Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
242.9 sec. 001 - Listening and Communicating:Stagecraft for Lawyers (Spring 2025)
Instructor: George Abraham Higgins (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 1
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
M 3:35 PM - 5:25 PM
Location: Morrison Foerster Room
From January 13, 2025
To March 10, 2025
Course End: March 10, 2025
Class Number: 32893
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 16
Waitlisted: 12
Enroll Limit: 16
As of: 11/22 11:45 AM
Effective lawyers must have the ability to creatively use facts to tell compelling stories in a fast-paced, live environment. Improv is the art of storytelling from the known facts developed during a live performance. In this course, students will develop advocacy skills by learning the fundamentals of improvisational theatre in an intense, focused, fun and safe setting. Improv strengthens core skills a lawyer must have: the ability to pay attention, listen, work with the given evidence, build on it and tell compelling stories. Once those techniques are introduced, students will perform selected segments of a jury trial.
The assignments for the course will include readings from a criminal case file.
George Higgins was the “Distinguished Practitioner in Residence” at Cornell Law School. He has taught Improv, Storytelling and Trial Advocacy at Cornell the past 4 years. He has taught Trial Advocacy at Stanford and a Courtroom Drama, Improvised class at the Berkeley Repertory School of Theatre. He has over 28 years of trial experience as a public defender and Navy prosecutor. He performed as an improviser at the Berkeley Rep performance lab, the Bay Area Theatre Sports summer program, Stone Soup improv and the (i)ncidentalists. He attended law school at the University of Michigan.
Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
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Requirements Satisfaction:
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Exam Notes: (None) Class requires a series of papers, assignments, or presentations throughout the semester
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Simulation Courses
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Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.