Course Policies
Torts · Fall 2026
The highlighted sentence in each section summarizes the policy. The complete policy—including its operational details and rationale—also appears in the PDF syllabus.
Class Attendance
Attendance is mandatory.
Students who do not attend at least 75% of regularly scheduled classes will fail the course. It is your responsibility to track your attendance. Repeated late arrivals, whether consecutive or not, may be counted as an absence. Early departures without permission and extended absences from the classroom may also be counted as an absence.
Why this policy exists
MC Law policy requires attendance, as per the Academic Catalog. A classroom environment free from disruptions is important for learning.
Controlled In-Classroom Device Use
Device use is allowed only when explicitly authorized.
You may not use your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other device without permission. Some activities may involve device use. Device use authorized by an approved accommodation is exempt from this policy. There will be three scribes taking notes for regular classes, and their notes will be shared with the whole class. Their notes are meant to supplement, not replace, your own notes.
Why this policy exists
In-classroom devices can be distracting not only to the user but also to others nearby. Distracting device use can also corrode classroom engagement. While other uses may be helpful, I do not want to spend time and energy policing what you are doing behind the screen or impose that responsibility on your fellow students. At the same time, lawyers are expected to be competent users of technology. This policy seeks to strike that balance with a mixed approach. Scribes are one part of this approach. Another is incorporating classroom activities in which device use will be expected.
Controlled AI Use
You are not allowed to use chatbots, agents, or otherwise rely on generative AI for classroom participation. Other AI use will be controlled.
You may not use generative AI to help answer questions in class without explicit instruction to do so. When in-class activities call for the use of devices, your use of generative AI, if allowed, must follow the guidance I set out.
Why this policy exists
One of the skills you will develop throughout law school is mastery of professional tools. We must be deliberate in our in-class and out-of-class use of such tools. In a first-semester course like Torts, however, I will generally prioritize other skills. You may be asked to use your computer and generative AI systems for some activities. For others, use of generative AI and your laptop will not be permitted. With this hybrid and experimental approach, my goal is that your use of tools, particularly generative AI, will support and augment your education and the development of your professional judgment.
University- and School-Wide Policies Apply
Refer to the Office of the Provost’s MC Syllabus webpage for additional policies.