This year, Willamette Law students interested in continuing their studies between finals and graduation have the opportunity to learn about unique legal topics during short intersession courses.
Four new, remote, single-credit classes will be offered for one week each from May 3-7 and May 10-14. The classes are intensive, requiring the effort of a full-time job for a week, says Professor Jeffrey Dobbins, associate dean for academic affairs.
“They cover a range of new topics that we hope will prove appealing to students,” Dobbins says. “They’ll be packing a full credit’s worth of work into just one week, but hopefully they will be fun and provide students with an opportunity to learn about an unusual or interesting area of the law that they wouldn’t otherwise focus on.”
In the first week, “Environmental Justice,” taught by Professor Susan Smith, and “Law of College Sports: NCAA Compliance,” taught by Professor Jake Garlock JD’05, are available. The following week, Professor Gilbert Carrasco will teach “The Reconstruction Amendments,” and Professor Judy Parker JD’06 will teach “Wine Law.”
While Carrasco and Smith are familiar faces at Willamette Law, Garlock and Parker are adjunct faculty and alumni, joining students for the first time in the intersession classes.
Parker owns her own practice helping the Pacific Northwest’s winemakers navigate state and federal regulations and laws to allow them to focus on their passion. She has been on campus since graduating as a volunteer Moot Court coach, “but being called ‘professor’ is a first,” she says. She is excited to share what she has learned about the wine industry with students.
Wine Law is not so much a block of laws as much as representing an industry,” Parker explains. “The history of Oregon’s experience with wine is a window into working with entrepreneurs, artists, farmers and scientists, all rolled into one.”
“I chose to attend Willamette back in 2004 because of the ability of the law school to produce lawyers who could hit the ground running. I am glad to be able to give back.”
Garlock is the senior associate athletic director for student services and compliance at Utah State University. In his role, he is on the Athletics executive staff, oversees the Athletics Academic Services unit and the school’s tennis programs, and serves on committees such as the Athletics Title IX committee. During his class, he’ll provide a brief overview of sports law issues, along with an in-depth look at NCAA rules, governance, legislative process, major infractions and waiver requests.
A Salem native, Garlock says he has great memories of his time as a student at Willamette. He is enthusiastic about teaching a course for his alma mater and interacting with students interested in sports law, hoping to pass on a love for continual growth and learning.
“There are so many interesting intersections between the NCAA and the law,” Garlock says. “The debate over student-athletes’ ability to capitalize off using their name, image and likeness is the current hot topic as we await the Supreme Court ruling in the recent Alston case. Students who enjoy sports will also really enjoy learning the inner workings of the NCAA.”
