LAW5127E

Trial practice and advocacy 506 ( 6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader:

Offered:
Prato First semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: Introductory lectures on basic advocacy concepts and techniques are conducted by Professor Hampel or by a senior member of the judiciary or the bar. Students participate in three workshops dealing with examination in chief, cross-examination and addresses. These workshops are conducted by advocacy teachers who are members of the Victorian bar and are trained Australian Advocacy Institute teachers. A series of eight mock jury trials are then conducted. Students must participate as counsel in one of these trials, and attend all others.

Objectives: (1) To introduce students to trial practice and the role of the advocate in the adversary system; (2) To introduce students to basic advocacy skills and techniques in: conceptualisation and preparation, opening and closing addresses, examination of witnesses, cross examination, and communication skills in the court room; (3) To assess students' understanding of these skills and ability to perform them at a basic level.

Assessment: Participation in two assessment tasks [and attendance at all classes]. The first form of assessment accounts for 20% of the marks in this subject and involves participation in a mock jury trial in which the student participates as counsel before a judge. The second assessment task involves performance of selected advocacy tasks before two instructors. This accounts for 70% of the marks in the subject. [Class attendance accounts for the remaining 10% of marks.]

Prerequisites: LAW1100 Legal Process OR LAW1101 Introduction to legal reasoning and LAW1102 Law in society, + LAW3300 Criminal law and procedure OR LAW3301 Criminal law and procedure A and LAW3302 Criminal law B

Corequisites: LAW5159 Evidence