The Center for New York City Law has developed a comprehensive curriculum focused on local city law that accomplishes the dual task of educating lawyers headed into government service and fostering scholars specializing in New York City and urban law issues.

Course offerings (credit hours):

Civil Rights Law (3)
Examines federal civil rights laws and considers general problems of federal judicial intervention in state and local affairs, the liabilities and immunities of local governmental entities and public officials, and the development of the law in a variety of substantive areas such as education, police, social services, prisons and criminal prosecutions.

Education Policy and the Law (3)
Focuses on intersection of public schools, K-12 educational policy and law in order to bring understanding that can help with criticism of legal and policy choices that shape education system — a crucial part of democratic society.

Environmental Law and Policy (3)
Looks at how politics drive design and operation of environmental statues and respective roles of common law and regulations; of legislature, agencies, and courts; and of governmental organizations at state, national, and international levels.

Family Court (2)
Explores practice, procedure, and reform of Family Court with two required observation visits to Family Court proceedings.

Labor Relations in the Public Sector (2)
Looks at field of public employment labor relations, including special impact of constitutional rights of employees on the employment relationship and other instances where labor relations in public sector differ from private sector experience.

Land Use Regulation (2)
Explores constitutional tensions between public health, safety, and welfare, and private rights in property with focus on common law nuisance, zoning, subdivisions, historic preservation, growth controls, wetlands and other environmental issues, free-speech conflicts, and unconstitutional takings.

Landlord and Tenant Law (2)
Examines all aspects of landlord and tenant relationship, with emphasis on state and city laws that affect that relationship. Considers both non-payment of rent and hold-over proceedings.

Municipal Finance (2)
Studies financing of state and local governments in detail, including taxes, user charges, special assessments, borrowing, debt and expenditure limitations, impact of federal tax policy, and related issues of litigation.

New York City Government (2)
Covers history of New York City charter and extent and limits of power exercised by city officials. Examines institutions, processes, and legal framework for city decisions on use of resources. Raises questions about city status in state and national contexts.

New York City Law Seminar and Workshop (4 — Harlan required, selective admission)
Seminar on city law and the legal skills needed to work in city government combined with a closely supervised externship in a counsel’s office of a New York City agency.

Poverty Law in Theory and Practice (2)
Presents practical treatment and theory behind poverty law, looking at landlord/tenant relationships, welfare benefits, non-profits, housing and community development, along with politics of welfare reform and redevelopment of poor communities. Contains strong ethics component as it examines laws concerning representation of poor clients and move toward pro-active group rather than individual representation.

Public Health Law (2)
Focuses on major modern problems of state action and funding in promoting public heath through prevention, treatment, and behavioral restraint with examination of government response to AIDS, tuberculosis, venereal disease, reproductive technology, and health care cost containment.

State and Local Government (3 — Harlan required)
Surveys major legal and governmental issues of state and local government, emphasizing both historical antecedents and current problems. Offers a national perspective, but uses New York State precedents where applicable.

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