The first two weeks of each semester will be entirely devoted to intensive coursework focused on fundamental lawyering skills. These skills immersion weeks are designed to provide an introduction and an overview of a broad range of skills. A variety of teaching methods will be utilized to provide theoretical and practical instruction. Students will have both individual and group performance opportunities on transactional and dispute matters and will receive feedback on their work throughout these weeks.
The general structure:
Fall Semester: Interviewing, Partner Consultations, Client Counseling, Drafting, Client Communications, Discovery and Fact Investigation, Motions Practice, Persuasive Writing, and Advocacy and Trial Skills.
Spring Semester: Negotiation Training (adversarial v. interest-based negotiation); Mediation Training.
The Professionalism Course will be taught by Prof. Moliterno. The course will include units dealing with ethics and professional responsibility; the economics and financing of the legal system; examination of the "business aspects" of the profession; marketing and advertising of legal services; interactions with clients; a portraiture of the profession, including exploration of the different career paths and opportunities available to lawyers; time management and organizational skills; advanced instruction in litigation skills and the ethical issued posed by litigation decisions; advanced instruction in office practice and transactional skills and the ethical issues that arise in transactional practice; examination of the impact of globalization on law practice; examination of the impact of new technologies on law practice; discussion of work-life balance, stress, and lifestyle issues; exploration of the role of the lawyer as citizen participating in civic and community and corporate and leadership; and the future challenges, stresses, and "great issues" facing the profession.