Introduction to Trial Advocacy

3 Credit Hours

The faculty consists of sitting judges and active trial lawyers all of who have extensive experience teaching trial practice. In the classroom, students perform problems as trial counsel in small groups with a faculty member in charge of each group. These problems include direct and cross examination of lay and expert witnesses, adverse examinations, introduction of exhibits, impeachment, opening statements, and closing arguments. Each student's performance is critiqued by a faculty member. Faculty will also occasionally give demonstrations of trial skills and brief lectures. Many of the student performance are videotaped and then reviewed by the student with a faculty member. In addition, students prepare and try two complete cases--a midterm bench trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County and a final jury trial in the Federal District Court.