Note: only those courses identified by the designastion "(Skills)" following the course description may satisfy the Professional Skills Requirement.
6640 Trial Advocacy (3) Saltzburg, Austin, Campbell, Gilligan, Horn, Minionis, Naughton, Rankin, Schreiber, Shaffer, Stravitz, Urbina
Pretrial and trial techniques with emphasis on procedural, evidentiary, tactical, and ethical problems experienced by trial lawyers in actual cases. Complaint drafting, pretrial motions, depositions and other discovery methods, preparation of witnesses, jury selection, the use of experts, direct and cross-examination, introduction of documents, courtroom techniques, and opening and closing arguments. Role playing in simulated courtroom situations. Once registered, no student may drop this course without the express permission of the dean of students. Prerequisite: Law 6230; Saltzburg—students may be enrolled concurrently in Law 6230. Enrollment is limited. (Short papers and exercises) (Skills)
6642 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Competition (1) D. Johnson
Participants in intrascholastic and interscholastic ADR competitions may register for this course and receive 1 credit for each competition in which they participate. A student successfully advancing from a regional to a national competition must register for this course again to receive 1 additional credit for participation in the national. All students competing must complete and submit an Intent to Compete form available in the Dean of Students office. In no event may a student receive more than a total of 3 credits for intra- and interscholastic competitions under Law 6642, 6644, and/or 6645. Once registered, no student may drop this course without permission of the dean of students. This course is graded on a CR/NC basis.
6643 Pre-Trial Advocacy (2 or 3) A. Robinson, Gardner, LoRe, Z. Rainey
Pre-trial and trial techniques of civil discovery and motions practice by role-playing in simulated cases. The class is divided into “law firms” that represent clients in cases at the pre-trial stage. Students are required to attend pre-trial conferences and conduct extensive discovery, including conduct of depositions, argument on discovery motions to compel or sanctions, preparation and service of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and motions for physical and mental examinations. The course ends with a five-hour mock trial by jury. (Simulation and paper) (Skills)
6644 Moot Court (1) Schooner, D. Johnson, Klein
The Moot Court Board sponsors four upper-level, intrascholastic competitions each year: the Van Vleck Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition, and the Government Contracts Moot Court Competition. Participants earn 1 credit for each competition in which they participate, regardless of how they finish. Participants in the Jessup Competition and the Giles Sutherland Rich Competition who compete in the regional rounds must register for this course again, and receive 1 credit in addition to the credit earned for participating in the in-house competition. All students competing must complete and submit an Intent to Compete form available in the Dean of Students office. Only current members of the Moot Court Board may petition to receive Moot Court Board funds to attend external competitions, unless approval is otherwise granted by the dean of students. In no event may a student receive more than a total of 3 credits for intra- and interscholastic competitions under Law 6642, 6644, and/or 6645. Once registered, no student may drop this course without permission of the dean of students. This course is graded on a CR/NC basis.
6645 Mock Trial Competition (1) D. Johnson
The Mock Trial Board sponsors the intrascholastic Cohen & Cohen Mock Trial Competition in the fall semester. The competition offers students an opportunity to practice trial skills and serves as a basis for selection of teams to represent the Law School at various interscholastic trial competitions. The competition requires a two-person team to prepare a written trial brief and argue its case before a judge and jury. The competition also provides a seminar on trial advocacy skills, strategies, and techniques. Students who participate in the fall competition receive 1 credit. Those students attending interscholastic trial competitions must register for this course again, and receive 1 credit for each competition in which they participate. All students competing must complete and submit an Intent to Compete form available in the Dean of Students office. In no event may a student receive more than a total of 3 credits for intra- and interscholastic competitions under Law 6642, 6644, and/or 6645. Once registered, no student may drop this course without permission of the dean of students. This course is graded on a CR/NC basis.
6646 Mediation (2) Cassidy, Green, Roscoe, Terry
Consideration of the growing use of mediation to resolve disputes and comparison with other dispute resolution processes. Taking the roles of mediators and disputants, students participate in a number of simulations. Mock mediations are conducted individually and with a co-mediator. Examination of -practical and ethical issues; applicability to various substantive areas including contract, tort, consumer, family, criminal, discrimination, and landlord/tenant. Students are expected to fill out role-playing evaluations of themselves and classmates on a regular basis and to prepare written assignments as directed by the instructor. Enrollment is limited. Students may take both Law 6646 and 6647 from the same instructor only with the instructor’s permission. (Skills)
6647 Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 or 3) Drucker, Hoffman
Theoretical and practical aspects of negotiating and mediating transactions and disputes. Techniques studied include neutral evaluation, regulatory negotiations, mini-trials, settlement judge approaches, arbitration, and other “hybrids.” Students participate in a number of simulated disputes related to various practice areas, both in and outside of class. Enrollment is limited. Students may take Law 6647 and either 6646 or 6648 from the same instructor only with the instructor’s permission. (Role playing and written assignments) (Skills)
6648 Negotiations (1, 2, or 3) Craver, A. Abramowitz, Costantino, Haythe, Juni, Ray, Sylvester
Examination of the negotiation process employed by legal practitioners. The assigned text considers the negotiation process, negotiating techniques, verbal and nonverbal communication, and other factors that influence these interpersonal transactions. Students engage in negotiation exercises that enable them to practice the art of negotiating and to examine their personal strengths and weaknesses. Grades are determined in meaningful part by the results obtained, vis-a-vis other class members, from these exercises. Students are also required to prepare a short paper on a topic pertaining to the negotiation process. Enrollment is limited. Students may take both Law 6648 and 6647 from the same instructor only with the instructor’s permission. Credit may not be earned for both Law 6648 and Law 6458. (Skills)
6650 Client Interviewing and Counseling (2) Boss, Privor, Rubel, Schamel
Practice with gathering and evaluating facts supplied by clients, followed by presentations of advice based on consideration of facts and applicable law. Discussion of interpersonal aspects of client relations and ethical problems that may arise in the context of client interviews. Students participate in simulated interviews, portraying both clients and attorneys. A paper discussing some aspect of the interviewing and counseling process is required. Enrollment is limited. (Simulation and paper) (Skills)
6652 Legal Drafting (2) Berl, Brothers, Figler, Guberman, Hynds, James, S. Johnson, Leo, Lynch, McMahon, Rich, Wintrol, Woodworth, Yu, Zoltick
Students learn the fundamental skills necessary to draft litigation and transactional documents. Practical application of the drafting process to the preparation of litigation documents, such as pleadings and motions, and transactional documents, such as contracts, deeds, wills, or other agreements. Topics include planning and structuring a document, legal research strategies, the role of procedural rules, plain language initiatives, and ethical principles that affect the drafting process. (Drafting projects and short writing exercises) (Skills)
6653 Advanced Appellate Advocacy (2) Lackey, Ranlett
Intensive study of appellate process, brief writing, and argumentation. Focus on techniques for creating and structuring an appellate brief and developing effective arguments to support a client’s position and refute an opposing party’s position on appeal. Topics include developing a theory of the case and developing arguments based on precedent. Strategic considerations of appellate briefs and effective oral argument. (Appellate briefs and oral argument) (Skills)