North Dakota Law

Updates from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Professor Jenny M. Samarzja recently presented at a Legal Writing Institute workshop in New York City

Her presentation focused on the importance of integrating pre-trial skills into the upper-level curriculum

The workshop, hosted by Fordham University School of Law centered on methods of advancing simulation-based pedagogy. Professor Samarzja’s presentation highlighted her experiences in developing and teaching the Criminal Pretrial Practice course (LAW 411) at UND Law.  This upper-level course prepares students for the realities of criminal cases by placing significant emphasis on pretrial skills through simulation exercises.  Students are assigned a fictitious case file at the beginning of the semester and are then guided through the pretrial practice–making charging decisions, exchanging discovery with defense counsel, conducting a preliminary hearing, writing responses to suppression motions, and negotiating plea agreements.