General Course Descriptions for Terms: pre-trial advocacy
849 - Pre-Trial Advocacy
Pre-trial Advocacy is a practical, skills-focused course designed to prepare students for the realities of civil litigation from initial client engagement through pretrial proceedings. Drawing on real-world litigation experience and realistic case scenarios, the course examines how litigators use the rules of civil procedure not simply to comply with procedural requirements but as tools for developing and executing an effective litigation strategy. Students will learn both the procedural requirements and strategic considerations involved in case assessment, pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, settlement, client counseling, and pretrial preparation. Students will apply these concepts through practical exercises and drafting assignments involving the types of documents civil litigators routinely prepare in practice. The course is designed for students interested in civil litigation who want to bridge the gap between learning civil procedure and applying it in practice.