Temple University School of Law - Program in Japan
Course Descriptions: Spring Semester 2017
Semester: January 10 – April 28
Course Title
Credits Instructor
Day/Time
Start Date
Room#
(All in Mita)
Comparative Corporate
Governance
3
Sharon Randall
Mondays 18:30-21:30
January 16
502
Comparative Immigration Law
3
Marcus Kosins
Tuesdays 18:30 - 21:30
January 10
503
Constitutional Law
3
Robert J. Reinstein
Mondays 18:30-21:30
January 16
402
East-West Negotiations
3
Douglas Hymas and
Bryan Koslow
Thursdays 18:30 - 21:30
January 12
503
Evidence
3
M. Taylor Aspinwall
Mondays 18:30-21:30
January 16
403
International Contract Drafting
3
Stan Yukevich and
Julie Miller
Wednesdays 18:45 - 21:45
January 11
403
International Development &
Policy Law (writing seminar)
3
Vipasha Bansal
Wednesdays 18:30 - 21:30
January 11
502
International Taxation
2
Paul Previtera and
Dean Page
1/10-13 (Tue.-Fri.) and
1/17-20 (Tue.-Fri.)
9:00 - 12:00
January 10
504
Introduction to the American
Legal System
2
Mason Hester
Saturdays 10:00 - 12:00
January 14
502
Introduction to Japanese Law
3
Nathan Frost and
Katsuya Natori
Tuesdays 18:30 - 21:30
January 10
403
National Security Law
(writing option)
2
Robert J. Reinstein
Wednesdays 15:30-17:30
January 11
405
Professional Responsibility
3
Ric Fouad
Thursdays 18:30 - 21:30
January 12
403
January 10
405
February 1
405
Guided Research
2 or 3
Tina Saunders
Survival Japanese
non-credit Akiko Yoshida
Beginning Japanese
non-credit Nozomi Takano
Mon. - Fri. 13:15-14:45
(1/10-1/30)
(22.5 hours)
Mon., Wed., and Fri.
12:15-15:15 (2/1-2/24)
(36 + 4 hours [cultural activities])
U.S. Bar Exam Study Course
non-credit
TBD
TBD
COMPARATIVE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (3 credits)
Sharon Houle Randall, Principal Houle Randall LLC
This course will examine issues relating to corporate governance and ownership, including
the legal structure of business entities in the U.S. and other countries; the duties of directors;
and the roles of shareholders and employees. The course may also cover issues relating to
the role of investors in and regulators of publicly traded corporations.
COMPARATIVE IMMIGRATION LAW (3 credits)
Macus Kosins, Managing Partner, Kosins International Law Office
This course surveys the key areas of U.S. and Japanese immigration law, and provides
students with a sound understanding of not only the law, but its application in practice. Cases
and articles are used to illustrate the topics and issues that are relevant to both practicing
lawyers and students of immigration law. The course will cover traditional areas such as
political asylum and refugees, nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, as well as other issues to
provide an insight into the practice of immigration law.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I (3 credits)
Robert J. Reinstein, Clifford Scott Green Chair Professor of Law, Temple University
Beasley School of Law
Judicial review of legislative and executive actions in a constitutional setting, the relationship
of the states to the federal government (Federalism), the relationship of the people to
government (Bill of Rights) and the powers of the Congress are considered.
This subject is tested on many U.S. Bar Examinations.
EAST-WEST NEGOTIATION (3 credits)
Douglas Hymas, Country Executive for Japan and general manager, BNY Mellon
Bryan Koslow, Managing Director, Professionals Japan, Ltd.
This pass/fail course introduces students to the practical, legal, and cultural issues
encountered when drafting and negotiating international agreements in the Asian context. The
course particularly emphasizes negotiations involving American and Japanese parties through
the examination of actual international commercial transactions. Students have an
opportunity to participate in the preparation of mock agreements and negotiations.
This course has limited enrollment.
EVIDENCE (3 credits)
M. Taylor Aspinwall, U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
An examination of the rules governing the use of evidence, including problems of relevancy,
hearsay, impeachment, burden of proof, presumptions and the function of judge and jury.
This subject is tested on many U.S. Bar Examinations.
INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT DRAFTING (3 credits)
Stan Yukevich, Partner, Morrison & Forester
Julie Miller, Corporate Attorney
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This course bridges the gap between contract theory and contract practice and offers practical
insights into international contracts such as licenses, distributorships and joint ventures. It
will principally focus on developing skills in drafting these types of contracts, although
students may also have to undertake ancillary preparation exercises.
This course has limited enrollment.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY LAW: WRITING SEMINAR (3 credits)
Vipasha Bansal, Solicitor (non-practicing)
This course will examine how law and legal institutions shape economic, political and social
development in both theory and practice. We will look at some key texts and debates to
understand the theoretical foundations of the field. We will also look at development practice
from a lawyer's perspective, drawing on examples from both developed and developing
countries. These case studies will help us critically examine questions such as: Do urban
slum residents have the same access to justice as their wealthier neighbors? Which corporate
structures should a developing economy adopt? Do intellectual property rights form a barrier
to improving public health? What is the rule of law and why are economists promoting it?
The aim of the course is not to find definitive answers to development questions. Rather,
students will be encouraged to think broadly and deeply about development and how law
relates to it.
INTERNATIONAL TAXATION (2 credits)
Dean Page, Accounting Asia
Paul Previtera, Attorney admitted in State of Washington and in Australia
This course covers fundamental concepts in U.S. taxation of international transactions, both
inbound (U.S. taxation of income received by foreign individuals or entities) and outbound
(U.S. taxation of the foreign operations of United States taxpayers). The course will address
questions of residence, jurisdiction to tax, source of income, the foreign tax credit, tax
treaties, transfer pricing, and the operations of the controlled subsidiaries of United States
corporations.
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM (2 credits)
Mason Hester, Attorney
This Course is intended to provide the student from a non-common law background with an
introduction to the basic concepts, structures and institutions of the American Legal System.
Topics to be covered include: historical origins of the common law system; common law
method; the structure of the United States government, Federal and State; the Constitution;
judicial review, structure, organization and operations of courts in the United States, civil
litigation, case analysis and precedent: the legislative branch: statutes and legislative history;
and the executive branch: administrative law.
INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE LAW (3 credits)
Nathan Frost, US Secretary, US-Japan Joint Committee, US Forces, Japan
Government; Major, USAF
Katsuya Natori, Natori Law Office
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This course introduces students to Japanese law and the major principles of civil law systems.
Students will examine the history, structure, and content of the Japanese legal system, the
role of domestic and international law in Japan, the Japanese Constitution, and the major
areas of Japanese law. To better equip students for transnational work involving Japanese
entities, the course will focus on how Japanese laws, regulations, and culture affect
corporations, business transactions, and individual rights in Japan. It will also consider the
role of Japanese law in promoting transnational investment, current issues in the practice of
law in Japan, and several current social issues on which law has an impact.
J.D. study-abroad students are strongly encouraged to enroll in this course.
Students with a law degree from a Japanese university cannot enroll in this class.
NATIONAL SECURITY LAW: WRITING OPTION (2 credits)
Robert J. Reinstein, Clifford Scott Green Chair Professor of Law, Temple University
Beasley School of Law
This course will study national security threats – those posed to the United States by state and
non-state actors who target US civilians, personnel and interests with the aim of achieving
political change – and examine the legal controversies raised in responding to these threats
domestically and abroad. The course will be divided into two parts. Part One will examine
legal controversies in constitutional law. This includes the scope of presidential powers in
times of heightened national security threats and the separation of powers more broadly. We
will also explore the tension between national security and individual liberties during times of
crisis. Part Two will examine the legal controversies raised by irregular combat between the
US and non-state actors internationally. We will study some of the most important and
controversial legal issues triggered by the so-called ‘war on terror.’
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (3 credits)
Ric Fouad, Attorney & Child Welfare Advocate
If legal institutions provide the framework of a just society, attorneys are the architects and
engineers who construct and maintain it. This core course addresses the complex ethical
issues that arise as counsel play their parts within this larger legal framework, whether
evaluating conflicts of interest or handling inadvertent disclosures of confidential
information. The societal role of attorneys as agents of change will also be addressed
including pro bono efforts. The course will also help with preparation for the M.P.R.E. as
Professional Responsibility is tested on Bar Exams throughout the U.S. Material covered
will include Model Code of Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association
Committee on Ethics opinions, California Rules of Professional Conduct, relevant sections of
the California Business and Professions Code, select state and local bar opinions, and topical
news articles touching on attorney ethics.
This subject is commonly tested on Bar Exams across the United States.
GUIDED RESEARCH (2 or 3 credits)
Tina Saunders, Director and Associate Professor of Instruction in Law, Temple
University Beasley School of Law
This independent research offers students an opportunity to (1) satisfy the mandated writing
requirement, (2) develop research, writing and analytical abilities through producing a single
substantive research paper and (3) work with a faculty member in an area of the teacher's
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interest or expertise. Students have a Faculty member agree to supervise them and must
submit a signed Approval form to the Registrar to request participation.
SURVIVAL JAPANESE (non-credit)
Akiko Yoshida, Japanese teacher
This course is intended to give students with little to no Japanese language ability, basic
speaking and listening proficiency to be able to live comfortably in Tokyo for the semester.
BEGINNER JAPANESE (non-credit)
Nozomi Takano, Japanese teacher
This course is intended for students with little to no Japanese language experience and will
focus on Japanese speaking, reading, and writing.
U.S. BAR EXAM STUDY COURSE (non-credit)
This course is a comprehensive lecture series on techniques and strategies to take a U.S. state
bar exam. This class will help prepare you for the bar exam, the multistate/multiple-choice
section (“the MBE”), state essays, and the multistate performance test (“MPT”) questions.
The course will use many different resources, including doctrinal lectures, classroom
discussions, substantive outlines, many practice questions, and individual coaching. In this
class, as with the bar exam, what matters most is results, and our goal is to make sure that
each of you can use these various inputs to produce successful outcomes.
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