Trial Advocacy (Lin,S)
Faculty
|
|
| Susan Lin Lecturer in Law slin@krlawphila.com |
Additional Information
Experiential CourseYes
Skills Training
Oral Presentations
Team Projects
Grading
100% Participation,
Other (Class participation depends on preparation of well constructed arguments, direct examinations and cross examinations.)
No
Class meets in person.
Course Continuity
Students are encouraged to stay home if you are ill or experience flu-like symptoms. If you miss a class for any reason, it is still your responsibility to make up the work missed.
I offer the following to students who miss class due to illness:
- Class sessions are regularly recorded. If you are absent due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, email me and I can send you an email with instructions for accessing the recording for the class session(s) you missed.
- Please make an appointment to meet with me and I will review/answer questions about what you missed.
Meeting Times/Location
M 6:40PM - 8:30PM
Golkin Hall 70
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
2.0
Trial Advocacy is both an art and a science. Experienced trial lawyers base all courtroom decisions on a cohesive and consistent theory of the case. This course will teach the fundamental skills of direct examination, cross-examination, objections, preparation of witnesses, examination of expert witnesses, introduction of documents, opening statements and closing arguments rooted in case theory. The course culminates in a full mock trial. All students will participate every week in exercises to develop trial skills. It is strongly recommended that students have completed, or are currently enrolled in an Evidence course. Attendance, preparation, and participation are mandatory.
Note about course materials: The "textbook" in this course is Lubet's Modern Trial Advocacy: Analysis and Practice. Students can purchase the current version or an older version of the book. Students can also read the relevant chapters in the desk copy. The final mock trial will be based on the case file of State v. Peyton (criminal) or Addison v. Peyton (civil). Please wait until after the first class to purchase the case file. Whether the final trial is civil or criminal will depend on the interest of the class members. Various classroom exercises throughout the semester will be based on vignettes that will be posted on Canvas or passed out in class or the exercises will be based on problems in the Problems in Trial Advocacy book by Bocchino and Beskind.
Skills Learning outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of the individual course skill; Demonstrate the ability to receive and implement feedback; Demonstrate an understanding of how and when the individual course skill is employed in practice.
Textbooks
"Addison v. Peyton: Case File, Trial Materials" by Boals, Elizabeth |