Mock Trial Skills Seminar
Learn trial skills by doing in this challenging seminar!
In this week-long seminar, you will learn civil law concepts, including intentional torts, negligence, products liability and contracts.
You will work competitively to apply the law to numerous fun and engaging mock trial scenarios where you will be challenged to:
- Deliver opening statements
- Conduct direct and cross examinations
- Use appropriate objections
- Work with evidence
- Conduct closing arguments
You will receive constant feedback from the instructors – both experienced attorneys and mock trial coaches – to improve and sharpen your mock trial skills throughout the week.
Whether you are an experienced Mock Trial competitor, or you just want to expand your knowledge of the law while improving your speaking and advocacy skills, the Mock Trial Skills Seminar will offer tremendous opportunities for learning and growth.
Experiential Learning Activities
This will be a very hands-on and active learning environment. You will be challenged with numerous mock trial scenarios where you will assume the role of plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys, and witnesses as you advocate for your“client” using the skills and legal knowledge developed throughout the week.
Pre-LAW Course 1: Mock Trial Skills SeminarDATES PROGRAM FEE APPLICATION DEADLINE |
Constitutional Law, Cases and Conflicts
Engage in an interactive exploration of landmark Supreme Court Decisions related to the Five Freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Recognizing that the law does not develop in a vacuum, pivotal moments related to the development of Constitutional Law and the Supreme Court’s impact on American society will be discussed from a historic perspective.
A special focus will be on how these landmark decisions impact the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders as participants in American democracy. Contemporary issues in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, and 14th Amendment jurisprudence will be explored, including issues currently before the courts in some of our most contentious and potentially impactful cases.
You will be empowered to responsibly exercise and advocate for your inalienable rights, as well as the rights of others, consistent with our shared civic values.
Experiential Learning Activities
You will work cooperatively to discuss and analyze landmark Supreme Court decisions related to some of the most pressing and controversial social and political issues in American Society. You will then apply your knowledge and skills to contemporary issues to discuss and debate complex legal matters within a framework of best practices of civic discourse.
Pre-LAW Course 2:
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Instructors
David and Elisa Scott are educators and attorneys with decades of leadership and experience in Law-Related Education. They share deep roots to the Stony Brook University community having met as undergraduates students here over 35 years ago. Both have served as instructors in the School of Professional Development for over 25 years, with Elisa specializing in instruction related to leadership and critical thinking and David specializing in School Law.
In August of 2024, they both “semi-retired” from their leadership roles to pursue a new education project, creating a nationwide civic education initiative focused on engaging Americans in all 50 states in greater understanding of our founding documents and our shared values to promote civility and respect in civic discourse. They share a passion for teaching about law, government and the Constitution in fun, engaging and interactive ways to empower students to be informed, engaged and impactful voices in our democracy.
