Professor John Sonsteng is leading a course over the next four weeks comparing the criminal law advocacy systems in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey—and he’s inviting lawyers, judges, and students to participate.
The free class–called a “Practical Exercise on Lawyering Skills”– is offered on Zoom, from 11:30 am-1:30 pm Central time, the next four Thursdays: Feb. 11, 18, and 25; and March 4. There was an initial class Feb. 4, but Sonsteng says the material is set up so that people don’t have to attend the entire series and can drop in as their schedule allows. In addition, the sessions are being recorded and may be viewed later.
The goal is to “connect a global community of lawyers, leaders, and students,” Sonsteng said, “to learn from each other how to better represent our clients.”
Sonsteng said he plans to pursue CLE credits for the course.
Lawyers perform essentially the same functions in every country, Sonsteng said, but the education, certification, career path, and other particulars vary in interesting ways.
The class on Feb. 4, for example, began with a detailed explanation from London barrister Monali Raleraskar about the educational path young people in the United Kingdom follow to become barristers or solicitors, the differences in jury selection, and other key points of distinction.
Week 2 will feature a discussion of rules and cover final arguments and opening statements. Session 3 is about direct examination, and Session 4 covers cross-examination. The series culminates in Week 5 with a jury trial.
The program is sponsored by Mitchell Hamline’s Center for Law and Business as well as the Institute for Global Understanding of Rule of Law at Bahceshir University in Istanbul, Turkey, which Sonsteng helped found.
To register, please fill out this form .