Course Description
The fundamentals of document drafting in the context of criminal law. Students will prepare documents that arise in a criminal law setting, including charging documents, notices, motions, bench briefs, and orders. Students will examine the function of these documents within the criminal justice system, including applicable statutory and case law. This course will require students to produce various graded documents of increasing complexity. Students will receive feedback from the professor on all graded assignments.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond
that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are
post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them
is the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate
students. Law students are professional students, not
undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily
international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal
system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris
Doctor courses.
Athena Title
Criminal Law Drafting
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in JURI 4278E or JURI 6278E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will exit the course with a portfolio of criminal law documents they have drafted and an understanding of the applicable sources of law. 1. Understand the basic structure of a criminal case and of the documents commonly associated with each phase of a criminal prosecution and defense. 2. Develop an understanding of the function of those documents, as evidenced by an ability to discuss them in class and to draft them as graded assignments. 3. Locate, identify, and apply the law relevant to drafting in criminal cases. 4. Draft all documents in accordance with applicable law and with principles of legal writing.
Topical Outline
1. The Basic Structure of Criminal Prosecution and Defense and Documents Associated with Each Phase 2. Sources of Law Applicable to Drafting in Criminal Cases – Uniform Rules, Statutory Law, Case Law 3. Pretrial Documents – Indictments/Accusations, Notices, Types of Motions, Bench Briefs, Orders 4. Trial Documents - Jury Instructions, Verdict Forms 5. Post-conviction Documents - Motions for New Trial, Appellate Matters (this course will not include an appellate brief)
Syllabus
Public CV