Law School courses accent

By MARY BETH SPINA

News Services Staff

A SERIES OF innovative state-of-the-art "bridge courses" emphasizing practical knowledge rang in the new year at the UB Law School. R. Nils Olsen Jr., vice dean of academic affairs, said UB's law school is among the first nationally to offer practice-oriented, intensive courses between semesters. The courses, which began Jan. 16 and continue to Feb. 2, are part of the school's new curriculum, designed to better prepare graduating students to cross from classroom learning to legal practice. They focus on concentrated areas of practice skills, technology and professional issues.

First-year students are required to take one course from among a listing that includes counseling, mass tort litigation, the lawyer's role in negotiation, advocacy for reform, disability issues, reform advocacy, regulating pollution, products and the law and real-estate financing transactions.

Upper-division students will choose from 14 course offerings. Sample topics include:

  • "Making Rain" and Developing a Law Practice in the '90s focuses on how to create a personal marketing plan; how to obtain, serve and retain clients, how to become a key person in a private firm.

  • Depositions emphasizes rules of conduct, preparing witnesses, making objections, marking exhibits, interacting with the court reporter and questioning witnesses.

  • Mediation emphasizes use of mediation in family and matrimonial law, explores other methods of alternative dispute resolution and involves considerable role playing.

  • Practical Discovery examines problems encountered in making and responding to discovery requests and includes protective orders and use of motions to compel.

  • Forensic Evidence introduces students to common forensic tools used in criminal and civil cases, including DNA analysis, fiber evidence, laser and luma light, breathalyzers and the use of expert witnesses in trials.

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