Clinical Legal Education: Externship - Crown Litigation (LAW462H1S)

Objectives:
Students in this course will receive an introduction to litigating on behalf of the Crown. Through a combination of classroom instruction and work with a hypothetical problem prepared by the instructors, students will learn the fundamentals of civil litigation for and against the government. Emphasis is on procedure and advocacy rather than substantive law, though the unique legal constraints applicable to litigation involving the Crown will be canvassed.

Goals:
Students participating in this externship will have an opportunity to develop their analytic abilities and advocacy skills by following the steps in a court proceeding from start to finish. In addition to engaging with the legal issues in the problem set, students can expect to learn or refine the following skills:

1. problem solving,
2. legal analysis and reasoning,
3. legal research,
4. effective written and oral advocacy,
5. exposure to ethical issues and their resolution.

Training:
Students will participate in one three-hour session per week for 12 weeks.

Assignments:
Students are expected to attend every class and actively participate in classroom discussion and exercises. Students will be paired with a fellow student and will together (1) draft a factum of no more than 30 pages (7500 words), double spaced in 12 point font and at least 1 other pleading (Notice of Motion, Notice of Application or Affidavit depending on the problem set) that meets the requirements of the rules of civil procedure and (2) argue one side of a proceeding in a moot court setting.

Enrolment:
This course is filled by the Cognomos lottery/waitlist system.