Persuasion & Advocacy

Persuasion & Advocacy - Professors Judith Matarazzo and Peter Richter

• Course Number: LAW-505
• Course Type: Foundational and Experiential
• Credits: 2
• Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
• Note: This course will be held at the Multnomah County Courthouse. Classes are scheduled to begin at 5:30pm, however students need to be in the courthouse by 5:20pm to go through security.
• Description: This course explores advocacy skills lawyers need to succeed in any type of dispute resolution mechanism, whether negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or trial. This course uses persuasion as the lens through which to explore theories of fact analysis, rhetoric, and clear communication. Students will learn techniques by practicing, preparing for, and trying a case in a mock civil jury trial. Students will work on their persuasive advocacy skills during various parts of trial including voir dire, opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments. This course will benefit any student who wants to sharpen their persuasive skills and communicate more effectively regardless of whether they intend to practice as a litigator. The course is taught by two experienced trial lawyers, one of whom is now a Presiding Judge of the Multnomah County District Court.
• Prerequisite: none
• Evaluation Method: Weekly exercises; participation in a final mock civil jury trial, which will be presided over and evaluated by sitting Multnomah County Judges.
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no