2nd Year Courses
Second-Year Required Courses
Second-year law students must take four required courses, in addition to elective courses. Students must also take a course in consumer protection prior to graduation. Each of these required courses corresponds to other advanced elective courses, and are prerequisites for several of the areas of concentration.
Business Organizations I (4 quarter hours)
Primary Instructor: Professor Elizabeth Miller
A study of basic agency principles, partnership, and corporate law, including formation, operation, and dissolution of partnerships, formation of a corporation, piercing the corporate veil, corporate management and control, financing the corporation, and directors' duties. The course requires the study of common law, the Texas Business Corporation Act, the Texas general and limited partnership statutes, and the Texas Limited Liability Company Act.
Constitutional Law (5 quarter hours)
Primary Instructor: Professor David Guinn
A study of the history of the United States Constitution; the judicial function in constitutional cases; the federal system, doctrine of separation of powers, doctrine of delegation of powers; powers of the states as affected by the delegation of powers to the national government, the commerce clause, the due process clause, the equal protection clause, the contract clause, and other limitations on governmental power.
Consumer Protection (3 quarter hours)*
Primary instructor: Professor Patricia Wilson
A study of consumer protection laws, with focus on the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, warranty law, federal and state debt collection practices acts, and basic insurance law principles.
*Note: Students have the option of taking Consumer Protection in their second or third year.
Federal Income Taxation (4 quarter hours)
Primary instructor: Associate Dean Leah Jackson
A study of the general principles of federal income tax law with primary emphasis on individual income taxation. Topics include inclusions and exclusions from gross income; business, investment and personal deductions, and restrictions on such deductions; disposition of assets; ordinary and capitol tax rates; and audit procedure and penalties.
Trusts and Estates I (5 quarter hours)
Primary instructor: Professor Thomas Featherston
A study of the property rights of husband and wife under the Texas community property system, intestate succession, wills and trusts, and other will substitutes. The course also introduces students to the federal transfer tax system and surrogate decision making for incapacitated individuals.