Fall 2012
    Law No.: LAW9022
    Sched. No.: 112820611

Federal Lawyer*
Section 1
X
Rooney, Kevin D.



Administrative Information:
During SIS enrollment, check on SIS for real-time enrollment numbers
Days, Times (Room):T, 1600-1800 (WB105)
Credits:3Type:Seminar
Capacity:20 **This information is current as of 05/22/2013 06:17:45 AM**
Current Enrollment:19 **This information is current as of 05/22/2013 06:17:45 AM**
Syllabus: View Syllabus (requires LawWeb account)



Course Description:

This course will address the broad legal, ethics, and policy issues confronted by the federal lawyer. The focus will be on the several roles and responsibilities of federal lawyers, particularly those in the Department of Justice (DoJ), often referred to as the “world’s largest law firm.” After providing an overview of the DoJ mission and structure, how lawyers are hired by the DoJ, and the various roles they play, the course will examine the federal lawyer as (1) Advisor, addressing (a) the congressional oversight function, (b) the development of and negotiations on proposed legislation, (c) rulemaking and regulatory reform, (d) the individual agency “general counsel’ function, and (e) the unique DoJ Office of Legal Counsel function of providing legal advice to the president. We will also consider the federal lawyer as (2) Prosecutor, addressing issues involving the prosecutor’s role in combating White Collar Crime, Violent Crime, and the special considerations for the federal lawyer in Sentencing and Corrections issues. We will look at the federal lawyer as (3) Defender of Federal Programs; (4) Developer and Implementor of Federal Legal Policy; and as (5) Adjudicator. The course will also address professional responsibility and disciplinary issues. A continuing theme will be an awareness of who the client is when one represents the United States. There will be special focus on selected crises that have confronted the federal lawyer, e.g., “Watergate”, the “torture memos”. The first-hand experience of the instructor (over 20 years as a senior DoJ policy official during the period 1973-2007) and occasional guest lecturers will provide expanded background and insights into the legal and ethics issues under discussion.

COURSE REQUIREMENT: A substantial research paper

This course is on the approved upper-level writing requirement course list.