Jul 31, 2025  
Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Catalog 2024-2025 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PS 208 Trial Advocacy 2


Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Provides an advanced examination of trial advocacy techniques. Affords students the opportunity to develop and refine trial advocacy skills through drafting of documents, creation of exhibits, and participation in demonstrations and simulations.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115  (or higher), or completion of WR 090  (or higher); and completion of PS 207 ; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:
  1. Describe the trial process and the role of the advocate in each phase of trial.
  2. Analyze case facts and develop an appropriate case theory.
  3. Draft and deliver appropriate direct examination questions.
  4. Draft and deliver appropriate cross examination questions.
  5. Effectively impeach a witness.
  6. Draft and deliver opening statements.
  7. Draft and deliver closing statements.
  8. Effectively make objections during the cross examination of witnesses.

 

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

  1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena to understand human behavior. 
  2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.


Content Outline
  • Trial Basics and Case Analysis
    • Overview of the trial process and the role of the advocate
    • Persuasion theory
    • Craft a case theory in response to analysis of case facts
    • Demeanor of advocate and witnesses
    • Ethical considerations in crafting a trial story
  • Witness Preparation
    • Script theory
    • Educating the witness
    • Credibility factors
    • Ethics of witness preparation
  • Direct Examination
    • Consider case theory in developing direct examination questions
    • Drafting direct examination questions
    • Revising direct examination questions
    • Delivery of direct examination questions
    • Adverse or hostile witnesses
  • Cross Examination
    • Consider case theory in developing cross examination questions
    • Drafting cross examination questions
    • Revising cross examination questions
    • Delivery of cross examination questions
  • Impeachment
    • Effective impeachment of a witness
    • Prior inconsistent statements
    • Refreshing the recollection of a witness
    • Demonstrate effective impeachment of a witness
  • Expert Testimony 
    • Standards of expert testimony
    • Offering expert testimony
    • Persuasive techniques for direct examination
    • Cross-examination of expert witnesses
  • Objections
    • Effective demonstrate objections
    • Nonresponsive answer
    • Hearsay objection
    • Improper character evidence
    • Speculation/Conjecture
  • Foundations and Exhibits
    • Building evidentiary foundations
    • Creating effective exhibits
    • Foundations for real and demonstrative evidence
    • Using exhibits during direct and cross examination
  • Opening Statements
    • Opening statements in civil/criminal cases
    • Law and content of opening statements in civil/criminal cases
    • Drafting opening statement based on chosen case theory
    • Delivering the opening statement
  • Closing Statements
    • Closing statements in civil/criminal cases
    • Law and content of closing statements in civil/criminal cases
    • Drafting closing statement based on chosen case theory
    • Delivering the closing statement