LAW 675 - Local Government Law Seminar

Course Type: Upper Writing Requirement
Credits: 2

Description: Students in this seminar will consider and discuss various issues in Virginia local government law. Topics may include: (i) special ethical concerns that may arise in representing a local government; (ii) the boundaries of a local government’s power, such as authority to adopt a living wage ordinance; (iii) record requests and closed meetings under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; (iv) municipal bankruptcy; (v) sovereign immunity; (vi) procurement, including construction and architectural design contracts; and, (vii) mediation in the context of a police brutality lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Judges and outside attorneys may participate in seminar discussions on selected topics. Each student is required to participate in seminar discussions. Each student is also required to satisfy a writing requirement in one of two ways: (i) write four short reaction papers and present one to the seminar; or, (ii) write and present a research paper structured to satisfy the second-year writing requirement.