Revised 01 July 2014 CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Oklahoma City University School of Law offers a number of certificate programs for students pursuing the JD degree. If you would like to pursue a certificate program as part of your JD degree, be sure to check the appropriate box on your work statement each semester or summer term. This allows the Registrar to identify you as a potential certificate holder. We offer certificates in the following areas: American Indian Law Business Law (Electronic Commerce Concentration) Business Law (Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration) Client Representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution Energy and Natural Resources Law Estate Planning Health Law Public Law Real Estate Law Practice The requirements for these certificates are given below. CERTIFICATE IN AMERICAN INDIAN LAW A student shall receive a Certificate in American Indian Law upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion, with a B average, of the following coursework: (1) American Indian Law (2) At least one of the following advanced courses: Advanced Indian Law Tribal Law (3) At least two of the following: (f) (g) (h) (i) Family Law Domestic Violence and the Lawyer Federal Jurisdiction The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution Environmental Law Water Law Oil and Gas Law Elder Law Art and Cultural Heritage Law (4) Any one of the following seminar courses or competition: Law and Anthropology
(f) Native American Economic Development Federal Indian Law Indian Child Welfare NALSA Moot Court Competition Seminar approved by the program director (5) Either one of the following clinical or externship courses: American Indian Wills Clinic Native American Externship (6) Final Paper supervised either by Dr. C. Blue Clark or by a member of the law faculty who teaches in the general area of American Indian law. Professor Dennis Arrow is the program director for this certificate. CERTIFICATES IN BUSINESS LAW Much of the work of lawyers involves counseling business entities and representing businesses in complex commercial litigation. With the globalization of the economy and increasing advances in information technology, the legal framework for business transactions is constantly changing. Law students who are well-grounded in these emerging legal issues will be better equipped to represent clients in transactions and dispute resolution. A. Electronic Commerce Concentration A student shall receive a Certificate in Business Law with an Electronic Commerce Concentration upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, composed of: All three core courses: i. Computer Law; ii. Electronic Commerce and Banking; and iii. Intellectual Property Law; At least one Uniform Commercial Code-related course: i. Commercial Paper; ii. Sales; iii. Secured Transactions; or iv. Consumer Bankruptcy; and Any of the following elective courses: i. Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations; ii. Bankruptcy Reorganization; iii. Consumer Law; 2
iv. Copyright Law; v. Corporations; vi. Debtor-Creditor Law; vii. Patent Law; viii. The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution; ix. Trademark Law; x. UCC courses listed in Section (1); or xi. Any other elective course with significant business law content approved by the program director; (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper), on an electronic commerce topic approved by the program director;* (3) Editing of a major article with significant electronic commerce content (law review or equivalent format) to the satisfaction of the program director;* and (4) Attending at least a one-day Continuing Legal Education program with significant electronic commerce content, to the satisfaction of the program director.* The program director for this certificate is Professor Alvin Harrell. * A paper, article edit, or CLE program attendance used for the Electronic Commerce Concentration may not also be used for the Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration. The same paper may not be used to satisfy both the Upper-Class Writing Requirement and the certificate requirement. B. Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration A student shall receive a Certificate in Business Law with a Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses: (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n) Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations; Banking Law; Bankruptcy Reorganization; Commercial Paper; Consumer Bankruptcy; Consumer Law; Corporations; Debtor-Creditor Law; Electronic Commerce and Banking; International Business Transactions; Products Liability; Sales and Leases; Secured Transactions; The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution; or 3
(o) Any other elective course with significant business law content approved by the program director; (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper) on a commercial law topic approved by the program director;* (3) Editing of a major commercial law article (law review or equivalent format) to the satisfaction of the program director;* and (4) Attending at least a one-day commercial law Continuing Legal Education program, to the satisfaction of the program director.* The program director for this certificate is Professor Alvin Harrell. * A paper, article edit, or CLE program used for the Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration may not also be used for the Electronic Commerce Concentration. The same paper may not be used to satisfy both the Upper-Class Writing Requirement and the certificate requirement. CERTIFICATE IN CLIENT REPRESENTATION IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Note: this certificate program is currently undergoing revision. Please check with Professor Bernard for its current status. A student shall receive a Certification in Client Representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following courses: (1) The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution; (2) Client Representation in Arbitration; (3) Client Representation in Mediation; and (4) Client Representation in Negotiation. The program director for this certificate is Professor Phyllis Bernard. CERTIFICATE IN ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES LAW A student shall receive a Certificate in Energy and Natural Resources Law upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, composed of: The following three courses: 4
i. Environmental Law ii. Oil and Gas Contracts iii. Oil and Gas Law And at least three of the following courses: i. American Indian Law ii. Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations iii. Oil and Gas Regulation iv. Oklahoma Land Titles v. Taxation of Business Entities vi. Water Law vii. Wind Power Law (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a publishable paper (a seminar paper, a directed research paper, or a law review note, but not a supervised paper) on an energy or natural resources law topic approved by the program director (the paper may also be used to satisfy the Upper-Class Writing Requirement); and (3) Completion of one of the following: To the satisfaction of the Director of Externship Programs, a Government Practice Externship, a Judicial Externship, or a Corporate Counsel Externship, at a placement site that is related to energy or natural resources and that is approved by the program director; or To the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, a second publishable paper (a seminar paper, directed research paper, law review note, or a supervised paper) on an energy or natural resources law topic approved by the program director; or A course or seminar on contract drafting; or Pro bono work consisting of a minimum of 50 hours during one semester at an energy or natural resources placement site approved by the program director; or Paid employment consisting of a minimum of 100 hours during one semester at an energy or natural resources placement site approved by the program director. The program director for this certificate is Professor Eric Laity. CERTIFICATE IN ESTATE PLANNING This certificate program is designed to equip students with the legal knowledge and practice skills to be effective as beginning practitioners in the area of wills, trusts, and estates. The required courses provide a basis in the relevant legal doctrine, the advanced courses allow the student to focus on one area in depth, and the experiential learning component gives the student practical experience in dealing with clients, drafting, and addressing estate planning issues. This Certificate has two possible variations: Certificate in Estate Planning/Estate Tax: this is suitable for students who think they may seek a position in the Estate Planning department of a large firm where the nature of the practice and clientele will make advanced estate tax knowledge beneficial; the course, Estate and Gift Tax Law, 5
is required for this Certificate. Certificate in General Estate Planning: this is suitable for students who think they may work in a general practice firm or in a solo practice, where advanced estate tax knowledge is likely not necessary; the course, Estate and Gift Tax Law, is not required for this Certificate. A student shall receive a Certificate in Estate Planning upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion, with a B average, of the following coursework: (1) All four of the following courses: Estate and Gift Tax Law (required only for the Certificate in Estate Planning/Estate Tax) Estate Planning Income Tax Law Wills, Trusts, and Estates (2) At least one of the following advanced courses: Advanced Trust Law Domestic Violence and the Lawyer Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution Consumer Bankruptcy (f) Administrative Law (g) American Indian Law (h) Elder Law (i) Taxation of Business Entities (j) Texas Marital Property Law (k) Oil and Gas Law (3) Any one of the following clinical or externship courses: American Indian Wills Clinic Advanced American Indian Wills Clinic Government Practice Externship with a placement at any of the following: i. Oklahoma Health Care Authority ii. Oklahoma State Department of Health Judicial Externship with a placement at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Litigation Practice Externship with a placement at any of the following: i. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma ii. Senior Law Resource Center (4) Any one of the following: Completion to the satisfaction of the full-time faculty sponsor of a paper (seminar, directed research, law review note, or supervised paper) on a topic in estate planning approved by the program director; Additional clinical or externship course from among those listed above; or Final written 2-hour exam covering estate planning scenarios, the law of wills and trusts, and estate tax law. The Program Director for this certificate is Professor Carla Spivack. 6
CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH LAW A student shall receive a Certificate in Health Law upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of five of the following courses, composed of: Healthcare Law (formerly known as Law and Medicine or as Health Law); At least two of the following core courses: i. Administrative Law; ii. Bioethics; iii. Healthcare Regulatory Law; iv. Law & Genetics; or v. Public Health Law; and Any of the following elective courses: i. Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations; ii. Child Abuse and Neglect I & II; iii. Elder Law; iv. Employment Law; v. Information Privacy Law; vi. Insurance Law; vii. Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution; viii. Products Liability; or ix. Any other elective course with significant health law content approved by the program director; (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a publishable paper (seminar, directed research or law review note, but not a supervised paper) on a health law topic approved by the program director; and (3) Completion of one of the following: Pro bono work consisting of 50 hours during one semester in a health law field approved by the program director; Paid employment consisting of 100 hours during one semester in a health law field approved by the program director; Externship at a placement site approved by the program director; or A second paper (seminar, directed research law review note, or a supervised paper) to the satisfaction of a full-time faculty sponsor, on a health law topic approved by the program director. The program director for this certificate is Professor Vicki MacDougall. CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC LAW 7
As the relationship between law and public policy becomes more complex and the role of attorneys in government agencies increases, there is a great need for attorneys with both an excellent grounding in the theory of law and political science and a well-rounded exposure to the doctrines of public law in diverse areas such as Environmental Law, Securities Regulation, and Federal Criminal Law. The Certificate in Public Law enables students, through a well-planned series of courses, extensive writing, and opportunities to do an externship in the field, to acquire excellent training in public law that will make them attractive not only to government employers, but to any employer who deals with public law issues. A student shall receive a Certificate in Public Law upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, composed of: Administrative Law; At least one of the following courses: i. Legislation; ii. State Constitutional Law; or iii. State and Local Government; and Any of the following elective courses: i. American Criminal Law and Restorative Justice; ii. American Indian Law; iii. Antitrust Law I; iv. Antitrust Law II; v. Applied Criminal Procedure; vi. Capital Punishment; vii. Constitutional Civil Rights; viii. Environmental Law; ix. Estate and Gift Tax Law; x. Federal Criminal Law; xi. Federal Jurisdiction; xii. First Amendment; xiii. Immigration Law; xiv. Income Tax Law; xv. Labor Law; xvi. Religion and the Constitution; xvii. Securities Regulation; or xviii. State Administrative Law; or xix. Any other elective course with significant public law content approved by the program director; (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper) on a public law topic approved by the program director; and (3) Completion of one of the following: 8
A Government Practice Externship or a Judicial Externship, to the satisfaction of the Director of Externship Programs; or A second paper (seminar, directed research, law review note, or a supervised paper) on a public law topic approved by the program director, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor; or A brief (for a moot court team approved for academic credit) on a public law topic approved by the program director, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor. The program director for this certificate is Professor Andrew Spiropoulos. CERTIFICATE IN REAL ESTATE LAW PRACTICE A student shall receive a Certificate in Real Estate Law Practice upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements: (1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, composed of: The following three courses: Environmental Law Land Use Either Oklahoma Land Titles or Oil and Gas Title Examination (students who entered before 2013-14 may substitute Real Estate Development) At least three of the following courses: American Indian Law Agency and Unincorporated Business Associations Oil and Gas Contracts Oil and Gas Law Oklahoma Land Titles Real Estate Development State and Local Government Taxation of Business Entities Texas Marital Property Law Water Law Wind Power Law (2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, of a paper (a seminar paper, a Directed Research paper, a law review note, a Supervised Paper, or other paper approved by the program director) on a real estate law practice topic approved by the program director; and (3) Completion of one of the following: To the satisfaction of the Director of Externship Programs, a Government Practice Externship, a Judicial Externship, or a Corporate Counsel Externship, at 9
a placement site that is related to real estate law practice and that is approved by the program director; Pro bono work consisting of a minimum of 50 hours during one semester at a real estate law practice placement site approved by the program director; Paid employment consisting of a minimum of 100 hours during one semester at a real estate law practice placement site approved by the program director; A course or seminar on contract drafting; A course or seminar on business planning. The program director for this certificate is Professor Paula Dalley. 10