Transactional Law Concentration and Area of Focus

The Transactional Law Concentration and Area of Focus equip students with the background and a portfolio of work that will qualify them for entry-level positions with law firms of all sizes, corporate in-house law departments, startups, nonprofits, regulators, and governmental agencies. Students who plan to practice complex commercial litigation will also benefit from the coursework as it will help them understand the types of contracts and terms that will be the subject of lawsuits and litigation. This Concentration or Area of Focus is a perfect complement to the BILT and Business Compliance and Sustainability Areas of Focus.   

What Students Learn 

In the Concentration and Area of Focus, students learn concrete skills in the required courses for both. In Transactional Skills I, students act as junior associates and work on one deal representing either the buyer or seller around the acquisition of an asset or business. In Transactional Skills II, students understand the work of deal lawyers. Skills learned include: 

  • Negotiating and drafting documents (may include non-disclosure agreement, letter of intent outlining the main terms, due diligence memo, portions of an asset purchase agreement, a licensing agreement, or an employment agreement) 
  • Communicating in writing to clients throughout the duration of a transaction and learning proper selection and use of form agreements 
  • Understanding how an agreement is structured 
  • Performing tasks typically assigned to junior associates (due diligence, negotiating and drafting various transactional documents) 
  • Preparing board minutes and resolutions, third-party opinion letters, and closing documents 
  • Studying letters of intent, indemnities, loan, pledge and security agreements, guaranties, escrows, and operating/shareholders’ agreements 

Requirements 

Concentration

The Concentration requires a total of 25-28 credits, 15-17 from required courses, and 14 from distributional and elective courses.

Note: 15 - 17 Credits must be earned from required courses.

  • Business Associations (4) or 1L Business Associations (3)
  • TS I (3)
  • TS II (3)
  • TS III or other capstone as approved by Director (2/3)
    • Advanced Transactional Practice Skills: Document Preparation and Business Concepts
    • Mergers & Acquisitions: A Simulation (taught by visitor for Spring ’23)
    • Negotiating and Drafting Private Equity Agreements
    • Purchase and Sale of Minor League Baseball Team
    • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment
    • Negotiating and Drafting Sports Venue Agreements
    • Negotiating and Drafting Global Technology and IP Agreements
  • Federal Income Tax (4)

Note: 14 credits must be earned from distributional and elective courses. At least two courses from the list below:

  • Securities Regulation (3)
  • Corporate Finance (3)
  • Corporate Tax (3)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (2)
  • Financial Accounting for Lawyers (3)

Note: 14 credits must be earned from distributional and elective courses. At least six credits from the list below:

  • Administrative Law (4) 
  • Antitrust (3) 
  • Antitrust 2
  • Banking Law (3)  
  • Bankruptcy (3-4) 
  • Blockchain Technology and Business Strategies (1)
  • Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology (2)
  • Broker Dealer Regulation (2) 
  • Closely Held Business Entities (3)
  • Commercial Law: Payment Systems & Negotiable Instruments (4)
  • Commercial Law: Secured Transactions (4) 
  • Commercial Law: UCC (4)
  • Cross Border Transactions (?)
  • Digital Transformation Services (?)
  • Doing Business in Latin America (3)
  • Externship (business-related) 
  • Independent Study (business-related)
  • International Bankruptcy (3)
  • International Finance (3)
  • Introduction to Business Transactions and Drafting of Transactional Documents (2)
  • Introduction to Television, Legal and Business Affairs (1)
  • International Business Transactions (3) 
  • Law for Growth Stage Companies (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment I (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment II (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting Sports Venue Agreements (2)
  • Nonprofit Organizations and Social Enterprises (3)
  • Purchase and Sale of a Minor League Baseball Team (2)
  • Real Estate Documents Workshop (2)
  • Reorganizations in Bankruptcy Seminar (2)
  • Representing the Professional Athlete (1)
  • Startup Law and Entrepreneurship (2)
  • Startup Clinic (6) - only 3 credits will count toward the elective requirement
  • Taxation of Business Entities (3)
  • White Collar Crime (2)

Area of Focus

The Area of Focus requires a total of 13-16 credits, 9-10 from required courses, 2-3 from distributional courses, and 3 from elective courses.

Note: 9-10 Credits must be earned from required courses.

  • Business Associations (4) or 1L Business Associations (3)
  • TS I (3)
  • TS II (3)

Note: At least one course from the list below. (Additional credits will be applied to the elective requirement)

  • Securities Regulation (3)
  • Corporate Finance (3)
  • Corporate Tax (3)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (2)
  • Financial Accounting for Lawyers (3)

 

Note: At least three credits from the list below:

  • Administrative Law (4) 
  • Antitrust (3) 
  • Antitrust 2
  • Banking Law (3)  
  • Bankruptcy (3-4) 
  • Blockchain Technology and Business Strategies (1)
  • Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology (2)
  • Broker Dealer Regulation (2) 
  • Closely Held Business Entities (3)
  • Commercial Law: Payment Systems & Negotiable Instruments (4)
  • Commercial Law: Secured Transactions (4) 
  • Commercial Law: UCC (4)
  • Cross Border Transactions (?)
  • Digital Transformation Services (?)
  • Doing Business in Latin America (3)
  • Externship (business-related) 
  • Independent Study (business-related)
  • International Bankruptcy (3)
  • International Finance (3)
  • Introduction to Business Transactions and Drafting of Transactional Documents (2)
  • Introduction to Television, Legal and Business Affairs (1)
  • International Business Transactions (3) 
  • Law for Growth Stage Companies (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment I (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting for the Business of Entertainment II (1)
  • Negotiating and Drafting Sports Venue Agreements (2)
  • Nonprofit Organizations and Social Enterprises (3)
  • Purchase and Sale of a Minor League Baseball Team (2)
  • Real Estate Documents Workshop (2)
  • Reorganizations in Bankruptcy Seminar (2)
  • Representing the Professional Athlete (1)
  • Startup Law and Entrepreneurship (2)
  • Startup Clinic (6) - only 3 credits will count toward the elective requirement
  • Taxation of Business Entities (3)
  • White Collar Crime (2)

Contact Information

For questions, please contact Professor Marcia Narine Weldon atmweldon@law.miami.edu 

Register for this Concentration