Sessions Information

  • January 3, 2015
    5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
    Session Type: Section Pedagogy Programs
    Session Capacity: N/A
    Location: Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
    Room: Wilson C
    Floor: Mezzanine Level

    Cases and hypos regarding individuals with physical and mental disabilities can, and should, be reflected and included in all required doctrinal classes, and most electives, in any law school’s curriculum.  As more than 300 specialty courts have opened around the country, every student wishing to be a criminal defense attorney or prosecutor must become familiar with the special procedural and Constitutional issues when a defendant or witness has a mental illness or has diminished mental capacity.  In property law and contracts, as well as estates and trusts, elder law, and professional responsibility classes, statutes and case law are evolving around special protections for individuals with disabilities, especially those with limited decision-making capacity.  Torts, remedies, and income tax classes should always include discussions on the proper way of funneling damage awards into special needs trusts.  Even some of the less main-stream elective classes, from veterans rights to prisoners rights to international human rights to education law to fair housing law can only be considered cutting edge if a large portion of those classes are devoted to how the law protects the dignity and rights of individuals with mental disabilities.  This program will provide resources and ideas to all new law professors.

Session Speakers
American University, Washington College of Law
Speaker

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
Moderator and Speaker

Session Fees
  • 4570 Law and Mental Disability: $0.00