This week sets the stage for our civil procedure journey together. As it is our first week together, we will not have class on Thursday (as we usually do) but rather start out with an in-person weekend. We will convene on Saturday from 1:15 to 3:30 pm. Our roadmap for this week as well as next week is as follows:

First, we will get to know each other. Please be prepared to introduce yourself in a few words, telling us a bit about yourself: What are you currently dedicating your time (e.g., working, studying, living)? What subject did you study as an undergraduate? And what excites you about our upcoming civil procedure course (apart from the fact that Civ Pro is a required course on your curriculum)? You will then be seated in your group of six to seven students each, and you get the chance to meet each other in person. Be kind and curious—this will be your group you are working with throughout the semester!

Second, we need to (shortly) review the syllabus and course calendar, including the general learning and teaching approach to this course. Please be aware that both the schedule and the teaching method are flexible. Schedule flexibility means that if we take a bit more time discussing things in one week, we might shift some cases, readings, and assignments to the following week. I have planned in some buffer time, so this is not a problem at. Methodical flexibility means that I can easily adapt the teaching approach to your needs and demands. I have tried to anticipate those needs when designing this course. And I will closely listen to the feedback and formal evaluations I will ask you to provide during the second and third in-person weekend. If the majority of you expresses wants me to teach in a different way, I will do so!

Third, we will turn to the substantive part of this class (and our whole course, for that matter). I will provide you with a high-level overview of civil procedure, including the basics of the American judiciary and of due process. I will basically try to summarize the most important points of the entire course in a nutshell—let’s see how that will work out!

What I want you to take away from the first week is the following: Civil procedure in the U.S. (unlike many other countries) can be conceived as applied constitutional law. Our civil justice system is guided by the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment but also by questions of federalism and the separation of powers. Keep that in mind when solving and arguing cases—it will “supercharge” your ability to make arguments (as a lawyer) and to find balanced solutions (as a judge)!

Asynchronous Work—Due Saturday, Aug. 23

Complete at any time before class on Saturday:

Review the Course Syllabus.
Review the Course Calendar, which contains a list of cases and textbook pinpoints for each module/week. (This table is included in the syllabus, too.)
Read the table of contents of the 2024-25 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”).
Read the abbreviated Study Guide in our textbook Learning Civil Procedure (“LCP”), pp. xliii-xlviii, as well as the LCP Comprehensive Study Guide.
Check which group you have been (alphabetically) assigned to in the Civ Pro Group List.
Optionally, have a look at the Five First Year Survival Tips.

In-Person Weekend on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1:15-3:30 pm

After class:

Individually, review the Post-Class Resources.
Connect with your respective group. Complete your Civ Pro Group Formation task.

Synchronous Online Meeting—Thursday, Aug. 28, at 6 pm

Via Zoom, same link as usual.

Before class:

Complete the Federal Court System Quiz.
Remember to submit the Weekly Group Check-In.

Click on the Next button below to continue on in this module. ▼