By David Quinn, Staff Writer
Juris Staff Writer David Quinn conducted an interview with Professor David Nows, the director of the JD/MBA program and the Business Essentials Micro-Credential program, to discuss the new Transactional Legal Practice Concentration that will be offered starting in Spring 2025. Professor Nows will teach Advising Start Ups and Small Business Planning, the only required class for this concentration.
In addition to Advising Start Ups and Small Business Planning, students must take three out of a list of seven classes. Three of these classes will be available for the Spring 2025 semester: Accounting for Lawyers, Bankruptcy, and Mergers and Acquisitions. Three classes in this concentration qualify for the experiential requirement as well: Contract Drafting Simulation, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Negotiation and Document Drafting in Commercial Transactions.
Some portions of the following interview have been edited for clarity.
David Quinn: What motivated the creation of the Transactional Legal Practice concentration?
Professor David Nows: The law school hoped to create a fourth concentration in transactional legal practice, given the topic’s relevance to a significant number of our students post-graduation. Further, we felt that transactional practice skills were not present in the three concentrations currently offered by the law school, so filling that gap was important.
Quinn: What will be covered in the first class on Advising Start Ups and Small Business Planning?
Nows: This course covers the fundamental skills a first-year associate will need to represent a business client. Over the course of the semester, students will take the place of a law firm associate working for a hypothetical law firm partner and law firm client. Over the course of the semester, students will review and revise transactional documents, help the client to assess and achieve its business objectives, and communicate legal concepts both “up” (to a law firm partner) and “out” (to the client).
Quinn: Are there any prerequisites for this first course?
Nows: There are no prerequisites to the class. Students may take the course beginning in their 2L or 2E year.
Quinn: What internships could a student do that would be related to this concentration? What employment prospects would there be for students in this concentration?
Nows: This concentration provides students with the skillset needed to thrive in a wide variety of practice areas, including general corporate practice, tax law, securities law, bankruptcy and restructuring, real estate transactions, and mergers & acquisitions. Internships that include one or more of these practice areas would be a great fit for students who have taken a substantial portion of the concentration.
Quinn: Are there any classes in the concentration that you would especially recommend?
None specifically. I believe that each and every class in the concentration is a great choice for students!
Quinn: Do you have any plans for growing the program?
Nows: Yes – we hope to both grow the curriculum and the number of students who take advantage of the concentration over time.
