Tribal Court Trial Skills College

The Indian Legal Clinic at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

2023 Agenda

Tuesday, May 16

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.   |  Registration and Breakfast

8:00 – 8:45 a.m.   |   Welcome and Ice breaker

8:45 – 9:45 a.m.  |  Lecture: Ethics of Trial Practice

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.   |   BREAK 

10:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m.   |   Lecture: History of Federal Indian Law and Policy

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  | LUNCH (on your own) 

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   |  Lecture: Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction in Indian Country

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.   |  BREAK

3:15 – 4:00 p.m.   |   Practical: Case Overview

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. |   Lecture: Trial Notebook

5:00 – 5:15 p.m.   |   End of Day Announcements and Assignments

5:15 p.m.   |   Strategy Session: Team meeting with your trial partner. Dinner is on your own.

Wednesday, May 17

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.   |  Check In and Breakfast

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.   |   Morning Announcements

8:15 – 9:15 a.m.  |  Lecture: Interviewing Witnesses

9:15 – 9:45 a.m.   |   Skills Application: Work on Witness Interviews 

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.   |   BREAK

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.  | Taking Testimony: Direct and Cross

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.   |  Evidence, Exhibits, and Objections

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.   |  LUNCH (on your own)

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  |   Opening Statements

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. |   Closing Arguments

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.   |   BREAK

3:15 – 4:00 p.m.  |   Skill Application: Work on Opening and Closing Statements

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.  |   Courtroom Etiquette

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.  |   Strategy Session: Meet with Trial Consultants (dinner provided)

Thursday, May 18

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.   |  Check In and Breakfast

8:00 – 8:15 a.m.   |   Morning Announcements

8:15 – 9:15 a.m.  |  Pretrial Motions

9:15 – 10:00 a.m.   |   Bench Trials

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.   |   BREAK

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  | Jury Selection

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.   |  LUNCH (on your own)

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.   |  Skills Application: Prepare for Jury Selection Simulation

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.  |   BREAK

2:15 – 4:45 p.m. |   Simulation: Jury Selection

4:45 – 5:00 p.m.   |   End of Day Announcements

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.  |   Witness Interviews (dinner provided)

Friday, May 19

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.   |  Check In and Breakfast

8:00 – 8:45 a.m.      

  • Morning Announcements and Prepare for Trial
  • Judges Orientation

8:45 – 9:00 a.m.  |  Move to courtrooms for trial simulation

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.   |   Simulation: Opening Statements

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.   |   BREAK

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  | Simulation: Plaintiff’s Case

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.   |  LUNCH (provided)

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.   |  Simulation: Defendant’s Case

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.  |   BREAK

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. |   Simulation: Closing Statements

3:45 – 4:45 p.m.   |   Awarding of Certificates and Group Photo