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PLA325 Litigation I

Lead Faculty: Dr. Bryan Hance

Course Description

Explores civil procedure in both state and federal courts, including jurisdiction, venue, parties, pleadings, motions, and an analysis of civil-litigation strategies. Emphasizes the role of the paralegal in discovery and includes discussions of various types of discovery (including depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of documents), the attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine, and trial-setting matters.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain key similarities and differences between civil procedure before trial in state and federal court.
  • Explain the concepts of jurisdiction, venue, third parties, subpoenas, pleadings, and motions.
  • Propound various forms of discovery, including deposition questions, interrogatories, and a demand for production of documents.
  • Summarize various forms of discovery, including deposition transcripts, interrogatories, and a document demand.
  • Discuss privileges, including the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine.
  • Recognize how ethical rules apply to paralegals in litigation before trial.