Law School Tries New Course

The Law School introduced a new course this year to teach courtroom argument to some first-year law students, replacing the traditional student-run moot court competition.

Under the typical curriculum for first-year students, moot court competition is a requirement. The mock trials are administered by upperclassmen who advise the new students on how to write and defend legal arguments.

This spring, one-quarter of Harvard Law School's entering class will be taught legal argument by Professor of Law Charles R. Nesson '60 and will participate in the mock trials during the course.

Nesson, who planned the curriculum experiment, said his new course, "Persuasive Expression," "is a straightforward attempt to teach legal argument and expression." Students will help the professor administer the course.

The proposal to revise the organization of the moot court came partly in response to criticism that the student-run moot court did not generate enough student and faculty interaction, said Mark Levy, a third-year law student who worked with Nesson to develop the course proposal.

Students who have participated in moot court, called the Ames Competition at the Law School, said the new class should improve student's rhetorical skills because a faculty member will be more critical of their performance.

"If there is more direct feedback from the section two approach, then it is good, but there is something to be said about the way the Ames Competition is run," said third-year law student Alexander Chacon.

Dean of the Law School James Vorenberg '49 said yesterday that he thinks the change in the first-year curriculum is "a great opportunity that meets many of the proposals and ideas students had for more feedback and [legal] writing."

Last week Nesson began teaching his course to 14 members of the Board of Student Advisers, the group which oversees the moot court competition. The course will begin in the spring for all first-year students in section two, one of four randomly divided student sections.

If the program is successful, the Board of Student Advisers will recommend that two sections participate next year, and the entire class the following year, said Mark Levy, vice president of the board.

Moot court competitions date back to 1820 at the Law School.