Trial Lawyer Skills Workshop

Catalog description

This 2-day, 1-unit workshop offers law students the opportunity to practice trial advocacy and oral argument skills in a low-stakes setting. Four different workshops will run: oral argument, deposition, cross examination, and direct examination. Stanford Law alums working as plaintiffs' attorneys will serve as workshop facilitators and will offer specific, concrete feedback to students. Stanford Law alums will also provide demonstrations of openings and closings, and students will have the opportunity to learn about their practices throughout. Students of all levels of familiarity with trial and oral argument are welcome. The goal is to provide students the opportunity to practice, and every opportunity to practice improves skills. Students will have the opportunity to select into workshop groups based on level of familiarity. Some preparation ahead of time will be required, but the course's overarching aim is just to get students on their feet. In addition to Shanin Specter, facilitators (subject to change) include: Rich Bridgford (Bridgford Law), Nathan Werksman (Merson Law), Patrick Ntchobo (Edelson), Hannah Matsunaga (Davis Levin Levingston), Rachel Green (Katz Banks Kumin), Faaris Akremi (Bredhoff Kaiser), Jake Seidman (Gibbs Mura), Larry Liu (Susman Godfrey), Olivia Flechsig (Allred Maroko Goldberg). All meals throughout will be provided. Note, while students are free to sign up for as many workshops as they want, only students who participate in the full workshop will receive course credit. Attendance will be taken on both Friday and Saturday. PLEASE NOTE: For purposes of the JD degree requirements, these units count toward the maximum 31 units permitted for non-traditional law school coursework, as outlined SLS Student Handbook for the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence at…