One of the best, most useful classes I've taken in law school was civil pretrial practice. The instructor—who happened to be a very experienced litigator and Bar Counsel to boot—had us go through two cases from complaint to the edge of trial. We had to draft filings, motions, and conduct discovery, including depositions. It was a great class.
I've heard from students taking it this year that the instructor has a bit of a different idea on how to conduct the class. They've had to draft complaints and motions, but have also had to argue the motions. This illustrates a little difference in the viewpoint between the two instructors, and I think either experience would be valuable.
But why put them in the same class? Given that it's a two-credit skills class, it seems to me that it isn't reasonable to put both motion practice and discovery in the same class.
I'd like to see two classes, Motion Practice and Discovery Practice. Each one would be able to get into each topic in a more in-depth way and students would really get a lot out of it. My school probably doesn't have the financial reserves to do this, at least right now, but it's definitely on my list of ways I think things could improve. (Also on the list are more writing classes—including drafting—and a class on rhetoric and persuasion.)
I love my school and I'm glad I went here. But the closer I get to graduation, the more I want to know about real legal practice and the more I see things I'd like to know. I suppose I'll have to learn them on my own, as most lawyers do.
