Simulated skills development courses cover alternative dispute resolution, client communication, pretrial litigation, trial advocacy, buying and selling a business, and matrimonial practice.  A simulation course can be defined also as a “hands-on program in which students learn by doing”, and taking on lawyering responsibility for a simulated but realistic case.     

Simulation Courses Offered:

                                                                                                                                        PRETRIAL CIVIL LITIGATION SIMULATION
"PRETRIAL ADVOCACY"
LAW 817A/817B
4 credit hours (2 clinical, 2 academic)
One semester (Fall & Spring)

The Pretrial Civil Litigation or Pretrial Advocacy Program is an intensive, one -semester, practical introduction to pretrial civil litigation.  The simulation is a hands-on-program in which students learn by doing.  It is focused on the pretrial development of a civil case. Pretrial is, of course, the heart of civil litigation because most civil cases re resolved before trial.

Students in the program take on lawyering responsibility for a simulated but realistic case. Each student interviews a client and a witness and develops the client's case during the course of the semester-analyzing the law and the facts of the case, investigation the case, drafting relevant pleadings, preparing and responding to interrogatories and other discovery request, taking and defending depositions, and briefing and arguing a pretrial motion.

The simulation is not a classroom course but a program designed to help students make the transition from working like students to working like lawyers.  It offers a structured, closely-supervised opportunity to begin to appreciate the wide range of lawyering skills that are important in litigation--planning, problem solving, investigation, networking, legal and factual analysis, thinking strategically, communicating effectively, and working with others. Second, third, and fourth year students have found the program valuable. There are no prerequisites.

Permission of the professor, based upon application (but not interview), is required.

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INTERVIEWING, COUNSELING AND NEGOTIATING
LAW 683
3 credit hours
One semester

Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating is a three-credit simulation course. Through a variety of small-group and large-group exercises, students assume the role of lawyer to learn the art and skill of interviewing, counseling, and negotiating; to plan for and develop a case from one stage to another; to anticipate and deal with ethical issues; and to develop the skill of self-critique. Simulation exercises are video-taped where appropriate. The course will be team-taught by two faculty members and will meet for two 90-minute seminars each week. It will be possible to perform most exercises during class time. Out-of-class work will include preparation and performance critique.

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ADVANCED APPELLATE ADVOCACY
LAW 849
2 credit hours
One semester

This course offers advanced training in written and oral advocacy. Subjects covered include structuring written and oral arguments, understanding a court's scope of review, persuasive use of authority, drafting a statement of facts, persuasive writing style, and courtroom skills.

There are five separate sections. Each section addresses a different subject matter and has different scheduling requirements and assignments. Each section meets approximately six times during the semester and culminates in an oral argument.

This course is only open to second-year day students and second- and third-year evening students. Each section is limited to 18 students.

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TRIAL ADVOCACY
LAW 684
4 credit hours
One semester

This course introduces students to the theories and approaches to fact analysis, persuasion and rhetoric, trial planning, trial process, jury composition, evidence, advocacy, addressing jurors, examining witnesses, visual persuasion. In addition, students practice and master the basic techniques of advocacy at trial: voir dire examination, opening statements, closing arguments, direct examination, cross examination, exhibit handling, offering and objecting to evidence, presenting and combating expert witnesses.

This course is a prerequisite for some clinics and for both the intra- and interschool Trial Advocacy competitions.

Prerequisite: Evidence. Prerequisite or Corequisite: Professional Responsibility.

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