Loyola Law School: Technology is Nine Points of the Law
Educating future lawyers isn’t what it used to be. Technology in the
courtroom is becoming the standard for legal proceedings and Loyola’s
new $10 million Albert H. Girardi Advocacy Center is a prime example of how
law schools are preparing their students for the future of litigation. Hoffman
Video Systems, a Los Angeles-based A/V systems integration company, designed,
built, and installed $1.3 million in sophisticated audio/video equipment in
10 rooms within the Advocacy Center.
High-Tech Courtrooms
Two trial advocacy classrooms were designed to simulate modern courtrooms, each
with a Judges’ bench seating up to three judges, counsel tables, a jury
box, witness stand, and a gallery. With the technology of a wired control touch
panel, the judges have the ability to direct and communicate with the parties
involved without allowing the jury to see the information until it has been
deemed admissible.
Jurors have 15-inch LCD panels in the jury box. A portable 50-inch plasma screen,
and two rear projection screens are utilized for audience and counsel display.
The movable lectern is equipped with a 15-inch LCD panel, a networked PC with
keyboard and mouse, fixed gooseneck microphone, and a 10-inch control panel
minimizing—if not eliminating—the need for trips back and forth
to the counsel table. All of this high-tech A/V equipment enables each participant
and observer of the mock trials or lectures to view data simultaneously and
instantly.
The jury room accommodates twelve individuals at a fixed conference table. Hoffman
equipped the room for computer and video display in single-image format with
one wall-mount 50-inch plasma and a Smart-touch screen overlay, giving the jurors
the ability to make notations directly onto the screen.
The Ethical Lawyering classroom accommodates 32 students in a classroom configuration
with fixed desks. The room has two ceiling-mount projectors that project onto
two wall-mounted Smart Boards, allowing the instructor to focus on specific
parts of a document on a large screen display device. The instructor’s
workstation has the capability for audio reproduction and remote control of
video cameras.
- Loyola Law School’s Girardi Advocacy
Center incorporates high-tech A/V.
- Miami-Dade Community College students train
for the future with the latest technology.
- Oregon University System offers a more complete
educational experience for all students with interactive video communications.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison involves
the campus community for success in IT implementations.
Control Capabilities
Hoffman designed the control room to be managed by one or two individuals, however
there is enough room for four if needed. A joystick on the console operates
the remote camera control for all classrooms. The operator has a master recording
system, production switcher, and a 32-input mixing board connected to all the
microphones, as well as a master intercom system. Mock trial proceedings, mediations
and negotiations, and classroom lessons can be recorded for further study and
dissection at a later date.
Karl Manheim, a law school faculty member says "Judges will need the ability
to control audio and video routing, while facilitating the sharing of data and
evidence among attorneys, witnesses, and jurors. The courtroom of the 21st century
is an electronic one. Digital evidence, remote witnesses, and sophisticated
document management systems are becoming commonplace. The face of the courtroom
is changing and Loyola Law School is at the center of change with the innovative
technology of the Albert H. Girardi Advocacy Center."
About the Author
Karl Manheim is a professor at Loyola Law School.