Spring 2025
Government entities employ 24% of all American lawyers. While some of these lawyers litigate on behalf of government agencies, many advise government officials on the creation and implementation of policy. Often, these lawyers have significant discretion to shape policy to the preferences of their political superiors. Yet understanding and using this discretion requires a foundational understanding of policymaking and public administration. Policymaking describes the process of identifying potential solutions to a problem and gathering support for those solutions through the political process. Public administration describes the implementation of the resulting policy and the management of government programs. This knowledge cannot be gleaned from case law alone. This course offers students a survey of issues in policymaking, public administration, and internal administrative law. This course is ideal for both individuals looking to represent government clients or clients who frequently litigate against the government. It also serves as a foundation for students who want to develop skills to advocate for policy change in the legislature. Students will learn to use tools of policymaking and administration through case studies.
