This course is designed to introduce students to the core concepts of Law and Economics. Students will be challenged to apply economic analysis to real world legal problems facing individuals and policy makers.



​Spring 2013 Syllabus

Paper Assignment​​

Example Final Paper ​(This is just an example. DO NOT copy the arguments and cases! Think of your own arguments and support them! Also, please notice that the example paper is longer than your paper should be!)

Example Case Brief

Mock Trial Assignment

Mock Trial Case Summaries

Mock Trial Groups



Schedule of Topics (subject to revisions)​


Week 1: Introduction to Law and Economics
1/22 – Introduction to course, Syllabus
1/24 – Lecture 1, Hayek (1944)

Week 2: Review of Microeconomic Theory

1/29  – Lecture 2, C&U Ch. 2, Prisoner's Dilemma Handout
1/31 –  B&S Ch. 1, Case Briefs: Cidis v. White, ​Ross v. Wilson, ​US v. Causby, ​Pitsenberger v. Pitsenberger

 

Week 3: Law and Legal Institutions
2/5 – Lecture 3, C&U Ch. 3 
2/7 – Go over Paper Assignment, Mock Trial Assignment, and Group time
 

Week 4: Property Law
2/12 – B&S Ch. 5 , Case Briefs: Union Oil Company v. Oppen, ​Saint Barnabas Medical Center v. County of​​​​​​ Essex, Javins v. First National Realty Corp., Palmer v. Ligget Group, Inc.

2/14 – Lecture 4, C&U Ch. 4, Coase (1960)

 

 

Week 5: Property Law
2/19 – B&S Ch. 2, Case Briefs: ​​Orchard View Farms v. Martin Marietta, Bryant v. Leftever, Prah v. Maretti, Booker v. Old Dominion Land Co.

2/21 – Lecture 5, C&U Ch. 5

 

Week 6: Mock Trials
2/26 – B&S Ch. 2, Case Briefs: Spur Industries v. Webb Development, Moore v. Regents of the University of California, Sample v. Monroe
2/28 – Cases 1, 2



Week 7: Mock Trials

3/5 – Cases 3, 4
3/7 – Cases 5



***Spring Break***



 

Week 8: Property Law
3/19 – Lecture 6, C&U Ch. 5 

3/21 – B&S Ch. 2, Case Briefs: Ploof v. Putnam, Struges v. Bridgman, Kelo v. New London, City of Los Angeles v. Almadea Books, Brown v. Entertainment Merchants​

MUST email if working in groups on paper! ​
 

Week 9: Tort Law
3/26 – Lecture 7, C&U Ch. 6

3/28 – B&S Ch. 3, Case Briefs: Drake v. Lerner Shops of Colorado, Schmomaker v. Havey, McCarty v. Pheasant Run, Inc, Levi v. Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Cooperative 
 

Week 10: Tort Law
4/2 – Lecture 8, C&U Ch. 6
4/4 – B&S Ch. 3, Case Briefs: Davis v. Consolidated Rail Corporation, Doe v. Miles Labs, Sherrod v. Berry, Sturm, Ruger, & Co. v. Day, Winn Dixie v. Benton



Week 11: Contract Law
4/9 – Lecture 9, C&U Ch. 8
4/11 – B&S Ch. 4, Case Briefs: Harris v. Tyson, Mills v. Wyman, Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal and Mining Company, Arduini v. Board of Education​
 
Week 12: Crime and Punishment
4/16 – Lecture 10, C&U Ch. 12, Becker (1968)​​ ​
4/18 – Selected cases, Case Briefs: Roper v. Simmons, Atkins v. Virginia, DC v. Heller, Miller v. Alabama



Week 13: Constitutional Law and Public Choice
4/23 – Lecture 11, Buchanan (1975) Ch 1, Ch 7

4/25 – B&S Ch. 7, Case Briefs: Harper v. VA Board of Education, Gregg v. GA, Madbury v. Madison, Bowers v. Hardwick, DeShaney v. Winnebago Co. Dept. of Social Services

4/26 - Papers Due by Midnight for 5% Extra Credit! 



Week 14: Constitutional Law and Public Choice, Review

4/30 – Hand out Final Exam Question Bank, B&S Ch. 7, selected cases: Regents of the University of CA v. Bakke, Jacobson v. Commonwealth of MA, Korematsu v. US, Buckley v. Valeo, Shapiro v. Thompson

5/2 -  Review Session with Snacks

5/3 - Papers Due by Midnight!​

Final Exam - THURSDAY 5/9 at 8:30-10:15AM