Course Description
The process of adjudication by which America's courts resolve civil controversies brought to them as lawsuits. Topics covered in this half of an academic year-long course include personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, supplemental jurisdiction, additional claims, multiple parties, and the Erie doctrine (choice of law).
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.
Athena Title
Civil Procedure
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
To familiarize first-year law students with the fundamental rules, doctrines and standards which influence a lawyer’s decision on choosing a forum and commencing a lawsuit. This course is a prerequisite for Civil Procedure II. These required courses are essential for a law student’s understanding of civil litigation in the United States and its impact on being a lawyer and serving clients.
Topical Outline
I. Overview of Civil Procedure in the United States II. Adjudicatory Power- Choosing Courts A. Kinds of jurisdiction B. Personal jurisdiction C. In rem jurisdiction D. Specific jurisdiction E. General jurisdiction F. Consent to jurisdiction G. Notice H. Declining jurisdiction III. The line between state and federal power, subject matter jurisdiction A. Federal question jurisdiction B. Diversity jurisdiction C. Amount in controversy D. Removal IV. Complex Adjudication, Additional Claims and Additional Parties A. Joinder of claims B. Joinder of parties C. Compulsory joinder D. Intervention E. Interpleader V. The Erie Doctrine
Syllabus
Public CV