The Center for Professional Skills oversees the Law School's
Trial Advocacy Program, which offers students an opportunity to
develop trial skills in a simulated environment under the guidance
of experienced trial attorneys.
Students participating in the Trial Advocacy Program take the
Fall Concentrated Criminal Trial Advocacy Course, the Spring
Concentrated Civil Trial Advocacy course, and the Intensive Trial
Advocacy course which alternates criminal and civil trials. The
Concentrated Trial Advocacy Courses meets six hours per week during
the middle seven weeks of the semester. In the Intensive
Trial Advocacy course, students are in class from 9 a.m.. to 5 p.m.
for a two week period.
Small class settings, allows student simulation and feedback
from teams of experienced attorneys, focused on developing all
trial skills including: theory of the case, voir dire, opening
statement, closing arguments, direct and cross examination of lay
and expert witnesses, laying foundations for the introduction of
evidence with due consideration to the rules of evidence, and
witness and trial preparation.
All Trial Advocacy courses culminate in pairs of students trying
a full day, jury trial. Students receive a letter grade and three
credits for each course. Grades are based on class participation,
ability to learn from critique and the level of performance for
each skill simulated.
A student may take both civil and criminal trial advocacy but may
not take either more than once. Evidence, is a prerequisite for all
Trial Advocacy courses.