Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board and Council
Students selected for our Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board and Council support our nationally recognized trial advocacy and dispute resolution competition teams. The Honors Board consists of students entrusted with leadership positions within the program, and the supporting Council is made up of all students selected to compete on a team. Students are selected through a competitive interview and tryout process that takes place at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Our teams compete in the areas of civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, negotiation, mediation, and client counseling and consistently place among the top teams in the country. The Board and Council assist in hosting internal and external competitions and events.
Council Member Information Heading link
Our trial advocacy and dispute resolution teams work hard and are held to the highest standards. Students master the fundamentals of pre-trial and trial practice, the rules of evidence, develop work ethic and learn what it takes to function as a team to best represent a client.
Students are eligible to try out to for a team after completion of all first-year required courses. Students who have competed all first-year courses may try out for and compete on a mediation, client counseling, or negotiation competition team. Only students who have successfully completed Evidence and who are enrolled in or have competed Trial Advocacy are eligible to try out for a trial team. Students selected for a team become members of the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Council. Team and board members are eligible to receive up to 2 academic credits. Students may earn up to 8 academic credits from honors programs (Trial Ad/DR, Moot Court, Journal or Law Review) during their law school career.
After being selected to compete on a team, students work with practitioner coaches and our faculty to prepare for the competition. Council members are provided the opportunity and resources to help them develop into a dynamic advocates, proficient in resolving conflicts. Practice schedules are rigorous and students should expect to devote a significant amount of time to the program.
Along with practicing with their teams, council members assist in administering events, including the 1L Mock Trial and Dispute Resolution competitions, regional ABA competitions, various intra-squad competitions, showcase events, lectures, panel discussions, and demonstrations dealing with various aspects of advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. Council members are active participants at dress rehearsals and workshops and must fulfill office and activity hour requirements.
Honors Board Member Information Heading link
After one semester of service on the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Council, students who meet academic requirements are eligible to interview for a position on the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board. Honors Board barristers are selected at the end of the spring and fall semesters.
Along with competing on various interscholastic trial advocacy and dispute resolution teams, the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board works with the program directors in managing the Council and planning and administering all events. Board members are responsible for administering events, including try-outs; 1L trial ad and dispute resolution competitions; inter-squad, regional and national competitions; dress rehearsals; panel discussions; recruiting efforts; mentoring programs; and social events.