LAW 7128 :
Trial Advoc -Basic Intensive

Prerequisite or Co-requisite: Evidence (LAW 7024) - Students must be enrolled in Evidence in the Fall semester if taken concurrently. This is a four-credit course with two credits being awarded each semester, however, this is a year-long commitment/course. Intensive Trial Advocacy is designed to provide intensive instruction in basic trial advocacy skills to those students most interested in trial advocacy. The course is based on the philosophy that the best way to learn trial advocacy skills is to perform them and receive feedback. In the first half of the course, each student has an opportunity to practice each component of the trial in class, so that each student develops the basic advocacy skills necessary to perform each component of the trial effectively. Skills covered in the first semester include: theory development, direct examination, cross-examination, exhibits, refreshing the recollection of a witness, impeaching a witness, making and responding to objections, opening statements, and closing arguments. The second half of the course ties together the skills learned in the first half. Rather than focusing on the discrete trial advocacy skills covered in the first semester, the second semester involves exercises that require students to think more about overall trial strategy, to plan each component of the trial consistent with that strategy, and to think tactically about how evidentiary issues impact the overal trial strategy. The final grade will be based primarily on the student's performance at the final trial at the conclusion of the Spring semester. The instructor may, however, take into account attendance, preparation, and performance throughout the course. Exam Info: No Exam