2018 Business Law Boot Camp

Third Annual Business Law Boot Camp – 26 Students Learned the Essentials of Business Transactions

Baylor Law held its third annual Business Law Boot Camp from Sunday, April 29 through Friday, May 4. An intensive intersession course held between the spring and summer quarters at Baylor Law, the Boot Camp offered practical training on multiple aspects of business formation, commercial borrowing, raising capital, trademark and advertising issues, succession planning, selling a business, basic accounting, contract drafting, and negotiation skills. Due to the interactive and hands-on design, the Boot Camp is limited to just 26 second and third-year students who apply through a highly competitive application process.

Participants at the Boot Camp practice their negotiation skills during a hands-on learning session

In addition to an intensive weeklong dive into transactional law, Baylor Law students took part in special networking events and supplemental opportunities for professional development and mentoring throughout the Boot Camp.

"Having the opportunity to hear from distinguished transactional lawyers throughout the week was a unique and amazing experience that allowed me for the first time to picture myself as a transactional lawyer and understand what that looks like day to day," stated Amber Hernandez, a joint JD/MBA degree candidate, who added, "The dedicated professors and faculty at Baylor Law have created an incredible intensive week-long experience that is worth so much more than just the class credit. When I told my friends at other law schools about this program they were really jealous!"

The opportunity to learn from Professor (Elizabeth) Miller is another highlight of this course. Her expertise, humility, and dedication to the students in Business Law Boot Camp are enough of a reason alone to take this course.

E. Steve Bolden II, Shareholder at Mahomes Bolden PC in Dallas, shares his expertise in communication and negotiation at the third annual Business Law Boot Camp

Mark Siegmund, another student who participated, stated, "The Business Law Boot Camp was much more than a course - it is a unique experience. It provided a unique blend of traditional classroom instruction and practical application of many of the concepts discussed. The transactional focus of the course is a must for any student considering a future career in transactional law." He added, "As one of the most respected attorneys in this field, the opportunity to learn from Professor (Elizabeth) Miller is another highlight of this course. Her expertise, humility, and dedication to the students in Business Law Boot Camp are enough of a reason alone to take this course."

"The Boot Camp is a truly unique opportunity for Baylor Law students to learn from a team of adjunct professors who are well-established, highly regarded transactional lawyers," said Elizabeth Miller, professor of law and Director of the Business Law Boot Camp. "While many law schools do little to prepare their students for a transaction-based law practice, Baylor Law brings together experts from across the country who do an amazing job providing insightful, clear, and practical instruction."

Jennifer Lindsey shares with Baylor Law students how to successfully complete a commercial loan transaction while co-trainers, Rick Brophy and Matt Czimskey look on

Baylor Law students were not the only participants who gave high marks to the Boot Camp—the adjunct faculty who participated in the course enjoyed their experience as well. "Boot Camp focuses on the key skills necessary for transactional practice attorneys, and each topic is covered succinctly in two- or three-hour sessions," said Steve Frost, a retired partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP, who taught several sections of the Boot Camp. "The Baylor law students are bright, thoughtful, and impressive. They asked questions that reflect a deep understanding of the material, and the skills they exhibited in mock negotiation sessions are comparable to those of experienced associates at a law firm."

The Boot Camp is specifically designed to provide students with opportunities to get to know the visiting lawyers outside the classroom environment. On Wednesday, May 2, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC hosted a reception for students and faculty at the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium, and students had several opportunities during the week to meet with visiting faculty members.

This unique course opportunity was made possible by the generous support of:

 
 Luncheon speakers included Bill Shaddock, Owner & Chief Executive Officer of Capital Title of Texas; Greg Looser, Co-Founder and Partner, Clarion Ventures, LLC; and D. Hull Youngblood, Jr., Of Counsel, Ford Murray, PLLC.

Adjunct Faculty who taught during Boot Camp:

E. Steve Bolden, Shareholder, Mahomes Bolden P.C.

Rick Brophy, Member and President, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC

Claudia Coscia, Deputy General Counsel, Bimbo Bakeries USA

Matt Czimskey, Member, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC

Mollie Duckworth, Partner, Baker Botts

Carmen I. Flores, Director, Business & Public Filings Division, Office of the Secretary of State of Texas

Steven Frost, Retired Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP

Briana Godbey, Manager, Legal Department of the Business & Public Filings Division, Office of the Secretary of State of Texas

Tom D. Harris, Partner, Haynes and Boone, LLP

Jennifer Lindsey, Member, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC

Christina Marshall, Owner, Keating Marshall PLLC

Sara Wagner, Staff Attorney, Business & Public Filings Division, Office of the Secretary of State of Texas

Paul Williamson, Partner, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin, L.L.P

D. Hull Youngblood, Jr., Of Counsel, Ford Murray PLLC
 

Summing up the unique opportunity that the Business Law Boot Camp offers Baylor Law students, Frost added, "I listened to most of the presentations at this year’s Boot Camp, and I was really impressed both by the substance covered by the adjunct faculty and by their presentation styles. All of the professors have different but equally effective teaching techniques. Interestingly, all have very different personalities, which teaches students that all personality types can be very successful in law practice. Significantly, all of the adjunct faculty expressed how much they enjoy their work, which hopefully is not lost on the students."

For more information about Baylor Law’s Business Law Boot Camp, please contact Professor Beth Miller at Elizabeth_miller@baylor.edu.