NationalUniversity
Paralegal Program
Litigation 2
Scott F. Pearce, Esq.
Course Syllabus
Course Summary: This three-unit course will complete the two—part Litigation course instruction. In Litigation 2, we will emphasize the practical aspects of litigation practice by working through an elaborate civil case, including several thousand pages of documents. Our case will be litigated in Federal Court, which will give us the opportunity to compare Federal litigation to its counterpart in State court. By the time this class is over, you will have broadened your theoretical understanding of the material and sharpened your practical skills.
Text:Civil Litigation for the New Millennium: A Guide for Paralegals, by Barbara Kautz and Stacey A. Rowcliffe. We will make extensive use of the CD-ROM material.
Grading: There will be two examinations in this course, a midterm and a final. The midterm exam will be worth 20 points and the final exam will be worth 40 points. There will be multiple writing assignments based on an elaborate course hypothetical and related documents. The written section of the class will be worth 40 points.
Session 1: Monday, October 23, 2006
Chapter 1: Setting the Stage
Chapter 2: Litigation, Client Contact, Interviewing, and Litigation Theory
Session 2: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Chapter 3: Determining Case Strategy – Filing the Complaint
Chapter 4: Investigation
Session 3: Monday, October 30, 2006
Chapter 5: Managing Documents
Session 4: Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Chapter 6: Damages
Review for Midterm Examination
Session 5: Monday, November 6, 2006
Midterm Examination
Session 6: Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Chapter 7: Further Discovery and Depositions
Chapter 8: Defending the Lawsuit and Use of Motions
Session 7: Saturday, November 11, 2006
Chapter 9: Special Issues in Managing Complex Litigation
Chapter 10: Evidence
Session 8: Monday, November 13, 2006
Chapter 11: Settlement, ADR, and Mediation
Chapter 12: Trial Preparation
Session 9: Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Chapter 13: Trial
Chapter 14: Post-Trial Considerations
Session 10: Saturday, November 18, 2006
Final Examination