LAWS6842 · Law

Media Law and Litigation

Boston College Law School

This course offers an in-depth study of First Amendment media and defamation law, together with a clinical component designed to develop litigation skills. The seminar will cover such issues as the evolving concept of what constitutes defamation, the public figure doctrine, the opinion defense, confidential sources, burden of proof, Internet and social media, and related issues. Students will draft pleadings in a hypothetical case and take the depositions of the parties, witnesses and an expert. Heavy emphasis will be placed on class participation. In lieu of a final exam, students will be required to prepare a summary judgment memorandum based on both the case law and the discovery information developed during the course, using transcripts of the depositions.