Spring 2024
Professor(s):
Renee Knake Jefferson (FACULTY)
Credits: 3
Course Areas: Procedure and Practice
Time: 12:00p-2:00p-M 12:00p-1:45p-F-Zoom Location: Foundation Room - M
Course Outline: For more information about the class, see the syllabus. Here’s a summary:
I. Premise of Course
The Colloquium is an attempt to create a cooperative scholarly enterprise in which students and visiting faculty from other schools work collaboratively. Students benefit from being exposed to scholarly analytic treatment and discussion of a subject in ways that few other, if any, law school classes can provide.
II. Structure of Course
Each week, the invited faculty speaker presents a work in progress to the class. Prior to class, students read the paper and come prepared to discuss and critique it.
III. Class Size, Student Requirements, and Grading
This three-credit course is limited to fifteen students. Students are evaluated as follows:
50% of final grade based on eight weekly summary papers that students submit (no more than two pages, double spaced) that discuss the week’s presented papers and offer comments/questions/feedback. These summary papers are due prior to the speaker’s presentation. My expectation as to these short submissions is that they should demonstrate that (1) you read the presenter’s paper carefully and (2) have identified questions or issues that it raises that you might ask or bring up in class.
40% of final grade based on one long paper (of at least nine pages, double-spaced) that’s due at the end of the semester. The longer paper must present an original thesis that touches on at least two of the presenters’ papers. These papers will be on the following: (1) originality of thesis/argument; (2) persuasiveness and writing quality; (3) organization/flow of argument; and (4) overall quality of work submitted.
10% of the final grade is based upon participation during our course meetings.
IV. Materials
All reading materials will be provided by me. Your weekly reading will include the work in progress drafts from the faculty presenters along with supplemental assignments. Please see the syllabus for more details.
Course Syllabus: Syllabus
Course Notes: (Hybrid) The UH registration system instruction mode for this course is listed in parenthesis. After student registration opens, there may be instruction mode changes to this course up through two weeks before the first day of classes for the term, but notice of such changes will be sent to then registered students. Hybrid means that some of the weekly class sessions are virtual, and some are face-to-face. By definition, the hybrid instruction mode only applies to a course that meets two or more times a week. The instructor’s syllabus should indicate which regular days are virtual and which are face-to-face. A physical classroom may be assigned for the virtual class sessions to give students a location in the Law Center to join them. If the course has a final examination, it will be conducted in a classroom in face-to-face mode requiring your physical presence. Other assessment, such as a mid-term exam, may also be in a classroom.
Quota = 15
Spring 2024 Schedule of Meetings and Speakers:
1. Jan. 22—Kick-off - Introduction to the Course (in-person)
2. Jan 29—Andres Sawicki (in-person)
3. Feb 12—Chinelo Diké-Minor (Zoom)
4. Feb 19—Brandon Hasbrouck (Zoom)
5. Feb 26—Josh Sellers (Zoom)
6. March 4—Joseph Blocher (in-person)
7. March 25—Alexis Hoag-Fordjour (in-person)
8. April 1—Leah Litman (Zoom)
9. April 8—Jennifer Chacon (in-person)
Friday discussion dates (Zoom): 1/26, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/1, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/19
Prerequisites: None
First Day Assignments:
Final Exam Schedule:
This course will have:
Exam:
Paper:
Satisfies Senior Upper Level Writing Requirement: No
Experiential Course Type: No
Bar Course: No
DistanceEd ABA: No
Pass-Fail Student Election: Available
Course Materials
Special Case
No materials for purchase. Instructor will provide required weekly reading assignments.
