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Avoid Wrongful Conviction by Excluding Bad Evidence from Trial!

Master Evidence Law Without the Modern Law School Cost, Political Correctness, Critical Race Theory or "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity" Cultism!

Our Newest LIVE Semester-long Course:
Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice

<--  Watch our FULL first module for FREE now!
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Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice
SINGLE COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

  • Registration for the Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course taught Spring 2023
  • Taught Live Each Wednesday January 11 - April 12 @ 6 PM Eastern time
  • 14 Modules total + Optional Final Exam-Based Certification!

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

FULL 6 Course Bundle!
MULTI-COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments
of $999 (Save 67%!)

A HUGE Discount on the 6-course law bundle!  Registration is for 6 semester-long live law courses, including this one:

(click on the course name to learn more about each class)

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments of $999 (Save 67%!)

What’s In Store For You In This Course?

The mission of our Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course is to provide a thorough understanding of evidentiary law as it is taught in law school, but at a fraction of the time and cost of what law school costs today, and without the political correctness, critical race theory, or “diversity, inclusion, and equity” cultism that has so thoroughly infected modern law schools.  We just do law, as traditionally taught, period.

This course is taught by Attorney Andrew Esquire, and streamed directly to your computer, tablet, or smartphone, with each course module provided live each Wednesday at 6 PM Eastern time (and a recording of each module made available for those with scheduling conflicts).

Whether you're just fascinated by the law and want a deeper understanding of this fundamental right and how it is interpreted in our courts, or want to dip your toe into the world of legal education before committing yourself to 3 years of law school and perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, this class will give you a thorough legal understanding of the law as it relates to evidence as it is taught in 1L (first-year) law school.

Important: the Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course is not accredited by any academic organization, but does provide for a final exam-based certification issued by LOSD LLC.

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Meet Evidence Professor Ryan Belanger

Attorney Ryan Belanger was born and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida. After attending the University of Florida Law School, Attorney Belanger tried hundreds of jury trials while working in the Public Defenders office.

In 2011 Mr. Belanger opened his private practice, where he represented criminal defendants for about 5 years, trying many cases throughout the state of Florida.

Now Mr. Belanger finds himself again in the Public Defender's office, except this time writing appeals, and is excited to explore the law with you in his various courses at Law of Self Defense.

Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course Modules

Module 1: Intro to Evidence – objections, form and function
Module 2: Relevance and Rule 403: real-world trial examples
Module 3: Direct vs. circumstantial evidence: real-world trial examples
Module 4: Character evidence: Williams Rule: impeachment of witnesses
Module 5: Privileges: judicial notice
Module 6: Hearsay defined and explained
Module 7: Hearsay exceptions: Confrontation Clause
Module 8: Motions to Suppress: Exclusionary Rule
Module 9: Opinion testimony: experts
Module 10: Confessions and Statements against Interest
Module 11: 6th Amendment Issues: right to present a defense
Module 12: Authentication: Best Evidence Rule: real-world trial examples
Module 13: Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials: what did we learn
Module 14: Wrap-up with real-world trial examples and class discussion
Module 1:
Objections, Form & Function

In the first week's class we’ll go over course procedures and expectations for the course and final exam. We’ll then dive right into the basic rules of evidence, the various forms they may take and what functions they serve.

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Module 2:
Relevance and Rule 403

A jury should consider only evidence that is relevant in a trial--meaning, evidence that helps the jury answer the actual legal question before it.  Even relevant evidence might be properly excluded from a trial, however, if it appears to be unfairly prejudicial.  In this module we'll learn the fundamental evidentiary principles that determine when evidence is relevant and admissible, or irrelevant/prejudicial and inadmissible.

Module 3:
Direct vs. Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial evidence is often treated in movie and TV legal dramas as if it were somehow inherently weak.  In fact, circumstantial evidence is perfectly valid evidence, and is often stronger evidence than direct evidence such as eyewitness testimony. In this module we'll discuss direct and circumstantial evidence, and their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Module 4:
Character Evidence & The Williams Rule

A basic tenet of American law is that your guilt or liability should be based on the specific charges or claims made against you in a particular case, and not simply because you might be said to have a bad character generally.  Because of this, character evidence is generally inadmissible in court--unless, that is, it meets one of many exceptions to this general rule. In this module we learn why character evidence is frown upon, and under what circumstances it might nevertheless be admitted into court.

 Module 5:
Privileges: Judicial Notice

There are many types of communications that are inadmissible as evidence not because they aren't relevant in the trial, but because there are public policy reasons to make these privileged from a juries consideration--including attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, spousal privilege, and more. In this module we'll discuss the policy reasons for privilege, the types of privilege commonly encountered, and ways that privilege might be pierced.  We'll also discuss the concept of judicial notice, in which a court declares a claimed fact to be proven as true without requiring a showing of evidence to support that claim.

Module 6:
Hearsay

In this module we discuss the legal doctrine of hearsay, meaning an out-of-court statement that is offered as evidence in court for the purpose of the truth of the statement itself.  This commonly appears in the form of "gossip" type testimony, in which witness Susan is testifying about statements made to her outside the courtroom by her friend Karen. In this module we'll discuss the doctrine of hearsay and the reasons why hearsay is presumptively inadmissible as evidence.

Module 7:
Hearsay Exceptions

Although hearsay evidence is presumptively inadmissible in court, there are a great many ways in which this presumption might be overcome and the hearsay evidence nevertheless admitted.  In this module we will cover the exceptions to hearsay exclusion, including present sense impressions, excited utterances, statements made for medical care, records of a regularly conducted activity, and more.

Module 8:
Motions to Suppress

Naturally, each side in a legal dispute would like to be able to exclude, or suppress, the evidence being offered by the other party.  These arguments to exclude the other side's evidence generally take the form of motions (or requests) to the court to suppress evidence.  In this module we'll discuss the forms these motions to suppress typically take, and what they need to be successful.

Module 9:
Opinion testimony

A jury is supposed to consider only facts supported by evidence--the jury is not supposed to consider a witness's mere opinion. The exception is where the witness is qualified as an expert, in which case the jury may be permitted to consider that expert witness opinion. In this module we'll discuss why expert witness opinion may be admissible, and what is required for a witness to qualify as an expert for trial purposes.

Module 10:
Confessions and Statements against Interest

A confession in a criminal trial or a statement against interest in a civil trial is obviously a particularly damaging form of evidence.  Confessions, however, may be obtained wrongfully, and a statements against interest may have been made for reasons having nothing to do with having acted wrongfully. In such cases they should be properly excluded as evidence In this module we'll discuss both confessions and statements of interest, and their limits.

Module 11:
The 6th Amendment

The 6th Amendment of the United States Constitutions provides many of our most robust legal protections in criminal cases, including the right to an impartial jury of one's peers, the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to counsel--and, of particular importance in the context of evidence law, the right to confront the witnesses against us at trial. In this module we discuss how the 6th Amendment impacts the admissibility of evidence in any prosecution.

Module 12:
Authentication

For evidence to be admissible in court it must be not only relevant, but also authentic--meaning, there is reason to believe the evidence is genuine and not merely a fabrication.  Typically authentication takes the form of an actual witness who will testify before the jury that the item is what it is claimed to be. There are also, however, many alternative methods of authenticating evidence.  In this module we'll explore many of these methods of authentication.

 

Module 13:
The Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman Trials

Two critical trials of the 21st century were the George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony trials.  We'll review these two cases to observe real-life examples of what we've learned so far enacted in a true courtroom.  We'll also examine how politics and the limelight can warp our "justice" system.

Module 14:
Wrap-up with real-world trial examples

We'll take some time on the last class to review what we've learned and see it in action. We'll see clips of legal masters use the art of evidence to draft a compelling narrative of guilt or innocence. Then we'll have a long Q&A in preparation for the final exam.

Module 15:
Final Exam

We'll finish off the class with an exam that will take approximately one hour to complete and can be done at any time during the final week.  Once passed you will receive a certificate of completion for the course!

Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice
SINGLE COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

  • Registration for the Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course taught Spring 2023
  • Taught Live Each Wednesday January 11 - April 12 @ 6 PM Eastern time
  • 14 Modules total + Optional Final Exam-Based Certification!

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

FULL 6 Course Bundle!
MULTI-COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments
of $999 (Save 67%!)

A HUGE Discount on the 6-course law bundle!  Registration is for 6 semester-long live law courses, including this one:

(click on the course name to learn more about each class)

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments of $999 (Save 67%!)

Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course FAQ

Is this the same as an Evidence Course taught in Law School?

This Course will be taught in the same manner as experienced by Dean Andrew Branca and Attorney Andrew Esquire when they took the subject in their first years of law school, but with an extra emphasis on our rights and liberty within the law. Like those courses, this one requires a final exam be passed for successful completion (certification). This course is not accredited by any academic organization.

When is the Course?

Login starts each Tuesday module at 5:45 PM Eastern, and the module formally begins at 6:00 PM. The course wraps up no later than 8:00 PM. A recording of each module will be made available for any student who cannot attend the live module.

Where will the course take place?

Each class will be hosted live online and streamed to the comfort of your own computer, tablet, or smart phone using our webinar platform! We will provide access to the webinar platform well ahead of the course. The webinar platform is highly effective across devices and very easy to install. It takes almost no time or real technical know-how. Regardless, if you struggle we will be right here to help you get set up.

Can anyone attend this course?

This is an open-registration course. You do not need to have any prior formal education in the law to take this course.

Can I Bring My Spouse Or A Guest?

It is expected that every person accessing course content will be a registered student.

What if I Cannot Attend a Particular LIVE Module?

If you cannot attend one or more live modules we will provide you with access to a recording of each module during the course.

What is the refund policy for this class?

Because of the limited seats for this course, we offer a limited 50% refund if a student withdraws at least one week prior to the start of the course.

Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice
SINGLE COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

  • Registration for the Evidence Law: Guardrails of Justice Course taught Spring 2023
  • Taught Live Each Wednesday January 11 - April 12 @ 6 PM Eastern time
  • 14 Modules total + Optional Final Exam-Based Certification!

Normally $2,000
ONLY $999 (Save 50%!)

FULL 6 Course Bundle!
MULTI-COURSE REGISTRATION

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments
of $999 (Save 67%!)

A HUGE Discount on the 6-course law bundle!  Registration is for 6 semester-long live law courses, including this one:

(click on the course name to learn more about each class)

Normally $12,000
ONLY 4 quarterly payments of $999 (Save 67%!)

Criminal Procedure 2023

Our Criminal Procedure 2023 (CRIMPRO23) course will be taught this Summer 2023 for 10-12 weeks, with LIVE classes taught on Wednesdays.  (Recordings of each class will be made available to “catch up,” should a student be unable to attend any individual class.)

This Criminal Procedure course will generally reflect what I was taught in law school, using appropriately updated texts and resources, with a particular emphasis on use-of-force law.

Students should expect each live class will have required readings distributed the week prior.

Each week’s class will also have representative exam questions provided for preparation for the open-book final exam. The final exam is optional, but certification for this course requires a final exam passing grade of 80% or greater.  It is our expectation that every diligent student will have no difficulty qualifying for certification.

NOTE: As this is the launch of the LOSD Expert Law Course Criminal Procedure, the described syllabus is subject to modification.

Module 1:  Constitutional Aspects of Criminal Procedure 
US Constitution
Bill of Rights
Due Process of Law

Module 2:  Arrest, Search & Seizure 
Fourth Amendment
Property Interests
Probable Cause
Search Warrants & Curtilage
Warrantless Searches/Seizures of Persons
Warrantless Searches/Seizures of Property
Warrantless Searches/Seizures of Automobiles
Stop & Frisk/Detentions
Consent Searches 

Module 3:  Surveillance 
Historical Background
Continual Surveillance
Lack of Notice
Wired Surveillance
Entrapment

Module 4: Police Interrogation & Confessions 
Voluntariness
Right to Counsel
Self-Incrimination
Miranda: Offenses Covered
Miranda: Custodial Interrogation
Miranda: Substantive Interrogation
Miranda: Warnings Required, When
Miranda: Waiver

Module 5: Lineups, Standups, etc. 
Self-Incrimination
Lineups: Right to Counsel/Confrontation
Standups & Photos

Module 6: Exclusionary Rules 
Fifth Amendment Exclusion
Sixth Amendment Exclusion
Fourth Amendment Exclusion
“Good Faith” Exception
Exclusion Outside of Trial
Derivative Evidence
Impeachment of Evidence
Standing in a Proceeding
Burden of Proof on Exclusion

Module 7: Right to Counsel 
Sixth Amendment Right
Right to Counsel: Stages of Process
Waiver of Counsel/Pro Se
Lawyer-Client Relationship
State Interference with Counsel
Effective Assistance of Counsel
Conflicts of Interest

Module 8:  Self-Incrimination 
Compulsion
Privilege
Immunity
Production of Documents
Adverse Consequences

Module 9: Pre-Trial/Post-Trial 
Pre-trial Release
Decision to Charge
Speedy Trial
Discovery
Guilty Pleas
Impartial Judge/Jury
Fair & Public Trial
Post-Trial Procedure
Harmless Error
Successive Prosecution

Module 10:  TBD 

FINAL EXAM 

American Property: Freedom, Liberty &amp; Ownership

Module 1: Course Overview
Introduction to American Property: Freedom of the Founding Fathers
We’ll also go over course procedures and expectations for the course and final exam. We’ll then dive right into the principles of the Constitution and Founding Fathers that create the basis for the American Property system.

Acquiring Property

Module 2: Overview
Something from Nothing: Acquisition by Capture, Discovery & Creation
We’ll discuss acquiring property through capture, discovery or creation. We’ll focus on how these basic principles behind these theories set American’s apart from their tea-drinking English counterparts and DIRECTLY lead to the dominance of D.C. over London.

Module 3: That Darn Fence: Adverse Possession
We’ll discuss how other individual property owners can legally take YOUR property without sale or consent. We’ll also discuss practical steps to AVOID losing property through adverse possession.

Module 4: Uncle Sam’s Cut: Eminent Domain & Takings
We’ll discuss how the government takes YOUR private property, both in terms of the underlying political and economic theory as well as the practical reality of “just compensation” for these lands. We’ll also discuss huge windfalls that are made by parties milking the eminent domain system.

What is Property?

Module 5: What do you ACTUALLY Own? (Estate & Future Interests)
We’ll discuss the basic differences between property interests, from common fee simple to the more rare life estate. We’ll also cover future interests such as trusts and the much feared (but mostly irrelevant) rule against perpetuities.

Module 6: Sharing Your Property: Types of Joint Ownership
We’ll discuss various methods by which property is shared between different people, such as joint tenancy, tenancy in common and tenancy by the entirety. We’ll also dive into new concepts such as timeshares and why you should be particularly wary of these type of arrangements.

Module 7: Martial Property: What's Yours is Hers
We’ll discuss the insane complications of martial property and the reason why marriage ISN’T just about love. This will include concepts such as common law marriage, community property, domestic partners and the trending insanity of “palimony”.

Transferring Property

Module 8: From Me To You: Transferring Property, Contracts & Deeds
We’ll discuss both the concepts and actual logistics of actually buying and selling property. This will include a review of the contracts basics, title and the different types of deeds you may see as part of a real estate or personal property transaction.

Module 9: Paying & Closing the Deal: Finances & Closing
We’ll discuss financing property transactions and all that’s necessary to close the deal, including mortgages, notice and recording. This will include practical tips on reducing potential issues when either buying or selling your property – including who you CAN and CANNOT trust when closing a real estate deal.

Land Use

Module 10: Paths to Property: Easements
We’ll discuss what an easement actually represents and the various ways they are created. We’ll go through both how you can exercise your right to access an easement on someone else&#39;s property as well as defending against the abuse of easements by the government or other bad actors.

Module 11: Rise of the HOA: Restrictive Covenants & Common Interest Communities
We’ll discuss the creation of restrictive covenants which lead to “common interest communities” such as homeowners associations (HOA’s). We’ll discuss the methods by which homeowner’s associations exert control and the extent to which MODERN homeowner’s associations infringe on personal liberty. We’ll also discuss newer concepts such as special districts, which function in a similar but different way to homeowners associations.

Landlords & Tenants

Module 12: The Landlord’s Perspective: Leaseholds and Property Rental
We’ll introduce the basic tenants of a leasehold and the landlord – tenant relationship and examine things first from the eyes of a property owner, I.e. landlord. We’ll discuss what powers and responsibilities landlords ACTUALLY have and how they can remove deadbeat tenants.

Module 13: The Tenant’s Perspective: Leaseholds and Property Rental
We’ll flip to the tenant’s side of the story and review duties, rights and remedies for tenants, including the ability to sublease or assign a leasehold interest. We’ll talk about what is expected of tenants and disclose the sneaky ways landlords try to shift additional responsibility to tenants.

Module 14: The Quagmire of Affordable Housing: Equity or Insanity?
The term “affordable housing” is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented concepts – often touted by politicians as a remedy to poverty in theory, in practice it can also lead to corruption, mismanagement and government quotas completely divorced from economic demand or reality.

Final Exam

A multiple choice final examination reviewing both the theory, law and application of American property law over all fourteen modules.

Criminal Justice Course

Criminal Justice is about more than just what happens in court.  It is about the entire holistic system, from crime prevention to police departments, (yes) the court system, prisons, parole and rehabilitation efforts.  The following is the modules to be presented, which will be more fully fleshed out as we get closer to the class.  

Module 1. Introduction: Why Criminal Justice Matters
Module 2. Crime &amp; Crime Causation
Module 3. Criminal Law &amp; Criminal Procedure
Module 4. History &amp; Organization of Policing
Module 5. Policing: Contemporary Issues &amp; Challenges
Module 6. Police &amp; Law
Module 7. Courts &amp; Adjudication
Module 8. Pretrial, Plea Bargaining &amp; Trial
Module 9. Punishment &amp; Sentencing
Module 10. Corrections
Module 11. Incarceration &amp; Prison Society
Module 12. Probation &amp; Intermediate Sanctions
Module 13. Re-entry Into the Community
Module 14. Juvenile Justice
Module 15. Final Exam.

Criminal Law Course

The mission of the Criminal Law Course is to provide a thorough understanding of criminal law as it is taught in law school, but at a fraction of the time and cost of what law school costs today, and without the political correctness, critical race theory, or “diversity, inclusion, and equity” cultism that has so thoroughly infected modern law schools.  We just do law, as traditionally taught, period.

Module 1 Parts of the Machine
Module 2 Citizen police encounters
Module 3 The Parts and their problems
Module 4 Prosecutors
Module 5 The Right to Remain Silent
Module 6 Crimes of Violence
Module 7 Affixes: attempt, accomplice, and conspiracy
Module 8 Homicide
Module 9 A real world case beginning to end
Module 10 Appeals
Module 11 Special Problems in Criminal law
Module 12 Good science, junk science
Module 13 Death Penalty
Module 14 review and final exam

Rules of Evidence 2023 (ROE23)

Our Rules of Evidence 2023 (ROE23) course will be taught in Fall 2023 for 10-12 weeks, with LIVE classes taught on Wednesdays.  (Recordings of each class will be made available to “catch up,” should a student be unable to attend any individual class.)

This Rules of Evidence course will generally reflect what I was taught in law school, using appropriately updated texts and resources, with a particular emphasis on use-of-force law. The course will focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence—the individual states generally model their own rules of evidence on the Federal model, so the Federal ROE tend to be reasonably representative of state ROEs.

Students should expect each live class will have required readings distributed the week prior.

Each week’s class will also have representative exam questions provided for preparation for the open-book final exam. The final exam is optional, but certification for this course requires a final exam passing grade of 80% or greater.  It is our expectation that every diligent student will have no difficulty qualifying for certification.

NOTE: As this is the launch of the LOSD Expert Law Course Rules of Evidence course, the described syllabus is subject to modification.

Module 1: Types of Evidence & Raising Objections 

Module 2:  Relevance: Probative v. Prejudicial 

Module 3:  Authentication & Best Evidence 

Module 4:  Witness Testimony & Impeachment 

Module 6:  Character Evidence 

Module 7:  Hearsay & Exceptions, Part 1 

Module 8:  Hearsay & Exceptions, Part 2 

Module 9:  Hearsay & Exceptions, Part 3 

Module 9:  Expert Testimony 

Module 10:  Privileges (Attorney-Client, etc.) 

FINAL EXAM 

Constitutional Law: UoF/2A 2023 (CONLAW23)

Our Constitutional Law: UoF/2A 2023 (CONLAW23) course will be taught in Spring 2023 for 10-12 weeks, with LIVE classes taught on Wednesdays.  (Recordings of each class will be made available to “catch up,” should a student be unable to attend any individual class.)

Note: Although all of our Law of Self Defense Expert Law Classes are largely modelled on traditional law school courses of instruction, this CONLAW23 class will differ from traditional law school offerings by placing an unusual emphasis on use-of-force law and Second Amendment law, neither of which are much covered in traditional CONLAW courses.

Students should expect each live class will have required readings distributed the week prior.

Each week’s class will also have representative exam questions provided for preparation for the open-book final exam. The final exam is optional, but certification for this course requires a final exam passing grade of 80% or greater.  It is our expectation that every diligent student will have no difficulty qualifying for certification.

NOTE: As this is the launch of the LOSD Expert Law Course Constitutional Law course, the described syllabus is subject to modification.

Module 1: Federal Judicial Power 

Module 2: Federal Legislative Power 

Module 3: Federal Executive Power 

Module 4: Administrative State 

Module 5: Limits on State Regulatory Power

Module 6: Protections of Civil Rights & Liberties 

Module 7: Due Process & Equal Protection 

Module 8: Use-of-Force Law 

Module 9: Police Use-of-Force Law & §1983 

Module 10:  Second Amendment Law 

FINAL EXAM 

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Meet "Dean" Attorney Andrew Branca

Attorney Andrew F. Branca, Esq. is in his fourth decade of practicing law, specializing in self-defense law of the United States, where he is an internationally recognized expert. Through his legal practice, Law of Self Defense LLC, Andrew helps law-abiding armed citizens make better informed, more confident, more decisive decisions in defense of themselves, their families, and their property.
Andrew is an occasional Guest Instructor and subject matter expert (SME) on self-defense law at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy at Quantico and the Sig Sauer Academy, has been the legal expert co-host on the Outdoor Channel’s enormously popular TV show The Best Defense.
Andrew also teaches other lawyers how to argue self-defense cases as a certified instructor with the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) system in the majority of states around the country.
In addition to his legal work, Andrew is also an NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor, an IDPA Charter/Life member (IDPA #13), and a Master-class competitor in multiple IDPA divisions.
"You carry a gun so you're hard to kill. Know the law so you're hard to convict."
LOSD, LLC © 2023