Law on Video: Selected Resources

by Brenda Jones, Reference Librarian
This information was taken from the Feb., 2000 issue of the Check It Out newsletter

Using videos in the Law Library’s collection, law students can learn effective trial skills from such outstanding speakers as Irving Younger and James McElhaney.  Ask at the Circulation Desk for any of the following videos.

Basic Concepts in the Law of Evidence with Irving Younger.
Produced by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1975.  Available in both video and audio cassettes, this fifteen-tape series offers a thorough review of the basic principles of evidence.  Lectures are by Irving Younger, noted trial lawyer, judge, and law professor.  Accompanying the tapes is a print outline, Basic Concepts in
the Law of Evidence, by  Robert E. Oliphant.  The outline is in the Reference section on the first floor at call number KF8935/.O456/-1982.  Titles (with internal Video Tape number) include:

INTRODUCTION TO EVIDENCE VT-44

BASIC CONCEPTS OF EVIDENCE VT-45

FAILURE OF RECOLLECTION, BEST EVIDENCE RULE, PERCEPTION VT-46

EXPERT WITNESSES, CROSS EXAMINATION AND IMPEACHMENT I VT-47

CROSS EXAMINATION AND IMPEACHMENT II, REHABILITATION I VT-48

REHABILITATION II, CHARACTER AS A DEFENSE VT-49

HEARSAY (PARTS 1, 2, 3, AND 4) VT-50, VT-51, VT-52, & VT-53

BURDENS OF PROOF AND PRESUMPTIONS VT-54

HEARSAY AND THE RIGHT TO CONFRONTATION VT-55 &
VT-56

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CROSS EXAMINATION
VT-57

HEARSAY UPDATE by Faust Rossi (1980) VT-58

Mastering the Art of Cross Examination with Irving Younger.
Produced by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1987.  Co-produced by the American Bar Association, this eleven-tape series teaches students how to cross examine effectively.  The series is organized by type of witness.  Each program includes a lecture by Professor Younger, demonstrations by leading litigators, and discussions of techniques, theories, and strategies.  Print handbooks accompany the series.  Check the stacks on the library’s second floor for Mastering the Art of Cross Examination: Problems (KF8920/.M37) and Mastering the Art of Cross Examination: Program Planners’ Guide and Teacher’s Manual (KF8920./M372).  The manual transcribes all tapes.  Titles include:

CROSS EXAMINING THE WELL-PREPARED WITNESS VT-59

CROSS EXAMINING THE SYMPATHETIC WITNESS VT-60

CROSS EXAMINING THE HOSTILE WITNESS VT-61

CROSS EXAMINING THE BIASED WITNESS VT-62

CROSS EXAMINING THE  EYEWITNESS VT-63

CROSS EXAMINING THE CHILD WITNESS VT-64

CROSS EXAMINING THE WITNESS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX VT-65

CROSS EXAMINING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITNESS VT-66

CROSS EXAMINING THE EXPERT MEDICAL WITNESS VT-67

CROSS EXAMINING THE EXPERT ACCOUNTANT VT-68

CROSS EXAMINING THE EXPERT ATTORNEY WITNESS VT-69

Trial Demonstration Series: Direct and Cross Examination.
Produced by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1975 - 1979.  This eight-tape series shows effective direct and cross examination skills.  Most of the trial settings are criminal cases though some are civil.  Some tapes are narrated; others are not.  All, however, give law students the chance to observe trial techniques of experienced and skilled litigators.  Topics include:

DIRECT & COMPARATIVE CROSS OF DEFENDANT IN A CIVIL CASE VT-70

DIRECT & CROSS EXAMINATION OF A WITNESS IN A CRIMINAL CASE VT-71

DIRECT & CROSS  EXAMINATION OF A PARTY IN A CIVIL CASE VT-72

DIRECT & CROSS OF A RAPE VICTIM IN A CRIMINAL CASE VT-73

COMPARATIVE CROSS OF A RAPE VICTIM IN A CRIMINAL CASE VT-74

DIRECT & COMPARATIVE CROSS EXAMINATION OF A MAJOR PROSECUTION WITNESS IN A FEDERAL NARCOTICS CASE VT-75

DIRECT & CROSS EXAMINATION OF DEFENDANT IN CRIMINAL CASE VT-76

COMPARATIVE CROSS OF A WITNESS IN A CRIMINAL CASE VT-77

The Essence of Advocacy featuring James W. McElhaney.
Produced by Professional Education Group, 1993.  Professor McElhaney is the author of the popular guide McElhaney’s Trial Notebook, 3d ed. (KF8915/.Z9/M25/1994 - Reference and Reserve).  In his master advocate series, Professor McElhaney illustrates the principles of advocacy with concrete examples drawn from cases.  He demonstrates both effective and ineffective techniques for persuading jurors throughout opening statement, direct and cross examination, and final argument.

THE ESSENCE OF ADVOCACY VT-92 AND VT-93

Gerry Spence in Trial.  Produced by Gerry Spence, 1997.   Sometimes call the "John Wayne of the courtroom," Gerry Spence is a Wyoming lawyer widely regarded as a skilled litigator.  His high profile clients include Imelda Marcos, Randy Weaver, and the family of Karen Silkwood.  In the tapes, Mr. Spence demonstrates effective trial skills.

HOW TO WIN IN CROSS EXAMINATION VT-105 & VT-106

HOW TO WIN IN VOIR DIRE VT-107 & VT-108

HOW TO WIN IN OPENING STATEMENT VT-109, VT-110, VT-111 & VT-112

Visions of Excellence.  Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, 1994.   This twelve-tape library records programs presented by various American Inns of Court.  Based in the British model, the American Inns of Court are professional organizations designed to improve the skills of the bench and bar.  Typically, the programs cover trial practice techniques with an ethical component.  Titles in the series, along with a brief description of topics covered in each, include:

THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE VT-121
     (Fact pattern interpretations; direct and cross examination; summary arguments)

PREPARING AND TAKING DEPOSITIONS VT-122
     (Conflict of interest; ethics of witness preparation; undue influences)

COMPUTER-ENHANCED LITIGATION VT-123
     (Introducing computer-generated evidence; opposing demonstrative evidence)

PERSONA NON GRATA, OR AM I MY SIBLING'S KEEPER? VT-124
     (Substance abuse among members of the bench and bar; ethical considerations)

MEET THE PRESS: LAWYERS, JUDGES, ETHICS AND NEW MEDIA VT-125
     (Ethics of media influences especially on high profile criminal cases)

JUDGE BAITING, ERROR CREATING AND ETHICAL CONUNDRUMS VT-126
     (Code of Ethics; limits of zealous representation; judicial recusal)

TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM VT-127
     (Use and relevancy of videos, animation and graphics in court)

MEDIATION VT-128
     (Process, structure and ethics of mediation)

PREPARATION, DIRECT & CROSS OF A DIFFICULT WITNESS VT-129
     (Handling difficult clients or witnesses in the courtroom)

EFFECTIVE JURY SELECTION TECHNIQUES VT-130
     (Ethics of jury selection; sexual bias; peremptory challenges)

SEX, DISCOVERY AND UNCLE SAM VT-131
     (Sexual harassment in the workplace; ethics of government privilege)

LIES, DELUSIONS AND TREACHERY VT-132
     (Potentially violent clients; ethics and the lying client; withdrawal as counsel)

Besides the series mentioned above, the Law Library offers videos in the following categories:

Ethics

SOLICITATION: A PANEL DISCUSSION VT-31

JUDICIAL ETHICS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE VT-78 AND VT-79

THE TRIAL OF THE MODERN LAWYER VT-84

ADVENTURES IN LEGAL ETHICS VT-86

A DECADE OF HARD CHOICES VT-87

DOING THE RIGHT THING VT-88

DINNER AT SHARSWOOD'S CAFÉ VT-103

ETHICS ON TRIAL VT-104

SOB (STUBBORN, OBNOXIOUS, BOORISH LITIGATOR) VIGNETTES VT-119

(See also VISIONS OF EXCELLENCE above)

Crime or Forensics

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA VT-101

FRAMINGHAM EIGHT: THE WOMEN WHO FOUGHT BACK VT-142

THE WILSON MURDER: FORENSIC EXPERTS AT ODDS VT-143

THE MIND OF A MURDERER VT-144 AND VT-145

BITTER POTION: PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING VT-146

BROKEN BOND: MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY VT-147

Patrons may view video cassettes in the library’s multimedia room any time a librarian is on duty.  Groups of two to six law students may borrow a TV and VCR for use in a conference room.  Except for master copies or tapes on three-hour reserve, law students may take videos out of the library for twenty-four hours.

The titles mentioned above are selected from our audiovisual collection of almost one hundred videos, and many audio tapes. Moreover, law students can practice trial skills using the interactive courtroom series on CD-ROM or laser disk.  To scan holdings, run a search on the Samford Libraries Catalog for call number “audiovisual” or look at the list in the Reserve Notebook at the Circulation Desk.