (3 credits)

Tony Andriotis, Partner, DLA Piper Tokyo
Michael Mroczek, Foreign Law partner, Okuno & Partners

Tony Andriotis & Michael Mroczek

This course looks at the procedural issues which arise in disputes in cross-border business and legal cultures. The key issues in transnational arbitration, litigation, and mediation to be covered include obtaining jurisdiction over foreign nationals, choice of forum and law considerations, serving process and obtaining discovery in foreign countries, enforcing foreign judgments, and using alternative dispute resolution. This class starts from Sept. 21.

Introduction to American Legal Systems (3 credits)

Mason Hester, Adjunct Professor of Law

Mason Hester

This Course is intended to provide the student from a non-common law background with an introduction to the basic concepts, structures and institutions of the American Legal System. Topics to be covered include historical origins of the common law system; common law method; the structure of the United States government, Federal and State; the Constitution; judicial review, structure, organization and operations of courts in the United States, civil litigation, case analysis and precedent: the legislative branch: statutes and legislative history; and the executive branch: administrative law.

Criminal Procedure I (3 credits)

Johnathan McCaskill, Adjunct Professor of Law, Legal Consultant

Johnathan McCaskill

This criminal procedure course deals with the constitutional rules governing police conduct prior to the institution of formal court proceedings. It will focus primarily on the federal constitutional rights and restrictions imposed by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. Searches and seizures, police interrogation, identification procedures, and the exclusion of evidence obtained in violation of these provisions account for a substantial portion of the course. It will also cover some additional matters, including some aspects of the formal court-connected proceedings and the basic principles of habeas corpus.

Note: This subject is heavily tested U.S. Bar Examinations.

Survey of Legal Topics (US Bar Exam Study I: Fundamental Knowledge and Writing) (2 credits) 

Mason Hester, Adjunct Professor of Law 

Mason Hester

This is a comprehensive course on learning or refreshing knowledge of the law most commonly tested on US bar exams. Knowing and understanding the rule of law being tested on the bar exam is the fundamental first step to success on the exam. This course will teach effective tactics to memorize the law for the bar exam, including identifying key legal terms and making rule statements in your own words. In addition to increasing competency of legal topics on the bar exam, this course will focus on effective American-style legal writing for the MEE essays and MPT performance test. The writing portions of the UBE comprise 50% of the bar exam. It is crucial to learn the mechanics of legal writing; thus, this course will have weekly multi-essay writing exercises with personalized feedback. This course is excellent as a starting point for LL.M. students for bar exam study or if you are retaking the exam and need to return to the basics of good study habits. 13 weeks, limited enrollment. Does not satisfy the LL.M. advanced writing graduation requirement. If you need to satisfy the advanced writing requirement, take Guided Research or a writing course. The class counts as credit toward the US Law LL.M. and Certificate programs. 

Update on US Bar Exams
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, many US bar exams are changing their bar admission rules and administration of state bar exams, including timing, type (online or in-person), and travel restrictions. Students taking the Survey of Legal Topics course will receive an update on the impact of COVID-19 for bar exam test takers and the best study/contingency planning to take future exams. 

Guided Research (2-3 credits)

Tina Saunders, Director and Associate Professor of Instruction in Law, Temple Law School, Japan Campus

Tina Saunders

This independent research offers students an opportunity to (1) satisfy the graduation advanced writing and research requirements for J.D. and LL.M. students; (2) develop research, writing and analytical abilities through producing a single substantive research paper; and (3) work with a faculty member in an area of the teacher's interest or expertise. Students have a faculty member agree to supervise them and must submit a signed Approval form to the Registrar to request participation.

This course has limited enrollment.

*Learn more about faculty here