Last update: December 14, 2022

Course Schedules

Spring 2023 courses run from January 16 to April 28. For further information as to courses or scheduling, please contact us.

Course Title Credits Instructor Day/Time Room
Advising Multinational Companies on Global Legal Issues (Non-exam) 2 Miriam Pereira Mondays, 14:15-17:00 (7 weeks, 1/16-2/27) 402
Citizenship in Legal & Theoretical Perspective (Writing/Research/Serial) 3 Peter Spiro Thursdays, 15:00-17:00 402
*Criminal Law (Exam) 3 Johnathan McCaskill Thursdays, 18:45-21:30 611
Cyberprivacy (Introduction to Privacy) Law (Non-exam) 2 Ulrich Kirchhoff Mondays, 18:45-21:30 (7 weeks, 1/16-2/27) 403
East-West Negotiations (Exp/Skills) 3 Pass/Fail Bryan Koslow/ Doug Hymas Thursdays, 18:45-21:30 403
Immigration Law (Exam) 3 Peter Spiro Tuesdays, 14:15-17:00 402
International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation (Non-exam) Tony Andriotis Michael Mroczek Mondays, 14:15-17:00 (7 weeks, 3/13-4/24) 402
International Compliance Law (Exam) 3 Alexander Dmitrenko Wednesdays, 18:45-21:30 403
International Contract Drafting- Sec. 1 (Exp/Skills) (Non-exam) 3 Peter Allen Tuesdays, 18:45-21:30 611
International Contract Drafting - Sec. 2 (Exp/Skills) (Non-exam) 3 John Price Tuesdays, 18:45-21:30 403
Introduction to Japanese Law (Non-exam) 3

Kyoko Ishida
Mari Hirayama
Keisuke Abe

Wednesdays, 14:15-17:00 402
*Legal Research and Writing (Writing/Research) 3 Mason Hester Wednesdays, 18:45-21:30 611
Professional Responsibility (Exam) 3 Ric Fouad Mondays, 18:45-21:30 611
Guided Research (Writing/Research/Serial) 2 or 3 Tina Saunders Not applicable  
Beginner Japanese Language and Cultural Activity Non-Credit Akiko Yoshida 10:00-12:00 on 1/16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 30, 2/1, 3, 6 & 8, plus 3 outings 401
US Bar Exam Study Course II Non-Credit Mason Hester 10:00-13:00 on 1/21, 28, 2/4, 18, 25, 3/4, 18, 25, 4/1, 8, 15, 5/13 & 20 Online

*JD students may not enroll in the following courses: Legal Research and Writing; Criminal Law.

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.

ADVISING MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES ON GLOBAL LEGAL ISSUES (2 credits, 7 weeks intensive)

Miriam Pereira, Counsel, Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners

This interactive and participatory course is intended to provide a survey of the types of issues confronting lawyers, and particularly in-house lawyers, who advise multinational corporations on a worldwide basis. The areas to be discussed include topics that will cover corporate law (including M&As), labor and employment law, employee benefits, litigation, and corporate compliance. Practical examples will be used to illustrate the complicated nature yet importance of this type of practice. Further, in addition to the more substantive legal topics to be covered, the course will also be interspersed with practice tips, jurisdictional practice highlights and ethical considerations for the multinational practitioner.


CITIZENSHIP IN LEGAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE (WRITING SEMINAR) (3 credits)

Peter Spiro, Charles R. Weiner Professor of Law, Temple University

This seminar examines how political communities accept, reject, and expel individual members as citizens, and how citizenship law defines and reflects national identity. The course considers how citizenship is acquired at birth, and what requirements are imposed on naturalization applicants. It also considers in what circumstances the government can deprive an individual of citizenship; the special problems of dual nationality; historical racial and gender aspects of citizenship; the special context of terrorism; and the status of non-citizens and the extent to which they can be legally disadvantaged, as for instance with respect to public benefits and political participation. The course also considers the meaning of citizenship beyond the nation-state, including local, indigenous, regional, and global citizenship. The course will pursue critical perspectives on citizenship, drawing from constitutional, statutory, comparative, and international law sources.

This course satisfies the graduation advanced writing requirement.


CRIMINAL LAW (3 credits)

Johnathan McCaskill, Adjunct Professor of Law, Legal Consultant

This course involves a basic study of criminal law and examines the elements of a number of major crimes. It will also analyze various principles and historical trends that influence important prerequisites to the government's taking of one's liberty through incarceration. In this crime and punishment course, the effect of an alleged criminal actor's mental state, affirmative defenses, and responsibility for other's actions will be covered.

This subject is tested on many U.S. Bar Examinations. For LLM and Certificate students only.


CYBERPRIVACY(INTRODUCTION TO PRIVACY) LAW (2 credits, 7 weeks intensive)

Ulrich Kirchhoff, Partner at ARQIS Foreign Law Office, Foreign Law Joint Enterprise with TMI Associates

Information law deals with the flow of information - when do you restrict information and when do you let it flow? During this course students will examine information privacy legal principles related to electronic surveillance, the media, anonymity, big data, national security, and public and private sector information. The course will cover privacy legislation and regulations, anti-marketing laws, international norms, and application of privacy law such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation and incorporates developments in the news and legal readings from the perspective of various privacy stakeholders--consumers, regulators, and business.


EAST-WEST NEGOTIATIONS (3 credits)

Doug Hymas, Adjunct Professor of Law
Bryan Koslow, Managing Director, Professionals Japan, Ltd.

This pass/fail course introduces students to the practical, legal, and cultural issues encountered when drafting and negotiating international agreements in the Asian context. The course particularly emphasizes negotiations involving American and Japanese parties through the examination of actual international commercial transactions. Students have an opportunity to participate in the preparation of mock agreements and negotiations. This course satisfies the skills graduation requirement for JD students.


IMMIGRATION LAW (3 credits)

Peter Spiro, Charles R. Weiner Professor of Law, Co-Director, Institute for International Law and Public Policy

The course will address various elements of immigration and nationality law and policy. It will consider the statutory parameters for admission into the United States as well as the grounds for removal. The course will also address the exceptional constitutional regime that applies to immigration. The course will situate these elements in a historical and policy context at the same time as it will apply the law to actual and hypothetical problems relating to the legal status of non-citizens seeking entry to or located within the United States. Finally, the course will consider the terms for the allocation of U.S. citizenship.


INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION (2 credits, 7 weeks intensive)

Tony Andriotis, Partner, DLA Piper Tokyo
Michael Mroczek, Foreign Law partner, NOZOMI Sogo Attorneys at Law

As an alternative to court proceedings, international arbitration is increasingly becoming one of the most important dispute resolution methods in cross-border transactions. The first part of the course will provide a general overview of the subject. It will introduce the main legal doctrines applying in arbitration and the applicable legal framework. It will familiarize students with the importance of the arbitration agreement and include some practical advice on drafting a workable arbitration clause. The second part of the course will introduce the arbitration procedure: starting with the notice of arbitration, appointment of arbitrators through the arbitral award, its enforcement abroad and other post award proceedings.


INTERNATIONAL COMPLIANCE (& ETHICS) LAW (3 credits)

Alexander Dmitrenko, Partner, Ashurst Tokyo

Increased globalization of commerce has substantially increased the risk of fines, sanctions and costly litigation resulting from the way and manner business is conducted around the world. Governments and Unions have responded to globalization to varying degrees by enforcing existing laws, enacting new laws and regulatory requirements addressing competition, market manipulation, trade, and corruption. Aside from costly fines levied against the Corporation, various legal regimes have begun to impose direct liability on directors, managers and third parties who have failed to implement and oversee reasonable compliance programs. These factors require a vigorous and ever changing compliance program for corporations. A thorough understanding of compliance issues helps lawyers to craft creative and effective legal solutions for their clients. An excellent compliance program cannot only prevent problems but discover issues at an early stage and can be used to receive credit where a corporation runs afoul of a law.


INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT DRAFTING (3 credits)

Section 1 - Peter M. Allen, Adjunct Professor of Law, Legal Consultant
Section 2 - John Price, Foreign Attorney at Uryu & Itoga

This course bridges the gap between contract theory and contract practice and offers practical insights into international contracts such as licenses, distributorships, and joint ventures. Students will focus principally on developing skills in drafting these types of contracts and undertake ancillary preparation exercises.

This course satisfies the writing requirement for LLM students; and satisfies the skills graduation requirement for JD students.


INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE LAW(3 credits)

Kyoko Ishida, Professor at Waseda Law School
Mari Hirayama, Professor, Hakuho University
Keisuke Abe, Professor, Faculty of Law Department of Law, Seikei University

This course introduces students to Japanese law and the major principles of civil law systems. Students will examine the history, structure, and content of the Japanese legal system, the role of domestic and international law in Japan, the Japanese Constitution, and the major areas of Japanese law. To better equip students for transnational work involving Japanese entities, the course will focus on how Japanese laws, regulations, and culture affect corporations, business transactions, and individual rights in Japan. It will also consider the role of Japanese law in promoting transnational investment, current issues in the practice of law in Japan, and several current social issues on which law has an impact.

Students with a law degree from a Japanese university may not enroll in this class.


LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING (3 credits)

Mason Hester, Adjunct Professor of Law

This course explores legal research, writing, and advocacy. After being introduced to the U.S. legal system and basic research techniques (including on-line databases such as LexisNexis), students work on assigned problems to develop their writing and analytical skills. The program aims to develop basic legal research and writing skills in a hands-on seminar style atmosphere. This course is required of all US Law LLM students. For LLM and Certificate students only.


PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (3 credits)

Ric Fouad, Attorney & Child Welfare Advocate

his core course — also known as the “Law of Lawyering” — focuses on the practical and ethical questions that attorneys constantly face. These range from signing up new clients and evaluating complex conflicts of interest scenarios to unrepresented party interaction and attorney advertising. Utilizing select case law excerpts, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, American Bar Association Committee on Ethics opinions, the California Rules of Professional Conduct, relevant sections of the California Business and Professions Code, select state and local bar ethics opinions, and topical news articles, the class takes a real-world approach to Professional Responsibility. It will also help prepare students for the MPRE, as Professional Responsibility is tested on Bar Exams throughout the U.S. The societal role of attorneys in shaping our judicial system is also a focus, particularly issues of racism and wealthism in skewing the scales of justice. This subject is tested on many U.S. Bar Examinations.


GUIDED RESEARCH (2-3 credits)

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

This faculty-supervised independent research offers students an opportunity to satisfy the graduation advanced writing and research requirement. Students hone their research, writing and analytical abilities by producing a substantive research or serial writing paper. Students must receive approval from the supervising faculty to take guided research, including their proposed research topic.


BEGINNER JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY (non-credit)

Akiko Yoshida, Japanese Language Teacher

This course is intended to give students with little to no Japanese language ability, basic speaking and listening proficiency to be able to live comfortably in Tokyo for the semester. This course also will focus on Japanese communications and cultural practices in business, including practice making self-introductions and job interviewing.


U.S. BAR EXAM STUDY COURSE II (non-credit)

Mason Hester, Adjunct Professor or Law

This course is a comprehensive lecture series on techniques and strategies to take a U.S. state bar exam. This class will help prepare you for the various parts of a bar exam, including the multistate/multiple-choice section (“the MBE”), Uniform Bar Exam or state essays, and the multistate performance test (“MPT”) questions. The course will use multiple resources, including doctrinal lectures, classroom discussions, substantive outlines, many practice questions, and individual coaching. In this class, as with the bar exam, what matters most is results, and our goal is to make sure that each of you can use these various inputs to produce successful outcomes.

*Learn more about faculty here