Courses in Civil Trial

Advanced Appellate Advocacy

LAW 622

PRE-REQ: Law (106 & 107) Legal Skills and Law (207 & 208) PRSkills /ICN.

Advanced Evidence - Forensic Evidence

LAW 556

Advanced Interviewing Counseling & Negotiations

LAW 614

Recommended Prior Course: Professional Responsibility Practicum ICN (206).

Advanced Litigation Seminar

LAW 366

Alternative Dispute Resolution

LAW 611

A combination lecture and clinical simulation course based on negotiation, arbitration and mediation as alternatives to litigation in resolving civil disputes. The course materials cover specific alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as fact-finding, mini-trials and summary jury trials. Practical strategies for lawyers are discussed. A primary area of focus is the role of the lawyer in each of the different processes. Simulations are conducted to develop practice skills and as a basis for exploring the public policy and other issues that arise in this area.

Civil Procedure I

LAW 200990-4114

This course explores the fundamental concepts of federalism (allocation of power between state and federal courts); subject matter and litigant jurisdiction; the jury trial system; pleading, discover): and motion practice; final judgment rule and exceptions, including interlocutory appeal and mandamus; and res judicata and collateral estoppel.

Civil Procedure II

LAW 102E

This course explores the fundamental concepts of federalism (allocation of power between state and federal courts); subject matter and litigant jurisdiction; the jury trial system; pleading, discover): and motion practice; final judgment rule and exceptions, including interlocutory appeal and mandamus; and res judicata and collateral estoppel.

Civil Trial Advocacy

LAW 606

A combination lecture and clinical course based on an actual courtroom trial. Emphasizes legal rules and principles applicable to trial, as enuciated in statutory and case law, including chamber conferences, jury selection, opening statements, trial motions, witness examination, jury instructions, and final arguments. Practical strategies for lawyers are discussed. A combination lecture and clinical course based on an actual courtroom trial. Emphasizes legal rules and principles applicable to trial, as enuciated in statutory and case law, including chamber conferences, jury selection, opening statements, trial motions, witness examination, jury instructions, and final arguments. Practical strategies for lawyers are discussed. PRE-REQ: LAW 406 - Evidence.

Competitive Intellectual Property Appellate Advocacy

LAW 539

Students will participate in an interscholastic intellectual property moot court competition in compliance with the rules and regulations of such competitions. Credit will be offered only for one semester even if work spans more than one semester. Enrollment will be dependent on approval by a faculty advisor and/or adjunct couches. Enrollment will be limited to competing students and the course will be offered only in instances when the school will field a team.

Conflict of Laws

LAW 514

A review of legal problems with multistate aspects; jurisdiction of courts; constitutional constraints, including due process requirements, and full faith and credit clauses; recognition and enforcement of judgments; and recent developments in choices in law issues.

Criminal Law Motion Practice

LAW 596

Although many law schools focus on trial advocacy skills (i.e. opening Statements, direct and cross examination, closing statements), few law school courses focus on what happens in a courtroom prior to trial, or after the trial. Criminal lawyers must be familiar with the wide variety of motions made in a criminal court before and after a trial, as well as during the trial. Familiarity with these motions is essential for the practical and realistic litigation which occurs in a criminal courtroom. Rulings on pre-trial motions can shape entire trials by determining what comes into evidence and what does not, whether a client stays in or out of custody while awaiting trial, and whether the defense is entitled to discovery. Post trial motions can determine if there will be mistrial, re-trial, and whether a person should remain in or out of custody pending an appeal. Trial motions can determine the make up of a jury, who is allowed to remain in courtrooms during trial proceedings, and evidentiary issues. Many times attorneys refer to these motions in court via legal slang, such as a Romero Motion, Marsden Motion, Pitches motion, etc. All too often the young, new attorney fresh out of law school is unfamiliar with this new vocabulary and unprepared for such motions. This course would introduce the law student who is specifically focused on a career in criminal law to the variety of motions made in a criminal courtroom, familiarize the student with the legal slang used to refer to such motions, and help the student to understand and argue the basics of these motions. PRE-REQ: LAW 105 - Criminal Law, LAW 405 - Criminal Procedure and LAW 406 - Evidence.

Criminal Procedure

LAW 405

A study of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, including warrant requirements for search and seizures, privilege against self-incrimination, due process, right to counsel, and the exclusionary rule.

Criminal Trial Advocacy

LAW 607

A combination lecture and clinical course based on an actual courtroom trial. Emphasizes legal rules and principles applicable to trial, as enuciated in statutory and case law, including chamber conferences, jury selection, opening statements, trial motions, witness examination, jury instructions, and final arguments. Practical strategies for lawyers are discussed. PRE-REQ: LAW 406 - Evidence.

Evidence

LAW 406

A survey of the rules and standards that regulate the admission of evidence, including relevancy, privileged communications, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, the opinion rule, authentication and "best evidence" rule, impeachment and rehabilitation, demonstrative and scientific evidence, presumptions, and burdens of proof.

Federal Courts

LAW 525

An advanced analysis of Federalism and the allocation of power between state and federal courts, constitutional policy limitations on jurisdiction, such as the abstention doctrine and principles of equity and comity. Federal court intervention in state court proceedings by injunction and habeas corpus also are discussed.

Initial Externship

LAW 609

INITIAL EXERNSHIP: A law-related field placement where students perform and observe legal work under the supervision of an attorney or bench officer. Students enrolling in an Initial Externship must concurrently enroll in the Lawyering Skills course. For more infromation about the Externship Program, refer to the Externship Program Policies and Procedures Handbook. PRE-REQ: You must have previously taken LAW 601 Lawyering Skills or will take it concurrently.

Intellectual Property Litigation

LAW 717

Examines problems involved in representing clients in pretrial and at trial in intellectual property cases, including factual investigation, negotiation, and specialized discovery and evidentiary problems. Special emphasis will be placed on the interrelationship between various types of intellectual property. PRE-REQ: At least one of the core courses, Law 701 Copyright, Law 702 Trademark, or Law 703 Patent Law.

Legal Writing I

LAW 106

Legal Writing I teaches students to research legal sources, analyze the law, apply the law to a client

Legal Writing II

LAW 107

Legal Writing II continues and reinforces the teachings of Legal Writing I, but the focus shifts to persuasive writing. Students will also participate in an oral advocacy competition at the end of the semester to showcase all that they have learned.

Pretrial Litigation Skills

LAW 605

An analysis of forum selection, pleading, motion practice, investigation, and discovery tactics through courtroom simulation.

Professional Responsibility

LAW 206

This course combines the substantive law of Professional Responsiblily with a writing skill segment and a section on interviewing, counseling, and negotiating skills. Problems include the canons of legal ethics; duty to court, clients, the public, and profession; advocacy and the adversary system; conflicts of interest; fees and solicitition; and lawyer discipline.

Trial Advocacy Honors Board

LAW 567

Students earn 1 unit of pass/fail course credit for 60 hours of work per semester (or 2 units for 120 hours of work) on activities related to the Trial Advocacy Honors Board, including participation as witnesses, lawyers or judges during practice rounds for inter-school mock trial competitions; coaching incoming students auditioning for membership onto the TAHB; coordinating the board's participation in inter-school competitions; or otherwise participating in the management or administration of the board's activities. Enrollment is limited to students who have completed their first year of law school, and is based on acceptance into the TAHB through an audition process overseen by the faculty advisor, adjunct coaches and/or executive board of the TAHB.

Writ and Appellate Practice

LAW 615

This course teaches the proper preparation of writs and appeals, with an emphasis on the often overlooked prerequisites, practices, and procedures involved in preparing a writ petition and perfecting an appeal. Students will learn to recognize case dynamics that must be used to maximize their chances for success. They will use that learning to develop skill in preparing a proper record. The course also explores whether an appeal or a writ is the proper remedy, time limitations for seeking relief, briefing skills (beyond writing skills), oral argument, scope of appeal, and standards and scope of review.