MVV176K American Trial Experience

Faculty of Law
Spring 2016
Extent and Intensity
0/1. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Hon. Gerald W. Hardcastle (lecturer), doc. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D.
Department of Financial Law and Economics – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Mgr. Věra Redrupová, B.A.
Supplier department: Department of Financial Law and Economics – Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV176K/01: Mon 4. 4. 18:15–19:45 038, Tue 5. 4. 15:05–16:35 038, 18:15–19:45 038, Wed 6. 4. 15:05–16:35 034, Mon 11. 4. 18:15–19:45 038, Wed 13. 4. 13:30–15:00 034, 15:05–16:35 034, Thu 14. 4. 9:35–11:05 148
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 31 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should able to:
1. Identify the elements of the adversarial process.
2. Identify the policies underlying the adversarial process.
3. Explain the policies and procedures that make the adversarial process attractive to American culture.
4. Distinguish the roles of the attorney and judge in the adversarial process from those roles in the inquisitional process.
5. Know the basic steps in the American trial proces.
6. Understand the concept of critical thinking.
7. Understand the federal/State court structure in the United States.
8. Understand the path to becoming a lawyer in the United States.
9. Articulate an opinion on the value of the American trial system.
10. Explain the concept of jury nullification.
11. “Brief” court decisions.
12. Express a general understanding of significant American legal issues including juvenile justice, the death penalty in America, gun control and the second amendment, and legal ethics.
Syllabus
  • Class 1: 1. Introduction to Instructor, Course and Materials
  • 2. Introduction to the American trial
  • 3. An introduction to the American trial lawyer.
  • 4. “ So, you want to be an American trial lawyer!” [The dream begins].
  • A. What does it pay? What will I be doing? What is so special about being a lawyer, anyway?
  • B. The road to the Juris Doctor degree:
  • Hot topic: The hot topic for the initial class will be the death penalty in America. Students will helps select the hot topic for future classes. Students will decide what they want to discuss about American law and legal topics.
  • Class 2.
  • This class will be dedicated to discussion of the characteristics and principles of the American adversary trial system.
  • Hot topic: Determined by class.
  • Class 3:
  • You now have a license to practice law. And to help you along, we will get you a job in a small, three man law firm specializing in a general practice. The senior member of the law firm gives you your first case. Now what???
  • Hot topic: Selected by students or the Second Amendment and guns.
  • Class 4
  • 1. Anatomy of a trial
  • 2. Video examples of various stages of trial.
  • 3. What if the judge and jury get it wrong? Appeals.
  • Hot topic: As determined by students or juvenile justice and certification to adult status.
  • Class 5:
  • “So many courts! Where do I go to get justice?”
  • Hot topic: Selected by students or ethics and advertising.
  • Class 6.
  • American Trial Lawyers
  • Hot topic: Selected by the students
  • Class 7:
  • American Trial and Social Justice What went wrong? Hot topic: Selected by students
  • Class 8
  • American Trial and Social Justice (continued).
  • Final Exam (60 minutes)
Literature
  • The core materials to be considered in class will be available electronically. Any additional materials will be provided in class. The material will not be extensive but students will be expected to have read the material before each class.
Teaching methods
Attendance is not mandatory but the reality is that students probably cannot pass the class without regular attendance. Material for the final examination will be drawn primarily from the discussions and information given during class. Relying on others to attend and take notes will not be sufficient to gain knowledge sufficient to expect to pass the exam.
Assessment methods
The final exam will consist of two parts. The first part will be a multiple choice test which will cover the information covered in the class plus information contained in the written materials. The second part will require students to “brief” two cases provided at the time of the exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2016/MVV176K