This course addresses the legal and societal aspects of civil litigation. It focuses on the prosecution and defense of civil claims from the first client interview through to discoveries and disposition without trial. In this course we examine the adversarial system as a means of dispute resolution and we consider various ethical concerns and obligations that arise in the practice of law.

This course is comprised of lectures, workshops and small group sessions. The lectures and small groups provide us with an opportunity to reflect on the lawyer’s role in the adjudicative process and to exchange views on current developments affecting the practice of law. The workshops enable us to engage in exercises that demonstrate the practical consequences of the issues discussed in the lectures and small groups.