Role of In-House Counsel

Role of In-House Counsel

This course focuses on the problems confronting those attorneys who work for institutions including the White House, federal, state and local government, large and small business, non-profit institutions and labor unions. We will consider topics including the following: identifying the client, attorney/client privilege, conflict of interest, the work product doctrine, overseeing civil and criminal litigation, managing outside counsel, and running compliance programs in internal investigations. Students will be challenged to solve problems they might face and to understand the various objectives and constraints of their clients. In the first half of the course, we will consider these problems more generally in a variety of contexts. During the second half, students will assume the roles of in-house and outside counsel and attempt to negotiate resolutions to various problems. A limited number of guest speakers will be invited.

This course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation with the Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Requirements:
1) Active participation in class discussions and exercises.
2) Short essays that will address problems based on the course’s major topics.
3) Written memoranda and participation in a major negotiation exercise.