Rogue Slayer Law Student Lawyer with Snark Movie Fan

I've submitted my registration forms for my final semester. I'm happy to report (very happy) that I'll only be taking three classes next semester rather than four or five, and will only have to go in three nights per week rather than four. I haven't had Tuesday nights off since my first year. And only three classes? Wow! I actually only needed four measley credits to graduate, but in the evening division we have to take a minimum of nine (eight if you get special dispensation, but who has time for that?), and all my required courses and categories (like public law, seminar, etc.) are done, so my only limitations were the extremely small (again) course offering we in the evening division are given.

So next semester it's:

• Employee Benefits Law: This course deals with the fast-changing subject of employee benefits law (well named then, eh?). The collapse of large corporate pension plans has resulted in the recent passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which amended ERISA (the major federal law governing employee benefit plans). The course will examine the regulation of pension plans and welfare benefit plans under ERISA. Topics to be covered include litigation involving breach of fiduciary duties of disclosure and prudent investment, employee remedies for denial of benefits, and preemption. Other important federal laws affecting employee benefits also will be discussed.
• Taxation of Business Entities: Compares and contrasts the tax treatment of the various legal forms of business organization. The main contrast is between the double-level tax treatment of regular C Corporations and the single-level treatment of S Corporations, partnerships, and the relatively new limited liability company. The course takes a transactional approach and covers the formation, operation, and liquidation of the various business entities. This course is intended for students who are interested in specializing in tax as well as students who have an interest in a general business practice.
• UCC - Sales: Devoted mainly to the sale of goods under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Major topics include the scope of Article 2, formation and modification of contracts for the sale of goods, implied terms, warranties, risk allocation, excuses for non-performance, and remedies in the event of breach. Each student is expected to acquire a mastery of the guiding principles contained in Article 2. Because Article 2 covers sales to consumers as well as commercial sales, the course includes an excursion into the law of unfair trade practices. The course also covers selected themes from Article 3 (negotiable instruments), Article 5 ( letters of credit), Article 7 (documents of title), and Article 2A (leases of goods), providing a brief introduction to these topics. Material covered in the basic course on Contracts is reviewed to a limited extent to highlight the changes made by the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code. The subject matter of this course is heavily tested on bar examinations. Knowledge of the law of Sales is very helpful for lawyers advising on commercial transactions or engaged in commercial litigation.

A three-class semester is a good time to be taking the Taxation of Business Entities course, as it's apparently a real bear, but worth the effort. My Personal Income Tax professor, who is a self-confessed tax law addict, has already offered to provide assistance to anyone who would like it during that class (it's taught by someone else).

In addition, I signed up for my senior photo session! My pictures (in street clothes and also in cap/gown) for posterity will be snapped next Tuesday before class.

In current semester news, Negotiation continues to kick my time resource ass. Every weekend I have a choice - do I prepare for Negotiation, or do I prepare for my other three classes? Or in the case of this weekend, do I take the MPRE and then prepare for the big move? In either of the last two options, I then end up where I am now: up at 11:05 pm getting ready for tomorrow's Negotiation.

Tic-toc, tic-toc. It's November. Yikes.

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