State Attorneys General a Regular Feature at Mason Law
Arushi Sharma
Issue date: 4/12/09 Section: News
Rising 2L's and 3L's at Mason Law have a new and attractive addition to their course pickings-Law 624, a class focused on the "duties, powers, and responsibilities of the State Attorneys General." The course was highlighted in March by a debate event, "Perspectives on Preemption: Federalism and the State Attorneys General."
Law 624 State Attorneys General debuted in the spring 2008 semester. The class introduces students to AGs' role in the legal and political system and then focuses on issues like consumer product safety, environmental law, and antitrust. Each week, state AGs or other high-ranking officials affiliated with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) visit the class. Students have heard from AGs of Rhode Island, Maryland, and Utah. Students recently wrote a memorandum advising Utah's Hon. Mark Shurtleff on antitrust issues in the Bowl Championship Series, and Internet Safety for children. Hon. Shurtleff proceeded to visit the class, discuss the students' work, and grade their memoranda.
The course is a 2 CU writing seminar counting toward the Mason Law writing requirement. 3L student Kimberly White aptly notes that the course gives students "direct and unfiltered access to high-ranking officials on a weekly basis." She also points out the benefits of the class for students interested in litigation, noting that in making an argument, it is "very persuasive to have an understanding of a State AG's view as support to your case." White also explains that the class gives students exposure to real-world application of the law.
Adjunct Professors Rob Raffety, Lynne Ross, and Hon. Hal Stratton teach this course together. Prof. Raffety is the Associate Director of the Regulatory Studies Program and the Government Accountability Project at the Mercatus Center, Prof. Stratton is the former Attorney General for the State of New Mexico and the former Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Prof. Ross is the former Executive Director of NAAG. Ross credits Law 624's success to the state AGs' interest in informing students about the value of a career in public practice. She also said that Mason Law's location has been a great incentive for speakers to "come out and share their experiences." Ross can herself be credited for the exceptional guest lecturers, having established a strong relationship with NAAG over 27 years of experience in the field.
Law 624 State Attorneys General debuted in the spring 2008 semester. The class introduces students to AGs' role in the legal and political system and then focuses on issues like consumer product safety, environmental law, and antitrust. Each week, state AGs or other high-ranking officials affiliated with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) visit the class. Students have heard from AGs of Rhode Island, Maryland, and Utah. Students recently wrote a memorandum advising Utah's Hon. Mark Shurtleff on antitrust issues in the Bowl Championship Series, and Internet Safety for children. Hon. Shurtleff proceeded to visit the class, discuss the students' work, and grade their memoranda.
The course is a 2 CU writing seminar counting toward the Mason Law writing requirement. 3L student Kimberly White aptly notes that the course gives students "direct and unfiltered access to high-ranking officials on a weekly basis." She also points out the benefits of the class for students interested in litigation, noting that in making an argument, it is "very persuasive to have an understanding of a State AG's view as support to your case." White also explains that the class gives students exposure to real-world application of the law.
Adjunct Professors Rob Raffety, Lynne Ross, and Hon. Hal Stratton teach this course together. Prof. Raffety is the Associate Director of the Regulatory Studies Program and the Government Accountability Project at the Mercatus Center, Prof. Stratton is the former Attorney General for the State of New Mexico and the former Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Prof. Ross is the former Executive Director of NAAG. Ross credits Law 624's success to the state AGs' interest in informing students about the value of a career in public practice. She also said that Mason Law's location has been a great incentive for speakers to "come out and share their experiences." Ross can herself be credited for the exceptional guest lecturers, having established a strong relationship with NAAG over 27 years of experience in the field.
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