Legal Studies Latest News as of 9/6/22

5) Law Event - Harvard

BUILD Mentorships

As an Ignite Fellow, you will lead small group virtual learning experiences with students with the support of veteran educators. This is a part-time, paid opportunity to build meaningful relationships with youth, accelerate student success, and gain skills that propel forward your own leadership. Spring Fellowship Dates: January 30 - April 28, 2023

An Opportunity for Undergraduates to Participate in a Berkeley Law JD Skills Class with the OPTION of earning 1 unit of LS 199 Individual Research Credit

In Fall 2022, undergraduates will have a unique opportunity to play the role of witnesses in a Berkeley Law JD Professional Skills Class (Depositions: Law 246.3), taught by Professor Henry Hecht.

 
Professor Hecht seeks six (6) students to serve as role-playing witnesses.  Students selected will be expected to prepare in advance by reading a witness statement and a limited amount of background material.  

Witnesses will then be expected to participate during the semester in six (6) Tuesday afternoon classes from 3:35 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., on September 20, September 27, October 18, October 25, November 15, and November 22.  

During those classes, you will play the role of a witness for either the plaintiff or the defendant in a mock case.  Students selected must be able to commit to attending all six (6) Tuesday afternoon classes.  

Professor Hecht's Depositions course is a lawyering skills course, in which Berkeley Law students, working in small groups, simulate the process of preparing witnesses for their depositions and then taking as well as defending their depositions.  Practicing Bay Area lawyers attend these sessions, observe the law students in action, and critique their performances.  (Note: A deposition is a pre-trial legal procedure in which witnesses in a civil lawsuit answer questions by the opposing parties under oath, typically in a law office rather than a courtroom.)  

Playing the role of a witness will allow you to gain insight into the US system of civil litigation and to see it in operation.  In addition, it will provide you with a chance to meet and talk with Berkeley Law students and Bay Area attorneys.  

Finally, witnesses will earn a $50.00 Amazon gift card for their service.  

To Apply:

Please apply by e-mail to Professor Hecht at hhecht@law.berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail), with a copy of your message to Monique Sanchez, his Faculty Support Assistant, at msanchez@law.berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail), by no later than Wednesday, September 7, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  Please include the words “Application to be a Witness” and your last name in the subject line of your e-mail.  In your cover message, please include a brief statement about why you are interested in taking part in this class; and attach your resume.

Students' applications will be reviewed by Professor Hecht, and he will notify students of his decisions by no later than Friday, September 9, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

OPTION: Earn 1 Unit of LS 199 Course Credit for Supervised Independent Research with Professor Perry

 
Students who choose this OPTION have the opportunity to earn one unit of LS 199 P/NP course credit for their service as a witness in Professor Hecht’s Depositions class under the supervision of Professor Perry.  

In order to earn this supervised independent research credit, students will be required to do some additional readings on the civil litigation process and on the participant observation method, which are described below.  

At the end of the semester, students selecting this option must submit a paper of at least ten pages in length, exclusive of notes and bibliography.  The requirements for the LS 199 course credit, offered by Professor Perry, are described below.

 
Requirements for LS 199 credit:
i.     Attend all six (6) class role playing sessions, and prepare for the role plays;
ii.    Take notes on what you did and what you observed, preferably in a small note pad, organized by the date of the session; and submit the raw, handwritten pages along with your final paper;
iii.    Read materials, posted on bCourses, on participant observation methods; and consider how those method(s) apply to your own experience;
iv.    Read two chapters, posted on bCourses, from Robert Kagan’s Adversarial Legalism: The American Way of Law, focusing especially on Chapter 6, which mentions depositions;  
v.    Papers will be graded on a P/NP basis by Professor Perry.
If you want to pursue this option, specify that in your cover message to Professor Hecht when you apply; and he will let Professor Perry know.  

13) ASUC Stu Legal Clinic

ASUC Stu Legal Clinic

Paid Rsrch Positions

Virtual Front Desk L&S

Just a quick note to remind everyone of our L&S Virtual Front Desk (VFD) services.

The Virtual Front Desk is run by L&S Intake Advising staff and Peer Advisers. 

Topics students can get help with:

• Clarification on L&S College policies and procedures
• Help choosing petitions and forms (and guidance in submission)
• Support navigating which campus office to contact with questions
• Guidance in whether to make an L&S College Advising appointment or to use a different resource