Mary C. Connaughton

Mary C. Connaughton

Professor of Law Emerita


BA magna cum laude, Brandeis University
MSW, Smith College School for Social Work
JD, New York University


Biography

Mary Connaughton, a clinical faculty member in the Civil Litigation & Justice Program since 1993, teaches courses in lawyering skills, trial advocacy, and evidence law. She also supervises students in administrative, state and federal court hearings in social security disability, unemployment compensation, divorce and housing disputes.

Activities & Engagements

No upcoming activities or engagements.

Courses

Civil Litigation and Justice Program (C): LAW JD 861

3 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Civil Litigation and Justice Program. Student in the Civil Litigation and Justice Program handle their own caseloads, representing indigent clients in civil cases under the supervision of clinical faculty. Students may participate in the Program for either a full year (the Individual Rights Litigation Clinic (IRL) or Access to Justice Clinic (A2J)) or for one semester (the Employment Rights Clinic (ERC)). Students participating in IRL or A2J work on cases in areas such as domestic relations, eviction defense, employment law and Social Security appeals. Students in the ERC represent clients in unemployment compensation cases, with a possibility of working on wage and hour disputes, discrimination/sexual harassment cases, and Family Medical Leave Act cases. PRE/CO-REQUISITES: Evidence. NOTE: The Civil Litigation and Justice Program counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2023: LAW JD 861 A1 , Sep 5th to Dec 7th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth
FALL 2023: LAW JD 861 B1 , Sep 5th to Dec 7th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth
FALL 2023: LAW JD 861 C1 , Sep 5th to Dec 7th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Naomi M. MannJade Brown
SPRG 2024: LAW JD 861 A1 , Jan 16th to Apr 24th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth
SPRG 2024: LAW JD 861 B2 , Jan 16th to Apr 24th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth
SPRG 2024: LAW JD 861 C1 , Jan 16th to Apr 24th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 3 Naomi M. MannJade Brown

Civil Litigation and Justice Program: Pretrial Advocacy/Pro Resp.: LAW JD 973

3 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Civil Litigation and Justice Program. Pretrial Advocacy is the companion fall classroom component for students in the Civil Litigation and Justice Program IRL and fall ERC clinics. Pretrial Advocacy is taught in groups of roughly 14 students with two clinical professors per group. Classes are devoted to learning the theories of practice for use in the field, reinforced by activities and simulations in which students practice skills through role play. NOTE: Students who enroll in this component of the clinic may count the credits towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement or the Professional Responsibility requirement. It may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2023: LAW JD 973 A1 , Sep 5th to Dec 5th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 4:30 pm 7:30 pm 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth LAW 418
FALL 2023: LAW JD 973 B1 , Sep 5th to Dec 5th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 4:30 pm 7:30 pm 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth LAW 418

Civil Litigation and Justice Program: Trial Advocacy: LAW JD 974

3 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Civil Litigation and Justice Program. Trial Advocacy is the companion spring classroom component for students in the Civil Litigation and Justice Program IRL and spring ERC clinics. Trial Advocacy is taught in groups of roughly 14 students with two clinical professors per group. Classes are devoted to learning the theories of practice for use in the field, reinforced by activities and simulations in which students practice skills through role play. NOTE: This course does not count towards the Professional Responsibility requirement. NOTE: This course counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

SPRG 2024: LAW JD 974 A1 , Jan 16th to Apr 23rd 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth LAW 416
SPRG 2024: LAW JD 974 B1 , Jan 16th to Apr 23rd 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 3 Constance A. BrowneMadeline H. Meth LAW 419

Evidence: LAW JD 831

4 credits

Lawson/Donweber: Practical and theoretical aspects of the rules of evidence. The purpose and policies underlying the evidentiary rules are stressed throughout in order to make the rules meaningful, predictable, and functional both for students interested in trial practice and for students who anticipate engaging in a more diversified practice. In addition to covering the substantive rules of evidence, the course demonstrates the significance of evidence as a tactical device at the trial and as a vital skill for the office lawyer. Okidegbe: Evidence law is a system of rules and standards that regulates proof of facts in adjudication. This course will examine the rules of Evidence Law with a focus on the Federal Rules of Evidence. It will utilize a problem-based approach to learning evidentiary concepts and standards. The topics covered by this course include relevance, character evidence, impeachment, competency of witnesses, the hearsay rule, opinion evidence, and other central subjects. Assessment for the course will be based upon a final examination.

FALL 2023: LAW JD 831 A1 , Sep 6th to Dec 6th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Gary S. Lawson LAW 103
FALL 2023: LAW JD 831 B1 , Sep 5th to Dec 7th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Gary S. Lawson LAW 605
SPRG 2024: LAW JD 831 D1 , Jan 17th to Apr 24th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:45 am 12:45 pm 4 Stephen M. Donweber LAW 103

Semester-in-Practice: Fieldwork (C): LAW JD 739

10 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have received permission from the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office to enroll. This course is the fieldwork component of the Semester-in-Practice Program. Students spend a semester working full-time for credit in non-profits, government agencies, courts, private companies, or law firms. Placements may be paid or unpaid. Students may find their own placements that must be approved by the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office, or the Office has resources to help students identify and apply to suitable field placements based on their interests and career goals. NOTE: Students who enroll in the Semester-in-Practice Program may count the credits towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Seminar (JD 740).

FALL 2023: LAW JD 739 A1 , Sep 5th to Dec 7th 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR TBD TBD 10 Staff

Semester-in-Practice: Seminar: LAW JD 740

2 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have received permission from the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office to enroll. This course is the seminar component of the Semester-in-Practice Program. Students will take the course online or on campus course (depending on the location of their placement). Topics covered in class will include legal ethics and professional responsibility, professional development, access to justice, cross-cultural lawyering, and the changing role of the legal professional. Students will have weekly readings and be expected to write weekly reflective memoranda. They will also give a presentation and prepare a final 10-12 page paper. NOTE: Students enrolled in this course may count the credits towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. COREQUISITE: Semester-in-Practice: Fieldwork (JD 739).

FALL 2023: LAW JD 740 A1 , Sep 8th to Dec 1st 2023
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Fri 11:30 am 1:30 pm 2 Kate Devlin Joyce