Advanced Evidence and Trial Advocacy

Discussion – 2 units. This course will train students to recognize and effectively respond to those evidentiary issues most common in trials, including common issues of relevance and threshold admissibility, character and habit evidence, hearsay and its exceptions, evidentiary foundations, privileges, lay and expert witness opinion testimony, and the handling of real and demonstrative evidence. While primary focus will be given to the Federal Rules of Evidence, selected California Evidence Code provisions will be discussed and contrasted. Lecture and discussion will be coordinated with skills exercises in which students will argue, oppose or rule on objections in selected portions of witness examinations presented by students or utilizing video excerpts of actual trials. Students will also prepare, argue and oppose motions in limine applying the highlighted evidentiary rules. This in-depth evaluation of both the scope and the limitations of those rules which frequently challenge litigators in both civil and criminal trials, enhanced with technical skills training in the form of classroom exercises simulating courtroom scenarios, will afford students a very practical working knowledge of the rules of evidence and focused and effective training as advocates. 

Prerequisite: 219 Evidence and 263A Trial Practice
Final Assessment: Exam
Grading Mode:  Letter Grading