Academics

Course Descriptions

The Moot Court Program encourages the development of skills in oral advocacy and recognizes those students who excel in developing those skills.

Each fall semester the School of Law conducts the Intramural Moot Court Competition (DN746) in which all students who have completed Legal Writing I and II are eligible to participate. The participants in the competition develop and prepare oral arguments for presentation before a hypothetical appellate court. All students who participate in the competition become members of the Moot Court Society. Those students who are most successful in the competition become members of the school's Order of Barristers, and are then eligible to serve on teams that represent the school in regional and national moot court competitions in subsequent semesters.

The governing board of the Moot Court Society, which runs the intramural competition and also provides the student coaches of the national teams, is chosen from the Order of Barristers.

Skills Courses

Advanced Legal Research (2-3 cr.) DN664 The course will present an in-depth view of legal research in both print and electronic formats by exposing students to a large range of resources and strategies of legal research. The course builds on basic research skills but covers additional sources not covered in the first year including administrative law, legislative history, and international law. A review of basic legal research tools as well as information for more complex legal research, including non-legal sources of information, will be included. Methods for evaluating and selecting the best print and online resources for diverse research questions will be covered. Students will gain an understanding of research strategies through readings, discussion, and research exercises which require the application of legal concepts to fact-based problem solving and the development of appropriate legal research methods. There will be numerous opportunities for “hands on” experiences with a wide range of legal materials and databases. (May be taught online and when so taught is subject to distance education limitations, including limits on credit hours).

Advanced Persuasive Writing and Oral Advocacy (2 cr.) DN522 explores advanced techniques in persuasive writing and oral advocacy. The course assignments will cover civil and criminal matters in a trial court setting. P: Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I and II (DN520 and DN521). Although not a prerequisite, Evidence (DN632) is a strongly encouraged precursor to the course.

Client Counseling Board (1cr. S/F) DN864 Board members will be selected from among participants in the prior year's Client Counseling Competition. Board members will draft counseling problems, assist in the instruction and critique of competition participants, and provide assistance in the organization and administration of the Client Counseling Competition. Participation on the board in both the fall and spring semesters is required for credit.

Client Counseling Board of Directors (1 cr.) DN864 Client Counseling Board members taking this course for a graded credit are selected from those eligible Board members following interviews with the faculty and will serve as Directors of the Board and the Intraschool Competition, Judge Acquisition, and Judging Procedures Committees. The directors are charged with overseeing all activities related to conducting the competition. With the faculty advisor's permission, other members of the Client Counseling Board may earn 1 credit hour by working a minimum of 60 hours related to competition activities.

Contract Drafting (2 or 3 cr.) DN629 explores techniques for drafting transactional documents. Through classroom discussion, reading assignments, in-class exercises, and writing assignments, students will learn how to draft the "building blocks" of a commercial contract and learn how to effectively allocate risk within the context of a specific business deal. The lawyer's function in the negotiating and drafting process and drafting ethics also are covered. P: Contracts and Sales I and II.

Interviewing and Counseling (2 cr.) DN606 covers interviewing and counseling in the context of legal representation. The course addresses theories and techniques used in interviewing and counseling, utilizing simulation exercises.

Intramural Moot Court Competition (1 cr.) DN746 Students research and prepare a brief and oral arguments in preparation for participation in the intramural moot court competition. Full-time students who wish to become members of a national moot court team, and subsequently serve as a national team coach or as a Moot Court Board member, should take Intramural Moot Court Competition during their second year. Full-time students who take Intramural Moot Court Competition in their third year may be considered for national teams during their final semester. Part-time students who wish to become members of a national moot court team, and subsequently serve as a national team coach or as a Moot Court Board member, should take Intramural Moot Court Competition no later than their third year. Part-time students who take Intramural Moot Court Competition in their fourth year may be considered for national teams during their final semester. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/)

Lawyering Practice (2 cr.) DN701 is a simulation-based course exploring pretrial planning and preparation skills and values in the context of the attorney-client relationship. Legal relationships, interviewing, counseling, investigation, negotiation, mediation, discovery, and pleadings are considered.

Mediation (2 cr.) DN876 examines theories and procedures for resolution of disputes through mediation, including mediation concepts and trends, "win-win" options, lateral thinking, etc. The course includes mock mediation sessions. Students who enroll at any time in this course may not enroll in Public Policy Mediation (DN714).

Moot Court Board (1 cr.) DN748 Students who have done exceptionally well in Intramural Moot Court Competition are eligible for the Moot Court Board. Members taking this course for credit usually include the chief justice, the justices in charge of the Intramural Moot Court Competition, and the justices who are coaches of the various national teams. These justices are elected by the Moot Court Society from the members of the Order of Barristers. With the faculty advisor's permission, other members of the Moot Court Society may earn 1 credit hour by working a minimum of 60 hours in moot court activities. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/)

National Moot Court Competitions (1 cr.) DN750 These competitions are open to members of the Order of Barristers, or to other students at the discretion of the Moot Court Advisor. Members prepare briefs and present oral arguments in regional and national rounds of competition against teams from other law schools. (More info about Moot Court can be found at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/mootcourt/)

Public Policy Mediation within State Government (2 cr.) DN714 offers students mediation training, instruction on substantive aspects of public policy mediation in the state government setting, and the opportunity to participate in the mediation process within Indiana's state government. Students who enroll at any time in this course may not enroll in Mediation (DN876). This course meets for eight hours daily for one week prior to each semester.

Trial Advocacy Competition (1 cr.) DN745 A spring semester Trial Advocacy Competition course is open to eight students selected by audition held during the fall semester. Members of the course represent the law school at regional and national trial competitions. Auditions are open to students who have completed Evidence (DN632) and Trial Practice (DN718). Course participation requires a minimum of 60 hours of trial preparation and related activity. The course is graded.

Trial Practice (3 cr.) DN718 covers trial procedures from selection of jury through opening statements, presentation of evidence, preservation of error, cross-examination, closing argument, and instructions. Students participate in simulated cases. Prerequisite: Evidence. Limited enrollment.