Interviewing & Investigation LAW-123

1. Interviewing & InvestigationLAW-123 Introduction to The Course

2. Instructor • Name: Rick Hauck • Educational Background: • B.A., The Citadel - English • M.S., Boston University – Public Relations • M.B.A., Suffolk University – Finance • J.D., New England School of Law • Professional Background: • Attorney with 25 years of experience (concentration in Business and Real Estate Law) • Over 35 years of business experience in the Heavy Construction, High Tech Manufacturing, and Business Consulting industries • Adjunct Instructor in Paralegal Studies since 2002

3. Course Description • Provides students with a practical understanding and hands-on experience in the skills and techniques of obtaining information with specific emphasis on client and witness interviewing.

4. Course Outcomes • At the completion of this course, the student should be able to: • Demonstrate the ability to obtain information in a client intake interview following a three-staged interview process using open- and closed-ended questioning techniques at appropriate points in the interview. • Demonstrate reflective listening skills. • Write an internal memorandum reporting on the client intake interview.

5. Course Outcomes(cont’d) • At the completion of this course, the student should be able to: • Write aninvestigation plan for obtaining evidence through pre-filing investigative techniques and formal discovery devices. • Demonstrate the ability to find and researchexpert witnesses. • Demonstrate knowledge of the various sources of public information. • Demonstrate an ability to obtain information from public sources.

6. Learning Methods • Readings, lectures and class discussion. • In-class Interviewing exercises. • Complete Client Interview exercise. • Investigation Planning exercise. • Film.

7. Course Outline • Introduction • Introduction to the Course • Introduction to Interviewing and Investigation • Communication Skills • Basics of Communication • Communication Skills for the Investigator • Lawyer-Client Interaction • Motivation Within the Interview • Active Listening • Questioning • Client Interviewing • Ascertaining the Client’s Problem and Legal Position • Dealing With Client Reluctance • Preparing for and conducting a Client Interview

8. Course Outline(cont’d) • Foundations of Investigating • The Adversarial System and Pre-Filing Investigation • Formal Discovery • Rules of Evidence for the Investigator • Formulating and Executing a Plan of Investigation • Formulating the Plan of Investigation • Identifying and Locating Fact Witnesses • Preparing for and conducting a Witness Interview • Working with Expert Witnesses • Public Sources of Information—Federal, State and Local • Private Sources of Information

9. Student Performance Evaluation(Grading)

10. Required Text • Stephen P. Parsons, Interviewing and Investigating: Essential Skills for the Paralegal, 3rd Ed., Aspen Publishing (2007)

11. Website • URL – http://home.comcast.net/~rnhauck • Contains: • Course Syllabus • All lecture slides • All exercises, assignments and handouts • Links to supplemental readings and other useful websites • Course Reference Materials (e.g., FRCP, FRE, FOIA, etc.) • Links to free download sites for MSWord viewer, PowerPoint viewer, Adobe Acrobat viewer (required to view files) • Contact link for sending e-mail to me • Students are responsible for printing and/or downloading any and all necessary course materials.

12. Introductory Exercise • Purposes: • Introduce us to one another • Select groups for subsequent In-class Interviewing Exercises • Introduce some basic interviewing and investigation concepts • Instructions: • Refer to handout attached to Course Syllabus

13. End of Introduction to The Course