Skills and Litigation

Public Interest Law Externship

All King Hall externships have two components. Students perform substantive legal work at a field placement, and under the supervision of a faculty advisor, complete professional development assignments. See the externship website for more information. Students work with and under supervision of practitioners in a wide range of settings in the non-profit sector including advocacy groups, legal aid offices, and federal, state, county and city government offices.

Scientific Evidence

Discussion - 3 hours.  In addition to examining the evidence law governing the admission of scientific testimony, this course considers related procedures as well as trial advocacy in presenting and attacking such testimony.

Trial Practice Honors Board

Members of the Trial Practice Honors Board administer the Frances Carr Intraschool Trial Advocacy Competition. Members are nominated by their individual Trial Practice I adjuncts. Students receive one credit for service on the board. Credit is awarded upon approval of faculty advisor.

Grading Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Trial Practice

Discussion - 2 hours. Evening laboratory - 2 hours. An introduction to the preparation and trial of cases, featuring lectures, videotapes, demonstrations, assigned readings, and forensic drills. The emphasis throughout the course is on the formulation and implementation of a trial strategy. The laboratory session is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening. Attempts are made to assign each student to a laboratory on the evening most convenient for him or her.

Analytical and Persuasive Writing

Discussion -2 hours. 3L’s only. This course will help students develop the skill of essay writing typically employed on the bar examination. Students will receive substantial feedback on their written work, and learn analytical and persuasive writing skills transferable to the bar exam and legal practice. Each student will complete 4-6 as outside homework and in class under timed exam conditions.

Advanced Legal Research

Seminar - 2 hours. Satisfies Professional Skills Requirement. The course will introduce students to advanced legal research tools and techniques used in practice, including efficient computer research techniques. Includes coverage of legal research methodology, strategies and materials touched upon in the first year Legal Research and Writing course.  Class sessions will be problem based and requirements include the completion of several graded exercises. Class limit: 35 students.

Washington UCDC Law Program

The UCDC Law Program is a uniquely collaborative semester-long externship program in Washington, DC, combining a weekly seminar with a full-time field placement to offer law students an unparalleled opportunity to learn how federal statutes, regulations, and policies are made, changed, and understood in the nation's capital.  During a semester's total immersion in a structured environment that integrates the theory and practice of Washington lawyering, students will have contact with all three branches of the federal government, independent regulatory agencies, advocacy nonprofits, and th

Intellectual Property Externship

All King Hall externships have two components. Students perform substantive legal work at a field placement, and under the supervision of a faculty advisor, complete professional development assignments. See the externship website for more information. Intellectual property externs work for government, academic, and nonprofit entities. Assignments relate to evaluating, obtaining, and licensing intellectual property. Such activities may include assisting in patent prosecution, prior art searches, freedom to operate analyses, license drafting, and license negotiations.

Federal Arbitration Act Seminar

Seminar - 2 hours.  In 1925, Congress passed the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) to allow merchants to settle disputes outside of the court system.  In the past three decades, the United States Supreme Court has expanded the FAA dramatically, spurring heated debate.  This class will trace the development of commercial arbitration law, with a special emphasis on hot-button contemporary issues like consumer and employment arbitration, the separability doctrine, preemption of state law, and the arbitrability of statutory claims.