American Trial Advocacy – Recruitment Open for Exceptional Workshops with an American Trial Lawyer
Students of our Faculty, including those participating in exchange programmes and Erasmus+, are invited to apply for an exceptional series of workshops entitled American Trial Advocacy, led by Professor Steve Oberman – an American trial lawyer with extensive professional experience and a distinguished record of academic teaching.
The workshops offer a rare opportunity to gain insight into the practical dimension of American trial advocacy, while at the same time developing skills valuable in every legal career: public speaking, legal argumentation, analysis of facts and law, witness examination, and the presentation of legal positions in court. The course will be conducted in a practical, workshop-based format. Participants will not only become familiar with the basic elements of American courtroom procedure, but will also take part in exercises and mock trial simulations.
The offer is addressed to all interested students of our Faculty, regardless of their degree programme. No prior experience is required. The workshops are designed as an accessible and engaging introduction to legal practice in an international academic environment. Participation is free of charge.
The number of places is strictly limited. The basic group will consist of approximately 10 students, and admission will therefore be decided on a first come, first served basis. In the event of greater interest, Professor Oberman has declared that he will try to open an additional group; however, the total number of participants will not exceed 20 students. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged.
At the same time, we kindly ask that applications be submitted primarily by students who are fully committed to participating in the entire series of workshops, so as not to deprive genuinely motivated candidates of the opportunity to take part.
Recruitment will remain open until Wednesday, 18 March, 12:00 noon, or until all places have been filled, whichever comes first.
Applications should be sent to the Vice-Dean for International Cooperation and Development at: marcin.wiszowaty@prawo.ug.edu.pl
Please include the following information in your message: full name, year of study, degree programme, and student number.
The schedule of classes – including the days and hours of meetings – will be arranged after the recruitment process has been completed, in such a way as, insofar as possible, to avoid conflicts with other classes and to enable all admitted students to participate.
Below we publish an invitation from the course instructor, Professor Steve Oberman.
Invitation to Participate in American Trial Advocacy
Dear Students,
I am truly honoured to have been invited to teach at the Faculty of Law of the University of Gdańsk. I very much look forward to introducing you to American trial techniques. I realise that taking a course from a foreign professor on foreign laws and procedures may seem intimidating, so I would like to share a few words about myself and about the course I will be teaching.
About me
Please allow me first to introduce myself. My name is Steve Oberman. I have been a trial lawyer in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the south-eastern United States, since 1980. Although most of my work has been in criminal defence, with a particular concentration on representing defendants charged with Driving Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, I have represented clients in cases ranging from speeding offences to murder. I have also represented business corporations, persons injured in accidents, clients in medical malpractice matters, and parties in other areas of civil law.
I have been an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law since 1993. At this stage of my career, I decided to allow the other lawyers in my firm to take charge for a few months while I embark on this adventure in Poland. My wife of 48 years is, of course, accompanying me during my stay in Gdańsk.
I could simply have taken a long holiday, but I love teaching. I am genuinely looking forward to meeting you and to learning as much from you as you will, I hope, learn from me. In 2019, I taught at the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia; in 2023, at the Faculty of Law of Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest; in 2024, at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana; and in 2025, at the Faculty of Law of Charles III University of Madrid. My students and I found each of these experiences both enjoyable and educational.
My teaching philosophy is low-pressure: I believe that people learn much better in an atmosphere that is both interesting and enjoyable. I therefore hope that you will find these classes not only informative, but genuinely engaging.
Let me now say a few words about the course itself.
About American Trial Advocacy
How American Trials Work – and How You Will Try Them as Well
The American Trial Advocacy course is intended for students who wish to gain a better understanding of the rules and procedures used in trying a case in the United States. These are quite different from what one sees on YouTube, television, or in films. By the end of the semester, you will be able actually to try the attempted murder case that we will have studied throughout the course. The facts are loosely based on a real criminal case that I defended a few years ago.
The course will have two components. The first will consist of lecture-style classes, during which I will introduce you to the various phases of a trial, such as opening statements, direct examination of a witness, cross-examination, and other key elements of courtroom advocacy.
The second component will allow students to perform each of these trial techniques themselves several days later, giving you time to prepare. During class, students will take turns role-playing as witnesses and trial lawyers. Each student will perform each week. I anticipate that students will spend approximately one to two hours per week preparing for class.
Please do not worry, however. I do not expect students to excel in these skills at the beginning of the semester. In fact, I do not expect you to understand them fully before you have had the opportunity to learn them.
My goals are to help you develop your public speaking skills, to teach you the basic theories of persuasion, and to introduce you to some of the universal rules of evidence and procedure in American courts. I believe that these skills will prove useful regardless of the type of law you ultimately practise or where you practise it. Even if you do not plan to become a trial lawyer, you will benefit from a better understanding of how disputes are resolved in the courtroom. At the very least, this course will strengthen your confidence in analysing facts and law, questioning witnesses, and arguing legal issues.
I would be honoured to have you enrol in my class. However, even if your schedule does not permit you to do so, please feel free to stop by my office or classroom simply to introduce yourself.
Course Details
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Enrollment will be limited, so please apply early. This is necessary because of the time required for active student participation during class.
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The class will meet twice a week, and each meeting will last approximately 90 minutes.
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You will not need to purchase any books or study materials. I will provide everything you need at no cost.
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Topics covered will include opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, closing arguments, the use of PowerPoint in trial, and trial preparation.
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There will be no tests and no grades. As long as you participate actively, you will receive, at the conclusion of the course, a Certificate of Proficiency confirming your basic understanding of American Trial Advocacy.
I very much look forward to meeting you soon!
Professor Steve Oberman
