COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Trial Advocacy
Hon. Janis M Berry, Hon. Michael Bolden, Hon. Gordon Doerfer (Ret.), Hon. Linda Giles, Hon. Angel Kelley Brown, Prof. Michael Avery, Ms. Page Kelley
2 credits day; 2 credits evening.

Enrollments will vary by Professor

The focus is on having each student participate in various phases of a trial. Students will be asked to select a jury, make an opening statement, conduct a direct cross-examination, examine an expert, and give a closing statement. Classes consist of short lectures on each topic followed by student participation based on fact situations in Mauet & Wolfish, Materials in Trial Advocacy. Students are required to read about each phase of a trial in Mauet, Trial Techniques, 5th Edition. Evidence is helpful but not a prerequisite. There is no paper. Grades are based upon evaluation of students as they conduct phases of a trial. Because of the heavy emphasis on student participation, enrollment is limited.

Faculty comments: Judge Giles: The operative word for this course is "practice": students in this class, which is capped at 20, will have at least bi-weekly opportunities to get up on their feet and perform the fundamental skills of a trial, including opening statements, direct and cross examination, introducing exhibits, and closing arguments. Each performance will be critiqued by the course's instructor, a trial judge with over thirty years of experience in trying and presiding over cases in the trial courts of Massachusetts. By the end of the semester, the students will have acquired enough trial lawyering proficiency to be able to try their first cases, either civil or criminal, in any jurisdiction.

A student's grade will be based half on his/her performance during exercises throughout the semester (and improvement thereon) and half on his/her performance in a final mock trial at the end of the course. Students also are required to view at least two of his/her videotaped exercises and submit a brief self-critique.

Prerequisite: Evidence helpful. Students may not also enroll in Trial Advocacy or Trial Evidence courses.   Enrollment is limited: 16   Elective Course   Meets Skills Menu Requirement   Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements

<<Course Updated: April 04, 2013>>

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