Selected Topics in Trial Advocacy: Jury Selection

Selected Topics in Trial Advocacy: Jury Selection - LAWN754

2 Credits

Trial lawyers often say that cases can be won and lost in jury selection. Many believe this early stage of the trial is so critical that it can determine the outcome of the case. While law students might believe that the goal of jury selection is to find an impartial jury, experienced trial lawyers know that what they are really looking for are jurors who will root for their side. At the very least, they want to find a juror or two who will side with them and try to convince the other jurors during deliberations, of the correctness of their position. This course will give students the opportunity to not only serve as potential jurors for some of the most well-known and highly respected trial lawyers in the state, but they will also have the opportunity to practice their jury selection skills and be critiqued by this impressive group of lawyers. Students will work with both criminal and civil cases so that students learn the differences in how jury selection is conducted in the civil and criminal venues. The course will focus on how things work in New York, but will touch on Federal jury selection so that students have some familiarity with how that is conducted as well. (Simulation course)