New York Practice

Knowledge and strategic use of rules governing civil procedure are essential for any attorney to be successful. This course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) governing New York Supreme Court Practice. The class will roughly follow the course of a civil matter as it moves through the court system, from the initiation of an action to the taking of an appeal. Topics covered include: personal jurisdiction; statute of limitations; service; pleadings; venue, third-party practice; provisional remedies; motion practice; discovery; and relief from judgments. We will also cover two articles of the CPLR often relied on by counsel representing disadvantaged clients; Article 78 (challenging administrative actions) and Article 4 (governing actions under the RPAPL). The final grade will be based on low stakes, in class, quizzes, drafting projects, a final exam and class participation.