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Litigation and the Judicial Process & Civil Procedure

Full-time Faculty

Marc Arkin  Daniel Capra  James A. Cohen Howard M. Erichson
John Feerick Bruce Greene Abner S. Greene  James Kainen
Andrew Kent  Joseph Landau Robin A. Lenhardt Maria Marcus
Michael M. Martin Catherine Powell Aaron Saiger Ian Weinstein
     

 



photo Fordham Law School has a rich tradition of developing outstanding litigators. Today's curriculum continues to provide future litigators with a firm grounding in essential knowledge and skills and ample opportunities to expand that knowledge and develop those skills. It also provides students who have other interests with opportunities to gain a basic understanding of litigation and how it may relate to their intended careers.

 Listen to Professor Howard M. Erichson talk about civil litigation


Although great courtroom dramas tend to form our image of litigators, most civil litigation is settled or resolved on summary judgment and never involves a trial. For that reason, a prospective litigator must develop the skills involved in investigation, drafting pleadings, discovery, and briefing and arguing pre-trial motions. Two of the most important skills to develop are legal writing and case planning. For the former, students should take legal writing courses and seminars. For case planning, the Law School's clinical offerings stress analysis of problems requiring a legal solution.

Ultimately, however, success as a litigator depends on ability in taking a case to trial. For this, one must have mastery of the procedural and evidentiary rules, skill in legal and factual analysis, and facility in written and oral argument. All these must be combined with a good understanding of trial strategy and persuasive technique. Obviously, trial ability comes with experience, but the Law School can provide a good start to your experience, through courses, seminars, simulations, externships, and clinics. The foundation for the study of litigation is the required course in Civil Procedure. Beyond that, the Law School's upper level courses examine various topics and aspects of trial in both criminal and civil procedure, in state and federal courts. While students may select from these courses based on their interests, the foundational course for any trial lawyer is Evidence.

Upper Level Survey & Introductory Courses

Upper Level Courses in Specialized Topics

Criminal Law

Civil Law

Specific Substantive Topics

Additional Related Upper Level Courses

Related Subject Areas

Related Fordham Law School Publications and Centers & Institutes