Advising
Contracts and Commercial Law
Moving on from ContractsFor many of you, the Contracts course was your first exposure to commercial or business law. Most private choices, and certainly most business transactions, are based on or made effective through contractual arrangements and so our curriculum offers a wide variety of paths you may follow. As an initial matter, we recommend that all students take Corporations in order to develop basic literacy in the forms, structures and concepts of private business entities. As your interests become more defined, you may find yourself drawn to the areas listed below. This list is not comprehensive, and the areas are not mutually exclusive. If you are interested in private transnational or cross-border transactions, for example, you should probably take courses in both the corporate and international law curricula.
Commercial Law
The basic courses in commercial law are Sales and Secured Transactions. These courses include a great deal of UCC and related materials. You may also develop further expertise in debtor/creditor relationships through Bankruptcy and the various Reorganization courses offered.
Law and Economics
If you are interested in this area, you should take the basic course, Economic Analysis of Law. Advanced courses currently offered include Law, Economics and Psychology, and Law, Economics and Journalism.
Litigation
If you are interested in business litigation, you should take the basic course in Evidence. Other courses relevant to a commercial litigation practice include Civil Litigation, Conflict of Laws and Trial Advocacy. In addition, students should consider clinics involving civil, rather than criminal, topics, and alternative dispute resolution courses.
Business Law
There are a number of courses which students interested in contract-related business law should consider. The basic course in Corporate Finance is a helpful foundation for many of these courses. For example, Corporate Bonds and Venture Capital involve intensive analysis of specific types of finance-driven contracts.
International Law
The international law curriculum contains several private international law offerings each semester which involve commercial law. Courses in international economic transactions are given each year, as are courses in European Union law. Each year, our Visiting Global Faculty offer comparative sales and commercial law courses.
Transaction-based courses
NYU also offers two additional, more advanced, types of courses: "deals" courses and "law & business" courses. These courses are largely transaction-based and are directed towards particular areas of specialty. In 2008-9, "Deals" courses are being offered in real estate, entertainment law, economic development and corporate restructurings. "Law & Business" courses are taught to both law students and MBA candidates, who work together on team assignments during the course. In 2008-9, law & business courses are being offered in investment banking, microfinance investing, reorganizations and professional responsibility.
Seminars and Writing Opportunities
Relevant seminars with associated writing credits are offered each year. In 2008-9, seminars with writing opportunities being offered in Bankruptcy Reorganizations, Financing Development, Foundations of Economic Analysis, Law & Business Projects, Law Economics and Journalism, Real Estate Financing, and the Research Seminar for Future Academics. In addition, there are several colloquia offered, including the Law & Economics Colloquium.