LAW 6956

The Government Lawyer

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

The course may include lectures by Professor Roberts on the following topics: habeas corpus, oral argument, statutory interpretation, prosecutions under the Violence Against Women Act, federal civil rights claims ("Bivens claims"),   depositions, witness preparation, opening statements, motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, summary judgment motions, and other topics.  Guest speakers may include district court and circuit level judges, judicial law clerks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, F.B.I. and other agents, legal writing specialists (Hon. Gerald Lebovits and Professor Joel Atlas), and the U.S. District Court Clerk and his staff (training and certification in e-filing).  Students may go on tours of Auburn Correctional Facility (maximum security prison), the New York Court of Appeals, and the New York State Police Crime Laboratory. Course content will focus on skills necessary for the performance of student externs and counsel in their respective offices and judicial chambers.   Students may be required to perform short writing assignments as part of a class on legal writing.  Students will be required to write a paper as part of the final.

When Offered Fall, spring.

Permission Note Preference given to: those concurrently doing an externship. If the class is oversubscribed, enrollment might be limited.

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