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CIVIL EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3010)
(2 credits)
Students work 140 hours in pre-approved civil externship placements under the guidance of carefully selected mentor-attorneys. It is expected that students will be integrated into all aspects of the legal setting so that students will assist their mentor-attorneys in their day-to-day legal activities as well as receiving research, writing or other legal assignments. Some placements may include an opportunity to appear in court, interview clients, or interact with opposing counsel, while others may be more observational in nature. Civil clinical placements are in a variety of not-for-profit, government and public interest organizations which are on the leading edge of housing law, domestic violence law, immigration law, environmental law, labor law, mental hygiene law, consumer law, and general civil litigation, as well as other legal areas. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Civil Clinical Externship Seminar.
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CIVIL EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3000)
(2 credits)
The Civil Clinical Externship Seminar explores civil lawyering in a variety of contexts. Students must complete weekly short written assignments based upon relevant readings and their externship observations and experiences, a collaborative student presentation, and accurate timesheets to promote self-directed learning through appropriate goal-setting and the critical reflection on legal process, lawyering skills, and legal institutions. The seminar uses an interactive classroom format which may include simulations and discussions where students share insights gained through their externship observations and experiences. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Civil Clinical Externship Placement.
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CRIM. JUSTICE EXTERN PLACEMENT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3030)
(2 credits)
Students work 140 hours in pre-approved criminal externship placements under the guidance of carefully selected mentor-attorneys. It is expected that students will be integrated into all aspects of the legal setting so that students will assist their mentor-attorneys in their day-to-day legal activities as well as receiving research, writing or other legal assignments. Some placements may include an opportunity for students to appear in court, interview clients, or interact with opposing counsel, while others may be more observational in nature. Criminal clinical placements are with prosecutor and defender offices in the counties and boroughs near St. John's Law School and occasionally with pre-approved private practitioners who take assigned counsel cases. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Criminal Clinical Externship Seminar.
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CRIM. JUSTICE EXTERNSHIP SEM.
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3020)
(2 credits)
The Criminal Clinical Externship Seminar seeks to promote self-directed learning in students through appropriate goal-setting and the critical reflection on how the criminal justice systems function (how the law, procedures, practice and fact patterns interrelate), give students an understanding of the roles of prosecutors and defense attorneys within the systems, and orient students to recognize and begin to learn the skills prosecutors and defense attorneys must acquire. Students must complete weekly short written assignments based upon relevant readings and externship observations and experiences, a collaborative student presentation, accurate timesheets, and a lawyering skills simulation. The seminar uses an interactive classroom format where students share insights gained through their externship observations and experiences. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Criminal Clinical Externship Placement.
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DOM VIOL LIT CLIN PLCMT-PART I
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4020)
(2 credits)
St. John's University School of Law is partnering with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) to provide students with an exciting, well-supervised, hands-on clinical experience. Clinic students, working in pairs, represent clients in family offense and visitation matters in the Queens and Manhattan family courts. Students have the opportunity to handle cases from inception to final disposition, including conducting client interviews, seeking orders of protection, negotiating settlements, making all court appearances, and, where indicated, taking the case to trial. Clinic students enroll in the domestic violence clinic placement and in a two-credit seminar component which meets at the law school. The seminar provides clinic students with substantive knowledge in aspects of family, matrimonial, immigration, and criminal law relevant to the practice portion of the course. In addition, students will be introduced to the integration of law and psychology specific to intimate violence and participate in skills classes in interviewing, safety planning, case preparation, evidence gathering, legal writing, trial advocacy and negotiation skills. This two-semester course maximizes each student's opportunity to fully service each client while maintaining continuous client representation on sensitive legal matters. Students spend approximately 12 - 15 hours a week in court or preparing their cases at the NYLAG clinic office. Students will receive 4 credits per semester, 2 pass-fail credits and 2 letter-graded credits. Students will be chosen based upon an interview with the professor. Evidence and a trial advocacy course are pre- or co-requisite courses and interested students are strongly urged to take Family Law and Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
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DOM VIOL LIT CLIN PLCMT-PARTII
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4040)
(2 credits)
St. John's University School of Law is partnering with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) to provide students with an exciting, well-supervised, hands-on clinical experience. Clinic students, working in pairs, represent clients in family offense and visitation matters in the Queens and Manhattan family courts. Students have the opportunity to handle cases from inception to final disposition, including conducting client interviews, seeking orders of protection, negotiating settlements, making all court appearances, and, where indicated, taking the case to trial. Clinic students enroll in the domestic violence clinic placement and in a two-credit seminar component which meets at the law school. The seminar provides clinic students with substantive knowledge in aspects of family, matrimonial, immigration, and criminal law relevant to the practice portion of the course. In addition, students will be introduced to the integration of law and psychology specific to intimate violence and participate in skills classes in interviewing, safety planning, case preparation, evidence gathering, legal writing, trial advocacy and negotiation skills. This two-semester course maximizes each student's opportunity to fully service each client while maintaining continuous client representation on sensitive legal matters. Students spend approximately 12 - 15 hours a week in court or preparing their cases at the NYLAG clinic office. Students will receive 4 credits per semester, 2 pass-fail credits and 2 letter-graded credits. Students will be chosen based upon an interview with the professor. Evidence and a trial advocacy course are pre- or co-requisite courses and interested students are strongly urged to take Family Law and Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
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DOM VIOL LIT CLINIC SEM-PART I
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4010)
(2 credits)
St. John's University School of Law is partnering with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) to provide students with an exciting, well-supervised, hands-on clinical experience. Clinic students, working in pairs, represent clients in family offense and visitation matters in the Queens and Manhattan family courts. Students have the opportunity to handle cases from inception to final disposition, including conducting client interviews, seeking orders of protection, negotiating settlements, making all court appearances, and, where indicated, taking the case to trial. Clinic students enroll in the domestic violence clinic placement and in a two-credit seminar component which meets at the law school. The seminar provides clinic students with substantive knowledge in aspects of family, matrimonial, immigration, and criminal law relevant to the practice portion of the course. In addition, students will be introduced to the integration of law and psychology specific to intimate violence and participate in skills classes in interviewing, safety planning, case preparation, evidence gathering, legal writing, trial advocacy and negotiation skills. This two-semester course maximizes each student's opportunity to fully service each client while maintaining continuous client representation on sensitive legal matters. Students spend approximately 12 - 15 hours a week in court or preparing their cases at the NYLAG clinic office. Students will receive 4 credits per semester, 2 pass-fail credits and 2 letter-graded credits. Students will be chosen based upon an interview with the professor. Evidence and a trial advocacy course are pre- or co-requisite courses and interested students are strongly urged to take Family Law and Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
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DOM VIOL LIT CLINIC SEM-PARTII
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4030)
(2 credits)
St. John's University School of Law is partnering with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) to provide students with an exciting, well-supervised, hands-on clinical experience. Clinic students, working in pairs, represent clients in family offense and visitation matters in the Queens and Manhattan family courts. Students have the opportunity to handle cases from inception to final disposition, including conducting client interviews, seeking orders of protection, negotiating settlements, making all court appearances, and, where indicated, taking the case to trial. Clinic students enroll in the domestic violence clinic placement and in a two-credit seminar component which meets at the law school. The seminar provides clinic students with substantive knowledge in aspects of family, matrimonial, immigration, and criminal law relevant to the practice portion of the course. In addition, students will be introduced to the integration of law and psychology specific to intimate violence and participate in skills classes in interviewing, safety planning, case preparation, evidence gathering, legal writing, trial advocacy and negotiation skills. This two-semester course maximizes each student's opportunity to fully service each client while maintaining continuous client representation on sensitive legal matters. Students spend approximately 12 - 15 hours a week in court or preparing their cases at the NYLAG clinic office. Students will receive 4 credits per semester, 2 pass-fail credits and 2 letter-graded credits. Students will be chosen based upon an interview with the professor. Evidence and a trial advocacy course are pre- or co-requisite courses and interested students are strongly urged to take Family Law and Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
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GENERAL EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4000)
(2 credits)
Students work 140 hours in pre-approved externship placements under the guidance of carefully selected mentor-attorneys. It is expected that students will gain a sense of what it is like to be a lawyer practicing in that particular law setting, so that students will assist their mentor-attorneys in their day-to-day legal activities as well as receiving research, writing or other legal assignments. Some placements may include an opportunity for students to appear in court, interview clients, or interact with opposing counsel, while others may be more observational in nature. Placements may be with administrative, city, state, and federal judiciary members; prosecutor and defender offices; and civil placements which meet the interests of the student body including, among others, organizations which are on the leading edge of housing law, domestic violence law, immigration law, environmental law, labor law, mental hygiene law, consumer law, and general civil litigation. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the General Clinical Externship Seminar.
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GENERAL EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3090)
(2 credits)
The general clinical externship seminar explores important issues in lawyer development through weekly readings, directed journal assignments and collaborative student presentations. The seminar uses an interactive classroom format which may include simulations and discussions where students share insights gained through their externship observations and experiences. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the General Clinical Externship Placement.
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INT'L HUMAN RIGHTS EXT PLACEMT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 5080)
(2 credits)
Students work 140 hours under the supervision of carefully selected mentor-attorneys in pre-approved human rights placements with UNICEF and other organizations or in working with the United Nations in the area of international human trafficking. Students assist their mentor-attorneys in day- to-day legal activities as well as completing research, writing or other legal assignments. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the International Human Rights Externship Seminar.
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INT'L HUMAN RIGHTS EXT SEMINAR
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 5070)
(2 credits)
The International Human Rights Externship Seminar explores substantive international human rights issues, policies and treaties and the practice of international human rights law within the context of an externship experience. Students must complete weekly short written assignments based upon relevant readings and their externship observations and experiences, a collaborative student presentation, and accurate timesheets to promote self-directed learning and critical reflection on international human rights law. The seminar uses an interactive classroom format which may include simulations and discussions where students share insights gained through their externship observations and experiences. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the International Human Rights Externship Placement.
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JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3050)
(2 credits)
Students work 140 hours in pre-approved judicial externship placements in the chambers of administrative, city, state, or federal judges. It is expected that students will be integrated into all aspects of the judicial chambers so that students will observe court proceedings as well as receive substantive research and writing assignments. The course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Judicial Clinical Externship Seminar.
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JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3040)
(2 credits)
The Judicial Clinical Externship Seminar directs students to consider the richness and variety of the courts in which they work to promote self-directed learning through appropriate goal-setting and the critical reflection on judicial process, lawyering skills, and legal institutions. Weekly short written assignments based upon relevant readings and externship observations, accurately kept timesheets, student presentations and a lawyering skills simulation are used to engage students in recognizing and using decision-making strategies in responding to professional responsibility issues. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Judicial Clinical Externship Placement.
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MENTAL HEALTH LAW SEMINAR
(HEALTH LAW - 1030)
(2 credits)
Mental Health Law is one of the fastest growing areas of the law, drawing upon social science teachings, scientific data and new jurisprudential outlooks. This course will cover topics relating to both the civil and constitutional rights of persons within the civil commitment process, sexual predator statutes, competency to stand trial, insanity defense, and the death penalty and mental disability. Grades are based upon a research paper.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION EXT PLACEMNT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 6090)
(2 credits)
The Child Advocacy's Special Education Externship requires a one semester commitment from the accepted student. Students will represent children and their guardians in New York City Department of Education administrative special education hearings involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students will conduct client interviews, engage in factual and legal research, consult with experts, negotiate settlements, make court appearances, review documents (e.g. IEPs, school, and mental health records) and where appropriate, conduct administrative hearings. The majority of externship work will be performed at non-profit organizations which specialize in special education issues. Externship students must participate in the Special Education Externship Seminar. This seminar covers trial advocacy skills, lawyering skills and substantive areas of law. The seminar meets once a week for two hours. Seminar classes are held at the law school. Students are also required to participate in weekly "case rounds" sessions at the law school with Professor Gould. This Externship is open to second and third year students who will receive a total of four (4) credits for the semester with 2 letter graded credits and 2 pass/fail credits. All externship students are required to complete Evidence either prior to or during the semester in which they take the Special Education Externship, and are strongly encouraged to participate in the Child Advocacy Clinic prior to or after taking the Special Education Externship. Applicants are also urged to take the Intensive Trial Advocacy course, Pre-Trial Advocacy, and Family Law.
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SUMMER EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3070)
(2 credits)
Students work 168 hours in pre-approved externship placements under the guidance of carefully selected mentor-attorneys. It is expected that students will gain a sense of what it is like to be a lawyer practicing in that particular law setting, so that students will assist their mentor-attorneys in their day-to-day legal activities as well as receiving research, writing or other legal assignments. Some placements may include an opportunity for students to appear in court, interview clients, or interact with opposing counsel, while others may be more observational in nature. Placements may be with administrative, city, state, and federal judiciary members; prosecutor and defender offices; and civil placements which meet the interests of the student body including, among others, organizations which are on the leading edge of housing law, domestic violence law, immigration law, environmental law, labor law, mental hygiene law, consumer law, and general civil litigation. This course is graded on a pass-fail basis. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Summer Clinical Externship Seminar.
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SUMMER EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 3060)
(1 credits)
The Summer Clinical Externship Seminar incorporates aspects of the General Clinical Externship Seminar and the Civil, Criminal and Judicial Clinical Externship Seminars with an emphasis on short written assignments, some of which are class-wide assignments and some of which are substantive-area specific, and group collaborative projects. Grades are based upon class participation, weekly written assignments, and a final student presentation. This course must be taken in conjunction with the Summer Clinical Externship Placement.
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TRIAL ADVOC-CONCENTRATED CIVIL
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 5060)
(3 credits)
The concentrated Civil Trial Advocacy Course meets on a concentrated schedule (six hours per week) during the middle seven weeks of the spring semester. Each week students attend a one hour lecture and demonstration class and participate in two 150 minute small-group simulation class. Two trial advocacy professors provide constructive critique, demonstrate skills, and encourage classroom exploration of case theory and approaches to the simulation assignment due in class. The course culminates in student teams litigating a full-day criminal or civil trial based upon a specially developed case file. The course emphasizes learning basic trial advocacy skills including voir dire, opening statements, summation, direct and cross examinations, evidentiary procedures, and working with expert witnesses. Grades are based upon class participation, ability to learn from critique, and the level of performance for each skill simulated, and the final trial. N.B.: A student may take both civil and criminal trial advocacy but may not take either more than once (including Intensive or Concentrated courses but excluding any advanced trial advocacy courses which may be offered).
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TRIAL ADVOCACY (INTENSIVE)
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 4070)
(3 credits)
The Intensive Trial Advocacy Course is a two-week, full-time interactive course in which students participate in small group simulations, critique and attend a substantive lecture each day. The course culminates in student teams litigating a full-day criminal or civil trial based upon a specially developed case file. The course emphasizes learning basic trial advocacy skills including voir dire, opening statements, summation, direct and cross examinations, evidentiary procedures, and working with expert witnesses. The subject matter of the course will alternate between civil and criminal each year. Grades are based upon class participation, ability to learn from critique and the level of performance for each skill simulated. N.B.: A student may take both civil and criminal trial advocacy, but may not take either more than once (including Intensive or concentrated courses but excluding any advanced trial advocacy courses which may be offered).
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TRIAL ADVOCACY - CRIMINAL
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 1080)
(3 credits)
The trial of criminal cases will be analyzed. The conduct of both defense counsel and prosecutor will be considered in detail with due consideration given to the application of the rules of evidence, openings, summations, jury selection, and trial strategy. Grades are based upon the student's performance in a jury trial. N.B.: A student may take both civil and criminal trial advocacy, but may not take either more than once (including Intensive or Concentrated courses but excluding any advanced trial advocacy courses which may be offered).
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TRIAL ADVOCACY-CONCENTR. CRIM
(ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 6020)
(3 credits)
The concentrated Criminal Trial Advocacy Course meets on a concentrated schedule (six hours per week) during the middle seven weeks of the fall semester. Each week students attend a one hour lecture and demonstration class and participate in two 150 minute small-group simulation class. Two trial advocacy professors provide constructive critique, demonstrate skills, and encourage classroom exploration of case theory and approaches to the simulation assignment due in class. The course culminates in student teams litigating a full-day criminal trial based upon a specially developed case file. The course emphasizes learning basic trial advocacy skills including voir dire, opening statements, summation, direct and cross examinations, evidentiary procedures, and working with expert witnesses. Grades are based upon class participation, ability to learn from critique, and the level of performance for each skill simulated, and the final trial. N.B.: A student may take both civil and criminal trial advocacy but may not take either more than once (including Intensive or Concentrated courses but excluding any advanced trial advocacy courses which may be offered).