Administrative Law (3)
The course explores administrative process and procedure. It examines specific agencies as bureaucratic institutions, considers approaches to regulatory reform, and emphasizes the courts’ roles in redressing abuses of agency discretion.

 

Environmental Law and Policy (3)

Designed for students who wish to understand how, in broad outline, the law protects the environment and how to litigate environmental issues.

 

Education Law and Policy (3)

Focuses on the intersection of public schools, educational policy, and the law, exploring the crucial role education plays in sustaining a democratic society.

 

Municipal Finance (2)
Studies financing of state and local governments in detail, including taxes, user charges, special assessments, borrowing, debt and expenditure limitations, impact of federal tax policy, and related issues of litigation.

 

New York City Government (2)
Covers history of New York City charter and extent and limits of power exercised by city officials. Examines institutions, processes, and legal framework for city decisions on use of resources. Raises questions about city status in state and national contexts.

 

New York City Law Seminar and Workshop (4 — Harlan required, selective admission) Seminar on city law and the legal skills needed to work in city government combined with a closely supervised externship in a counsel’s office of a New York City agency.

 

Urban Government: Current Problems and Issues (2 – Harlan required) - This course takes as its main focus New York City’s rich history of official corruption. Many of the current rules and procedures of urban government can best be understood when viewed through the lens of corruption prevention. Among the past episodes of official corruption studied in the course are: the rise and fall of Boss Tweed, the success of Tammany Hall as explained by G. W. Plunkitt, the forced resignation of Mayor James J. Walker as a result of the Seabury Investigations, the circumvention of rules by Robert Moses, the bribery of Mayor John V. Lindsay’s Water Commissioner, and the several corruption schemes of the 1980s that surrounded the Parking Violations Bureau scandal and the suicide of Queens Boro President Donald Manes. A short, weekly paper will be required related to the reading assignments. During the term experienced guest lecturers will occasionally meet with the class. We will also schedule a tour of the infamous Tweed Courthouse.

 

State and Local Government (3 — Harlan required) Surveys major legal and governmental issues of state and local government, emphasizing both historical antecedents and current problems. Offers a national perspective, but uses New York State precedents where applicable.

 

State and Local Taxation (2) Introduction to tax systems of state and local governments.

 

Land Use Regulation (2)
Explores constitutional tensions between public health, safety, and welfare, and private rights in property with focus on common law nuisance, zoning, subdivisions, historic preservation, growth controls, wetlands and other environmental issues, free-speech conflicts, and unconstitutional takings.