INTRODUCTION

This research guide is intended as a starting point for research in the area of trial practice. While not comprehensive, it provides a listing of the most important, current, and relevant materials available in this subject area.

Members of the Georgetown University community may seek additional assistance at the reference desk or online.

INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES

The following are some significant, highly regarded secondary sources which cover trial practice. They are excellent places to begin your research, especially if you are new to this subject.

• Trial Techniques, KF8915 .M38 2002
  This book is highly recommended as a starting point for all aspects of trial practice.
  
  
• American Jurisprudence Trials KF8915 .A74
  The first six volumes of this 77-volume set are a discussion of all aspects of trial practice and strategy. The remainder of the set is titled "Model Trials" and consists of detailed articles on how to litigate specific types of cases. Additional "Model Trials" volumes are added each year. Relevant sections of the set can be located using the paperbound general index located at the end of the set.
  • Westlaw: AMJUR-TRIALS
    
    
• Am Jur Proof of Facts, 3rd Series KF8933 .A46 1988
  This 59-volume set consists on detailed articles on the elements of proof for very specific evidentiary issues. To locate your topic, use the general index at the end of the set.
  
  
• American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated KF 8836. A45

SECONDARY SOURCES

Treatises

1. Trial Practice in General

• Lane's Goldstein Trial Technique KF8915 .G62 1984
  • Westlaw: GOLDTRTECH

2. Discovery

• Pretrial Discovery: The Development of Professional Judgment KF8900 .B58 1993
  
  
• Pattern Discovery (various topics)
  
  • This author has written a series of books of forms for discovery in various subject areas.
    
    
• Discovery Proceedings in Federal Court KF8900 .S5 (3rd ed., 1995 - 2001)
  • Westlaw: DISCPROFED
    
    
• Handbook of Federal Civil Discovery and Disclosure KF8900 .G75 (1998 - 2000)
  • Westlaw: FEDCIVDISC
    
    
• Pretrial Discovery: Strategy and Tactics KF8900 .I48 (1999 - 2000)
  
  
• Civil Discovery and Depositions KF8900 .S55 (2nd ed., 1994)

3. Pleadings & Motions

• Motions in Limine KFM2480 .M3 (2007 - current)
  
  
• Motions in Federal Court KF8875 .M68 (1996 - 2009)
  • Westlaw: MOTNSFED (1996 - current)

4. Juries

• Bennett's Guide to Jury Selection and Trial Dynamics in Civil and Criminal Litigation KF8976 .B46 (1993-2001)
  • Westlaw: BLUEJURYGD (as Blue's Guide to Jury Selection)
    
    
• Jury Selection: Strategy & Science KF8979 .C6 (3rd ed., 2000)
  • Westlaw: JURYSELECT
    
    
• The Law of Juries KF8972 .G47 1997
  
  
• Jury Selection: The Law, Art, and Science of Selecting a Jury KF8979 .J67 (2nd ed., 1990-2000)
  • Westlaw: JURYSELLAS

• Federal Jury Practice and Instructions KF8984 .D4 (6th ed., 2006 - current)
  • Westlaw FED-JI
    
    
• Jury Selection KF8979 .S73 (3rd ed., 2001)
  
  
• Jury Selection: Sample Voir Dire Questions KF8979.Z9 J87 (1996)

5. Opening Statements

• Opening Statements KF8915 .J84 (1980 - 2000)
  • Westlaw: OPSTAT

6. Witnesses

• Cross Examination of Witnesses: The Litigator's Puzzle KF8920 .A76 (1989 - 2000)
  
  
• Examination of Witnesses KF8915 .G66 (2nd ed., 2000)
  • Westlaw: EXAMWIT
    
    
• Expert Witness Checklists KF8961 .D36 (3rd ed., 1999 - 2000)
  • Westlaw: EXPWITC
    
    
• A Litigator's Guide to Expert Witnesses KF8961 .K84 2006
  
  
• Questioning Techniques and Tactics KF8915 .K47 (3rd ed., 1999 - 2000)
  • Westlaw: QTECH
    
    
• Testimonial Privileges KF8958 .T47 (2nd ed., 1993 - 2000)
  

7. Evidence

• Federal Evidence KF8935 .L68 (2nd ed., 1994 - 2006)
  • Westlaw: FEDEV
    
    
• Handbook of Federal Evidence KF8935 .G73 (6th ed., 2006 - 2009)
  • Westlaw: FEDEVID
    
    
• McCormick on Evidence KF8935 .M291 (6th ed., 2006)
  • Westlaw: MCMK-EVID

• Wright and Miller on Federal Practice and Procedure KF9619 .W7 (3rd ed., 1998 - current)
  • Westlaw: FPP

8. Closing Arguments

• Closing Argument: The Art and the Law KF8915 .S7 (1969 - 2000)
  • Westlaw: CLOSAG
    
    
• Effective Closing Argument KF8924 .L34 (2nd ed., 1989 - 1999)
  • Lexis: Legal > Area of Law - By Topic > Litigation Practice & Procedure > Search Analysis, Law Reviews & Journals > By Area of Law > Trial Practice > Effective Closing Argument
    
    
• Julien on Summation KF8924 .J85 1986

9. Brief Writing and Oral Argument

• Brief Writing and Oral Argument KF251 .R4 (8th ed., 1999)
  
  
• Effective Appellate Advocacy: Brief Writing and Oral Argument KF251 .B43 1998
  
  
• Introduction to Advocacy: Research, Writing, and Arguments KF281.A2 I57 (7th ed., 2002)

• Persuasive Delivery in the Courtroom KF8915.A7 C44 (1995 - 2000)

• The Winning Brief: 100 Tips for Persuasive Briefing in Trial and Appellate Courts KF251 .G37 (2nd ed., 2004)

• Writing Persuasive Briefs KF251 .P4 1984

Academic Journals

• The American Journal of Trial Advocacy K1 .M585 (1977 - )
  • Online Version (1977 - )
  • Microform (1977 - 2000)
    
    
• Litigation K12 .I8 (1975 - )
  • Online Version (1975 - )
    
    
• The Review of Litigation K18 .E954 (1980 - )
  • Online Version (1980 - )

Looseleaf Services & Current Awareness

• Art of Advocacy: Opening Statement KF8915 .D43 (1982 - 1991)
  
  
• Criminal Law Advocacy KF9656 .C745 (1982 - )
  • Lexis: Legal > Legal News > Legal News By Practice Area > Criminal Law > Criminal Law Advocacy Reporter
    
    
• Discovery Practice KF8900 .H4 (2002 - 2004)
  
  
• Federal Rules of Evidence Service KF8935 .F4 (1979 - current)
  This is a case reporter and digest covering cases arising under the Federal Rules of Evidence.
  
  
• How to Prepare Witnesses for Trial KF8915 .A83 (2nd ed., 1998-2005)
  
  
• Motion Practice KF8875 .H47 (4th ed., 2001)
  
  
• Pattern Deposition Checklists KF8900 .D3 (1998 - 2009)
  
  
• Trial and Deliberations: Inside the Jury Room KF8972 .S56 (1999 - 2009)
  • Westlaw: TRDELIB
    
    
• Weinstein's Federal Evidence KF8935 .W39 (2nd ed., 1997 - current)
  • Lexis: Legal > Area of Law - By Topic > Litigation Practice & Procedure > Search Analysis, Law Reviews & Journals > By Area of Law > Evidence > Weinstein's Federal Evidence

Study Aids

• Trial Advocacy in a Nutshell KF8915.Z9 B47 (4th ed., 2006)

• Trial and Clinical Skills in a Nutshell KF8915.Z9 H43 (4th ed., 2005)

• Pretrial Litigation in a Nutshell KF 8900 .D49 (4th ed., 2008)

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Findlaw on Litigation
• American Bar Association's Section of Litigation
• Lexis: Legal > Area of Law - By Topic > Litigation Practice & Procedure
• Westlaw: All Databases > Litigation

Revised 06/2010 (TV)