Despite what some students believe, there is far more to business law education than mastering myriad legal rules governing business. In addition to learning the "rules," many business law instructors want students to obtain a basic understanding of legal analysis and judicial decision-making. This article provides guidance for…

This article uses the question "Can government and businesses mandate the COVID-19 vaccine?" as a starting point for an interdisciplinary lesson appropriate for a variety of business law classes. This lesson includes several important overlapping learning goals: (1) It expands students' ability to analyze how the complexity associated…

When professors teach complex topics like trademarks in a business law or legal environment class, the delivery is often too abstract. Textbooks tend to focus on black-letter basics of trademark law, ignoring strategic considerations. Experienced managers know that the strongest trademarks (legally speaking) do not necessarily sell products. These…

Business law and legal environment textbooks typically devote a page or two to the tort of invasion of privacy, describing the four versions of this tort, including "appropriation of identity." The Clarkson textbook notes that "An individual's right to privacy normally includes the right to the exclusive use of her or his…

This article offers a teaching case based on the 2013 controversy surrounding comments made in a deposition by Paula Deen during a lawsuit filed against her by a former employee. Deen's admission of using racially derogatory terms, on top of a variety of other allegations in the case, stunned and outraged many of her fans and the public in…

Undergraduate business law courses typically utilize traditional textbooks organized by topic. Individual chapters, address the usual topics including contracts, torts, the court system and ethics. An innovative approach to facilitating a business law course involves segregating sections of the course into common business disciplines. Rather than…

Numerous research studies clearly indicate the importance of first impressions. It is very likely that students will form their opinions of the class and the professor during the first class meeting. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for all…

When it comes to the legal issues surrounding alternative dispute resolution (ADR)--specifically mediation and arbitration--the confidential nature of many ADR agreements leaves teachers lacking good examples to illustrate how mediation and arbitration proceedings function. This dearth of examples may contribute to ADR being given short shrift in…

The case law on attorney-client privilege is extensive and can be somewhat complex. Over seven hundred articles in Westlaw, for example, have the phrase "attorney-client privilege" in the title; in the last three years alone, there have been over 3700 federal cases in which the phrase "attorney-client privilege" appears at least once. However,…

This study was designed to gain a greater understanding of the learning outcomes associated with the mock trial as an active teaching method. Participating in a product liability mock trial presents students with the complex interplay of administrative regulations and common law. As in real life, the harsh constraints of time pressures, less than…

This case study, written for use in a multidisciplinary course, exposes students to concepts in business law, economics, and statistics. The case is based upon a hypothetical scenario involving a young woman who, having spent a relaxing day at the beach, heads for home. On the drive home, a flip-flop she is wearing becomes lodged under the gas…

One of the most enjoyable and interesting subjects for students taking a business law or legal environment course is the study of torts. Whether a course only allows this discussion for a week or longer, seasoned professors realize that they can capture the attention of students by covering torts topics such as slip-and-fall litigation, defective…

In June 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a decision that caused much concern and anxiety across America. "Kelo v. City of New London" was viewed by many as an egregious violation of the Takings Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In "Kelo", the majority upheld a state statute that supported the use of eminent domain for purposes of economic…

Climate change regulation, being imbued with multiscalar complexities, economic concerns, and numerous constitutional implications, presents a rich pedagogical context for teaching business regulation. However, environmental law, as an instructional topic, can be quite complex and daunting to present to students. The topic presents issues of…

A critical element of an introductory course in business law includes an understanding of the court process and dispute resolution. At Georgia State University (GSU), the authors have required undergraduate business students to make a "court visit" to witness this process in action and to broaden students' basic understanding of the role…