Craig B. Futterman : Courses and Seminars
Intensive Trial Practice Workshop
LAWS 67503
This practicum teaches trial preparation, trial advocacy, and strategy through a variety of teaching techniques, including lectures and demonstrations, but primarily through simulated trial exercises. Topics include opening statements, witness preparation, direct and cross examination, expert witnesses, objections at trial, and closing argument. Practicing lawyers and judges are enlisted to provide students with lectures and critiques from varied perspectives. The practicum concludes with a simulated jury trial presided over by sitting state and federal court judges. Evidence is a prerequisite. Students taking the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop may enroll in Pre-Trial Advocacy. Completion of this workshop partially satisfies one of the requirements for admission to the trial bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This practicum is open only to students entering their 3L year and limited to 54 with preference given to students who have been accepted into a Clinic course. Students who have taken Trial Advocacy (LAWS 67603), Advanced Trial Advocacy (LAW 93802), Poverty and Housing Law Clinic (LAWS 90512), or Trial Practice: Strategy and Advocacy (LAWS 91702) may not take this course. This practicum is offered for approximately six hours/day during the two weeks prior to the beginning of the Autumn Quarter. The student's grade is based on class participation.
Autumn 2009
Herschella G. Conyers, Craig B. Futterman, Mark J. Heyrman, Jason Huber, Randall D. Schmidt, Alison Siegler, Randolph N. Stone
Pre-Trial Advocacy
LAWS 67403
This seminar focuses on fundamental pretrial litigation strategies and skills, including creation and evaluation of legal and factual theories, pleading and motion practice, interviewing clients and witnesses, discovery planning, depositions, negotiations and pretrial preparation. The seminar employs a variety of learning methodologies, including lectures, small group discussions, simulated exercises, and videotaped performances by students. Evidence is a prerequisite. Students taking Pretrial Advocacy are also eligible to enroll in the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop. The student's grade is based on class participation. Enrollment is limited to 48 students with preference given to students who have been accepted into a clinic course. Students who have taken Advanced Trial Advocacy (LAWS 93802) may not take this course.
Spring 2010
Herschella G. Conyers, Craig B. Futterman, Mark J. Heyrman, Jason Huber, Randall D. Schmidt, Alison Siegler, Randolph N. Stone
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Autumn 2009
Craig B. Futterman
Civil Rights Clinic: Police Accountability
LAWS 90913
The Police Accountability Project (PAP) is a start-up project that began in Fall 2000. The Project's goals are to enhance police accountability and improve police services in Chicago through a combination of litigation and non-litigation strategies. Through the lens of live-client work, students study the nature of police accountability and misconduct in Chicago and the primary challenges to improving police services. Together, we examine how and where litigation fits into broader efforts to improve police accountability and ultimately our criminal justice system. PAP provides legal representation to indigent victims of police abuse in federal civil rights cases, administrative proceedings, and a limited amount of state criminal litigation. The Project takes on cases that would not ordinarily be brought by the private bar, focusing on those that have potential to raise public consciousness and to facilitate reform. Students work on all aspects of PAP's litigation, from early case investigation and the filing of a complaint through all pretrial, trial, and appellate advocacy. In addition to its litigation activities, PAP has developed a number of programs and reform-oriented strategies in partnership with a diverse array of community, legal, and law enforcement groups. For example, PAP has formed a partnership with public housing residents in Stateway Gardens, a public housing community just a 10-minute drive away from the Law School, to address police accountability, service, and community relations issues. As with PAP's litigation activities, students are fully integrated into PAP's public education, policy reform, and community work. Students are also expected to develop and update PAP's project manual. Second-year students wishing to enroll in the Project are required [strongly encouraged] to take Evidence and Criminal Procedure I early in their second year. Constitutional Law III is also recommended. Third-year students are required to complete, prior to their third year, Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, either Pretrial Advocacy or Major Civil Litigation, and either the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop or Trial Advocacy. Enrollment in PAP is limited and preference will be given to students who have taken the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop and Pretrial Advocacy.
Autumn 2009
Craig B. Futterman, Jason Huber
Civil Rights Clinic: Police Accountability
LAWS 90913
The Police Accountability Project (PAP) is a start-up project that began in Fall 2000. The Project's goals are to enhance police accountability and improve police services in Chicago through a combination of litigation and non-litigation strategies. Through the lens of live-client work, students study the nature of police accountability and misconduct in Chicago and the primary challenges to improving police services. Together, we examine how and where litigation fits into broader efforts to improve police accountability and ultimately our criminal justice system. PAP provides legal representation to indigent victims of police abuse in federal civil rights cases, administrative proceedings, and a limited amount of state criminal litigation. The Project takes on cases that would not ordinarily be brought by the private bar, focusing on those that have potential to raise public consciousness and to facilitate reform. Students work on all aspects of PAP's litigation, from early case investigation and the filing of a complaint through all pretrial, trial, and appellate advocacy. In addition to its litigation activities, PAP has developed a number of programs and reform-oriented strategies in partnership with a diverse array of community, legal, and law enforcement groups. For example, PAP has formed a partnership with public housing residents in Stateway Gardens, a public housing community just a 10-minute drive away from the Law School, to address police accountability, service, and community relations issues. As with PAP's litigation activities, students are fully integrated into PAP's public education, policy reform, and community work. Students are also expected to develop and update PAP's project manual. Second-year students wishing to enroll in the Project are required [strongly encouraged] to take Evidence and Criminal Procedure I early in their second year. Constitutional Law III is also recommended. Third-year students are required to complete, prior to their third year, Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, either Pretrial Advocacy or Major Civil Litigation, and either the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop or Trial Advocacy. Enrollment in PAP is limited and preference will be given to students who have taken the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop and Pretrial Advocacy.
Winter 2010
Craig B. Futterman, Jason Huber
Civil Rights Clinic: Police Accountability
LAWS 90913
The Police Accountability Project (PAP) is a start-up project that began in Fall 2000. The Project's goals are to enhance police accountability and improve police services in Chicago through a combination of litigation and non-litigation strategies. Through the lens of live-client work, students study the nature of police accountability and misconduct in Chicago and the primary challenges to improving police services. Together, we examine how and where litigation fits into broader efforts to improve police accountability and ultimately our criminal justice system. PAP provides legal representation to indigent victims of police abuse in federal civil rights cases, administrative proceedings, and a limited amount of state criminal litigation. The Project takes on cases that would not ordinarily be brought by the private bar, focusing on those that have potential to raise public consciousness and to facilitate reform. Students work on all aspects of PAP's litigation, from early case investigation and the filing of a complaint through all pretrial, trial, and appellate advocacy. In addition to its litigation activities, PAP has developed a number of programs and reform-oriented strategies in partnership with a diverse array of community, legal, and law enforcement groups. For example, PAP has formed a partnership with public housing residents in Stateway Gardens, a public housing community just a 10-minute drive away from the Law School, to address police accountability, service, and community relations issues. As with PAP's litigation activities, students are fully integrated into PAP's public education, policy reform, and community work. Students are also expected to develop and update PAP's project manual. Second-year students wishing to enroll in the Project are required [strongly encouraged] to take Evidence and Criminal Procedure I early in their second year. Constitutional Law III is also recommended. Third-year students are required to complete, prior to their third year, Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, either Pretrial Advocacy or Major Civil Litigation, and either the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop or Trial Advocacy. Enrollment in PAP is limited and preference will be given to students who have taken the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop and Pretrial Advocacy.
Spring 2010
Craig B. Futterman, Jason Huber
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Winter 2010
Craig B. Futterman
Independent Research
LAWS 49901
Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
Spring 2010
Craig B. Futterman
