Under the so-called “American Rule,” parties to litigation must pay their own attorneys’ fees and costs. That Rule, however, is subject to a host of fee-shifting exceptions that allow a prevailing party to recover its attorneys’ fees from the losing party. In addition, courts may sometimes award a party all or a portion of its attorneys’ fees as a sanction to redress its opponent’s improper litigation tactics. This course examines, among other subjects:

• Contingent fee arrangements;
• Statutory and other grounds for attorneys’ fee awards to the prevailing party;
• Procedures for seeking the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs; and
• Fee and cost sanctions under Rule 11 (and other Rules).

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 1
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.