421 Pre-Trial Litigation
This practical skills course focuses on the path civil litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury. Lawyers must instead learn to succeed during the pretrial process. We will examine the key components of the civil pretrial litigation process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. The class will be divided into law firms on the second week of class. You will work with co-counsel, representing a hypothetical client, for the entire semester. Law firms will prepare and serve discovery and respond to discovery from opposing counsel. Students will prepare and argue a short discovery motion. The last four weeks of class focus on depositions, with each student taking and defending a deposition. This course will help students synthesize and more deeply understand the strategy and the practical application of civil procedure and evidence rules used in litigation advocacy.
Topics include:
- Drafting pleadings and motions
- Preparing and responding to discovery
- Taking and defending depositions
- Practicing becoming a more effective advocate in the current on-line environment facing all attorneys and courts.
The course grade is based on written and practical skills-based work product and class participation, as described in the syllabus. There is not a final exam.
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Fall 2021
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
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| 421.01 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Thomas D. Schroeder | W 4:00 PM-5:50 PM | 3041 | ||
This practical skills course focuses on the path civil litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury. Lawyers must instead learn to succeed during the pretrial process. We will examine the key components of the civil pretrial litigation process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. The class will be divided into law firms on the second week of class. You will work with co-counsel, representing a hypothetical client, for the entire semester. Law firms will prepare and serve discovery and respond to discovery from opposing counsel. Students will prepare and argue a short discovery motion. The last four weeks of class focus on depositions, with each student taking and defending a deposition. This course will help students synthesize and more deeply understand the strategy and the practical application of civil procedure and evidence rules used in litigation advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on written and practical skills-based work product and class participation, as described in the syllabus. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2021
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.02 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Melissa Hanson | W 6:00 PM-7:50 PM | |||
This practical skills course focuses on the path civil litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury. Lawyers must instead learn to succeed during the pretrial process. We will examine the key components of the civil pretrial litigation process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. The class will be divided into law firms on the second week of class. You will work with co-counsel, representing a hypothetical client, for the entire semester. Law firms will prepare and serve discovery and respond to discovery from opposing counsel. Students will prepare and argue a short discovery motion. The last four weeks of class focus on depositions, with each student taking and defending a deposition. This course will help students synthesize and more deeply understand the strategy and the practical application of civil procedure and evidence rules used in litigation advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on written and practical skills-based work product and class participation, as described in the syllabus. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Fall 2020
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Judge Robert Numbers | W 5:30 PM-7:20 PM | |||
This practical skills course focuses on the path civil litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury. Lawyers must instead learn to succeed during the pretrial process. We will examine the key components of the civil pretrial litigation process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. The class will be divided into law firms on the second week of class. You will work with co-counsel, representing a hypothetical client, for the entire semester. Law firms will prepare and serve discovery and respond to discovery from opposing counsel. Students will prepare and argue a short discovery motion. The last four weeks of class focus on depositions, with each student taking and defending a deposition. This course will help students synthesize and more deeply understand the strategy and the practical application of civil procedure and evidence rules used in litigation advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on written and practical skills-based work product and class participation, as described in the syllabus. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2020
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.02 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips | M 6:00PM - 7:50PM | 4045 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Syllabus: 421.02.Spring2020-syllabus.pdf222.84 KB Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Fall 2019
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips | Tu 6:00-7:50 PM | 4047 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2019
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.02 | 2 |
|
Marilyn Forbes Phillips | M 6:00-7:50 PM | 4045 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Fall 2018
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 |
|
Marilyn Forbes Phillips | Th 6:00-7:50 PM | 4045 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2018
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.02 | 2 |
|
Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Magistrate Judge L. Patrick Auld | M 6:15-8:05 PM | 4045 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Fall 2017
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 |
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Marilyn Forbes Phillips | M 6:00-7:50 PM | 4055 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2017
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.02 | 2 |
|
Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Thomas D. Schroeder | M 5:45-7:35 PM | 4042 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Fall 2016
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 |
|
Marilyn Forbes Phillips | M 5:45-7:35 PM | 4045 | ||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include:
The course grade is based on classroom participation, performance and written work. There is not a final exam. Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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Spring 2016
| Course Number | Course Credits | Evaluation Method | Instructor | Meeting Days/Times | Room | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421.01 | 2 | Marilyn Forbes Phillips, Judge Thomas Schroeder | M 5:45-7:35 PM | 4000 | |||
This course focuses on the path litigators must navigate prior to trial. It is becoming increasingly rare for cases to be decided by a jury; lawyers must learn to win in the pretrial process. We will explore the key components of the pretrial process, beginning with the filing of a law suit. This course provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their knowledge in procedure, evidence and advocacy. Topics include: Pre/Co-requisitesNoneEnrollment RestrictionsNone |
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