COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a first year course designed to introduce students to the Liberian Court System, highlighting the structure and hierarchy of the courts as well as the procedures by which civil actions are commenced, tried and finally decided. This course represents the one detailed study of the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia and various problems and questions of civil procedures in Liberia during the student’s legal study. The course concentrates on pre-trial, trial, post-trial, and appellate procedures including trial practice and techniques, motions and judgments by discussion of provisions of the Civil Procedures Law and also case laws. It is also designed to introduce students to certain underlying problems regarding jury and jurisdictional issues arising between and among the constitutional court, the statutory courts, the administrative courts or agencies, and customary trial courts. Civil Procedure is a prerequisite to Criminal Procedure, Constitutional law and Applied Legal Studies.