Litigation Skills Summer Institute Course Offerings:

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND EXPERT testimony (LAW-878-001)

Dates:  June 1 - July 11 (Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00-8:50) pm | July 25 & July 27 (6:00 - 8:50 pm)| Instructor:  Hon. J. Michael Ryan (Class meets at D.C. Superior Court)

This three credit class is a practical course designed to enrich students’ understanding of the interaction between the Federal Rules of Evidence and science in a trial setting. Through a series of exercises, students are exposed to expert scientific evidence in deposition and trial contexts. In addition to these simulation exercises, the course has an instructional component which includes presentations by guest lecturers who are specialists in various scientific fields such as forensic pathology and toxicology, digital information, and trace evidence. Evidence is a prerequisite for this course.

CRIMINAL TRIAL ADVOCACY INTENSIVE (LAW-795BP-001)

Dates:  June 17 & 24 (9:00am-4pm) |June 19-22 (6:00-9:30pm)
Instructors:  Cynthia Goode Works & Hon. Donine Carrington-Martin

The two credit intensive Criminal 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 6 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.  The prerequisites for this course are: Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure.  Evidence must be taken as a pre- or co-requisite.

FACT WITNESS DEPOSITION (LAW-733-001) 

Dates:  May 30 - 31 (6:00-9:30pm) | June 3 (9:00am-5:00pm)
Instructors:  Cynthia Goode Works & Hon. Zol Rainey

This one credit 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 WITNESS DEPOSITION (LAW-734-001)

Dates:  June 6 & 8 (6:00-9:30pm) | June 10 (9:00-5:00pm)
Instructors:  Cynthia Goode Works & Erica Mudd

This one credit 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.