Courses
Concentration in Advocacy Skills
Students may pursue a Concentration in Advocacy Skills by satisfying the curricular requirements outlined in this section. The concentration would follow one of two tracks: the Civil Practice Track or the Criminal Practice Track. The curriculum for the concentration consists of three required core classes shared by both tracks, a variety of advanced courses common to both tracks, and advanced elective courses specific to each track. A student would complete a minimum of 24 hours to achieve the Advocacy Skills Concentration.
Students must receive a “satisfactory” completion of any clinical course requirement in the concentration. They also must complete the concentration with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all of the graded courses in the concentration and must attain a grade of B- in each course counted toward the concentration. A student who receives a grade below B- in one of the elective courses cannot count that elective toward the concentration requirements, but may enroll in an additional course from the list of elective courses within the concentration to satisfy the requirement.
Students wishing to pursue the concentration must register their intent with the Recorder. For students who complete the Concentration in Advocacy Skills, documentation of the concentration will be included on their official law school transcript.
- LAW-D - Mediation Practice (2 cr.) This course examines theories and procedures for resolution of disputes through mediation. It includes mock mediation sessions and other exercises in which each student's skills performance will be evaluated. Successful completion of this course will satisfy the skills requirement for graduation. While students may enroll in this course or in Mediation (DN876) or in Public Policy Mediation in State Government (DN 714), they may not receive credit for more than one of these courses
- LAW-D 522 Advanced Persuasive Writing and Oral Advocacy (2 cr.) P: Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I and II (DN520 and DN521). Although not a prerequisite, Evidence (DN632) is a strongly encouraged precursor to the course. Explores advanced techniques in persuasive writing and oral advocacy. The course assignments will cover civil and criminal matters in a trial court setting.
- LAW-D 538 Basic Contract Drafting (2 cr.) P: Completion of Contracts and Sales I & II and LARC I & II. This course provides introductory training in the basic techniques of contract drafting. Through classroom discussion, reading assignments, in-class exercises, and drafting assignments, students will learn about different contract concepts; how to translate agreed terms into enforceable provisions that concisely and precisely reflect the contracting parties' intent; and how to draft a logically organized contract in plain English. This course is not available to students who have completed LARC III.
- LAW-D 539 Litigation Drafting (2 cr.) This course focuses on drafting complaints, answers, motions, interrogatories, and other documents required to prepare a case for trial. Trial and post-trial motions may be included. Students will conduct legal research and fact investigation in simulated cases or scenarios. Strategic decisions in case development and the ethics of advocacy will be considered. Students who enroll at any time in this course may not enroll in Lawyering Practice.
- LAW-D/N 606 Interviewing and Counseling (2 cr.) Covers interviewing and counseling in the context of legal representation. The course addresses theories and techniques used in interviewing and counseling, utilizing simulation exercises.
- LAW-D 664 Advanced Legal Research (2-3 cr.) Building on the basic research skills and techniques covered in the basic course, Legal Research, this course offers students an opportunity to gain in-depth working knowledge of legal research resources and methods. This course is intended to develop a mastery of legal research beyond the level of the standard first year curriculum. The course will cover several major areas of legal research, including, but not limited to extensive coverage of primary and secondary sources, practice and specialized topical resources, international law, cost-effective legal research, legislative history and administrative law, legal resources on the Internet and advanced training on LEXIS and WESTLAW. Course objectives are: 1) to expand students’ skills in primary and secondary US legal sources, in all formats; 2) to teach students how to evaluate resources and use them effectively, with particular emphasis on cost-effective research; 3) to help students develop efficient online research skills; 4) to introduce students to some non-legal information resources. Students are required to complete weekly research assignments and a comprehensive research assignment. This is an online course, and the law school’s distance education policy applies.
- LAW-D/N 701 Lawyering Practice (2 cr.) Is a simulation-based course exploring pretrial planning and preparation skills and values in the context of the attorney-client relationship. Legal relationships, interviewing, counseling, investigation, negotiation, mediation, discovery, and pleadings are considered. Students who enroll at any time in this course may not enroll in Litigation Drafting.
- LAW-D 714 Public Policy Mediation within State Government (2 cr.) Offers students mediation training, instruction on substantive aspects of public policy mediation in the state government setting, and the opportunity to participate in the mediation process within Indiana's state government. S This course meets for eight hours daily for one week prior to each semester. While students may enroll in this course or in Mediation (DN 876) or in Mediation Practice (DN___), they may not receive credit for more than one of these courses.
- LAW-D 718 Trial Practice (3 cr.) P: Evidence. Covers trial procedures from selection of jury through opening statements, presentation of evidence, preservation of error, cross-examination, closing argument, and instructions. Students participate in simulated cases. Prerequisite: Evidence. Limited enrollment.
- LAW-D 745 Trial Advocacy Competition (1 cr.) A spring semester Trial Advocacy Competition course is open to eight students selected by audition held during the fall semester. Members of the course represent the law school at regional and national trial competitions. Auditions are open to students who have completed Evidence (DN632) and Trial Practice (DN718). Course participation requires a minimum of 60 hours of trial preparation and related activity. The course is graded.
- LAW-D 746 Intramural Moot Court Competition (1 cr.) tudents research and prepare a brief and oral arguments in preparation for participation in the intramural moot court competition. Full-time students who wish to become members of a national moot court team, and subsequently serve as a national team coach or as a Moot Court Board member, should take Intramural Moot Court Competition during their second year. Full-time students who take Intramural Moot Court Competition in their third year may be considered for national teams during their final semester. Part-time students who wish to become members of a national moot court team, and subsequently serve as a national team coach or as a Moot Court Board member, should take Intramural Moot Court Competition no later than their third year. Part-time students who take Intramural Moot Court Competition in their fourth year may be considered for national teams during their final semester. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/).
- LAW-D 748 Moot Court Board (1 cr.) Students who have done exceptionally well in Intramural Moot Court Competition are eligible for the Moot Court Board. Members taking this course for credit usually include the chief justice, the justices in charge of the Intramural Moot Court Competition, and the justices who are coaches of the various national teams. These justices are elected by the Moot Court Society from the members of the Order of Barristers. With the faculty advisor's permission, other members of the Moot Court Society may earn 1 credit hour by working a minimum of 60 hours in moot court activities. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/).
- LAW-D 750 National Moot Court Competitions (1 cr.) These competitions are open to members of the Order of Barristers, or to other students at the discretion of the Moot Court Advisor. Members prepare briefs and present oral arguments in regional and national rounds of competition against teams from other law schools. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/).
- LAW-D 808 Immigration Clinic (2-3 cr.) P: Course is open to upper level J.D. students and LL.M. students. Completion of or enrollment in Immigration Law (unless waived by the instructor) and Professional Responsibility is required. Students must receive instructor approval prior to registration. Students represent both detained and non-detained clients in immigration matters before federal administrative agencies under the supervision of the professor/counsel. Typical cases involve claims of asylum, family-based immigration petitions (including domestic violence) and crime victim visas. Students may enroll in the clinic for two consecutive semesters.
- LAW-D 808 Disability Clinic (2 cr.) P: Completion of all basic-level required courses except Constitutional Law. Under faculty supervision, students interview, counsel, and represent persons with disabilities in administrative appeals. Typical legal problems presented include eligibility for and continuation of benefits based on disability from the Social Security Administration.
- LAW-D 808 Criminal Defense Clinic (3-4 cr.) P: Completion of 45 credit hours, Criminal Law (DN533), Evidence (DN632), Criminal Procedure: Investigation (DN702) and completion of or enrollment in Professional Responsibility (DN861). Students represent clients in criminal cases involving a variety of misdemeanor or Class D felony charges. Conducted under supervision of clinical faculty, students are responsible for all aspects of representation, including presentations in court.
- LAW-D 808 Wrongful Conviction Clinic (2-3 cr.) P: Criminal Defense Clinic Students represent indigent clients seeking relief from wrongful convictions in state post-conviction and/or federal habeas corpus proceedings. State cases are accepted in cooperation with the Office of the State Public Defender. In the classroom component of the course, students consider federal and state post-conviction remedies and the relevant issues, including eyewitness identifications, false confessions, informants, government misconduct, junk science, and DNA testing. Registration is for 2-3 credit hours, pass/fail, with sixty hours of clinical activity required for each credit hour. Students completing the Criminal Defense Clinic are eligible to register. Without the prerequisite of the Criminal Defense Clinic, registration is in the discretion of the faculty. .
- LAW-D 864 Client Counseling Board (1 cr.) Board members will be selected from among participants in the prior year's Client Counseling Competition. Board members will draft counseling problems, assist in the instruction and critique of competition participants, and provide assistance in the organization and administration of the Client Counseling Competition. Participation on the board in both the fall and spring semesters is required for credit.
- LAW-D 864 Client Counseling Board of Directors (1 cr.) Client Counseling Board members taking this course for a graded credit are selected from those eligible Board members following interviews with the faculty and will serve as Directors of the Board and the Intraschool Competition, Judge Acquisition, and Judging Procedures Committees. The directors are charged with overseeing all activities related to conducting the competition. With the faculty advisor's permission, other members of the Client Counseling Board may earn 1 credit hour by working a minimum of 60 hours related to competition activities.