787 Writing: Electronic Discovery

This two-credit-hour advanced writing course will help prepare students for the types of writing that are common to complex civil litigation, while introducing them to electronic discovery, with a focus on practice in a large law firm. Because most complex civil litigation and federal white collar investigations now involve e-discovery, understanding the financial, organizational, and ethical challenges it poses is critical to today's practitioners. Writing assignments will all surround one hypothetical federal lawsuit that raises common e-discovery issues. Students will be associates in a hypothetical law firm and will handle the e-discovery aspects of the firm's defense of the lawsuit.

Priority in registering for this course is given to J.D. students, specifically those who have not yet fulfilled the upper-level writing requirements. LLM students are allowed to enroll if fewer than fourteen J.D. students enroll.

Course Areas of Practice
Evaluation Methods
  • Research and/or analytical paper(s), 10-15 pages
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Variable by section
  • Other
Degree Requirements
Course Type
  • Simulation
Learning Outcomes
  • Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context
  • Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession

Spring 2017

2017
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

787.01 2
  • Research and/or analytical paper(s), 10-15 pages
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Variable by section
  • Other
Sarah Powell

This two-credit-hour advanced writing course will help prepare students for the types of writing that are common to complex civil litigation, while introducing them to electronic discovery, with a focus on practice in a large law firm. Because most complex civil litigation and federal white collar investigations now involve e-discovery, understanding the financial, organizational, and ethical challenges it poses is critical to today's practitioners. Writing assignments will all surround one hypothetical federal lawsuit that raises common e-discovery issues. Students will be associates in a hypothetical law firm and will handle the e-discovery aspects of the firm's defense of the lawsuit.

Priority in registering for this course is given to J.D. students, specifically those who have not yet fulfilled the upper-level writing requirements. LLM students are allowed to enroll if fewer than fourteen J.D. students enroll.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

*Please note that this information is for planning purposes only, and should not be relied upon for the schedule for a given semester. Faculty leaves and sabbaticals, as well as other curriculum considerations, will sometimes affect when a course may be offered.