S. Truth and Story in the Language of Justice
Course Information
- Course Number
- L9299
- Curriculum Level
- Upperclass
- Areas of Study
- Criminal Law and Procedure, Interdisciplinary Legal Studies, Lawyering
- Type
- Seminar
Section 001 Information
Section Description
This Class will explore the role of narrative and story in the anatomy of a trial and in appellate advocacy. We will study the extent to which strategies drawn from creative writing--including fiction and creative long-form non-fiction--achieve goals in legal persuasive writing and in oral advocacy, and how those tools advance or hinder the search for objective truth.
The course is co-taught by a former federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York and an accomplished novelist and screenwriter and will be supplemented by notable guest speakers from the film and non-fiction worlds as well as district and appellate judges as we uncover theory, techniques and craft applicable to legal advocates. Our goal is for students to improve their writing by learning how to use narrative, metaphor, and rhetorical tools in their own advocacy, and learn to recognize the use of those tools when analyzing Court opinions.
- School Year & Semester
- Spring 2024
- Location
- WJWH 415
- Schedule
-
Class meets on
- Tuesday
- Points
- 2
- Method of Evaluation
- Paper
- J.D Writing Credit?
- Minor (automatic)
- LLM Writing Project
- Upon consultation
Learning Outcomes
- Primary
-
- At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in use of other disciplines in the analysis of legal problems and institutions, e.g., philosophy; economics,other social sciences; and cultural studies
- At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in various lawyering skills, for example, oral advocacy, legal writing and drafting, legal research, negotiation, and client communication
Course Limitations
- Instructor Pre-requisites
- None
- Instructor Co-Requisites
- None
- Requires Permission
- No
- Recommended Courses
- None
- Other Limitations
- None