Law 694:  Advanced Criminal Trial Advocacy

This course is a practical course in criminal trial advocacy for students who have already learned the fundamentals of trial advocacy and are looking to take the next step as courtroom advocates in criminal cases.  The course will explore – and practice through exercises – more advanced concepts and techniques in criminal trials, including trial preparation; pretrial proceedings, discovery and ethical obligations; oral and written motion strategies; jury selection; strategies for examining government informants, victims of crime, testifying defendants, defense character witness, law enforcement officers, and expert witnesses; raising and responding to objections in real time before a jury; tailoring opening statements and closing arguments for criminal proceedings while incorporating technology; mastering the admissibility of evidence essential in criminal trials; and trial performance skills.  The course is taught by an experienced trial lawyer who has specialized in criminal practice.  It incorporates lessons in advocacy, professionalism, and the rules of evidence that attorneys face in criminal practice.  It concludes with a complete mock trial.

Prerequisites: Trial Advocacy (Law 694) and Evidence (Law 682) must have been taken prior to this course.

Evaluation: This is a three-hour graded course.  Grades will be based on written assignment, in-class courtroom performance exercises, participation, and performance in the final mock trial.  While students will try their cases with a partner, each student will be graded individually.  Students will have an opportunity to meet their classmates during the first class meeting before partners are selected

Course Classification:  Experiential