Advanced Litigation Skills

Catalog description

Approximately 90% of civil cases never reach trial. The savvy litigator knows how to navigate the pretrial process, whereby most civil cases resolve. This experiential course offers a modern approach to litigation advocacy where aspiring litigators learn to assess a civil matter from the start, build a case theory, and strategize its best path to resolution. Learning how to advocate for your client before and during the early stages of a lawsuit allows a litigator to identify which cases to settle; which cases to sue; and which to try. This course will focus on topics which span the pretrial process timeline, from initial client contact, early case investigation, and negotiations; to initiating a lawsuit, discovery strategy, depositions, motion practice, and alternative dispute resolution. A combination of classroom discussion, written assignments, and practical simulations will be used to develop best practices within the pretrial process.