COURSE DESCRIPTION 2012 2013

Prof. William Berman,

2 credits day; 2 credits evening.

This course is designed to offer the student an in-depth look at significant issues related to fair housing law, as well as some of the basics of landlord tenant law. We will discuss the various overlapping sources of fair housing law, and examine who is covered, what actions are prohibited as discriminatory, who can be sued, who has standing to sue. We will take an in depth look at jurisdictional issues, and matters of proof in discrimination cases, using hypothetical scenarios, and real life examples. Various professionals working in the housing community will speak in class and will offer their unique perspectives on issues relating to discrimination based upon their personal experiences. We will also cover other topics related to landlord tenant law. The final grade will be based upon in-class participation and a paper. Students may fulfill their legal writing requirement with the research paper. Suffolk, in conjunction with the Boston Fair Housing Commission, has received a grant to begin a fair housing discrimination testing program, which will be getting off the ground in the spring of 2012. Although not a required part of the course, students may have the opportunity to assist in the community as discrimination testers, which would provide an opportunity for even deeper insight into housing discrimination.

Elective Course

Immigration Law