Coverage includes oil and gas leases, mineral servitudes, various types of royalties, problems that arise when ownership is divided, and state regulation of oil and gas development. While the course takes as its focus Louisiana, common law concepts are also discussed. This course studies the formulation of legislation with primary focus on the state legislative process. Students research and draft bills and background papers analyzing the legal and political aspects of the problem addressed by the proposed legislation. Students study drafting techniques, the enactment process of the Louisiana Legislature, statutory constraints on legislative advocacy, the political realities of getting legislation enacted, and the roles of legislators and lobbyists in the legislative process.
Students represent nonprofit and community organizations by drafting proposed legislation.
Students present their bills in a mock committee hearing that is videotaped. This clinical course is open to second and third year students. This course affords clinical experience in the representation of clients before administrative agencies in rulemaking proceedings. Each student represents a client in drafting and publishing a rulemaking petition. Students receive supervision and direction in their representation of clients before agencies through individual conferences with the instructor.