Class Schedule

This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. This course will be taught online. Contact the professor for details.

This course will function much like a one-semester Policy Research Project (PRP) insofar as the focus of the class will be a group research effort guided by the instructor.  The details of the project are still to be determined, but will likely be related to issues affecting women in jail.  More details will be provided as soon as possible.

Course Requirements and Grading

Students are expected to attend all classes and team meetings, participate fully in the group work activities, submit work to their teammates in a timely manner, and use their best efforts to produce work product that is well-written, accurate, and responsive to the assignments.  Written submissions will likely include both a short individual writing assignment and a team-authored report, as well as a self-assessment.

Students will be graded on the basis of the quality of their individual contributions to the group project, the overall group project (a team grade), their individual writing assignment, and on class participation.

This course will function much like a one-semester Policy Research Project (PRP) insofar as the focus of the class will be a group research effort guided by the instructor.  The results of this research project will form the basis of a more comprehensive project still in its conceptual stages.  The project is called the “Prison Safety Assessment Project,” and the objective of our work will be to develop a framework for determining meaningful metrics by which the safety of individual prison facilities can be compared across and within states.

Additionally, the instructor is exploring the possibility of this class doing one or more research projects on behalf of a Texas legislative committee in conjunction with the committee’s interim charges relevant to criminal justice.  If this works out, then the class will likely be sub-divided into various teams to work on one of the projects.

The first few weeks of the course will involve substantive classes and a few short assigned readings to provide students with the necessary background for their research projects.  After that, the class will function more informally, with regular meetings between student teams and the instructor to ensure ongoing progress.

Although this is considered an “advanced” class, there is no prerequisite for the course.  However, preference will be given to students who have taken a previous class with the instructor, those who have previously completed a PRP, and those with prior exposure to criminal justice issues.  Students interested in registering should speak with the instructor as soon as possible to ensure it is a good fit for them.

Further Details about Research Project

Periodically, a newspaper headline will declare a particular prison to be “the most dangerous prison in America” and will tout its high rates of gang violence or deaths in custody.  But how do we really know how this facility compares to others?  Data collection practices are inconsistent from state to state; not all statistics are reported publicly; and there may be other determinants of inmate safety (e.g., effectiveness of medical care; suicide rates; sexual assaults; etc.) or other factors we would want to take into account (e.g., lawsuits filed, staffing ratios, staff worker compensation claims, etc.).  Our tasks in this course will be to determine which metrics we would want to know in order to assess prisoner safety in a facility; to gather preliminary information about what data is routinely collected in a sampling of prison systems across the US; and to develop a workable structure by which we can collect and analyze comparable sets of data.  We will not actually be doing the data collection and analysis at this time, other than perhaps a pilot effort.

We may be able to work collaboratively with a national media outlet on this project.

Learning Goals

Through this class, students will develop skills in conceptualizing a significant research project that will be of immediate use to policymakers, corrections practitioners, journalists, and advocates.  They will also learn how to identify and find relevant data and how to develop systems for managing and analyzing this data.  They will also improve their teamwork skills.  Students will also learn about key issues in prison operations and management that affect prisoners’ rights and safety.

If we are able to work on a project on behalf of a Texas legislative committee, students will also learn about some of the key criminal justice issues facing the state, and about researching and writing for a legislative audience.

Course Requirements and Grading

Students are expected to attend all classes and team meetings, participate fully in the group work activities, submit work to their teammates in a timely manner, and use their best efforts to produce work product that is well-written, accurate, and responsive to the assignments.  Written submissions will likely include both a short individual writing assignment and a team-authored paper, as well as a self-assessment.

Students will be graded on the basis of the quality of their individual contributions to the group project, the overall group project (a team grade), their individual writing assignment, and on class participation.

The 28005 section of this course will be taught in person but with the option of occasional remote participation via Zoom.  If students require all remote participation, they must register for the 28006 section of this course, which is identical but web-based.

This course meets for the first seven weeks of the semester: August 27 - October 8, 2020.

A course focusing on real-life cases and key strategic decisions made immediately before and during trial to position you for success. Nationally renowned trial master, David Beck, will demonstrate, share secrets and teach strategy.  This is an advanced course. Texas Civil Procedure and Advocacy classes are recommended prior courses.

This course will be a short course devoted to current immigration topics. Students admitted to the course may suggest seminar topics that may be included in the syllabus. Topics may include the immigration consequences of crimes, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, immigration policies and challenges under the current administration, including the travel ban litigation, defenses to deportation such as motions to suppress; state legislation to limit immigration or to protect immigrants, and immigration detainers. 

Each student must prepare two reflection papers on the course readings to guide class discussion. Outside speakers will be invited as well. 

Pass/fail. 

Prior immigration coursework, clinical experience or practical experience required. 

Application required. 

1 credit.

This class is limited to 3L students. It is for students who have mastered the basic and advanced advocacy skills and will focus on cutting-edge advocacy theories and techniques. The class combines both lecture and practice sessions focusing on both traditional legal exercises and new non-verbal behavior techniques and other experimental approaches to advocacy. Students will practice mirroring, anchoring and technology presentations as well as storytelling and personality profiling. Students will also spend several weeks learning and practicing how to conduct a voir dire examination and will perform a full voir dire using independent jurors. A final group empirical research project will be presented at the end of the semester. This class operates in a seminar fashion as well as focusing on skills-based training. The class has an extensive reading/discussion list in addition to the skill work and outside research. Required prerequisites: Evidence, Advocacy Survey, and Advanced Advocacy work such as appellate advocacy, clinics or interscholastic work.

So you know the basics of litigation, what next? Are you ready to take a deposition, represent a client in mediation or try a case to an arbitrator? An effective advocate needs the knowledge and skill to assess which dispute resolution process best suits the case. In this practice intensive class, you will develop essential skills for a modern litigator whose most significant "trials" may occur outside a traditional courtroom. Working with arbitrators, mediators, lawyers and judges, students will develop and hone their deposition and negotiation skills as well as handle a mediation, arbitration and summary jury trial. This is a 4-credit class (2 credits pass/fail, 2 credits graded). Required Prerequisite: Advocacy Survey

So you know the basics of litigation, what next? Are you ready to take a deposition, represent a client in mediation or try a case to an arbitrator? An effective advocate needs the knowledge and skill to assess which dispute resolution process best suits the case. In this practice intensive class, you will develop essential skills for a modern litigator whose most significant "trials" may occur outside a traditional courtroom. Working with arbitrators, mediators, lawyers and judges, students will develop and hone their deposition and negotiation skills as well as handle a mediation, arbitration and summary jury trial. This is a 4-credit class (2 credits pass/fail, 2 credits graded). Required Prerequisite: Advocacy Survey

So you know the basics of litigation, what next? Are you ready to take a deposition, represent a client in mediation or try a case to an arbitrator? An effective advocate needs the knowledge and skill to assess which dispute resolution process best suits the case. In this practice intensive class, you will develop essential skills for a modern litigator whose most significant "trials" may occur outside a traditional courtroom. Working with arbitrators, mediators, lawyers and judges, students will develop and hone their deposition and negotiation skills as well as handle a mediation, arbitration and summary jury trial. This is a 4-credit class (2 credits pass/fail, 2 credits graded).  Required Prerequisite: Advocacy Survey OR ADR survey, OR Mediation.

So you know the basics of litigation, what next? Are you ready to take a deposition, represent a client in mediation or try a case to an arbitrator? An effective advocate needs the knowledge and skill to assess which dispute resolution process best suits the case. In this practice intensive class, you will develop essential skills for a modern litigator whose most significant "trials" may occur outside a traditional courtroom. Working with arbitrators, mediators, lawyers and judges, students will develop and hone their deposition and negotiation skills as well as handle a mediation, arbitration and summary jury trial. This is a 4-credit class (2 credits pass/fail, 2 credits graded). Required Prerequisite: Advocacy Survey OR ADR survey, OR Mediation.

This class is limited to 3L students. It is for students who have mastered the basic and advanced advocacy skills and will focus on cutting-edge advocacy theories and techniques. The class combines both discussion and practice sessions focusing on both traditional legal exercises and other experimental approaches to advocacy. Students will also spend several weeks learning and practicing how to conduct a voir dire examination and will perform a full voir dire using independent jurors.  Students will work with Dell Medical students on a trial. This class operates in a seminar fashion as well as focusing on skills-based training. The class has an extensive reading/discussion list in addition to the skill work and outside research. Suggested prerequisites: Evidence, Advocacy Survey, and Advanced Advocacy work such as appellate advocacy,  ADR courses, clinics or interscholastic work.

This class is limited to 3L students. It is for students who have mastered the basic and advanced advocacy skills and will focus on cutting-edge advocacy theories and techniques. The class combines both discussion and practice sessions focusing on both traditional legal exercises and other experimental approaches to advocacy. Students will also spend several weeks learning and practicing how to conduct a voir dire examination and will perform a full voir dire using independent jurors.  Students will work with Dell Medical students on a trial. This class operates in a seminar fashion as well as focusing on skills-based training. The class has an extensive reading/discussion list in addition to the skill work and outside research. Suggested prerequisites: Evidence, Advocacy Survey, and Advanced Advocacy work such as appellate advocacy,  ADR courses, clinics or interscholastic work.

This class is limited to 3L students. It is for students who have mastered the basic and advanced advocacy skills and will focus on cutting-edge advocacy theories and techniques. The class combines both discussion and practice sessions focusing on both traditional legal exercises and new non-verbal behavior techniques and other experimental approaches to advocacy. Students will practice mirroring, anchoring and technology presentations as well as storytelling and personality profiling. Students will also spend several weeks learning and practicing how to conduct a voir dire examination and will perform a full voir dire using independent jurors. This year the class will create and design problem solving litigation. This class operates in a seminar fashion as well as focusing on skills-based training. The class has an extensive reading/discussion list in addition to the skill work and outside research. Required prerequisites: Evidence, Advocacy Survey, and Advanced Advocacy work such as appellate advocacy,  ADR courses, clinics or interscholastic work.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire, and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded).

Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

The 27975 section of this course will be taught in person but with the option of occasional remote participation via Zoom.  If students require all remote participation, they must register for the 27976 section of this course, which is identical but web-based.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded).

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.

This class has a mandatory evening skills component (Monday or Wednesday evening). Students must register for both the lecture (376M) and either Monday or Wednesday evening skills portion (176N) of the class. Please note, the evening Skills portion of the class will not begin until week 5 or 6 of the semester and will run for eight weeks. Advocacy survey is designed for beginning advocacy students who are interested in gaining exposure to all areas of advocacy. While focusing primarily on trial skills, the course will also cover topics such as transactional practice, motion practice and alternative dispute resolution. By combining theory through the lecture sessions with technique training in skills sessions, students are able to practice what they learn. Students get hands-on practice in areas such as opening and closing statements, the use and relevance of technology in litigation, transferable skills for a transactional practice, and the basic skills necessary to try a case. The skill sessions will end with the trial of a case. Students will examine a case file from pretrial motions, transactional, ADR, arbitration, voir dire and trial. This is a 4-credit series (1 credit pass/fail, 3 credits graded). Prerequisite or Concurrent: Evidence.