COURSE DESCRIPTION 2012 2013

Massachusetts Practice - Summer 2012

Prof. Marc G. Perlin,

2 credits day; 2 credits evening.

This course deals with civil practice and procedure in the Massachusetts state courts. Primary emphasis is on the Massachusetts Superior Court and District Court, with some discussion of the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court. The course focuses on subject matter jurisdiction of the Massachusetts courts, personal jurisdiction, commencement of actions, service of process, use of attachment and trustee process to secure assets, responsive pleadings, discovery, pre-trial methods to terminate litigation, judgments, and methods to enforce judgments. Particular emphasis is placed on the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure. The course will be of interest to students who intend to practice on the civil side in Massachusetts courts and to students who intend to take the Massachusetts bar examination. The course syllabus, consisting of references to rules, statutes, and cases that are relevant to Massachusetts civil practice, will be available to students on Blackboard, together with direct electronic links to Westlaw for all of the rules, statutes, and cases. The course will include an overview of how Massachusetts Practice is tested on the essay portion of the Massachusetts bar examination. Students will have an opportunity to review past essay questions from the Massachusetts bar examination that deal with Massachusetts Practice. There will be a closed-book final examination.

Elective Course

Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements

Recommended for the Mass Bar

Final Exam Required

Massachusetts Practice Seminar

Mr. Serge Georges,

2 credits day; 2 credits evening.

The course deals with Massachusetts practice at both trial and appellate levels and among a variety of topics covers the following: jurisdiction of the various courts; venue; commencement of action; service of summonses; trustee process; action to reach and apply; arrest; supplementary process parties; complaints; motions to dismiss; answers; amendments; counterclaims; interrogatories; request for admission; production of documents and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes, and termination of litigation prior to trial.

Enrollment is limited: 24

Elective Course

Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements

Take Home Exam Required