Civil Litigation: Pretrial Case Development and Discovery (Coursebook)

Civil Litigation: Pretrial Case Development and Discovery introduces the art and practice of civil litigation. The book begins with a conceptual overview of the litigation process, then takes the reader through the initial client meeting, case planning and management, and the various forms of discovery.

The focus is on how to litigate a case, from conducting pre-litigation investigations, to developing a theory of the case, to creating and executing a coherent discovery plan, as well as employing effective discovery techniques. The book contains real case examples that illustrate how effective litigators address the inevitable challenges litigation presents. It is appropriate for law students and new attorneys, and has all material needed for use in an experiential course on pretrial litigation.

A companion online component contains exemplars of typical litigation documents, such as written discovery, deposition outlines, and motions to compel. There are two case problems for students to “litigate”: a trade secrets dispute and a sexual harassment case, both of which have been vetted and used extensively at the University of Minnesota Law School.