This page lists all currently offered McKinney courses & their official course descriptions in alphabetical order.
All Courses
Sagamore Institute Externship (2 or 3 cr.) D802 - Externship - The Sagamore Institute is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy research organization that provides independent research and analysis to public and private sector leaders, policy makers, practitioners, and the public. This externship will provide law students with opportunities to develop key analytical and research skills, to gain an understanding of how a think tank works, and to explore areas of law and policy related to the work of the Sagamore Institute and, as time and opportunity permits, the students’ own interests. Currently the two primary areas of research are Indiana’s criminal code reform and environmental and energy law.
Sales (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 616 - Elective - provides a systematic study of Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, including scope; formation; warranties; delivery, acceptance, rejection, and revocation of acceptance; remedies; and limitations on and disclaimers of remedies. The course will also note ways in which Article 2 is similar to the common law of contracts and ways in which Article 2 materially differs from the common law. When taught as a 3-credit course, coverage may also include UCC Article 2A and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
Secured Transactions (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 618 - Required (HR) - covers (1) creation, perfection, and enforcement of security interests in personal property under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and (2) Indiana debt collection, including garnishment, attachment, and bankruptcy exemptions. This course may be listed either synchronously or asynchronously online.
Securities Regulation (3 cr.) D/N 738 - Elective - addresses state and federal laws governing the offering and distribution of securities to the public by corporate issuers and others, regulation of securities markets, and the rights and liabilities of purchasers and sellers of securities under such statutes. The course emphasizes statutes administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Seminar in American Legal History (2 cr.) D/N 850 - Seminar - At the option of the instructor, this class will provide a survey of American legal history, or as an alternative, will explore a selected American legal history period or subject. Topics might include, but are not limited to, criminal justice, family law, Indiana legal history, legal profession, and legal theory.
Seminar in Business and Estate Planning (2 cr.) D/N 854 - Seminar - This seminar provides an analysis of individuals' methods for disposing of wealth, using the laws of trusts, estates, future interests, and taxes. Topics include marital deductions, life insurance, powers of appointment, arrangements for minor or other incapacitated children, charitable gifts and devises, qualified retirement plans, non-qualified retirement plans, passive activities, disposing of stock in closely held corporations, estate freezes, and generation-skipping tax transfers. Generally, each student will be required to prepare an estate plan based on statements of facts distributed by the instructor. P: Income Taxation (DN648); Trusts and Estates (DN722); Estate Planning (DN725); or permission of instructor.
Seminar in Health Policy, Law and Bioethics (2 cr.) D/N 655 - Seminar - This is an advanced seminar designed to help students develop their ability to understand major issues facing the American health care system from an interdisciplinary perspective. Faculty and students will consider a wide-range of critical health law policy questions using both inter- and multi-disciplinary perspectives.
Seminar in Judicial Selection (2 cr.) D/N 744 - Seminar - This seminar explores the various methods for selecting judges throughout the United States, including lifetime appointments in the federal system, partisan and non-partisan elections in state courts, and the various iterations of merit selection. The course also addresses the interplay of selection and retention methods on judicial independence.
Seminar in Law and Religion (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 890 - Seminar - This seminar analyzes current issues at the intersection of law and religion, including topics such as civil disobedience, conscientious objection, Sunday Blue Laws, religion and education, tax exemption of church property, religion and family law, censorship, and religion and public morality.
Seminar in Law and Technology (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 778 - Seminar - This course explores many aspects of the complex interrelationships between law and technology. In addition to examining the law specifically applicable to computers and other technological developments, the seminar may focus on themes and trends, such as the causal relationship between technological evolution and change in the law. This seminar can focus on a wide variety of possible themes and topics depending upon the interest and background of the instructor and students.
Seminar in Public Utilities Regulation (2 cr.) D/N 858 - Seminar - Concepts of state and federal utility regulation are addressed in this seminar. It also considers current regulatory problems, such as restriction of entry, market requirements, mergers and market structures, and rate making practices and procedures.
Seminar in Selected Topics in Constitutional Law (2 cr.) D/N 840 - Seminar - Provides in-depth consideration of selected aspects of constitutional powers, structure, processes, or individual liberties.
Sex Discrimination (3 cr.) D/N 826 - Elective - explores areas in which discrimination, or differentiation in treatment, is based solely or primarily on sex, and examines the effect of constitutional provisions and federal and state statutes on such discrimination.
Space Law (2 cr.) D/N 700 - Simulation - The course will introduce the students to the history and theory of International Space Law, including the five international treaties and the theoretical underpinnings of the agreements, as well as the politics behind who has and has not joined each. Students will also participate in a practical regulatory simulation where students will “retain” and “counsel” a fictional space startup. During this simulation, students will take proper legal action throughout the life cycle of a typical space company, including fundraising under CFIUS, export controls under ITAR, launch/payload licensing under the FAA, remote sensing licensing under the NOAA, and spectrum licensing under the FCC.
Sports Law: Individual, Amateur and Olympic Sports (2 or 3 cr.) D/N 727 - Elective - covers a range of doctrinal areas as they apply to non-league professional sports, international Olympic sports and intercollegiate sports. Interpretation and application of the rules and regulations of sports governing bodies are also examined.
State and Local Government Law (2 cr.) D/N 756 - Elective - is designed to build upon substantive knowledge about legal issues facing state and local governments. Topics emphasized include structural issues (creation and scope of local governments and the interrelations of federal, state, and local governments), powers and limitations of state and local governments, fundamental legal issues facing state and local governments (such as public finance and government liability), and the role of state and local governments in setting public policy (specifically, the class will address areas such as federalism and school finance). Through classroom participation, collaborative exercises, and occasional (short) writing assignments, a student in this class will gain a better understanding of the operation of state and local governments, how those governmental entities use their powers to respond to public obligations, and the legal dynamics between the public and private sectors.
State and Local Taxation (2 cr.) D/N 805 - Elective - examines principles of state and local taxation and of budgeting procedures. Taxes studied are inheritance taxes, estate taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes, and excise taxes. Basic procedural requirements concerning taxpayer document filings, the audit process, and court procedures are also studied.
State Appellate Court Externship (2 or 3 cr.) D802 - Externship - Externs generally work on draft opinions under the direction of the judge and judicial clerks at the Indiana Court of Appeals (or another state appellate court during the summer). Most of the Indiana courts caseload is criminal, although students may sometimes work on civil cases as well. (More about Court Externships)
State Supreme Court Externship (2 or 3 cr.) D802 - Externship - Externs for the Indiana Supreme Court work primarily work transfer memos, which require summarizing and analyzing briefs and lower court opinions in making recommendations regarding discretionary review. Summer externships may be available with other state supreme courts. Students interested in externships with the Indiana Supreme Court must submit application materials directly to the justice(s) by the deadlines noted at the Indiana Supreme Court website. (More about Court Externships)
State Trial Court Externship (2 or 3 cr.) D802 - Externship - Externships are available in the Marion Circuit Superior Court or with state trial court judges in other counties. These externships offer the greatest opportunity to observe court proceedings and usually include considerable interaction with the judge. Students in Marion County may request placements in civil, commercial, criminal, or family court. (More about Court Externships)
Supervised Research (1 to 4 cr.) D/N 661 - Elective - requires the student to write an in-depth and comprehensive research paper on a current legal problem. Generally, the finished paper should be 8,500 words inclusive of footnotes or endnotes for each hour of credit. The supervising faculty member is the final judge of both quality and length. P: Permission of instructor, completed Enrollment Request Form.
