Kim Diana Connolly
Associate Professor of Law
Department of Clinical Legal Studies
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Contact Information
Room 131 (Clinic)
Room 306 (Faculty)
USC School of Law
701 Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
v 803-777-6880
f 803-777-3401
connolly@sc.edu
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Courses
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC, LAWS 805 (3 Hours) Environmental Law Clinic(ELC) students study aspects of environmental law by addressing real environmental situations in South Carolina. Under a professor's supervision, ELC students function as student attorneys, with environmental organizations or community groups as clients. Students are responsible for all aspects of representation, which may include developing and maintaining contacts with clients; investigating and developing facts; identifying,interviewing, and preparing the necessary witnesses; analyzing the legal issues; counseling clients; drafting documents; negotiating and/or presenting the project/case. The clinic is also specifically designed to give students the opportunity to improve problem-solving abilities; apply and expand collaboration/teamwork skills; explore and apply professionalism-in-action; and reflect on the process of becoming an attorney.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY SEMINAR, LAWS 804 (3 Hours) This course explores and develops practical advocacy skills in the area of environmental representation. Topics include: case planning; administrative, legislative, and litigation practice; policy development; settlement; negotiation; remedies;ethical considerations and effective communication between lawyers and environmental scientists, engineers, and other professionals. In order to facilitate meaningful learning regarding all aspects of advocacy, the course relies heavily on simulations, guest lectures from lawyers and non-lawyers, and collaborative work. This course is required for students participating in the Environmental Law Clinic, but is open to non-clinical law students as well as graduate students from other schools in the University's School of the Environment.
INTERVIEWING, COUNSELING, AND NEGOTIATION, LAWS 771 (3 hours) Interviewing,Counseling, and Negotiation provides an introduction to these skills in a variety of legal contexts. The course is designed to provide basic professional skills instruction ina larger enrollment setting than traditionally has been possible. Emphasis is placed on helping students improve those skills which are essential to accomplish these tasks competently, particularly problem-solving skills. The methodologies employed include classroom discussions, out-of-class assignments involving written exercises,and self-critiqued student performances in lawyering roles. Students receive letter grades based on a final exam and term assignments.
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY,LAWS 816 (1 hour) Intensive one-credit course on certain basics of environmental law and policy. The course will cover:relevant history of environmental law and policy; fundamental statutory, regulatory and case law as well as other authorities in the environmental field; an overview of the relevant federal agencies; and a case study.
LEGISLATION, LAWS 729 (2 hours) Legislation is a course that is normally team taught by Professor Elizabeth Patterson and an adjunct who is actively involved in the legislative process. This course examines state legislative process through discussion of written materials, simulation of forms of legal advocacy involved in the legislative process (including drafting), and presentations by persons knowledgeable about legislation and the legislative process. Among the issues addressed are the nature and history of legislative power, legislative process,legislative advocacy, drafting, interpretation, and ethics regulation. A number of these issues are explored in the context of specific studies of recent legislative enactments. Students receive letter grades based on their performances in a series of oral and written exercises.
PRETRIAL PRACTICE,LAWS 753 (3 hours) Pretrial Practice is offered in the fall and spring semesters. The objective of this course is to develop an analytical framework for converting legal theory into action at the pretrial stage. The course focuses on specific skills and techniques in interviewing,fact investigation, discovery, motion practice, counseling, and negotiation. These are considered both as individual skills and as they relate to each other and impact upon the overall development and implementation of a theory of the case. The course methodology includes readings, lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. The class is structured around a semester-long case simulation in which the students function as three-person law firms. Students also participate in out- of-class simulations that focus on various skills and receive constructive feedback on their performances. The course grade is based on the students' performance in simulations and class participation.
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