Using a Venture Capital Class to Teach Transactional Skills

Abstract

This article is an edited version of my remarks at Emory Law's Conference on Teaching Drafting and Transactional Skill held in May 2008. In it I explore three topics. First I discuss why venture capital is an ideal method to teach the business aspects of deals and transactional skills -- more so than most other courses. Second, I share some thoughts on the best way to organize a venture capital course. And third, I survey some of the materials that are available to teach in this area, particularly business school cases, which are designed to teach exactly the type of skills we should be teaching.

Keywords: transaction, transactional, deal, business, curriculum, syllabus, contracts, drafting, contract drafting, accounting, simulation courses, skills, venture capital, business school case method, law school teaching, legal education, educating lawyers, professional education

JEL Classification: K12, K20, K22