Civil Procedure

Study of the principal elements of the civil litigation process. The subjects studied include elements of a fair procedural system, jurisdiction over parties, phases of a lawsuit with an emphasis on pleadings, discovery and pre-trial adjudication, subject matter jurisdiction, the effects of prior adjudication, complex litigation, and alternatives to formal adjudication. We will combine theoretical insight into the many functions of the procedural system with practical insight into litigation strategies. Grades will be based on an in-class exam, supplemented by classroom performance.