Pei Yu

Introduction to the procedural rules governing non- criminal disputes with focus on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including jurisdiction, service of process, venue, parties, pleading and discovery, the right to jury trial, the trial process, appellate review, and the res judicata.

Introduction to the procedural rules governing non- criminal disputes with focus on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including jurisdiction, service of process, venue, parties, pleading and discovery, the right to jury trial, the trial process, appellate review, and the res judicata.

This course addresses the lawyer¿s ethical obligations under the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct. Lawyers are governed by professional rules and are subject to disciplinary sanctions for non-compliance. But the lawyer¿s duty to act ethically and professionally goes beyond the model rules. In addition to discussion of the ethical behavior demanded, the course will examine the rules of professional conduct and the values and responsibilities promoted through the rules. The course will explore how the rules¿ ethical requirements interplay with conscience and moral beliefs, and how adherence to the rules can create social, familial and religious dilemmas for attorneys. The course will address bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism, and will introduce (1) the importance of cross-cultural competency to professionally responsible representation, and (2) the obligation of lawyers to promote a justice system that provides equal access and eliminates bias, discrimination, and racism in the law. In addition, this course affords students an opportunity for the development of a professional identity. Professional identity focuses on what it means to be a lawyer and the special obligations lawyers have to their clients and society. The development of professional identity involves an intentional exploration of the values, guiding principles, and well-being practices considered foundational to successful legal practice. In this course, students will also complete a core competency requirement that serves to reinforce doctrinal knowledge and legal reasoning skills through integrated question sets and multiple-choice assessments.

Field Placement provides the student with the opportunity to experience the practice of law. Students will work under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge, gaining practical skills in a real-world setting. Time required at the placement is approximately 10 hours per week (130 hours per semester) for the 3-credit option, and approximately 13 hours per week (170 hours per semester) for the 4-credit option. A weekly seminar permits students to discuss their experiences (while maintaining client confidentiality) and focus on various ethical issues encountered in practice. Class discussions will also address substantive areas of law, skill building, and development of professional identity. Of the 90 credits required for graduation, students are required to earn at least 65 in courses that meet in regularly scheduled class sessions. This course does not count toward the 65 credit requirement. The weekly seminar may be offered as an asynchronous online course.

The specific topic is stated when the course is scheduled. May be repeated with change of topic.