Civil Procedure Simulations

More than most legal educators, Civil Procedure professors recognize the need to teach their students how arcane legal rules apply to real human problems. That was true when the first edition of Civil Procedure Simulations: Bridge to Practice was published over a decade ago and remains true today. But one might ask why a second edition? The Supreme Court and lower federal courts have addressed some new complex questions since publication of the first edition. The Supreme Court has failed to resolve how its due process minimum contacts analysis works for internet cases, the personal jurisdiction issue in the first edition. Instead, it has complicated basic rules involving brick and mortar defendants. Enter the same trolling reporter Mike Ridge, but since we met him in the first edition, his internet employer fired him and he is now working for a brick and mortar newspaper that is about to publish a devasting story about another young lawyer. Valentina Rossi is contemplating a run for office and Ridge wants to publish a story claiming that she and her former boss had an illicit romance, leading to the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. Although most readers might want to dig into the potentially salacious details, a proceduralist can sense a vertical choice of law issue that has divided lower federal courts: does a state's anti-SLAPP law apply in federal court? For the answers, be sure to read the new simulations.

This is the first primary Civil Procedure course book to incorporate skills assignments into the book. The book actively involves students in the application of civil procedure concepts. It Includes three simple simulation cases, one contracts based, one torts based and one blended case. Sample documents from real cases are also included. Students using this book will engage in experiential learning exercises, including drafting the jurisdictional allegations for complaints, drafting very simple pleadings and motions, and responding to supervisor email messages. The book contains the statutes, rules, and edited cases that are the staples of traditional Civil Procedure casebooks, incorporating them into an experiential learning approach.

Legal educators are beginning to recognize the need for their students to hit the ground running when they graduate. This book is designed to helps students to do just that. It consists of nine simulations, covering a wide array of issues arising under the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and Sixth Amendment taught in the basic Criminal Procedure course and gives students the opportunity to learn essential lawyering skills. For example, it puts students in the role of counselor, trial and oral advocate, and legal writer. Some of the chapters include role summaries and require students to present testimony before the trial court hearing the defendant's motion to suppress evidence. Others consist of transcripts of hearings and require students to present arguments to the court. Why a second edition? The Supreme Court has changed the law in some key areas, including whether an officer can search a cell phone as part of a search incident to lawful arrest. One new simulation involves an issue dividing lower courts: whether digital cameras are like cell phones. Importantly, two new simulations allow a full discussion of racial profiling in policing practices.

Legal education pedagogy is transforming rapidly. These simulations bring traditional torts casebooks alive in challenging and empowering ways; bring greater clarity and mastery to tort law concepts; and bridge the study of law into the dynamic practice of law. Using modern simulations representing clients in core "bread and butter" lawyering tasks, students apply their casebook rules to conduct discovery, advise clients, correspond with counsel, draft pleadings, calculate damages, and argue motions. Students move beyond the repetition of appellate cases, incorporating statutes and using secondary sources and practitioner tools to save valuable time and resources. While emphasizing substantive tort law mastery, the simulations further demonstrate how law practice seamlessly connects procedure, substance, and skills.

Softbound - New, softbound print book.

Legal educators are beginning to recognize the need for their students to hit the ground running when they graduate. This book is designed to help students do just that. It consists of nine simulations, covering a wide array of issues arising under the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and Sixth Amendment taught in the basic Criminal Procedure course and gives students the opportunity to learn essential lawyering skills. For example, it puts students in the role of counselor, trial and oral advocate, and legal writer. Some of the chapters include role summaries and require students to present testimony before the trial court hearing the defendant's motion to suppress evidence. Others consist of transcripts of hearings and require students to present arguments to the court. Why a second edition? The Supreme Court has changed the law in some key areas, including whether an officer can search a cell phone as part of a search incident to lawful arrest. One new simulation involves an issue dividing lower courts: whether digital cameras are like cell phones. Importantly, two new simulations allow a full discussion of racial profiling in policing practices.