531 In House Law Practice

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice. Class sessions often include guest general counsels to survey in-house legal topics, engage with real world challenges, discuss current relevant events, and distill best practices for the role. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios and providing legal representation experience. Guest general counsels are typically leading practitioners who engage with the class from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Chief Legal Officers of Fortune 50 companies to general counsels who helped grow entrepreneurial startups into household names.

The course is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.  It is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that role, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. 

20%: Reflection Message Board Posts
Each student will publish five brief message board posts during the semester reflecting upon insights or thoughts of interest from guest general counsel presentations.

30%: Memo
Student assume the role of attorney with an inhouse legal department and prepare a 5-page memo responding to a fact pattern and scenario; the memo provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal analysis and practical approaches to the issues.  They will also record and upload a five-minute presentation of their memo's findings to the "general counsel" of the company.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students divide into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they will analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

10%: Class Engagement

No prerequisites are necessary.

Course Areas of Practice
Evaluation Methods
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Degree Requirements
Course Type
  • Seminar
Learning Outcomes
  • Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context
  • Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession

Sample Syllabi

Spring 2024

2024
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Allen Nelson, Bradley Zimmer

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice. Class sessions often include guest general counsels to survey in-house legal topics, engage with real world challenges, discuss current relevant events, and distill best practices for the role. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios and providing legal representation experience. Guest general counsels are typically leading practitioners who engage with the class from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Chief Legal Officers of Fortune 50 companies to general counsels who helped grow entrepreneurial startups into household names.

The course is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.  It is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that role, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. 

20%: Reflection Message Board Posts
Each student will publish five brief message board posts during the semester reflecting upon insights or thoughts of interest from guest general counsel presentations.

30%: Memo
Student assume the role of attorney with an inhouse legal department and prepare a 5-page memo responding to a fact pattern and scenario; the memo provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal analysis and practical approaches to the issues.  They will also record and upload a five-minute presentation of their memo's findings to the "general counsel" of the company.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students divide into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they will analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

10%: Class Engagement

No prerequisites are necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2023

2023
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Allen Nelson, Bradley Zimmer

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice. Class sessions often include guest general counsels to survey in-house legal topics, engage with real world challenges, discuss current relevant events, and distill best practices for the role. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios and providing legal representation experience. Guest general counsels are typically leading practitioners who engage with the class from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Chief Legal Officers of Fortune 50 companies to general counsels who helped grow entrepreneurial startups into household names.

The course is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.  It is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that role, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. 

20%: Reflection Message Board Posts
Each student will publish five brief message board posts during the semester reflecting upon insights or thoughts of interest from guest general counsel presentations.

30%: Memo
Student assume the role of attorney with an inhouse legal department and prepare a 5-page memo responding to a fact pattern and scenario; the memo provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal analysis and practical approaches to the issues.  They will also record and upload a five-minute presentation of their memo's findings to the "general counsel" of the company.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students divide into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they will analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

10%: Class Engagement

No prerequisites are necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2022

2022
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Bradley Zimmer, Allen Nelson

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice. Class sessions often include guest general counsels to survey in-house legal topics, engage with real world challenges, discuss current relevant events, and distill best practices for the role. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios and providing legal representation experience. Guest general counsels are typically leading practitioners who engage with the class from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Chief Legal Officers of Fortune 50 companies to general counsels who helped grow entrepreneurial startups into household names.

The course is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.  It is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that role, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. 

20%: Reflection Message Board Posts
Each student will publish five brief message board posts during the semester reflecting upon insights or thoughts of interest from guest general counsel presentations.

30%: Memo
Student assume the role of attorney with an inhouse legal department and prepare a 5-page memo responding to a fact pattern and scenario; the memo provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal analysis and practical approaches to the issues.  They will also record and upload a five-minute presentation of their memo's findings to the "general counsel" of the company.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students divide into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they will analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

10%: Class Engagement

No prerequisites are necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2021

2021
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Bradley Zimmer, Allen Nelson

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice. Class sessions often include guest general counsels to survey in-house legal topics, engage with real world challenges, discuss current relevant events, and distill best practices for the role. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios and providing legal representation experience. Guest general counsels are typically leading practitioners who engage with the class from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Chief Legal Officers of Fortune 50 companies to general counsels who helped grow entrepreneurial startups into household names.

The course is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.  It is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that role, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. 

20%: Reflection Message Board Posts
Each student will publish five brief message board posts during the semester reflecting upon insights or thoughts of interest from guest general counsel presentations.

30%: Memo
Student assume the role of attorney with an inhouse legal department and prepare a 5-page memo responding to a fact pattern and scenario; the memo provides an opportunity to demonstrate legal analysis and practical approaches to the issues.  They will also record and upload a five-minute presentation of their memo's findings to the "general counsel" of the company.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students divide into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they will analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

10%: Class Engagement

No prerequisites are necessary.

Syllabus: 531.01.Spring2021-syllabus.pdf442.08 KB

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2020

2020
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Bradley Zimmer, Allen Nelson

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice, and how they differ from law firm and governmental practices. The class sessions will present substantive legal topics discussed with legal practitioners. Course materials will be drawn from statutory, regulatory, and policy-driven materials, as well as case studies. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that will draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios.

The course is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that practice, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. It is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.

40%: Memos
Each student will prepare two memos, of five pages each, on substantive legal issues presented during class; these memos will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate practical approaches to those legal issues.

20%: Presentation
Each student will make a 5 -8 minute individual presentation to the class, ostensibly to the general counsel of a corporation, in which students will provide an overview of recent developments in a given legal area and how it applies to the corporation. All students will receive a common fact pattern for the fictitious corporation, and each will be assigned a different legal area to which the fact pattern relates. Students will be videoed for their presentation and have the opportunity to review the same.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students will be divided into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they are to analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

The project will include an individual written component of 10 pages, a group written component of five pages, and a 30-minute team presentation.

No prerequisites are contemplated as necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2019

2019
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Bradley Zimmer, Allen Nelson

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice, and how they differ from law firm and governmental practices. The class sessions will present substantive legal topics discussed with legal practitioners. Course materials will be drawn from statutory, regulatory, and policy-driven materials, as well as case studies. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that will draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios.

The course is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that practice, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. It is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.

40%: Memos
Each student will prepare two memos, of five pages each, on substantive legal issues presented during class; these memos will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate practical approaches to those legal issues.

20%: Presentation
Each student will make a 5 -8 minute individual presentation to the class, ostensibly to the general counsel of a corporation, in which students will provide an overview of recent developments in a given legal area and how it applies to the corporation. All students will receive a common fact pattern for the fictitious corporation, and each will be assigned a different legal area to which the fact pattern relates. Students will be videoed for their presentation and have the opportunity to review the same.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students will be divided into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they are to analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

The project will include an individual written component of 10 pages, a group written component of five pages, and a 30-minute team presentation.

No prerequisites are contemplated as necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2018

2018
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Allen Nelson, Bradley Zimmer

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice, and how they differ from law firm and governmental practices. The class sessions will present substantive legal topics discussed with legal practitioners. Course materials will be drawn from statutory, regulatory, and policy-driven materials, as well as case studies. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that will draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios.

The course is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that practice, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. It is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.

40%: Memos
Each student will prepare two memos, of five pages each, on substantive legal issues presented during class; these memos will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate practical approaches to those legal issues.

20%: Presentation
Each student will make a 5 -8 minute individual presentation to the class, ostensibly to the general counsel of a corporation, in which students will provide an overview of recent developments in a given legal area and how it applies to the corporation. All students will receive a common fact pattern for the fictitious corporation, and each will be assigned a different legal area to which the fact pattern relates. Students will be videoed for their presentation and have the opportunity to review the same.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students will be divided into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they are to analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

The project will include an individual written component of 10 pages, a group written component of five pages, and a 30-minute team presentation.

No prerequisites are contemplated as necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2017

2017
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

531.01 2
  • Reflective Writing
  • Group project(s)
  • Oral presentation
Allen Nelson, Bradley Zimmer

This course explores the substantive and procedural aspects of inhouse law practice, and how they differ from law firm and governmental practices. The class sessions will present substantive legal topics discussed with legal practitioners. Course materials will be drawn from statutory, regulatory, and policy-driven materials, as well as case studies. Students will have team-based interdisciplinary project assignments that will draw from topics discussed in the class, reflecting real-world scenarios.

The course is intended to provide law school students with an understanding of and practical skills for inhouse practice, legal issues unique to that practice, and practical issues that face inhouse lawyers. It is designed for any student interested in inhouse practice – those who wish to work in a law firm or governmental role and interact with inhouse counsel, those who would like to practice inhouse, and those who are interested in exploring different career paths.

40%: Memos
Each student will prepare two memos, of five pages each, on substantive legal issues presented during class; these memos will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate practical approaches to those legal issues.

20%: Presentation
Each student will make a 5 -8 minute individual presentation to the class, ostensibly to the general counsel of a corporation, in which students will provide an overview of recent developments in a given legal area and how it applies to the corporation. All students will receive a common fact pattern for the fictitious corporation, and each will be assigned a different legal area to which the fact pattern relates. Students will be videoed for their presentation and have the opportunity to review the same.

40%: Project
Halfway through the semester, students will be divided into teams of 4 persons. Each team will receive a fact pattern for a significant business-level-event problem which they are to analyze and present their findings, legal analysis and recommendation to the CEO and board of directors for said company.

The project will include an individual written component of 10 pages, a group written component of five pages, and a 30-minute team presentation.

No prerequisites are contemplated as necessary.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

*Please note that this information is for planning purposes only, and should not be relied upon for the schedule for a given semester. Faculty leaves and sabbaticals, as well as other curriculum considerations, will sometimes affect when a course may be offered.