Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
203 sec. 002 - Property (Spring 2026)
Instructor: Molly Van Houweling (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 4
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
TuWTh 2:15 PM - 3:25 PM
Location: Law 105
From January 13, 2026
To April 21, 2026
Course End: April 21, 2026
Class Number: 33042
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 117
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 119
As of: 02/19 01:52 AM
This is a basic survey of the law of property, examining the forms and methods by which property interests are acquired, transferred, used, and regulated. It will lay the groundwork for advanced courses in intellectual property, real estate transactions, trusts and estates, land use, and environmental law, among other topics. Throughout the class, we will address how the law of property shapes and is shaped by racism and other forms of systemic inequality.
There is no printed casebook to buy for this class. We will be using a custom version of an open-source property casebook, which will be posted on bCourses.
Upon completion of the course, you should have achieved the following Berkeley Law Learning Outcomes:
• Knowledge and understanding of substantive law
• Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context
• Ability to critically assess laws and legal institutions, including the ways in which they shape and are shaped by racism and other forms of systemic inequality
• Using the law to solve real-world problems and to create a more just society
You should also achieve learning outcomes specific to this class. Namely, you should be able to articulate the key attributes that are commonly associated with “property”; to describe the rules and policies related to initial acquisition and subsequent transfer of property rights in land, personal property, and some forms of intellectual property; to identify and solve problems regarding different types of ownership interests (including basic estates, future interests, and co-ownership interests); and to understand and apply different legal regimes that govern how people can use resources to which they or others have property rights (including the laws of nuisance, zoning, servitudes, and eminent domain). As you master these topics, you should also become familiar with the modes of argument and policy concerns that are typical in debates about property.
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Requirements Satisfaction:
Units from this class count towards the J.D. Race and Law Requirement. |
Exam Notes: (F) In-class Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 4 hours
Course Category: Private Law and Theory
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Race and Law
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment to this page.
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.