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Introduction to Evidence is a Course

Introduction to Evidence

Time limit: 90 days

$50 Enroll

Full course description

Course Description

U.S. judges use rules of evidence to control the flow of information that a jury is allowed to hear. Evidentiary rules seek to balance access to relevant information with a desire to avoid evidence that is unreliable, inflammatory, or repetitive. This course will explore the reasons for Rules of Evidence and cover some of the major topics, including relevance and hearsay.

The video presentation offers selected vignettes that trigger the questions needing to be addressed. Participants will have the opportunity to choose a correct response from a menu of multiple-choice answers to the questions posed, and the program and the faculty narrator will explain the correct—or the best available—response. The course relies on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will understand how the Federal Rules of Evidence relate to each other in creating a coordinated system to guide judicial discretion in conducting a trial.
  • Participants will be able to differentiate when facts may be proven at trial, how those facts may be proven at trial, and what inferences the jury may be allowed to draw from those facts.
  • Participants will develop the perspective of an advocate in the adversarial system by understanding the necessity and proper timing of evidentiary objections, and the need for and manner of preserving the record for appeal.

Estimated Time to Complete

2 Hours

Instructions for Successful Completion

Participants have 90 days to complete the course online after registration. To successfully complete the course and receive a certificate, participants must 1) read the Learning Objectives; 2) participate in the course; and 3) complete the course evaluation at the end of the course. After successfully completing the evaluation participants will be able to access their certificate of course completion.

You must be at least 18 years old to participate in the Insights courses. All sales are final; we are not able to offer refunds. Registrations may not be transferred to another person or to another course, workshop, or program.

Course Instructor

Jeffrey M. Cohen
Assistant Professor of the Practice
Boston College Law School

Read instructor bio