This course is designed for students who will be practicing civil litigation. The course provides a “real world” overview of how pretrial civil litigation is conducted and explores how lawyers strategically use each step in the pretrial litigation process to advance their clients’ interests. The course also provides students with skills-based training in case analysis, depositions, motion practice and negotiation. These skills are taught through a combination of lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and simulated role-playing exercises. Simulations are videotaped and critiqued by the instructor.

This course will be graded on a P/U/NC basis.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1) Conduct an initial client interview;

2) Engage in strategic analysis of a client's case;

3) Conduct research to identify law relevant to a client's case;

4) Draft pleadings;

5) Engage in discovery including the deposition of an adverse witness;

6) Draft a persuasive brief;

7) Orally advocate on behalf of a client at oral argument; and

8) Negotiate and draft a settlement agreement.