Discover UB School of Law’s January Bridge Courses

Offered annually in January, UB’s bridge courses don’t just help students connect the time between the fall and spring semesters, they also create new ways for students to traverse and engage in certain dimensions of the legal field.

Open to 2L and 3L students, these bridge courses help students learn from prominent experts in their fields of law, but also don’t require any extra cost! Credits taken during the January bridge are applied to the student’s spring credit load, meaning it could reduce their burden at the end of the semester.

There’s no question that the School of Law’s bridge courses have a positive impact on a student’s curriculum, so the next question is: which course(s) to take?

Whether it’s to broaden one’s scope of instruction or dive a little deeper into a potential area of law, the January bridge courses cover a wide range of law topics. With more than 20 courses offered each year, there are plenty to choose from and many students opt to enroll in two or three courses to maximize their diverse opportunities. Below are a few examples of the courses offered in January 2021, with some words from select course professors!

Current Top Local Government

Local government plays a major role in everything from taxes and environmental concerns to municipal planning and political reforms. Students in this course study a wide range of local government structures and touch on subjects like cities vs. towns, elected vs. appointed positions, term limits, fiscal roles, tax rates, assessments, public/private partnerships, privatization and historic preservation commissions.

“Students not only learn about current relevant topics, but also have the opportunity to explore more with those making laws, policies, and decisions to address the issues local governments face. Topics have ranged from how local government operates on a day-in day-out basis, taxation, and civil service; to land use laws and decisions; to handling manmade and natural disasters.” – Scott A. Bylewski, Adjunct Faculty

The Electronic Lawyer

It is estimated that 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created each day and that pace is accelerating. The proliferation of data in the Digital Age presents many challenges to the modern lawyer and has brought about a sea change in case law, best practices and applied technologies. This course focuses on new and emerging legal issues brought on by the Digital Age with a focus on discovery, data privacy and cybersecurity. The course also includes an overview of how technologies like advanced analytics and artificial intelligence are changing the practice of law.

Handling a Criminal Case

Knowing how to handle criminal cases is essential for today’s up and coming lawyers. This interactive course lets students gather the tools and insight needed to successfully manage a criminal case, discussing how to navigate through arraignment, plea negotiations, pre‐trial motions and trial while managing client expectations.

“The course will help students be prepared to quickly identify legal issues and zealously advocate the same from both a defense and prosecutorial stance. Students will know how to manage their client’s expectations throughout every phase of a pending criminal matter.” – Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres, Adjunct Faculty

Drug Testing in Sports

As athletes continue to push the boundaries of going faster, higher and stronger, so too are the boundaries pushed for drugs that help the body keep up. This course covers the intensive research into the history and development of drug testing in the four major professional sports leagues. Class discussion and readings focus on the intricacies of implementing drug testing in a collective bargaining context, league perspectives and the political ramifications. Each student researches and prepares a paper on a topic of individual interest in this area, subject to the instructor's approval.

With more than 230 enrollments in 2021 bridge courses, it’s easy to see that students are eager to take advantage of these learning opportunities for educational and potential future career growth. We wanted to hear straight from students on what type of positive impact bridge courses had on them, so we asked Allison Contrera '22 to tell us about her own course experience and why she’d recommend it to others.

What January bridge courses did you enroll in? What influenced you to choose those specifically?

This January I chose to enroll in Sexual Harassment Mediation and Introduction to Restorative Practices. I selected these one-credit courses due to my interest in alternative dispute resolution, but it was also influenced by the professors. Sexual Harassment Mediation was taught by a practitioner who focuses her practice on sexual harassment, while Introduction to Restorative Practices was taught by a professor who is certified by the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP). Students who successfully complete that course receive a certification from the IIRP as a Circle Facilitator. Although I have taken multiple courses focused on alternative dispute resolution and have competed in the Representation in Mediation Competition, I wanted to dive deeper into a specific subset of alternative dispute resolution and learn about alternative ways to resolve conflict.

What was the most memorable experience during your bridge courses?

For Introduction to Restorative Practices, it was the first class. The professor kindly greeted us and was met with many questions from the students regarding the course load, syllabus, and the final project. This was a memorable experience because they explained that the course would be molded to the students’ interests. Specifically, we could discuss our interests and could influence the focus of learning throughout the course. This was memorable to me because I had never had the opportunity to influence the focus of the course material. Throughout the course, I didn’t just learn about my particular project topic, I also learned about and discussed my fellow classmates' research findings on top of the assigned weekly readings and videos.  

What advice do you have for students wishing to enroll in one or more bridge course(s)?

Find a course or three that interests you and take the chance! I was concerned about whether a January Bridge course would be too much for me after an intensive fall semester; however, each course I enrolled in offered the perfect balance as I was able to work a few hours a week as a Law Clerk, relax, and learn about topics I was interested in. I took the chance and I’m thankful I did. I discovered my passion for restorative practices and the impact of alternative dispute resolutions in sexual harassment cases.

The University at Buffalo School of Law’s January bridge courses give students a chance to gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom while they further explore or hone their skills for a promising career in law after graduation. For more information on our bridge courses, visit our Bridge Courses page.