OLE Facts
U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for United States
Attorneys
Office of Legal Education
The Office of Legal Education (OLE) develops, conducts, and authorizes the training of all Federal legal personnel [28 C.F.R. 0.22 (1990)]. OLE coordinates legal education and attorney training for the Department of Justice and other departments and agencies of the Executive Branch. Continuing legal education credit is provided through OLE for all OLE sponsored courses.
OLE is the primary vehicle for providing instruction to Department of Justice attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys from the 94 United States Attorneys' offices. Basic programs for newly hired attorneys include: criminal, civil, and asset forfeiture advocacy; appellate courses; Federal practice seminars; and specialty courses in priority substantive areas of the law. Advocacy skill's programs are available to new and advanced trial attorneys. The Federal Practice Program is designed for attorneys with litigation experience who are new to the Federal legal system (e.g., former state and military prosecutors), and as continuation training for Department attorneys after the basic criminal, civil, and appellate advocacy courses.
OLE uses experienced Federal trial and appellate attorneys as instructors for all its programs to present lectures, lead discussion groups, direct evidentiary exercises, and offer personalized critiques. Federal judges also participate at OLE's advocacy courses, presiding over mock trials and mock appellate arguments. The caliber of the OLE faculty and the use of sophisticated videotaping facilities provide students with unique training experiences in trial and appellate advocacy. A significant feature of the advocacy training is the use of "learn-by-doing" exercises which concentrate on courtroom skills. The exercises simulate courtroom activities and provide students with classroom critiques and individual video replay analysis.
Finally, the large number of attorneys in the United States Attorneys' offices has resulted in a high demand for attorney management training for senior criminal and civil attorneys. OLE has tried to meet that challenge by providing management courses for attorney supervisors of all levels.
OLE conducts programs on Federal civil and administrative law and practices for attorneys in the Executive Branch, including those in the Department of Justice. OLE offers training in civil discovery and trial techniques; negotiation techniques; and administrative law areas such as bankruptcy, the Freedom of Information Act, ethics, environmental law, Federal employment, regulatory processes, government contracts, legal research and writing for attorneys, management of attorneys, and computer law. Administrative and evidentiary trial skills for agency attorneys are also patterned on the "learn-by-doing" method. Course instruction emphasizes the realities of Federal practice. Federal attorneys from every agency, including the Department of Justice, are participants as well as advisors, curriculum developers, lecturers, and instructors. OLE also contracts with professional educators as instructors for these courses.
Finally, OLE develops and administers paralegal courses covering basic and advanced skills in both civil and criminal law. These courses are offered to personnel of United States Attorneys' offices, the Department of Justice, and agencies in the Executive Branch. Support staff training for personnel in United States Attorneys' offices is provided through OLE, which develops the curricula, recruits instructors, and assists local offices with administering the courses.
Modified: September 30, 2010