NCJ Number
141707
Journal
Crime Laboratory Digest Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1992) Pages: 103- 106
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The American Bar Association has proposed that law schools teach litigation skills, provide smaller classes, and offer more cooperative law student work in order to give law students a broader understanding of the forensic sciences.
Abstract
Lawyers need to understand new technologies including DNA fingerprinting and must be able to ascertain that laboratories and law enforcement personnel do not violate suspects' personal liberties. However, law students are not generally well versed in science at the undergraduate level and only 21 law schools offer science evidence courses. On the other hand, several journals cover various law and science topics and some law schools have established special centers for law and science research. Law schools should create a science-based curriculum similar to the Scientific Evidence Workshop offered at Nova University. This workshop includes lectures by forensic experts in different areas and allows students to participate in many practical exercises including processing a staged crime scene, deposing a medical examiner, arguing a motion in limine, and conducting the direct and cross- examination of an expert witness. This workshop is taught with the support and cooperation of the local forensic science community. 3 figures and 15 notes