LAWS 8550 Trial Practice
There are several sections of trial practice, which are taught by adjunct faculty who are judges or practitioners. Each instructor selects his/her own readings and exercises, but the coverage of the sections is quite similar. All require students to prepare and to perform aspects of jury trial -- opening and closing arguments, and direct and cross-examination. The course is designed to develop practical skills and to build an appreciation for the relationship between substantive law and strategy and tactics in litigation. This section includes both civil and criminal trial exercises. Students also participate in a mock trial held in a real courtroom. All sections focus on trial advocacy; some also consider some pre-trial skills, such as discovery depositions. All sections have limited enrollments. Evidence is a prerequisite.
Course overview
- Department
- Law
- School
- LAW
- Credits
- 2
- Level
- Graduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Completion or current enrollment in Evidence.
- Corequisites
- LAWS9996
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.50 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.63 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Meghan Spring | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1–3 hrs/week | 8 of 8 |
| Spring 2026 | Paul Wilson | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | — | 11 of 13 |
| Fall 2025 | Christopher Muse | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | — | 12 of 15 |
| Spring 2025 | Meghan Spring | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1–3 hrs/week | 8 of 8 |
| Spring 2025 | Paul Wilson | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | — | 10 of 10 |
| Fall 2024 | Christopher Muse | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 12 of 12 |
| Fall 2024 | Jeffrey Locke | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 9 of 9 |
| Spring 2024 | Andrew Lelling | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 13 of 13 |
| Spring 2024 | Paul Chernoff | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 14 of 15 |
| Fall 2023 | Christopher Muse | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 of 10 |
| Fall 2023 | Paul Chernoff | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 of 15 |
| Fall 2023 | Paul Wilson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 of 15 |
| Spring 2023 | Andrew Lelling | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 11 of 13 |
| Spring 2023 | Edward Ginsburg | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 6 of 8 |
| Spring 2023 | Jeffrey Locke | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 11 of 11 |
| Spring 2023 | Paul Chernoff | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 6 of 8 |
| Fall 2022 | Christopher Muse | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 10 of 12 |
| Fall 2022 | Paul Chernoff | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | — | 12 of 13 |
| Fall 2022 | Paul Wilson | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | — | 12 of 13 |
| Spring 2022 | Edward Ginsburg | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 7 of 11 |
| Spring 2022 | Jeffrey Locke | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.6 | — | 5 of 10 |
| Spring 2022 | Paul Chernoff | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 7 of 11 |
| Fall 2021 | Christopher Muse | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 6 of 13 |
| Fall 2021 | Helene Kazanjian | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 4 of 5 |
| Fall 2021 | Paul Chernoff | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 17 |
| Fall 2021 | Paul Wilson | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 17 |