LAW 332P - Disaster Law: Response, Regulation, and Policy Practicum.

This course will examine how cities, states, and sovereign nations respond to natural disasters and complex emergencies. Students will understand the major laws, regulations, and international guidelines that govern this field (Stafford Act, Foreign Assistance Act, UN Guidelines) and how policies and regulations change as society adapts to incidents. We will also study the differences between how the United States and other nations deal with these issues. The course will include reviewing past emergencies such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and the Nepal Earthquake. We will also evaluate current events in the United States, as well as the ongoing crises in Syria and elsewhere.
The course is designed to have lecture and practical learning components. The lecture component will be delivered through hypotheticals, but also with tabletop exercises (e.g., students assume the role of attorneys and other professionals in an urban emergency), simulations, and guest speakers. The practical component is designed to give students experience in some of the skills used by lawyers working in the non-traditional setting of a disaster response. These include interview techniques, issue-spotting in the field, and advocacy presentations. Students will complete a mid-semester project, choosing between drafting a practitioner’s memo or legislative document. They will also complete a final project reflective of work in this field (e.g., Congressional brief; proposal to amend regulations). Five hours. Sanders DC Program.