Course Listing

Pre-trial Advocacy in Civil Litigation
Last Updated Date:   4 July 2025


5 Units,  Semester 1

Course Description:
Without competent pre-trial work, one's case at trial will be prejudiced or worse, one's client may be deprived of a trial. There are two main components of this course: knowledge of civil procedure and the Rules of Court 2021, and oral advocacy; both aspects are focused on pre-trial matters and applications. The course will cover selected areas of procedural law, sufficient to enable the student to argue pre-trial applications in these areas in a real life and ethical manner. The skills-based aspect of learning is also found in the practical oral advocacy training in arguing pre-trial applications (for example, a summary judgment application).

Course Outline:
Seminar 1 - Introduction and administration. Overview of civil action and pre-trial applications
Seminar 2 - Setting aside default judgments
Seminar 3 - Considerations in pre-trial work and oral advocacy. Advocacy component- oral submissions
Seminar 4 - Applications for setting aside service, stay of proceedings and security for costs. Advocacy component- written submissions
Seminar 5 - Applications for summary judgment and striking out
Seminar 6 - Practice class 1
Seminar 7 - Injunctions and search orders
Seminar 8 - Case management
Seminar 9 - Production of documents
Seminar 10 - Costs in civil litigation
Seminar 11 - Practice class 2
Seminar 12 - Preparation for final oral/written examination
Seminar 13 - Final oral examination
*Order of seminars is subject to change

Course Convenor: Adjunct Prof Foo Chee Hock, S.C.

Co-teacher(s): Adjunct A/P Vincent Leow

Course Codes: LL4539V / LL5539V / LL6539V / LLJ5539V

Contact Hours: 3-hr weekly seminar [Thu, 6.30 - 9.30pm]

Workload: 3 hours

Mode of Assessment: Final Oral Advocacy Examination - 50% [Thu, 13 Nov 2025 (6.30 - 9.30pm] & Final Exam - 50%

Preclusions: Not open to students:
(i) who are, or have been, legal practitioners or who have worked professionally in any legal field;
(ii) who have done the course, LL4011V/LL5011V/LLJ5011V/LL6011V Reform of Civil Procedure

Prerequisites: NUS Compulsory Core Law Curriculum or common law equivalent.

For Exchange/Graduate students: Students must have studied all the core subjects in a Common Law curriculum.

Examination Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 (AM)

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