Teaching

I direct the Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic, where I supervise law students who are representing low-income Marylanders in civil legal matters involving housing, consumer, public benefits, employment, and special education law.  We practice in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.  We also engage in systemic law reform projects, such as legislative advocacy and community education.  We are client-centered and social justice oriented.  

I also teach Evidence, Special Topics in Applied Feminism, Administrative Law, and Poverty Law.  

Law 651:  Evidence

Rules of evidence governing the proof of facts in civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts; functions of the judge and jury; qualification and examination of witnesses; proof of writing; judicial notice; competence and credibility of witnesses; opinion evidence; hearsay; burdens of proof; presumptions and inferences; real evidence; demonstrative, experimental and scientific evidence. Emphasis is on the Federal Rules of Evidence and Maryland law. Prerequisites: Criminal Law and Torts.

Law 800A:  Civil Advocacy Clinic

Students enrolled in Civil Advocacy Clinic I represent indigent clients before courts and administrative agencies in diverse civil matters. Civil Clinic students have represented clients on consumer, contract, landlord/tenant, special education, and government benefits matters, and interested students have assisted elderly clients in drafting powers of attorney and advance directives. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students are responsible for all aspects of representing clients, including interviewing clients and witnesses, engaging in fact investigation and discovery, drafting pleadings and motions, negotiating with adversaries, and conducting hearings and trials. Students are expected to devote approximately 20 hours per week to clinic activity. Prerequisites: First year day courses, Evidence. Pre or Co requisite: Professional Responsibility. [Admission by permission only.]

Law 888B:  Special Topics in Applied Feminism

This course will provide students with an opportunity to apply the tenets of feminist legal theory to a variety of legal topics. The course will be team taught and is designed to introduce some of the core concepts of feminist legal theory and examine how that theory applies both to areas of the law traditionally associated with feminism and to those areas in which the application of feminist legal theory might seem unusual. The course will enable students to develop critical thinking skills that will allow them to apply feminist legal theory to new legal problems, generating creative, theory based solutions. Prerequisite: None

Law 700:  Administrative Law

Analysis of federal administrative agencies, including their legislative and judicial nature, congressional delegation of powers, promulgation of regulations, adjudication and judicial review. Emphasis will be on the Federal Administrative Procedure Act. [Open enrollment]

Law 885:  Law & Poverty Seminar

The course examines the legal and policy responses to poverty in the United States and how the law shapes the lives of poor people and communities. The course will explore the extent of poverty in America, the root causes of poverty, the rhetoric and reality of social welfare, and the historical development of social welfare policy. Specific problems faced by poor communities will be discussed from a legal perspective in the areas of housing, welfare, employment, and racial isolation and concentrated poverty. [Limited Enrollment]