Trial Advocacy Workshop
Winter term
M,T,W,Th,F 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Clinical Professor Ron Sullivan with Hon. Carol Ball, Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Hon. John Cratsley, Ms. Sharon Styles-Anderson, and Prof. Diane Juliar
3 classroom credits LAW-47500A
Early drop deadline of September 10, 2009
The winter Trial Advocacy Workshop is an intensive course in trial analysis, skills, and techniques taught complete in three weeks. More detailed descriptions of the organization and content of the Workshop programs appear below. The course is graded pass/fail.
Completion of a course in Evidence is a prerequisite for admission to the Winter Trial Advocacy Workshop.
The winter Trial Advocacy Workshop will take place from Monday, January 4, to Friday, January 22, 2010. The course focuses on the task of the trial lawyer to create in the consciousness of the fact-finders the precise fact picture, which reflects the lawyer's version of the case. The workshop includes simulated exercises on all aspects of in-court trial practice including opening statements, development of witness testimony on direct and cross examination, use of illustrative aids and exhibits in evidence, impeachment, expert testimony and summations.
Each participant will take part in two full simulated trials. The winter workshop requires intensive study, preparation, and activity. The program is structured as follows:
1. For the first week of the workshop, students will meet in classroom sessions (large groups of twenty-four and small groups of eight) for simulated trial advocacy exercises from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Each student will be expected to perform each of the assigned exercises each day.
2. Following each day's classroom exercises, the students are invited to supper with the faculty, which consists of experienced volunteer judges and lawyers, and are expected to attend an evening lecture-demonstration from 7-8:30 each evening.
3. A similar schedule is followed for the first two days of the second week of the workshop. Simulated non-jury trials take place on the last two days of the week. Each student participates in one non-jury trial as a lawyer and in one as a witness.
4. The first two days of the third week of the workshop follow the same classroom schedule as the first week. Wednesday of the third week is a trial preparation day. On Thursday and Friday of the third week of the workshop participants conduct simulated jury trials in state and federal courthouses. An important feature of the workshop is the on-the-spot evaluation and critique by experienced trial lawyers and judges who teach as volunteers during the workshop. Student performances are also videotaped and individually critiqued. Student trials are systematically critiqued by trial advisers and judges.
Text: Murray, Basic Trial Advocacy, plus multilithed materials and case files.
Registration for Trial Advocacy Workshop C will occur during Multi-Section Course Registration. Students who wish to add onto the waitlist after this date should email Karina Chamorro, kchamorro@law.harvard.edu. LLM students may enroll with the permission of the instructors.
This course has an early drop deadline of September 10, 2009. The course may not be dropped after September 10, 2009 without the written permission of the instructors.