FY04 Technology Fee Proposal
Submitting Organization:
Major Unit: College of Law
Department: Technology Services
Contact Person: Peter Thorsett
E-Mail :
[email protected]
Telephone: 404.651.4424
1. Project Short Title:
Courtroom Modernization & Electronic Legal Practice Management
2. Total Requested:
Fiscal Year 2004
$ 91,424
3. a.) Executive Summary:
Project Description (three or four sentences)
This project would upgrade the College of Law’s courtroom so that students will learn how to prepare cases and conduct trials using the latest litigation technologies. The project’s hardware component consists of a fixed installation of the most widely used technological tools in
courtrooms today. The software component, which would be installed in both the courtroom facility and the general open lab for all students, consists of the latest legal management software tools. The project would support the needs of the entire law school student population as well as the needs of the general GSU student pursuing a pre-law program.
b.) Project Description:
What was once referred to as the “Courtroom of the Future” has become the “Courtroom of Today”. From in-house corporate legal departments and the lawyers who try their cases, to the judges who preside over them, technology in trial practice has become mainstream. These new courtroom technologies and presentations systems are currently in use in numerous court rooms throughout the United States. More importantly, they are quickly becoming standard tools in Georgia’s courtrooms, including the State Supreme Court, the DeKalb County Courthouse, the Atlanta City Courts, as well as in the federal courts in Georgia. Virtually no new courtrooms being built today are left lacking this equipment.
Due to these major changes in litigation practice, our students must be exposed to, and educated in, the proper utilization of these technological tools. This proposal seeks to accomplish this objective by upgrading the technology (both hardware and software) of our existing courtroom, which is located on the ground floor of the Urban Life Building. This will allow the College of Law to improve the
effectiveness our current Litigation Program (which is required of all second year law students), as well as the training used to support the College’s well-known and extremely successful mock trial program (in which students enter mock trial competitions against students from other law schools).
This project consists of two integrated components: a fixed installation of hardware tools and systems in our courtroom facility (Urban Life, Room 140) and a software component consisting of electronic legal practice management software.
Courtroom Modernization: Hardware Component
The courtroom modernization component of our project focuses on the installation of several
technologies that are in use in courtrooms throughout the United States. These technologies represent what are fast becoming standard tools in the legal profession. Our installation, which will create an authentic learning environment, will include the following:
• Computer enhanced counsel tables, lead counsel lectern, judge’s bench, and witness stand – which will allow for the electronic management of trials, the presentation of electronic evidence and presentations, and provide a basis for electronic interaction with all of the above.
• An enhanced display installation – which will allow evidence to be visible to both the jury and the gallery (audience).
• A digital document presenter – for presenting physical evidence or paper documents. • A VCR and DVD/CD player – for presenting video and audio evidence.
• A dual-purpose video system – to capture courtroom proceedings for student evaluations and to allow video conferencing services.
Electronic Legal Practice Management: Software Component
The second part of this project requests the purchase of software that makes the presentation of electronic evidence and cases possible. Two packages are requested. The first package is Summation LG / iBlaze which is the industry standard for managing transcripts and evidentiary documents, and organizing case data. This integrated litigation support system allows attorneys to store and manage all of their
in-courtroom based materials in one software package which allows for instant recall and presentation during a trial. The tool supports imaging formats in Group IV TIF, single and multi-page, JPEG, BMP, and WMF. The requested allocation for this is $719.00. More information is available at http://www.summation.com. The second tool is TrialDirector Suite, which would be provided to the College of Law at no cost as part of the overall installation. This software tool runs inside PowerPoint slides and Summation Blaze as a presentation management add-in. TrialDirector allows attorneys to create and present the highest impact and most effective courtroom presentations through dynamic and convincing evidence presentation tools. More information is available at http://www.trialdirector.com. This request also includes a $1,200 request for training courses in both packages. Funding this would allow the College of Law to have a few key members of its training staff and litigation faculty trained in the software so they can teach other students, faculty, and staff. This cost is for the training registration fees only.
Once installed, these tools will make it possible for our students to carry out a technology enhanced trial or other courtroom simulation in an authentic performance environment. The tools will be accessed by our 650 students for their required litigation course as well as for our students taking advanced courses requiring the actual performance of courtroom skills. These tools will also be used by students participating in our award winning mock trial and moot court programs and by visiting lecturers and presenters on courtroom technology. The software tools funded by this proposal will also be available to anyone accessing our computer lab and training lab, where the packages will be installed for convenient out-of-court practice and learning.
4. Record the review numbers assigned by UCCS and Facilities. Their assessments
must be included in Sections 15 and 16.
UCCS: # 03-057
Facilities: # 13766-03
5. Relevance to Regents Guidelines
This proposal meets Regents Guidelines 1, 3 and 4 as listed below:
Paragraph 1 is met because this proposal provides an updated learning environment in which curriculum specific software and tools can be taught. Once students have received instruction on the software in the labs, they are able to use the knowledge in their classes which take place in the courtroom.
Paragraph 3 is met as this proposal is for hardware related expenditures for a special purpose laboratory (i.e. courtroom) that is used by our students for discipline related learning.
Paragraph 4 is met as the courtroom and student labs, once equipped and/or installed, will also be used to provide additional instruction in software and legal research tools that will enable students to enhance the quality of their legal education.
6. Relevance to Strategic Plan(s)
This proposal meets the goals contained in the technology strategic plan of the College of Law to enhance the quality and availability of technology-enabled teaching resources in the College. Specifically, this proposal meets the goal of developing and delivering a wide array of media-rich, web enabled,
instructional resources for the benefit of students. Finally, this proposal also meets the stated goals of the College of Law to deliver the highest quality instruction to our students and to produce technologically adept graduates who can exceed the changing needs and challenges of the legal profession.
7. Impact on Students Served
This proposal would benefit over 600 law students, as well as students enrolled in our joint MBA/JD, MPA/JD, and MS/JD programs, students in several other GSU academic units that collaborate with us on legal instruction, and other educational institutions and programs in the Atlanta area. The GSU
undergraduate population that would benefit from the proposal includes those enrolled in law related courses. The primary courtroom facility would be available on a time-available basis to any currently enrolled student wishing to use it and who books it through our room reservation program. The training lab and computer lab facilities, where the software will be installed, are accessible to students while the Law Library is open. These facilities can also be booked for private instruction for any university instructor wishing to train students on these software programs.
Additionally, this room is used by several of our student organizations, including our award winning Moot Court and Mock Trial groups, who use the courtroom to practice their presentations prior to competitions.
below. Itemize and total the following categories of expense. If necessary, add lines to the table below corresponding to accounting objects of expense. Please note that any equipment items less than
$4,999 should be categorized as “supplies.”
Object of Expense Itemized Descriptions Quanity Per unit price Extended Total
Staff Salaries $0.00
Fringe Benefits $0.00
Equipment (Note: Use Bench Systems 1 $2,235.00 $56,185.00
standard dollar amounts Counsel Table & Systems 2 $6,668.00 and replacement Lead Counsel Podium & Systems 1 $8,509.00
thresholds from Witness Box Systems 1 $1,168.00
sections 10/11, or Jury & Gallery Evidence Display System 1 $13,633.00 provide explanation in Control Room Systems 1 $17,304.00 sections 10/11.)
Software Summation LG / iBlaze 1 $719.00 $719.00
Trial Director Suite 1 $0.00
Maintenance or Integration Services (for equipment) 1 $6,000.00 $18,000.00 Contractual Services Audio/Visual Pre-Wiring Services 1 $12,000.00
Supplies $0.00
Construction Services Coring and Electrical Work 1 $12,150.00 $12,150.00 (Requires review of
Planning & Facilities)
Network Connections Network Connections - Courtroom 7 $410.00 $3,170.00 and Infrastructure Costs Telephone Support Line - Control Room 1 $300.00
(Requires review of UCCS)
Other Expenses Trial Director and Summation Training 1 $1,200.00 $1,200.00 (explain)
TOTAL $91,424.00
Discussion:
Bench Systems: This includes a desktop computer with 17” touch-screen monitor, mounting hardware, and a 15” touch-screen monitor for interfacing with the room control system (which includes a specially built desktop workstation).
Counsel Tables & Systems: This includes the building of two custom counsel tables with integrated convenience panels (which allows the addition of other equipment, such as a laptop) and a desktop system with 17” flat screen monitor.
Lead Counsel Podium & Systems: This includes the VCR, DVD/CD player, a workstation, 15” touch-screen monitor, the digital document presenter, and a custom built lectern to house the equipment. Witness Box Systems: This includes a desktop computer and 15” touch-screen monitor.
Jury & Gallery Evidence Display System: This includes a 50” plasma display with touch-screen overlay, mounting hardware, and a VGA compatible monitor for the gallery area.
9. Consequences of Partial Funding
State what the consequences would be on the effectiveness and viability of the proposal if it were only funded in FY 2004 at the following percentages of the requested total:
Only 75% funded: State specifically whether or not the proposed project would remain viable. If the project would remain viable, itemize and total the following categories of expense at 75% funding in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet below.
This project would not remain viable if 75% were funded.
Object of Expense Itemized Descriptions Quanity Per unit price Extended Total
Staff Salaries Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Fringe Benefits Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Equipment (Note: Use Item 1 $0.00
standard dollar amounts Item 2 and replacement Item 3 thresholds from Item 4 sections 10/11, or Item 5 provide explanation in Item 6 sections 10/11.) Item 7, etc
Software Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Maintenance or Item 1 $0.00
Contractual Services Item 2, etc
Supplies Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Construction Services Item 1 $0.00
(Requires review of Item 2 Planning & Facilities) Item 3, etc
Network Connections Item 1 $0.00
and Infrastructure Costs Item 2 (Requires review of Item 3
UCCS) Item 4, etc
Other Expenses Item 1 $0.00
(explain) Item 2, etc
TOTAL $0.00
Excel spreadsheet below.
This project would not remain viable if 50% were funded.
Object of Expense Itemized Descriptions Quanity Per unit price Extended Total
Staff Salaries Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Fringe Benefits Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Equipment (Note: Use Item 1 $0.00
standard dollar amounts Item 2 and replacement Item 3 thresholds from Item 4 sections 10/11, or Item 5 provide explanation in Item 6 sections 10/11.) Item 7, etc
Software Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Maintenance or Item 1 $0.00
Contractual Services Item 2, etc
Supplies Item 1 $0.00
Item 2, etc
Construction Services Item 1 $0.00
(Requires review of Item 2 Planning & Facilities) Item 3, etc
Network Connections Item 1 $0.00
and Infrastructure Costs Item 2 (Requires review of Item 3
UCCS) Item 4, etc
Other Expenses Item 1 $0.00
(explain) Item 2, etc
TOTAL $0.00
10. Standard Dollar Amounts
In constructing the budgetary requests in Sections 8 and 9 above, computer workstations should be budgeted at the following levels:
Windows/Intel processors workstation, including monitor: $1,600
Apple Macintosh models: $3,000
Requests departing from the above standard amounts require documentation of the specific programmatic need that requires departure from this standard. (See Attachment 2: Standard Windows/Intel instructional workstation.) Please explain any requested departures below:
The departure is due to the way in which the equipment will be purposed upon installation.
Not applicable.
12. Prerequisite, Non-Technology Fee Funding
Not applicable.
13. Matching Funds
Not applicable.
14. Staffing and Other Support Availability
Not applicable.
15. Space Availability and Impact on Facilities
This project would impact Urban Life room 140 (courtroom). There would be three floor cores and the addition of electrical and A/V cabling throughout. The room has a special drop ceiling tile and wood paneling and raised flooring in some locations. The approximate cost for FMS’ work is $12,150.00.
16. Impact on Computing/Networking/Security Infrastructure
Seven new network drops will have to be installed (bench, two each to the counsel tables, witness box, control room) and an analog phone line (control room support telephone) will have to be put in as well.
17. Post-Project Assessment Criteria
Goal – to have equipment installed as noted above in room 140 Urban Life.
18. Review and Acknowledgements
>>> Janice C. Griffith 02/28/03 02:02PM >>>
The following Student Tech Fee proposals have been approved for submission for next year's 2004 round of funding:
Courtroom Modernization & Electronic Legal Practice Management Project Student Access to Classroom Technology Equipment
Projectors for Smart Board Student Laptop Exam Program
Student Organization and Newspaper Technology Equipment College of Law Smart-Room Initiative