HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Curriculum Overview
HBKULawSchoolpreparesstudentsforfuturerolesasgloballeaders.Positionedataninternationalcrossroad,QatarandtheMENAregion
requires leaders who can manage multifaceted relationships that span different legal systems and demand multidisciplinary skills.
Distinguishingitselffromtraditionallawschools,HBKULawaddressesthisneedbytrainingstudentstounderstandthevariouslegalsystems
civil,common,andshariathatinformQatarilawandthatgovernthecomplexeventsandtransactionsinwhichitengages,anduses
innovativemethodsofinstructionthatprepareitsgraduateswiththeskillsneededtoeffectivelyapplythistransnationalperspectivepractice.

Thefirstyearandahalf(PartI)focusesonfoundationsforlawyering,whilethesecondyearandahalf(PartII)appliesandelaboratesthese
inthecontextofthemajorsectorsthatarevitaltoQatarandtheregion.Thefoundationsforlawyeringinvolveunderstandingofprincipal
legaldoctrine,thenecessaryanalysisandreasoningtoarticulatethis,andtheessentialskillsneededtoapplybothinpracticeintheservice
ofyourclient.Taughtfromacomparativeperspective,thefoundationalcoursesexaminethedifferentlegalsystemsthatconvergeonglobal
legalpracticeidentifyingcommonthemesandpointsofdeparture.Thishalfofthecurriculumwillalsotrainstudentshowtonavigatefrom
one system to the other, depending on the exigencies of the transnational transactions they will be required to manage during their
professionallives.

DuringthesecondyearandahalfoftheJDprogram,studentsfoundationalskillswillbeappliedto,andfurtherdevelopedin,thecontext
of various sectors that are vital to Qatar and the region, including Energy, Healthcare, Finance and Global Investment, Infrastructure
Development,Media,andCulturalEndowment.Sectortrackswillfocusonteachingtheirsubjectmatterusingmilestones,whicharethe
significanteventsthatregularlycharacterizelegalpracticeineachareaoffocus.Milestoneswillbeselectedbasedonhowtheydemonstrate
thecomplexintegrationofavarietyofspecializedlegaldoctrinesconfrontedinthetypicalcourseofprofessionalpracticewithineachsectors.
Forexample,ajointventurewithanoffshorepartnerintheEnergySectorwillinvolve,interalia,multipledifferenttypesofcontracts
rangingfromjointventureagreements,toproductionsharingagreements,tocapitalprocurement,totechnologytransferimplicatemultiple
differentareasoflawcontract,corporate,commercial,intellectual,regulations,labor,humanrights,etc.andwillseetheintersectionof
publicandprivate,Islamicandsecular,domesticandglobal.ForeachMilestonetherewillalsobeimportantpracticalandfunctionallearning
scenariosintegratinginterdisciplinaryissuesofmanagement,finance,accounting,technology,socialpolicyformation,etc.

Curriculum Part I: Global Lawyering Skills

Required Curriculum
Cornerstone:

Fall First Year:

Spring First Year:

Fall Second Year:

Capstone:

2 weeks, 3 credits

12 class weeks, 12 credits

14 class weeks, 12 credits

14 class weeks, 16 credits

2-4 weeks, 3 credits

Property Law

Constitutional Law

Administrative Law

Option 1: Litigation

Contract Law

International Law

Criminal Law & Procedure

Injury Law

Business Organizations I

Civil Procedure & Legal

Ethics

Global Legal
Systems

Business Organizations II

Option 2: Transactions

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

First
Year

First
Year
CORNERSTONE

Global Legal Systems

FALL
SEMESTER

Property Law

(Two weeks prior to the first year fall semester)

(First year, fall semester)

CourseDescription
Thiscoursewillequipstudentstounderstandtheinternationallegal
environmentbyprovidingthemwithafoundationalunderstanding
ofthecommon,civil,andsharialegaltraditions.

Thecoursewillfocusonthethreetraditionshistory,contemporary
character,andinfluenceoncurrentQatarilawandotherlawinthe
region. Discussion topics will include: legal globalization and
associated processes of delocalization; comparative legal culture;
comparative understandings of rights, justice, and limited
government;legalimperialism;andlegalmigration.Thecoursewill
alsousecomparativecasestudiestofamiliarizestudentswithhow
thecommon,civil,andsharialegaltraditionsoperateinpractice
thus teaching legal reasoning and methods by comparing the
traditionssometimessurprisinglydifferentassumptions.

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
In addition to the substantive material above, this course aims to
introduce students to the Socratic method of teaching and
learningwith an emphasis above all on critical thinking and
normativequestioningthatwillcharacterizeeverysubsequentstep
intheirlawschooleducation.Studentswillalsolearntoreadand
analyzecasesandcodes.Assessmentwillbebasedonparticipation
and a pass/fail exam administered at the end of the twoweek
course.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
thehistoricalandepistemologicalfoundationsofthecommon,
civil,andsharialegaltraditions;
thenormativefoundationsofthecommon,civil,andsharialegal
traditions;
thecomparativefoundationsofQatarilaw;
salientaspectsofglobalizationwithspecificreferencetolaw;
foundational issues of legal reasoning, legal methods, and
jurisprudence;and
howtoengageincriticalthinkingandnormativequestioningin
theSocraticstyle.

CourseDescription
Althoughboththecommonandcivillawofpropertydefineroughly
similar interests and provide generally analogous protections, the
methodofachievingthosegoalsismarkedlydifferent.Thiscourse
willdrawoutthecoreelementsofeachlawofpropertyandprovide
the students with the capacity to draw distinctions and make
comparisons between the two frameworks. The common law
sectionofthecoursewillbeginwithadiscussionofthetheoretical
justifications for a property rights regime and will follow with an
analysis of possession versus ownership, the indicia of ownership,
the role of exclusion, the transfer of ownership (including
conveyancing and the estates system), and a discussion of the
private and public control of land use, including nuisance,
easements,covenants,zoning,andtakings.Thecivillawsectionof
thecoursewilladdressthetheoreticalframeworkofpropertylawin
the concept of dominion and will continue with the theory of
patrimony and patrimonial rights and objects (including accessory
rights versus real rights, and the role of personal rights or
creditor/debtorrelations),aswellasmovable/immovableproperty,
andregulationinthepublicinterest.

Application&AssessmentObjectives
Studentswillresearchnovellegalquestionspresentedbythecourse
frombothacivilandcommonlawperspectiveandwillpresenttheir
findingsorallytotheclass.Presentingstudentswillprepareashort,
nongraded quiz for their fellow students to complete after the
presentationsandwillpreparewrittenselfassessmentsofhowwell
theycommunicatedtheirinformationandideas,takingintoaccount
the results of the quiz. Assessment for this course will include the
presentationwithwrittenselfassessment,participationinclass,and
afinalexam.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
theoretical and normative bases for property ownership and
relatedrightsandobligations;
commonandcivillawprinciplesregardingpropertyownership,
controlandtransfer;
approaches to balancing competing rights and harmonizing
publicandprivateinterests;
toconductresearchintwojurisdictions,onecommonandone
civil;and
topresentcomplicatedinformationorally,inaclearandconcise
manner.
2

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Contract Law

Injury Law

(First year, fall semester)

(First year, fall semester)

CourseDescription
This course addresses the legal determination of the viability,
enforceability,andremediesforbreachofcommercialobligations.
ThecoursewillcovertheAngloAmericancommonlawofcontracts,
the enforcement of commercial obligations under the civil law
tradition,andtheUNConventionontheInternationalSaleofGoods.
Contractlawisuniqueinthatitdealswithcircumstancesinwhich
private commercial agreements between economically motivated,
presumptively armslength commercial actors will be enforced
(performance compelled) or dissolved (declared void or
performancesexcused)bythejudicialauthorityofthestate.Inthis
way, the law of contracts is different from law regarding the
enforcementofbasicmoralnorms(criminallaw),theenforcement
of general civil duties (injury law), the enforcement of political/
governmental standards and limitations (constitutional and
administrativelaw),andthelawofpropertyrightsandownership.

Thecoursebeginswiththecircumstancesunderwhichacommercial
agreement will be considered "binding" upon the parties to it. All
suchagreements,however,willnotbeenforcedbyastate.Thusthe
courseturnsnexttolegalstandardsofsufficiencyandseriousnessin
theformationandthebreachofagreementsindeterminingwhether
specific contracts will be enforced. The course concludes with
consideration of the legal and equitable remedies for breach of
contractsandthecircumstancesinwhichsuchfailuresofcontractual
performancewillbeexcused.

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
The instructor will present a litigation simulation of a failed
commercial relationship. Each theory of recovery stated in the
pleadingdocumentofthelitigationwillilluminateatopiccoveredin
the class. Prior to the remedial options portion of the course,
students will be charged with drafting a new contract for the
defendant entity to use in business relationships going forward
which will cure the inadequacies of the contract that led to the
simulateddispute.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
the comparative law regarding formation, sufficiency, and
enforceabilityofcontractsandcommercialobligations,andthe
remedies available to address the failure of commercial
obligations;
the equitable and other exceptions to these rules and the
increasing role of judicial discretion in making such
determinations;
thenormativegroundsforenforcingcontracts;
the relationship between a clients commercial needs, its
potential exposure to breach of contract liability, and how to
draftacontracttoavoidsuchexposure;and
the effect of market conditions on the enforcement of
commercialobligations.

CourseDescription
Thiscourseprovidesanintroductiontothewayvarioussocietiesand
traditionsdealwithinjuriessuffereddueto"wrongfulacts"through
legalsystems.Itaddressesestablishedmeansofadjudicatingliability
pursuanttocommonlawdoctrinesandthedutiesimposedincivil
code regimes, including liability for intentionally inflicted injuries,
negligence, vicarious liability, and strict liability. Another major
subject of concern is defenses based on the plaintiff's conduct. A
significantfocusoftheclasswillbeonremedialtheoryandpractice,
asking questions about the proper purposes of substitutionary
monetary and equitable reliefcompensation, deterrence,
punishmentandwhatthosedifferingpolicyperspectivesmeanfor
theavailablemeansofresolvingconflictsandadvisingclients.

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
Studentswillconductanintakeinterviewbasedonanarrativeof
personalinjurysufferedbyapotentialclient.Thestudentswillwork
ingroupstowardtheendofclasstodraftaninitialpleadingreflecting
theremedialgoalsoftheclientandbasedonthetheoriesofrecovery
discussed in class. Student groups will be assigned to draft this
documentforfilingeitherinacommonlaworcivillawjurisdiction.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
the parameters of legally recognized private culpability for
intentionalandnegligentwrongfulacts;
the circumstances under which common law and civil law
systems impose liability for wrongful acts committed among
citizens,privateentities,andgovernments,andthelimitations
onordefensestothatliability;
how,when,andwhycourtsystemsawarddamagesandgrant
equitablerelieftoharmedindividualsandentities;and
thecomparativetreatmentofthesetopicsinthecommonlaw
and civil traditions and the effect of these differences on the
roleofthelawyerindraftingpleadings,resolvingconflictsand
advisingclients.

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

International Law

First
Year

(First year, spring semester)

CourseDescription
This course is a survey designed to introduce students to multiple
aspects of the international legal system. It will cover issues
traditionally discussed in courses on areas of public international
law, private international law, international business transactions,
andinternationalhumanrights.Thegoalistwofold:tointroducethe
basic concepts that every lawyer should know about the
internationaldimensionsoflawinthemodernworld,andtoequip
students to take more advanced courses in a variety of more
specializedareas.

Thefirsthalfofthecourse,FoundationsofInternationalLaw,will
introducestudentstothebasicideas,history,andstructureofthe
internationallegalorder.Itwillcoveratleastfivemajortopicareas:
ahistoricaloverviewoftheinternationallegalorder;thesourcesof
international law (including treaties, customary international law,
and soft law); international governance structures (including
sovereign states, nonstate actors, global organizations like the
UnitedNationsandWTO,andregionalorganizationsliketheEUand
NATO); and international law compliance and enforcement
(includinginternationalrelationsperspectivesoninternationallaw,
suchasrealismandidealism).

The second half of the course, Topics in International Law, will

introduce students to some of the most important issue areas in
internationallaw,including:theuseofforce;humanrightslawand
(relatedly) international criminal law; and international economic
lawandbusinesstransactions.

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
Students will engage in legal research using international legal
materials.Theywillalsostudynegotiationanddiplomacy,learning
skillsthatareapplicableinawidevarietyoflawyeringcontexts.In
thefinalproject,studentswilldrawonthisresearchandtrainingto
engageinasimulatedinternationalnegotiation.Assessmentwillbe
based on participation, the final inclass project (the mock
negotiation,aswellasawrittenselfassessment),andafinalexam.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
the historical and normative foundations of the international
legalorder,includinginternationallawspracticalfunctionsand
moralaspirations;
howinternationallawismadeandenforced;and
thebasiccontentofinternationallawwithrespecttotheuseof
force, human rights, and commercial affairs; and negotiation
techniques.

SPRING
SEMESTER

Constitutional Law
(First year, spring semester)
CourseDescription
Fromtheorytopragmaticcompromise,questionsofconstitutional
designarerelevantnotonlytoemergingpoliticalordersbutalsoto
establishedconstitutionalregimesundernewpressures.Thiscourse
willbeginbyintroducingclassicjurisprudentialdebatesaboutlimited
government,askingthequestions:whatisaconstitutionandwhatis
its purpose? The course will then turn to some of the concrete
elements discussed in constitutional design. The first part of the
course will address limiting government through separation of
powers, by assessing the choices designers must make: between
parliamentaryversuspresidentialsystems,amongdifferentkindsof
electoral systems, in incorporating federalism or consociational
structures,andinbalancingcivilandmilitaryrelations.Thesecond
part of the course will discuss limiting government through rights
protectionandwillanalyzevariousnationalconstitutionsaswellas
comparative constitutional law in order to assess how core
fundamentalrightsareidentified,thedistinctionbetweenpositive
and negative rights, the horizontal application of rights, the
enforcement of rights, and the role of the judiciary in rights
protection.

Application&AssessmentObjectives
Studentswillbeexpectedtoproposetheirownresearchquestions,
conducttherelevantresearch(drawingonmaterialinthecourseas
well as identifying additional sources), and write clear analytical
papersansweringthequestions.Twopaperswillberequiredover
the course of the semester, and each paper will go through two
drafts. Assessment will be based on the clarity of writing,
persuasivenessofargument,andrangeofmaterialcited,aswellas
theabilityofthestudenttoincorporatecriticismandsuggestionsin
themultidraftprocess.Forthecoursegrade,classparticipationwill
alsobeconsidered,buttherewillbenofinalexamination.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
systems andapproaches to constitutional government, with a
focusoninstitutionalmechanismstoensureappropriatelimits
ongovernmentpower;
methodsbywhichconstitutionalsystemsdefine,prioritize,and
enforcefundamentalrights;and
to frame and respond to research questions and to edit and
revisewrittenwork.

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Business Organizations I
(First year, spring semester)

Second
Year

CourseDescription
This course introduces students to the different forms of business
entities,includinggeneralandlimitedpartnerships,limitedliability
partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. It
examines both the common law and select regulatory codes
regarding these forms of business entities, with a special focus on
corporategovernanceandfiduciarydutiesofcareandloyalty,aswell
as the important issues of policy that surround the regulation of
businessentities.

FALL
SEMESTER

Administrative Law
(Second year, fall semester)

The course begins with the law of agency, which provides the
foundation for discussion of the most common business
associations: partnerships, limited liability companies, and
corporations.Followingagency,thecoursewilladdresspartnerships,
with particular attention to applicable fiduciary duties and the
relationshipamongpartners.Afterpartnership,thecourseexamines
corporations, typically focusing on doctrine as it applies to large,
publicly traded corporations. In considering corporations, their
shareholders, their managers, and their boards of directors, the
courseexploreslimitedliabilityandpiercingthecorporateveil,the
businessjudgmentrule,andfiduciaryduties.Theworkofthecourse
willincludeexposuretobasicfinanceandaccountingprinciplesand
examplesofthedocumentsandregulatoryfilingscriticaltothisarea
oflaw.

CourseDescription
This course will address the function of law in the administrative
processbytakingacomparativeperspectiveontheadministrative
state in its various guises, taking particular account of civil and
common laws different conceptions of administrative law itself.
Thecoursewillcoverthecoregoalsoftheadministrativeprocess,
including rulemaking and the relationship between risk and the
regulatory state. It will then address the ways in which agency
discretion is contained, through principles of transparency,
accountability, participation, and reasongiving in the context of
varying degrees of judicial attention and review. Drawing on
comparative examples, it will discuss the role of independent
agencies, public inquiries and commissions, and the role of an
ombudsman.Afinalsectionwillfocusonthegrowingfieldofglobal
administrative law, or global governance, in which international
organizations and nongovernmental organizations function within
growingexpectationsoftransparencyandaccountability.

Application&AssessmentObjectives
Amainstayofadministrativelawistheapplicationofdiscretion.In
this course, students will learn to view cases from a judges
perspective, by writing an opinion in a hypothetical case. The
professorwillprovidethestudentswitharecordofadministrative
action and the briefs of the parties challenging and defending the
agency.Basedonthelawofthegivenjurisdiction,studentswillbe
requiredtodeterminetheresultinthecaseandprovideawritten
justificationoftheirdecision.Inadditiontothiswrittenwork,class
participationandafinalexamwillcomprisethefinalcoursegrade.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
fundamental aspects of the administrative process across
varioussystemsofgovernment;
methodsoflimitingagencypower,monitoringtheexerciseof
administrative discretion, and preserving basic rights,
particularlytherighttodueprocess,inadministrativecontexts;
accountability mechanisms that expand public access to
administrativedecisionmakingprocesses;
application of administrative law principles to international
organizationsandnongovernmentalorganizations;and
towriteareasonedopinion,encompassinglawandacomplex
factualrecord.

CourseDescription
Students will interview business collaborators who would like to
form a protectable commercial entity. They will be charged with
understandingthegoalsoftheindividualsandthecommercialentity
tobeformed.Theywillthenrecommendacorporateformbasedon
the information learned during the interview and the financial
reporting and accounting documents of the business. Finally, they
willdraftaninitialformationdocumentforfiling.
LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
common law doctrine as it relates to the obligations and
liabilitiesofbusinessentities
the prevailing regulatory rubrics, particularly those of the
United States, controlling the formation, structure, and
oversightofcorporateentities;
thefiduciarydutiesofcareandloyaltyalongwiththerelated
obligationofgoodfaithandhowthosedutiesaffecttheways
corporationsaregovernedbydirectors;
the law regarding concepts of disclosure, insider trading, and
proxycontests;
theoriesofcorporatepersonhood,itsnormativejustifications,
anditsproperlimits;
basicfinanceandaccountingprinciplesunderlyingthelawand
policyinthisfield;and
clientcounselingintheearlystagesofcorporateformation.

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Criminal Law and Procedure

Civil Procedure and Legal Ethics

(Second year, fall semester)

(Second year, fall semester)

CourseDescription
This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts
definingcriminallawandprocedure.Alltopicswillbecoveredfrom
acomparativeperspective,examiningwhereverpossiblecommon,
civil,andsharialaw.Thecoursewillbedividedintothreeunits.

Thefirstunitofthecourse,PrinciplesofSubstantiveCriminalLaw,
willcoverthenatureandproperfunctionofcriminallaw(focusing
onthecivil/criminaldistinctionandthelimitsofcriminalization),the
justifications for and limits of punishment (including retributivism,
utilitarianism,andcapitalpunishment),andthelegalityprinciple.

Thesecondunitofthecourse,TheGeneralandSpecialParts,will
covertheactrequirement(includingtheharmprinciple),themental
staterequirement(focusingontheconnectionbetweenculpability
and mental state), the affirmative defenses, inchoate and group
liability,andexamplesofspecificoffenses.

The last unit of the course, Criminal Procedure, will cover the
nature and function of criminal procedure (e.g., the risk of
governmentaloppressionandthebalancebetweentheaccuracyand
safeguardfunctions),theideaofdueprocess,andrightsrelatingto
investigation, trial, sentencing, and appeal (including the
adversarial/inquisitorialdistinction).

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
The course will focus on advocacy training by including a written
projectinpersuasivelegalwriting(e.g.,abrief)andafinal,inclass
moot court event in which students will engage in oral argument.
Assessmentwillbebasedonparticipation,thewrittenproject,the
oralargument,andanexam.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
the function and limits of substantive criminal law and
procedure;
thebuildingblocksofcriminalliability;
the procedural principles governing the enforcement of
substantivecriminallaw.
the thematic issue of how the criminal system controls crime
whilemanagingtheriskofgovernmentaloppression;and
howtoengageinpersuasiveoralandwrittenlegaladvocacy.

CourseDescription
Procedural regimes are often highly jurisdictionspecific. Yet the
design choices among procedural regimes, such as the choice
betweenaninquisitorialandadversarialsystem,involvesystematic
considerations. By establishing the means by which disputes are
resolvedanddeterminingavailableremedies,rulesofcivilprocedure
affect what substantive law means in practice. Indeed, procedural
rulesareineluctablyentwinedwithjurisdictionssubstantivepolicy
goalsandeventheirveryconceptionoforderedjustice.Inaddition,
bystructuringlawyersethicalobligations,strategicoptions,androle
responsibilities,proceduralregimesalsoaffectthecharacterofthe
legalprofession.

This course will examine the major civil litigation systems in the
contemporary world, including the comparative structures of the
legal profession and legal ethics, organization of the courts,
remedies,enforcementofjudgments,andtransnationallitigation.In
particular,thiscoursewillfocusonthreethemessharedacrossmany
procedural systems. First, jurisdictions choices among procedural
devicese.g.,whethertoadoptadversarialorinquisitorialsystems
of trial, whether to use juries, and how independent to leave
courtsreveal substantive policy commitments. Second,
substantive law and procedure are always intermingled. Third,
proceduralrulesbearonhowlawyersunderstandandperformtheir
professionalduties.

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
In addition to a final examination, students will evaluate and
recommendacourseofactiontotheirclientsinwhichanidentified
procedural rule (e.g., production of information during an
evidentiaryphaseofdiscoveryinlitigation)potentiallyaffectstheir
strategicoptionsandethicalobligationsasattorneys(e.g.,requiring
disclosureofconfidentialinformationand/orinformationthatwould
forecloseavailabledefenses).

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
the range of procedural regimes in systems of ordered civil
justice;
the relationship between those regimes and the political and
jurisprudentialimperativestheypromote;
thewaysinwhichproceduralregimesaffectwhatlegaldoctrine
meansinpractice;and
thewaysinwhichproceduralregimesaffecttheroleandethical
obligationsoftheadvocate.

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Business Organizations II

Second
Year

(Second year, fall semester)

ThiscoursewillbuildonthetopicsofBusinessOrganizationsI.Itwill
continueinstructioninmoreadvancedconceptsinsecuritieslawand
regulation. It will cover the comparative law of corporate control
transactions including mergers and acquisitions, hostile takeovers,
andleveragedbuyouts.Studentswillalsobeintroducedtothelaw
ofnontraditionalsecuritiesbasedinvestmentstructureslikehedge
fundsandprivateequityfunds.

CAPSTONE

Litigation/Transactions

ApplicationandAssessmentObjectives
Students will interview a client whose corporate business entity is
thetargetofahostiletakeoverbid,orwhowouldliketorestructure
financingorseekstopursueafriendlymergerwithanotherentity.
Students will be required to ascertain the longterm goals of the
entityandthenprepareastrategymemoforfutureactionbasedon
availableregulatoryprotectionsandfinancingmodels.

(2-4 weeks)
Thecapstoneexperienceprovidesstudentsahandsonapplication
module that incorporates substantive content and skills from
multiplerequiredcourses.Studentswillchoosebetweenalitigation
ortransactionorientedexperienceand,ineithercase,willworkon
asustained,complexproblemfocusedonconflictresolution.They
willbeassessedontheirwrittenandoralworkproductandwillwork
bothindividuallyandinteams.Foralitigationorientedexperience,
students may draft court documents and argue motions and/or
briefs before a panel of judges. For a transactionoriented
experience,studentsmaynegotiatethetermsofabusinessdealand
draft the necessary documents to memorialize their agreement.
Facultymemberswillworktogetheracrosssubjectareastoprovide
asubstantiveandmeaningfulexperienceforthestudents.

LearningObjectives
Studentswilllearn:
thepracticalandfiduciarydutyrelatedaspectsofmergersand
acquisitions,includinghostiletakeovers;
the comparative regulatory rubrics regarding advanced inter
corporatetransactions,includingtraditionalandnontraditional
financingarrangements;
principlesofcorporatecitizenshipandthesocialresponsibility
ofcorporations;and
to evaluate the corporate goals of an entity facing a
reorganization or restructuring and perform the necessary
analysisandresearchtotranslatethosegoalsintoaformand
financingstrategyforthelongtermhealthoftheorganization.

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

Curriculum Part II: Sector Lawyering Skills
Required Curriculum
Spring Second Year:

Spring Second Year:

Fall Third Year:

Spring Third Year:

Capstone:

Cornerstone

12 weeks, 12 credits

Cornerstone

13 weeks, 16 credits

2-4 weeks, 4 credits

2 weeks, 3 credits

2 weeks, 3 credits

Sector 1.
Energy Law

Sector 1.
Energy Law

Sector 2.
Finance & Global
Investment Law

Sector 2.
Finance & Global
Investment Law
Alternative Dispute
Resolution

Program Overview

Sector 3
Infrastructure
Development Law
Sector 4.

Finance & Accounting

for Lawyers)

Sector 3
Infrastructure
Development Law

Part A: Trial
Advocacy

Sector 4.

Healthcare Law

Healthcare Law

Sector 5.

Sector 5.

Media & Cultural

Endowment Law

Media & Cultural

Endowment Law

Part B: Milestone
Simulation

Topics Taught Across Above Five Sectors:

Islamic Finance
Bankruptcy
Debtor-Creditor Rights
Corporate Finance
Securities & Exchange
Qatar Financial Center
Global & Domestic
Financial Regulation
Real Estate Law & Finance

Antitrust
Mergers & Acquisitions
Taxation
Labor Law
Environmental Law
Intellectual Capital
Management
Value-Chain Management
Medicine & Law
Product Liability

Patent Prosecution
FDA Regulation
Media Law
Telecommunications Law
Family Law

Note:Sometopicsthatmaybetaughtinconcentratedsessionsoftwoweeksormoreandpossiblyusingvisitingfaculty.Duringthetime
theyareoffered,othercourseswillbesuspended.Theymightbetaughtatthebeginning,endorduringasemester,dependingon
administrativeexpediencyandfacultyavailability

HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

As a way to deepen contextual learning within Sectors, use will

also be made of leadingedge, entrepreneurial modes of
instruction that focus on translation of ideas to commercial
products(suchcoursespossiblybeingofferedasoptionalrather
thanrequired).Studentswillworkwiththefacultyandstudents
from other schools in HBKU and Education City to develop
commercializable products, spanning a broad range including:
technological devices and process; business systems; fashion
design; and media content and productions. Working together
with faculty and students from the other schools they will also
actively participate in the technological, aesthetic and other
aspects of product and process design, and in the drafting of a
business plan and investment term sheet for their product.
Throughouttheprocesstheywilllearntoworkinteamsandwill
haveinteractionwithcourseadvisoryboardswhichwillevaluate
theirproductsandentrepreneurialdesign.Aftergraduation,the
students will have the option of advancing their inventions and
corporationsundertheirownprivateownershipandgovernance.

Sector Tracks

The curriculum for the second yearandahalf (Part II) of the

program will be organized around five Sector tracks: Energy;
Healthcare; Finance and Global Investment; Infrastructure
Development;Media&CulturalEndowment.Allstudentswillbe
requiredtotakeallsetsofSectorcourses.Thissegmentofthe
curriculumwillalsoincorporatetwoprofessionalskillsofferings
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Finance & Accounting
(corporate finance and accounting for lawyers) each taught
duringaconcentratedtwoweekblock.

Sector tracks will focus on teaching their subject matter using

Milestones, which are the significant events that regularly
characterizelegalpracticeineachareaoffocus.Milestoneswill
be selected based on how they demonstrate the complex
integrationofavarietyoflegaldoctrinesconfrontedinthetypical
courseofprofessionalpracticewithineachsectors.Forexample,
ajointventurewithanoffshorepartnerintheEnergySectorwill
involve,interalia,multipledifferenttypesofcontractsranging
from joint venture agreements, to production sharing
agreements, to capital procurement, to technology transfer
implicate multiple different areas of law contract, corporate,
commercial,intellectual,regulations,labor,humanrights,etc.
and will see the intersection of public and private, Islamic and
secular,domesticandglobal.ForeachMilestonetherewillalso
be important practical and functional learning scenarios
integrating issues of management, finance, accounting,
technology,socialpolicyformation,etc.

The Sector, Milestonebased courses will use a variety of

innovativepedagogicalmodes,whichwillbeselectedtobesttrain
our students. Not often found in traditional law school
curriculums, they will prepare students with the multifaceted
skills needed to become multifaceted leaders. For example,
usingroleplayingsimulations,legalandmanagementchallenges
will be presented in the form of a chronological narrative
addressingdifferentsetsofissuesthatunfoldduringthenormal
sequence of Milestones. Students will be divided into teams
representingthedifferentconstituenciesinvolved,suchasentity
owners, financing sources, legal professionals, management,
outside vendors, and government regulators. They will share a
public narrative corresponding with the general narrative
sequence that characterizes the Milestone, but will be
constrained by private instructions from their superiors that
they will have to pursue through negotiation, mediation or
litigation.Intheprocesstheywillneedtomasterlegaldoctrine
andapplyit,whetherintheformofdraftedagreements,policy
directives, disputed outcomes, etc. Use of roleplaying,
simulation,inadditiontotestingandconfirmingunderstandingof
corelegalconcepts,willteachstudentsvaluableprofessionaland
practical skills that are required to navigate Milestone events
strategicplanning,management,finance,accounting,technology,
etc.

Sector Partnerships

While most law schools expend much energy marketing

themselveshorizontallytootherlawschoolsthroughacademic
conferences and publications they typically spend little effort
marketingthemselvesverticallytoindustryandgovernment.And
whiletheyoftenengageinpublicrelationswithlawfirms,thisis
typicallyjustaroundstudentplacementandisnotorientedtoa
substantivepartnershipevenwiththislimitedverticalsegment.A
primarygoaloftheSchoolofLawwillbetodesignandimplement
aprogramthatisinnovativenotonlyintermsofitspedagogyand
curriculum design, but also because it is built around vertical
partnerships and linkages that strengthen the value chain from
studenttoschooltoSector.

The School will work to forge vertical partnerships and linkages

with Sectors in Qatar and the region in pursuit of the following
goals: to equip our students with vocational skills to become
successful Sector leaders; to provide Sectors with valuable
training and knowledge delivered through graduates, scholarly
research,andexecutive/professionaltraining;tofosterinnovative
formsofscholarlyresearchandintellectualinterpretation.The
following are initiatives that the School will explore in order to
helpfulfilthesegoals:

1. A RolePlay, Simulation Platform: Sectors sometimes

developversionsofthisfortheirowninternaluse,andthe
Schoolwillworktocreatesynergisticpartnershipswiththese
Sectorssothatitcanshareindevelopmentoftheseandin
facilitating their use for training of both students and
professionals/executive.

2. A Translational Platform: This will focus on facilitating the

commercializationofproducts.QatarFoundationandHBKU
have dedicated significant resources to commercialization,
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HBKU LAW | CURRICULUM

andagoaloftheSchoolofLawwillbetoaugmentthiswith
thelegaltrainingnecessaryforsuccessfulachievementofthis
objective.

3.

Heuristics for Leadership Training: While examining the

challenges of leadership and management through a legal
lens, these heuristics will try to integrate the companion
businessmanagementandfinancialskillstocreateamodel
orprotocolforhowtoanalyzetheirtopicswiththegoalof
successfully implementation. They could be used for both
academicandprofessional/executivetrainingandwouldbe
similarly valuable to industry and government. Intellectual
capital management (ICM) and value chain management
(VCM), for example, are hugely important and are replete
with opportunities for imaginative legalbusiness heuristics
toguidethestrategiesneededforsuccess.Thisisanunder
developed area of management, from both the legal and
business sides, and is an area where the School of Law,

About HBKU

4.

workingtogetherwithotherschoolsinEducationCitycould
makeenormouscontributions.Forexample,asQatarpours
billions of dollars into its various economic, cultural and
educationalendowmentsitwillneedsophisticatedICMand
VCMstrategiestoensuresuccessfulimplementationandto
producevaluablelegacies.

QF/HBKUBranded Site for Publication of Milestone Case

Studies.Thisisaprincipalformofscholarshipinthebusiness
schoolworldthatdoesnothaveitsequalinthelawschool
environment.TheSectorMilestonesthatarecentraltothe
curriculumcouldbeconvertedto,andpublishedas,thistype
ofcasestudy. Theresultingscholarshipwouldbevaluable
forbothknowledgeandinstruction,andcouldfindawhole
market in industry and government that current law
publicationsdonothave.

LocatedwithinEducationCityinDoha,thecapitalcityofQatar,HBKUseekstoprovideunparalleledopportunitieswhereinquiryanddiscovery
areintegraltoteachingandlearningatalllevels,combiningtherichesofArabculturewithinternationalperspectives.Itdeliversanarrayof
research education Masters and Doctoral programs through its interdisciplinary graduate Colleges: College of Science, Engineering, and
Technology,CollegeofHumanitiesandSocialSciences,CollegeofLaw,CollegeofPublicHealth,CollegeofBusiness,andQatarFacultyof
IslamicStudies.
HBKUoffersundergraduateandgraduateresearchdegreeprogramsinaffiliationwithitspartnerswhichincludebranchcampusesofsome
oftheworldsleadinguniversities:VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity,WeillCornellMedicalCollege,TexasA&MUniversity,CarnegieMellon
University, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, HEC Paris, and University College London. It builds upon the strengths and
synergies of its partners, and proactively reach out to and welcome new partners worldwide to collaborate in research and teaching.

CommittedtoitspartinachievingQatarNationalVision2030,HBKUbuildsandcultivateshumancapacitythroughanenrichedacademic
experiencethatextendsbeyondtheclassroom.Studentsaregivenauniqueplatformtoenrichtheireducationbyintegratingtheircurriculum
with society through interdisciplinary research. Through applying creativity to knowledge, students have the opportunity to discover
innovationsthatwillpositivelyimpactandcontributetothedevelopmentoftheircommunities,Qatar,andtheworld.

Contact:
Dr.ClintonW.Francis
FoundingDean
cwfrancis@law.northwestern.edu

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