Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
251.7B sec. 001 - The Business of Law and How Not to Think Like a Lawyer (Spring 2025)
Instructor: Mitchell Zuklie
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 1
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
M 6:25 PM - 8:15 PM
Location: Law 140
From January 13, 2025
To March 17, 2025
Course End: March 17, 2025
Class Number: 33497
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 41
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 45
As of: 02/15 11:55 PM
This course provides an elementary understanding of the business of law and how to thrive in it as a practitioner. The class is designed to give students an understanding of the legal industry, its fundamentals, economics, disruptors, and the tools and attributes required to succeed whether in private practice, in-house, or public interest settings. The course will begin with the legal ecosystem, business models, and economics. Then using real-world case studies and interactive modeling we will focus on, and practice, behavioral mechanics to foster the analytical, communication, and engagement skills necessary to become high-impact contributors. We also expect to complement the teachings with insights from leading general counsels in the public and private sectors, managing partners, industry analysts, VCs, and government leaders. At the conclusion of the course, participants will be expected to: 1) understand firm, corporate, and public interest legal economics and drivers; 2) understand market dynamics that can inform their professional development and career satisfaction; and 3) demonstrate analytical and behavioral skills to solve complex legal and commercial problems.
Mitch Zuklie advises innovative technology companies and their founders, boards, and investors. He has been cited as one of the top ten Most Innovative Lawyers in North America by Financial Times and an “eminent practitioner” by Chambers. Mitch has served as Chair and CEO of Orrick for a decade. Financial Times has chosen Orrick among the Most Innovative Law Firms in North America for the past eight years, and Fortune has selected the firm among the 100 Best Companies to Work For nine years in a row. Mitch serves on the Boards of the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity, the Silicon Valley Law Foundation, CalTrout and as Chairman of the Board of the Wild Salmon Center.
Submit teaching evaluations for this course between 17-MAR-25 and 22-MAR-25
Exam Notes: (TH) Take-home examination
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 4 hours
Course Category: Business Law
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment to this page.
Readers:
A reader will be used in this class.
Books:
Required Books are in blue
- The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts
Richard Susskind, Richard Süsskind, Daniel Susskind
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780198841890
e-Book Available: unknown
Price: To Be Determined