In this course, students explore through lecture, demonstration, and discussion the accumulation, organization and presentation of evidence in the digital world. This includes an examination of evidentiary and procedural rules as they relate to e-discovery, visual advocacy, computer technology and digital graphics. Students also prepare and present visual evidence using the evidence camera and PowerPoint graphics in various trial segments (opening, closing, etc.) based on case files by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
A Litigation Skills Institute participant has the option of taking one, two, or all courses. Courses are primarily held in the evenings and weekends to accommodate busy practitioners and students.
Civil Trial Advocacy (Law-795BP)
Litigation Skills Summer Institute
The two credit Civil Trial Advocacy course will follow the same learning by doing format that is used in the existing three credit version of the course but will be compressed down to one week (six sessions) of intensive instruction, demonstrations, followed by student role-playing performances and critique culminating in a full trial simulation. Students will use materials published by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (“NITA”), a trial technique textbook, as well as supplemental materials created by the Trial Advocacy Program. Students will spend a significant amount of time in class practicing opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, and closing arguments. The course will finish with a mock trial with immediate and substantive feedback from the professors.
As with the existing three credit course, the prerequisite for this course is Civil Procedure. Evidence must be taken as a pre- or co-requisite.
Fact Witnesses Deposition (Law-795BE)
Litigation Skills Summer Institute
The one credit Depositions of Fact Witnesses course will follow the learning by doing format of other trial advocacy courses. Students will receive instruction through brief, focused lectures, demonstrations, and feedback from the professors on in-class performances. Students will spend a significant amount of time in class practicing witness preparation and questioning techniques. Each student will have multiple opportunities to gain experience in taking and defending depositions and will receive immediate critique and feedback from the instructor. Students will also be required to review webcasts of their performances and provide self-critiques.
Civil Procedure is a prerequisite for this course.
Expert Witnesses Deposition (Law-795BQ)
Litigation Skills Summer Institute
The one credit Depositions of Expert Witnesses course will follow the learning by doing format of other trial advocacy courses. Students will receive instruction through brief, focused lectures, demonstrations, and feedback from the professors on in-class performances. Students will spend a significant amount of time in class practicing expert witness preparation and questioning techniques. Each student will have multiple opportunities to gain experience in taking and defending expert depositions and will receive immediate critique and feedback from the instructor. Students will also be required to review webcasts of their performances and provide self-critiques.
Civil Procedure is a prerequisite for this course.
Litigating in a High Tech Courtroom (Law-795BF)
Litigation Skills Summer Institute
The course focuses on instruction and demonstration on effective ways to present evidence such as documents, photographs, graphs, timelines, video clips, and data compilations in a digital format during opening statements, direct examinations and closing arguments. Experts teach how to make the strongest, most effective arguments that will resonate with jurors and judges through the use of technology. Participants will have the opportunity to make in-class digital presentations followed by individualized critique.