Study

This is a learning-by-doing course covering narratives, opening statement, direct examination, cross examination, impeachment, admission and use of exhibits, and closing argument. The course is taught by experienced trial lawyers who are also experienced advocacy teachers. In Fall 2025, the instructors will be Professor Natalie Adams, who is a United States Magistrate Judge, and Professor Don Beskind, who is the Director of the Trial Practice Program. Professor Adams is former AUSA who specialized in prosecuting racketeering and murder cases, and who later worked in private practice as a white-collar defense attorney. Professor Adams is an ’08 graduate of DLS and of this course.

Students take this course to learn or hone their trial and oral communication skills. Students also take Trial Practice to get a sense of whether a litigation career might suit them.

In sections limited to 12, students prepare and perform trial skills using simulated criminal law problems. Every student performs at every class. After each performance, each student receives constructive feedback from faculty members and classmates. Each student’s performance is videotaped for the student’s personal review. The student will also review at least two performances privately with one of the student’s instructors.

The course final is a full jury trial of a criminal case. Each student works with a partner to represent either the prosecution or the defense. Members of the community serve as jury members and, following the students’ presentation of the case, deliberate and return a verdict. Students watch the jury deliberations via video feed.

Fall 2025 Schedule: The course has regular sessions on Mondays from 3:00 to 5:50 p.m. on 8/25, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22 and 9/29. After the first Monday class, the class meets for an intensive program on Thursday, 8/28 from 4:30 to 9:00 pm, on Friday, 8/29 from 2:10 to 7:00 p.m., on Saturday, 8/30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and on Sunday 8/31 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. The final trials will be on 10/3, 10/4, or 10/5. Because of the limited number of classes, absences must be excused in advance. No class during the intensive session can be missed.

Professor and Magistrate Judge Natalie Adams will teach both the Fall and Spring sections of Criminal Trial Practice having taught the course in the Spring of 2024. A former AUSA trying RICO and other major cases, and then a white-collar defense lawyer in private practice, Professor Adams is an ’08 graduate of DLS and of this course

In Fall 2024, Criminal Trial Practice will meet on a compressed schedule like that of the Spring Trial Practice sections. The fall dates are Thursday evening, 9/1; Saturday 9/14, and Sunday 9/15 for an intensive weekend, and then regular class sessions on four Monday afternoons 9/23. 9/30, 10/7, and 10/21. After the regular sessions end, students, in teams of two, will try a case on one of these days: 11/1, 11/2 or 11/3 to conclude their work in the course fully a month before classes end.

Students taking Evidence in the fall may take Criminal Trial Practice concurrently with the course.

This is the basic trial skills course with a focus on criminal litigation. Prof. Maher is an experienced criminal litigator who currently represents clients in state and federal court. The class meets one night each week, and recorded lectures are available for students to view. The course covers Story Telling, Brainstorming, Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Experts, Exhibits, Trial Preparation, Opening Statement and Closing Argument. The class is limited to 12 students so that each week each student will prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files, some of which are based on real cases and will allow students to work with actual recordings and other evidence. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings. At the end of the semester students, typically in teams of two students, will litigate a mock criminal trial with jurors. Students who have not taken evidence, but who are enrolled in evidence, may take the class.

Please note: The Trial Practice Intensive is scheduled to begin on the evening of Thursday, January 11, and continue with sessions on the afternoon of Friday, January 12; half day on Saturday, January 13; and half day Sunday, January 14. Attendance is mandatory for each session.

Syllabus: 422-02-Spring2024-syllabus.pdf207.83 KB

This is the basic trial skills course with a focus on criminal litigation. Prof. Maher is an experienced criminal litigator who currently represents clients in state and federal court. The class meets one night each week, and recorded lectures are available for students to view. The course covers Story Telling, Brainstorming, Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Experts, Exhibits, Trial Preparation, Opening Statement and Closing Argument. The class is limited to 12 students so that each week each student will prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files, some of which are based on real cases and will allow students to work with actual recordings and other evidence. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings. At the end of the semester students, typically in teams of two students, will litigate a mock criminal trial with jurors. Students who have not taken evidence, but who are enrolled in evidence, may take the class.

Please note: The Trial Practice Intensive is scheduled to begin on the evening of Thursday, January 12, and continue with sessions on the afternoon of Friday, January 13; morning of Saturday, January 14; and morning of Sunday, January 15. Attendance is required at these sessions.

This is the basic trial skills course with a focus on criminal litigation. Prof. Maher is an experienced criminal litigator who currently represents clients in state and federal court. The class meets one night each week, and recorded lectures are available for students to view. The course covers Story Telling, Brainstorming, Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Experts, Exhibits, Trial Preparation, Opening Statement and Closing Argument. The class is limited to 12 students so that each week each student will prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files, some of which are based on real cases and will allow students to work with actual recordings and other evidence. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings. At the end of the semester students, typically in teams of two students, will litigate a mock criminal trial with jurors. Students who have not taken evidence, but who are enrolled in evidence, may take the class.

Please note: The Trial Practice Intensive is scheduled to begin on the evening of Thursday, January 12, and continue with sessions on the afternoon of Friday, January 13; morning of Saturday, January 14; and morning of Sunday, January 15. Attendance is required at these sessions.

This is the basic trial skills course with a focus on criminal litigation. Prof. Maher is an experienced criminal litigator who currently represents clients in state and federal court. The class meets one night each week, and recorded lectures are available for students to view. The course covers Story Telling, Brainstorming, Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Experts, Exhibits, Trial Preparation, Opening Statement and Closing Argument. The class is limited to 12 students so that each week each student will prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files, some of which are based on real cases and will allow students to work with actual recordings and other evidence. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings. At the end of the semester students, typically in teams of two students, will litigate a mock criminal trial with jurors. Students who have not taken evidence, but who are enrolled in evidence, may take the class.

Syllabus: 422-01-Fall2022-syllabus.doc88.5 KB

This is the basic trial skills course with a focus on criminal litigation. The course covers Story Telling, Brainstorming, Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits,  Trial Preparation and Closing Argument. In sections of no more than 12 students per section, students prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings with faculty members who are also experienced trial lawyers. 

After a first regular session at our regular time, the next first four sessions will be an intensive program with classes Thursday and Friday evenings, and half days on Saturday and Sunday, January 28-31.  After the intensive session, regular classes will be resume for five weeks.  The course ends before spring break, with a full jury trial of a case with teams of two students on each side. When the trial ends, the jury deliberates and students can watch as it deliberates.

This is the basic trial skills course which for this semester will be taught virtually except that, conditions permitting, students who wish to try their case in person at the law school can do so.  The course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Trial Preparation and Closing Argument. In sections of no more than 12 students per section, students prepare and perform the various skills using simulated problems and case files. After each performance, students receive constructive comments both in class and during individual video review meetings with faculty members who are also experienced trial lawyers. The course regularly meets Thursday from 4-7 pm.  However, the first four sessions will be an intensive program with classes Thursday and Friday evenings, and half days on Saturday and Sunday, January 28-31, After the intensive session, regular classes will be held at the time previously mentioned.  The course ends before what would have been spring break, with a full jury trial of a civil or criminal case with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates and students can watch the jury as it deliberates.

This class will be taught remotely. The synchronous portion of the class will meet remotely once a week to discuss the basic skills and perform the assigned exercises. Each student will perform an exercise at least once for each class. If students are willing and conditions permit, we may meet for some exercises in the courtroom at the law school.  Students will need to pair up and prepare the exercises in advance, which can be done on Zoom.  There will be recorded lectures that can be watched   This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a trial with teams of two students on each side. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.

In the Fall, this class lasts all semester. In the Spring, this course follows the schedule for the three sections that cover both civil and criminal trials. See Law 420.

This basic trial skills course covers Opening Statement, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, Impeachment, Exhibits, Expert Witnesses and Closing Argument. Students will prepare and perform these skills using simulated problems and case files. Students receive constructive comments from faculty who are experienced trial lawyers. The course ends with a full jury trial with teams of two students on each side. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberates while students observe. This class is appropriate for students with an interest in trial practice, with a specific focus on trial skills in the context of criminal litigation.