Study

This one-credit, pass-fail seminar will meet at least six times during the 2025–2026 academic year (five times in my home, and once at the law school).  It is designed for students interested in U.S. national security law practice issues, but no background in the area is necessary. 

This salon-style discussion and instruction class will introduce some of the ethical issues confronting lawyers as they try to navigate today's national security environment, such as military or civilian attorneys practicing in the U.S. government, members of a law firm, or counsel for a corporation or non-governmental organization.

We will consider, for example, how the existing rules of professional conduct may (or may not) apply in the national security law setting and examine specific cases of problematic lawyer behavior. We will also address practical issues of dealing with clients in high-stress situations and "work-life" balance in this practice area.

The instructor, with decades of legal experience (including over 34 in the military), will use real-life episodes to illustrate issues and provide practical advice, offering a unique learning opportunity.

We’ll discuss four books (two non-fiction and two fiction); including Paul Scharre’s Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War, P.W. Singer’s Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution, Mark Helprin’s, The Oceans and the Stars, and Admiral James Stavridis’, The Admiral’s Bookshelf.

Most books will be discussed in the spring semester, but at least one will be discussed in the fall.  Seminar participants should be prepared to engage in discussion about them at the designated class session. 

The curriculum, which also includes a film, as well as readings across various case studies, law journal articles, and other relevant material, will address the timely challenges presented by the integration of technology into the national security enterprise.

The meetings for the fall of 2025 will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the Sunday afternoons of September 14, September 28, and October 26. The session on the 26th will be at the Law School from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. as we will show the movie Eye in the Sky and discuss it.

Students are asked to reserve November 16 as a make-up date if needed. All dates are subject to change.

The spring of 2026 dates are tentatively set for January 11, January 25, and February 8 (March 22 is a potential makeup date).

The seminar sessions, except for the movie session (which will take place at the Law School), will be held in Maj. Gen. Dunlap’s home, located just ten minutes from the Law School. With Joy Dunlap as the hostess, and refreshments and snacks served, the sessions will provide a comfortable and relaxed learning environment.

Fall 2025

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
611AB.01	0.5		Charles J. Dunlap, Jr.