Trial Advocacy

Trial Advocacy  (Summer 2025, 2026)

• Course Number: LAW-430
• Course Type: Foundational, Experiential
• Credits: 2
• Enrollment Limit: 20
• Restrictions: Students may not earn credit for both Integrated Evidence & Trial Advocacy and Trial Advocacy.

Description: 

This course will teach the basis of trial advocacy in an intensive, hands on way.

Students completing this course will be competent in the general skills of trial practice: developing a theory of the case, examining witnesses (direct and cross examination), qualifying and cross-examining experts, admitting physical evidence, objecting to testimonial and physical evidence (and responding to such objections), giving an opening statement, and giving a closing argument.

Students will receive lectures (with assignments) asynchronously during the beginning of the term. Then students will have 2 weeks of intensive practice to hone their skills in small groups and on their feet. Students will be learning a skill, receiving feedback, and then have to implement that feedback the very next day in more on-feet performance. The class will culminate in full trials for the students where they put together all of their skills.

Note: This course will be a hybrid course with asynchronous lectures and in-person class time. The asynchronous learning will be available at the start of the term and expected to be watched and reflection assignments completed over week 1 - 3. the in-person class sessions which will be: Week 4 - M-F 7:35pm - 9:30pm; Week 5 - M-Th 7:35pm - 9:30pm and Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm. The Final Friday is final trials which are your final grade. You must be able to attend that full day.

• Prerequisite: none
• Evaluation Method: Weekly simulation assignments, assignments tied to asynchronous lectures, final trial performance.
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no