April 1, 2024
It’s about that time again: course selection! So, who better to guide you than the Temple 10-Q student editors? We’ve been there, done that, and here are our top picks based on our own experiences. From practical simulations to foundational corporate law principles, this curated list offers a glimpse into the diverse and enriching Business Law curriculum Temple Law has to offer.
Integrated Transactional Program (ITP) (Bartow & Wambach): ITP offers a ten-credit, year-long program packed with substantive material and client simulation opportunities for applying that material. This program knocks out multiple requirements for graduation, including Professional Responsibility and either the Serial Writing requirement or four skills credits. The cherry on top, however, is being taught by the illustrious Professor Bartow, who has molded generations of Temple lawyers with his passion for teaching the Trusts and Estates portion of the course.
Corporations (Lin): This course is a must-take for anyone in law school, whether you find yourself interested in business law or not. Professor Lin breaks down the basics of state corporate law and federal securities law, all while drawing on real-world examples and in-class activities. Additionally, Corporations is an important pre-requisite for some other business law courses (and the clinic!), and should be on your radar if you’ll be interested in those down the line.
Artificial Intelligence Law (Bollinger): The pace and scale of technological innovation will create tremendous opportunities in business and change the landscape in the future. Professor Bollinger tailors the content of this course based on recent developments in the world of AI law, offering students the opportunity to explore novel concepts in a rapidly developing area of law. The serial writing nature of the course and the approach allow students to write in a format styled around real-world applications of the course topics, which is great preparation for students interested in practicing business law.
Commercial Bankruptcy Practice and Procedures (Chan): Who better to learn bankruptcy from than a federal bankruptcy judge herself? Judge Chan introduces students to the Bankruptcy Code and the different types of proceedings that ensue under Chapter 11 filings.
Corporate Governance and Disclosure (Barychev): Consider this the experiential/skills version of Securities Regulation. Instead of paging through case law related to securities regulations, Professor Barychev emphasizes understanding the regulations firsthand. She guides students in understanding how each requirement manifests in the disclosures of public companies (10-Q, 10-K, 8-K, Proxy Statement). And who better to learn about these disclosures from than a seasoned practitioner herself?
Legal, Professional, and Business Aspects of Law Practice (Grode): This is a class unlike any other that you will take in law school. Jonathan Grode, a Temple Law alum and Managing Partner of Green & Spiegel, guides you through the steps of running a successful business, from pitching your idea to drafting a comprehensive business plan. This class is a great break from doctrinal courses and challenges you to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset.
Role of In-House Counsel (Broder): Thinking about ever going in-house? Want to know what your client’s counsel is thinking? Look no further than this class. Professor Broder is the retired Vice President of Corporate Development and General Counsel for Conrail where he worked for 31 years. He has put out just about every “fire” that can occur at a company, and he has the war stories to show for it.
For any readers who have an interest in tax (or are still trying to figure that out), you are in luck because Temple has some incredible offerings for upper-level tax courses! Here are a few highlights from Temple’s rich tax curriculum:
Partnership Taxation (Monroe): This is a foundational course for anyone who thinks they may want to pursue a career in tax. However, there are very important principles taught in this class that will help any aspiring transactional attorney become a bit more tax-fluent. Though this course has a reputation for being challenging—and it most certainly is—2023 Great Teacher Award recipient, Professor Monroe makes the concepts not only manageable but also (believe it or not) enjoyable! Tax aside, you will also gain unmatched proficiency in reading and understanding statutes and regulations — a citation as precise as 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(1)(B) is far from uncommon in this course.
Estate and Gift Taxation (Mandelbaum): Though perhaps sometimes slept on in comparison to the above two entries, you would be surprised how many Estate and Gift Tax concepts pervade other areas of tax law. Further, from a practicality standpoint, every single one of us in our personal lives has encountered or will encounter circumstances involving transfer taxes (or at least will hire another lawyer to handle it). So, why not learn about them from Professor Mandelbaum, who has an unparalleled amount of experience in the field (and a near-endless number of anecdotes to go along with it)?
Want to join the Temple 10-Q Student Editor team? We are accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year. Please submit your resume and transcript here!