Discussion — 2 units. This course involves a practical, hands on approach to learning California Civil Procedure through case studies, drafting common litigation documents, and studying the application of the Code of Civil Procedure to practical case scenarios. Typical discussion topics will include jurisdiction and venue, parties, claims, analysis of appropriate causes of action for common civil litigation cases such as personal injury, contract disputes, property disputes, and governmental claims, discovery process, settlement strategy, use of CCP Section 998 settlement demands and offers, mediation, pre-trial preparation for both jury trials and bench trials. Required documents to be drafted include summons, complaint, answer, affirmative defenses, demurrer, case management conference statements, discovery requests (form interrogatories, special interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for admission, notice of deposition. We will also study the required documents for a summary judgement motion, general law and motion, and jury instructions and verdict forms. The documents prepared will include use of mandatory Judicial Counsel Forms applicable to civil litigation, as well as individually drafted documents.
Prerequisite: Law 203 Civil Procedure
Final Assessment: Other – (Graded assignments and their revisions take place on a weekly basis. The last class will consist of a creative review of the entire semester)
Grading Mode: Letter Grading
Graduation Requirements: Counts towards Professional Skills Requirement.