Administrative Law
Certificate(s): Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate (List C)
Course Description:
Powers and duties of administrative agencies and the legal doctrines governing agency actions such as rule making and administrative adjudication. Constitutional, legislative, and judicial controls over administrative practices and procedures are among the critical concerns of this course.
Class Notes:
Administrative law deals with government regulation – a crucial aspect of every type of law practice. The practical focus of the administrative law course is how to work with government agencies and the regulatory law these agencies generate and enforce. The first part of the course looks at the processes government agencies use to literally create law through rulemaking and adjudication and also engage in investigations and law enforcement. They operate in areas as diverse as environmental law, national security, communications, foreign affairs, taxation, labor-management relations, and much more. The second part of the course considers judicial review and how courts impose constraints on government regulation based on constitutional concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances, as well as procedural due process and other constitutionally protected rights. The course provides grounding in the basics of administrative law which any lawyer who practices law needs to understand. The first reading assignment in the required text will be posted on Camino. The top five students on the wait list should attend the first day. This course is graded with a final examination.
