1. 800. 973.1177
STATE OF MARKET
Corporate crime fighters [by Rebecca Luczycki] Business scandals boost interest in white-collar crime law.
With scandals like Enron, WorldCom, Global
white-collar course.”
Allison Ply, another student who took Moohr’s class, said she knows of several
Crossings and Martha Stewart’s questionable stock sales making media splashes in recent
Moll said that the scandals have resulted in
classmates taking the seminar in hopes of
years, an increasing number of law students
new legislation and regulations in the area
working as legal counsel for corporations
are becoming interested in the area of white-
as well.
and businesses. But she said she doesn’t think media coverage will spark that many
collar crime and securities law. And law schools are stepping up to meet that growing
“There has been a major overhaul and en-
more students to follow the field into defense
interest with more courses and seminars
hancement of the securities laws recently,”
or prosecution work in the area.
than ever before.
he said.
The University of Houston Law Center is one
That means in addition to a growing number
seeking instant gratification,” she said. “I
school seeing a spike in student interest.
of classes like Moohr’s popping up across the
know more students would be willing to go
“Corporate law has gotten sexy,” said Pro-
country, professors at law schools who have
into prosecution, law enforcement or similar
fessor Doug Moll, who teaches a first-year
traditionally taught core classes like Moll’s
field if it paid more. I have had that conversa-
required corporations class.
are retooling their curricula as well.
tion with several students.”
Moll and Geraldine Moohr, who teaches a
“Law schools have always taught the basics
This story appeared in the March, 2003 edi-
second- and third-year elective in white-col-
of this area but suddenly now everyone wants
tion of The National Jurist, www.nation-
lar crime, both say that while their classes
to know more,” Moll said. “And there are
aljurist.com
have usually been full in past years, these
new areas to cover. It’s new law, it’s hot, and
days they have both seen increased interest
students are asking about it.”
“It is not for the faint of heart, nor for those
from their students in how the topics relate to real life.
Moohr said the growing interest from stu-
“I do notice an increased interest in the stu-
with an existing trend toward expansion at
dents and new regulation will likely combine dents we have,” said Moohr. “They are keenly
law firms, government agencies and corpo-
interested in what they are hearing about in
rations, to make for more jobs in the field as
the news.”
well.
James Lee, who was enrolled in Mohr’s
“It’s been an expanding field for sometime
white-collar crime seminar, is one of those
and it’s going to get a boost from what’s been
drawn to the topic. He got interested in the
going on,” said Moohr. “White collar crime
issue after the Enron collapse happened just
spreads throughout business and it’s not just
across town.
securities, but also covers environmental law, occupational health and safety, political
“My friends and family would constantly
corruption and trade secrets and copyrights.
question me on exactly what happened and
I recommend all students who are interested
that led to a direct interest in the subject
in business law take [this kind of] course.
matter,” he said. “In fact, until the Enron
It’s definitely an expanding area and it is
debacle I did not know that UH offered the
definitely going to continue to grow.”
PAGE 1